Tag Archives: Cissy Houston

Linda Ronstadt: Heart Like A Wheel

On November 19, 1974, “Capitol” label released “Heart like a Wheel”, the fifth Linda Ronstadt album. It was recorded June – September 1974, at “The Sound Factory” and “Clover Recorders” in Los Angeles, “Track Recorders” in Maryland, “Record Plant” and “The Hit Factory” in New York City, “Trident Studios” and “AIR Studios” in London, and was produced by Peter Asher. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Heart like a Wheel” on number 490 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified 2x Platinum by “RIAA”. 

Personnel:

  • Linda Ronstadt – lead and backing vocals
  • Andrew Gold – acoustic and electric piano, electric rhythm guitar, tambourine, acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, drums , percussion, arrangements assistant
  • Eddie Black – electric guitar
  • Bob Warford – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Sneaky Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar 
  • JD Souther – acoustic guitar, harmony vocals
  • Herb Pedersen – banjo, backing vocals
  • Paul Craft – acoustic guitar
  • John Starling – acoustic guitar
  • Danny Pendleton – pedal steel guitar
  • John Boylan – acoustic guitar
  • Glenn Frey – acoustic guitar
  • Kenny Edwards – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Ethridge – bass guitar
  • Emory Gordy Jr. – bass guitar
  • Tom Guidera – bass guitar
  • Timothy B. Schmit – bass guitar
  • Dennis St. John – drums
  • Russ Kunkel – drums
  • Lloyd Myers – drums
  • Don Henley – drums
  • Peter Asher – percussion, cowbell, backing vocals
  • Jimmie Fadden – harmonica
  • David Lindley – fiddle
  • Gregory Rose – string arrangements, conductor
  • David Campbell – string arrangements, viola
  • Dennis Karmazyn – cello
  • Richard Feves – double bass
  • Clydie King – backing vocals
  • Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
  • Wendy Waldman – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Joyce Nesbitt – backing vocals
  • Maria Muldaur – backing vocals
  • Emmylou Harris – harmony vocals
  • Val Garay – engineer, mixing
  • David Hassinger – engineer, mixing
  • Dennis Ferrante – engineer assistant
  • John Haeny – engineer assistant
  • Peter Kelsey – engineer assistant
  • George Massenburg – engineer assistant
  • Peter Swettenham – engineer assistant
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Rod Dyer – design
  • Leandro Correa – photography
  • Eve Babitz – photography

 Track listing:

  1. You’re No Good – Clint Ballard Jr.
  2. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Paul Anka
  3. Faithless Love – JD Souther
  4. The Dark End of the Street – Chips Moman, Dan Peen
  5. Heart Like a Wheel – Anna McGarrigle
  6. When Will I Be Loved – Phil Everly
  7. Willin’ – Lowell George
  8. I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You) – Hank Williams
  9. Keep Me Blowing Away – Paul Craft
  10. You Can Close Your Eyes – James Taylor

Cissy Houston and Chuck Jackson: I’ll Take Care Of You

On September 29, 1992, “Shanachie” label released “I’ll Take Care of You” album by Cissy Houston and Chuck Jackson. It was recorded June – July 1992, at “Acme Studios” in Mamaroneck, New York, and was produced by Peter Denenberg and Joe Perry.

Personnel:

  • Chuck Jackson – lead vocals
  • Cissy Houston – lead vocals
  • Joe Ferry – acoustic guitar, percussion, mixing
  • Hiram Bullock – electric guitar
  • Gil Parris – guitar
  • Richard Tee – piano, organ
  • Bruce Williamson – synthesizer, saxophone
  • Wilbur Bascomb – bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Tommy McDonnell – congas, backing vocals
  • Barry Danielian – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Amanda Homi, Chuck St. Troy, Diane Garisto, Lenora Zenzalai Helm, Nicki Richards, Vaneese Thomas – backing vocals
  • Doug Munro – arrangements, mixing
  • Thom Leinbach – engineer
  • Peter Denenberg – engineer, mixing
  • Randall Grass – mixing
  • Robert Vosgien – digital mastering
  • Stefan Grossman – art direction
  • Joan Pelosi – design
  • Shari Weingarten – photography

Track listing:

  1. Looking for Love – James Alexamder, Zelda Samuels
  2. Always on My Mind – Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson
  3. I Don’t Want to Cry – Chuck Jackson, Luther Dixon
  4. Why Do You Turn Away – Barbara Soehner, Michael Zager
  5. Take Me Back, I’m Sorry – Larry Weiss
  6. Are You Lonely for Me, Baby? – Bert Berns
  7. I Wanna Be with You – Charles Strouse, Lee Adams
  8. Waiting in Vain – Bob Marley
  9. I’ll Take Good Care of You – Jerry Ragovoy, Bert Berns
  10. You Make Me Feel Brand New – Thom Bell, Linda Creed

Don McLean: Homeless Brother

In October 1974, “United Artists” label released “Homeless Brother”, the fifth Don McLean studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Regent Sound Studios” in New York City, “Clack Studios”, and was produced by Joel Dorn.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo
  • Hugh McCracken – guitars
  • David Spinozza – guitars
  • Arthur Jenkins, Jr. – keyboards
  • Richard Tee – keyboards
  • Willie Weeks – bass guitar
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • David Carey – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Willis Jackson – tenor saxophone
  • Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
  • Yusef Lateef – flute
  • Joe Wilder, Garnett Brown, Wally King, James Buffington, Jonathan Dorn, Billy Slapin, Seldon Powell, George Barrow, Charles Williams, Dany Moore, Peter Gordon, Ray Alonge, George Marge, Brooks Tillotson – horns
  • William Eaton – arrangements, conductor
  • Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Emanuel Vardi, Sanford Allen, Joseph Malignaggi, Avram Weiss, Diana Halprin, Charles Libove, Harry Cykman, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Matthew Raimondi, Kermit Moore, Charles McCracken, Max Ellen, Max Pollikoff, Gene Orloff, David Nadien, Kathryn Kienke, Julius Schachter, Harold Kohon, Julius Held, Guy Lumia – strings
  • Gerry Teifer – whistling
  • The Persuasions – backing vocals
  • Pete Seeger – backing vocals
  • Kenny Vance, Cissy Houston, Renelle Stafford, Ned Albright, Steven Soles, Deidre Tuck, Linda November, Joel Dorn, Helene Miles, Arlene Martell, Marlene VerPlanck, Norma Holes – backing vocals
  • Bob Liftin – recording, remix
  • Joe Ferla – additional recording
  • Marcote – cover painting

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean, except where noted.

  1. Winter Has Me in Its Grip
  2. La La Love You
  3. Homeless Brother
  4. Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond) – George Harrison
  5. The Legend of Andrew McCrew
  6. Wonderful Baby
  7. You Have Lived
  8. Great Big Man
  9. Tangled (Like a Spider in Her Hair)
  10. Crying in the Chapel – Artie Glenn
  11. Did You Know

Donny Hathaway: Extension Of A Man

On June 18, 1973, “Atco” label released “Extension of a Man”, the fourth and final Donny Hathaway studio album. It was recorded October – November 1972, at “A&R”, “Bell Sound”, “Regent Sound” and “Atlantic” in New York City, “Universal” in Chicago, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Donny Hathaway – lead vocals, Fender Rhodes electric piano, all pianos, Hammond organ, keyboards, bass, arrangements
  • Cornell Dupree – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – banjo, guitar
  • Willie Weeks, Russ Savakus, Stanley Clarke, Gordon Edwards – bass
  •  Grady Tate, Fred White, Rick Marotta, Ray Lucas – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Julien Barber, Noel DaCosta, Sanford Allen, Theodore Israel – violin
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Kermit Moore – cello
  • Gloria Agostini – harp 
  • David Newman – saxophone
  • Marvin Stamm, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Dominick Gravine, Garnett Brown, Paul Faulise, Wayne Andre, Tony Studd, Garnett Brown – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Don Butterfield – tuba
  • Phil Bodner – clarinet, alto saxophone
  • Seldon Powell – clarinet, reeds, tenor saxophone
  • Vincent Abato – clarinet
  • Romeo Penque, William Slapin – reeds
  • Jim Buffington, Julius Watkins, Tony Miranda – French horn
  • Henry Schuman – oboe
  • Myrna Summers & The Interdenominational Singers – choir 
  • Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, Jimmy Douglass, Mario “Big M” Medious, Richard Wells, William “Mac” McCollum – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Donny Hathaway, except where noted.

  1. I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)
  2. Someday We’ll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway, Edward Howard
  3. Flying Easy
  4. Valdez in the Country
  5. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know – Al Kooper
  6. Come Little Children
  7. Love, Love, Love – J.R. Bailey, Ken Williams
  8. The Slums
  9. Magdalena – Danny O’Keefe
  10. I Know It’s You – Leon Ware
  11. Lord Help Me – Joe Greene, Billy Preston

Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M

On November 7, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “The Divine Miss M”, the debut Bette Midler studio album. It was recorded 1971 – 1972, at “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegun, Barry Manilow. Geoffrey Haslam and Joel Dorn. The album was certified Platinum in US and Canada.

Personnel:

  • Bette Midler – lead vocals
  • Dickie Frank – guitar
  • David Spinozza – guitars
  • Don Arnone – guitar
  • Dick Hyman – piano
  • Barry Manilow – piano
  • Pat Rebillot – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass guitar
  • Michael Federal – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • Ted Sommer – drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • Kevin Ellman – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion instruments
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Tender Loving Care (Renelle Broxton, Diedre Tuck, Beverly McKenzie) – backing vocals
  • Gail Kantor – backing vocals
  • Melissa Manchester – backing vocals
  • Merle Miller – backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Selwart Clarke – viola
  • Kermit Moore – cello
  • Thom Bell – horn and string arrangements
  • Barry Manilow – arranger, conductor
  • William S. Fischer – string arrangement
  • Marty Nelson – vocal arranger
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements
  • Lew Hahn – engineer
  • Richard Amsel – illustration
  • Richard Mantel – art direction, design
  • Kenn Duncan – photography
  • Geoffrey Haslam, Lew Hahn, Bob Liftin – remix

Track listing:

  1. Do You Want to Dance – Bobby Freeman
  2. Chapel of Love – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  3. Superstar – Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell
  4. Daytime Hustler – Jeff Kent
  5. Am I Blue – Harry Akst, Grant Clarke
  6. Friends (Session 1) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart
  7. Hello in There – John Prine
  8. Leader of the Pack – George Morton, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
  9. Delta Dawn – Larry Collins, Alex Harvey
  10. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Don Raye, Hughie Prince
  11. Friends (Session 2) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart

Paul Simon: Same

On January 24, 1972, “Columbia” label released the self-titled, second Paul Simon album. It was recorded January – March 1971, at “CBS Studios” in san Francisco, “CBS Studios” in Los Angeles, “CBS Studios” in New York City, “Western Recorders” in Los Angeles, “Dynamic Sound Studios”, “Kingston Studio CBE” in Paris, and was produced by Paul Simon and Roy Halee.

Personnel:

  • Paul Simon – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion,  arranger
  • Stéphane Grappelli – violin
  • Lynford “Hux” Brown – lead guitar
  • David Spinozza – acoustic guitar
  • Wallace Wilson – rhythm guitar 
  • Stefan Grossman – bottleneck guitar 
  • Jerry Hahn – electric guitar
  • Neville Hinds – Hammond organ 
  • Larry Knechtel – piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, harmonium, Hammond organ
  • Charlie McCoy – bass harmonica
  • Jackie Jackson – bass guitar
  • Joe Osborn – bass guitar
  • Ron Carter – double bass
  • Russell George – bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Winston Grennan – drums
  • Denzil Laing – percussion
  • Victor Montanez – congas 
  • Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Fred Lipsius – alto saxophone
  • John Schroer – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Steven Turre – trombone
  • Los Incas – flute, charango, percussion
  • Mike Mainieri – vibes 
  • Cissy Houston, Von Eva Sims, Renelle Stafford and Deirdre Tuck – backing vocals
  • Roy Halee – engineer
  • Phil Ramone – engineer
  • Bernard Estardy – additional engineering
  • John Berg, Ron Coro – design
  • P.A. Harper – photography
  • Leslie Kong – contractor

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Simon, except where noted. 

  1. Mother and Child Reunion
  2. Duncan
  3. Everything Put Together Falls Apart
  4. Run That Body Down
  5. Armistice Day
  6. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
  7. Peace Like a River
  8. Papa Hobo
  9. Hobo’s Blues – Paul Simon, Stéphane Grappelli
  10. Paranoia Blues
  11. Congratulations

J. Geils Band: Monkey island

On June 9, 1977, “Atlantic” label released “Monkey Island”, the seventh J. Geils Band album. It was recorded in 1977, and was produced by Peter Wolf, J. Geils, Magic Dick, Seth Justan, Danny Klein and Stephen Bladd.

Personnel:

  • Peter Wolf- lead vocals
  • Geils- guitar
  • Magic Dick- harmonica
  • Seth Justman- keyboards
  • Danny Klein- bass
  • Stephen Bladd – drums
  • Michael Brecker- tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Ronnie Cuber– saxophone
  • Lew Del Gatto – saxophone
  • Arif Mardin- strings conductor
  • Alan Rubin– trumpet
  • Lew Soloff– trumpet
  • Frank Vicari– saxophone
  • Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
  • Evette Benton – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston- backing vocals
  • Barbara Ingram- backing vocals
  • Theresa Reed – backing vocals
  • Diane Sumler – backing vocals
  • Harriet Tharpe – backing vocals
  • Luther Vandross- backing vocals
  • David Thoener – engineer
  • Jay Krugman, Rod O’Brien, Corky Stasiak – engineer assistant
  • David Thoener – mixing
  • George Marino – remastering
  • Peter Corriston – design
  • Alen MacWeeney – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Peter Wolf and Seth Justman except where noted.

  1. Surrender
  2. You’re the Only One
  3. I Do – Melvin Mason, Johnny Paden, Frank Paden, Alfred Smith, Willie Stephenson
  4. Somebody
  5. I’m Falling
  6. Monkey Island
  7. I’m Not Rough
  8. So Good
  9. Wreckage

 

Gregg Allman: Laid Back

In October 1973, “Capricorn” label released “Laid Back”, the debut Gregg Allman studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Record Plant” in New York City, and “Capricorn Sound Studios” in Macon, Georgia, and was produced by Johnny Sandlin and Gregg Allman.

Personnel:

  • Gregg Allman – vocals, organ, acoustic guitar
  • Tommy Talton – acoustic, electric and slide guitars, dobro, tambourine
  • Buzz Feiten– guitar
  • Jim Nalls – guitar
  • Scott Boyer – acoustic, electric and steel guitars, electric piano
  • Chuck Leavell– acoustic and electric pianos, vibes
  • Paul Hornsby– organ, keyboards, clavinet
  • Charlie Hayward– bass
  • David Brown – bass
  • Johnny Sandlin – bass
  • Bill Stewart – drums
  • Jai Johanny Johanson– percussion, conga
  • Butch Trucks– percussion, cabasa
  • David “Fathead” Newman– saxophone
  • Max Cahn, Tony Posk – violin
  • Ed Freeman – strings and horn arrangements, conductor
  • Carl Hall, Linda November, Hilda Harris, Cissy Houston, Emily Houston, June McGruder, Helene Miles, Eileen Gilbert, Maretha Stewart, Albertine Robinson – backing vocals
  • Johnny Sandlin – arrangements, engineer
  • Ovie Sparks, Buddy Thornton, Jim Reeves – engineer
  • George Marino – engineer, mastering
  • Abdul Mati Klarwein – cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Gregg Allman; except where noted.

  1. Midnight Rider – Gregg Allman, Robert Kim Payne
  2. Queen of Hearts
  3. Please Call Home
  4. Don’t Mess Up a Good Thing – Oliver Sain
  5. These Days – Jackson Browne
  6. Multi-Colored Lady
  7. All My Friends – Scott Boyer
  8. Will the Circle Be Unbroken – traditional; arranged by Gregg Allman and Johnny Sandlin

John Prine: Sweet Revenge

In October 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Sweet Revenge”, the third John Prine album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • John Prine – vocals, guitar
  • Steve Goodman- guitar, backing vocals
  • Grady Martin- guitar, dobro
  • Steve Burgh, Johnny Christopher – guitar
  • Judy Clay – steel guitar, backing vocals
  • Doyle Grisham – steel guitar
  • Leo LeBlanc – guitar, steel guitar
  • Raun MacKinnon – gut string guitar, harmony vocals
  • Dave Prine – guitar, banjo, dobro, fiddle
  • Reggie Young- guitar
  • David Briggs- organ, piano
  • Bobby Wood, Kenny Ascher- keyboards, piano
  • Jerry Shook – harmonica
  • Mike Leech – bass, upright bass
  • Hugh McDonald – bass, percussion
  • Bill Slater – bass
  • Kenny Malone– drums
  • Steve Mosley – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald- percussion
  • Cissy Houston- backing vocals
  • Deirdre Tuck Corley – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin- horn arrangements
  • Brad Davis, Jimmy Douglass, Steve Ham, Frank Hubach, Bob Liftin – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by John Prine, except where noted.

  1. Sweet Revenge
  2. Please Don’t Bury Me
  3. Christmas in Prison
  4. Dear Abby
  5. Blue Umbrella
  6. Often is a Word I Seldom Use
  7. Onomatopoeia
  8. Grandpa Was a Carpenter
  9. The Accident (Things Could Be Worse)
  10. Mexican Home
  11. A Good Time
  12. Nine Pound Hammer – traditional

Felix Cavaliere: Same

In September 1974, “Bearsville” label released the self-titled, same Felix Cavaliere solo album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by Todd Rundgren.

Personnel:

  • Felix Cavaliere – vocals, piano, organ
  • Todd Rundgren – guitar
  • Elliot Randall, John Hall- guitar
  • Gualberto Garcia Perez – flamenco guitar
  • Hank DeVito- pedal steel guitar
  • Kenneth Bichel, Roger Powell – ARP synthesizer
  • John Siegler, Mervin Bronson – bass
  • Jack Scarangella, Kevin Ellman – drums
  • Antonio Jiminez Arana, Pablo Rosario – percussion
  • Antonio Jiminez Arana – congas
  • Paul Fleisher – saxophone, clarinet
  • Barry Rogers – trombone
  • Al Rubin, Larry Spencer, Randy Brecker- trumpet
  • Carman Moore – string arrangements
  • Noel Da Costa, Raymond Kunicki, W. Sanford Allen – violin
  • Alfred Brown, Julien Barber, Selwart Clarke – viola
  • Kermit Moore – cello
  • Jack Jeffers – baritone horns
  • Cissy Houston, Deidre Tuck, Felix Cavaliere, Judy Clay, Renelle Stafford – backing vocals
  • Alex Rutsch – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Felix Cavaliere and Carman Moore

  1. A High Price to Pay
  2. I Am a Gambler
  3. I’ve Got a Solution
  4. Everlasting Love
  5. Summer in El Barrio
  6. Long Times Gone
  7. Future Train
  8. Mountain Man
  9. Funky Friday
  10. It’s Been a Long Long Time
  11. I am Free