Tag Archives: debut album

Kokoroko: Could We Be More

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On August 5, 2022, “Bronswood Recordings” label released “Could We Be More”, the debut Kokoroko album. It was recorded in “Echo Zoo Studios” in Eastbourne, England, and was produced by Miles Clinton James.

Personnel:

  • Tobi Adenaike – Johnson – vocal, guitar
  • Yohan Kebede – vocal, synthesizer, keyboards
  • Duane Atherley – vocal, bass guitar
  • Ayo Salawu – vocal, drums
  • Onome Edgeworth – percussion, additional producer
  • Richard Olatunde Baker – talking drum
  • Cassie Kinoshi – vocal, alto saxophone
  • Sheila Maurice – Grey – vocal, trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Richie Seivwright – vocal, trombone
  • Princes Muzondo – additional vocals, handclaps
  • Ejiro Ikhame Aiken – additional vocals, handclaps
  • Mrisi Makondo – Wills – additional vocals, handclaps
  • Hans Cristoph Skirl – recording
  • Ben Kane – mixing
  • Miles Klinton James – mixing
  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering
  • Raj Sidhu – creative director
  • Kasmir Jones – artwork
  • Mark James – design
  • Stu – lacquer cut

Track listing:

  1. Tojo
  2. Blue Robe Pt. 1
  3. Ewa Inu
  4. Age of Ascent
  5. Dide O
  6. Soul Searching
  7. We Give Thanks
  8. Those Good Times
  9. Reprise
  10. War Dance
  11. Interlude
  12. Home
  13. Something’s Going On
  14. Outro
  15. Blue Robe Pt. 2

June Christy: Something Cool

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On August 2, 1954, “Capitol” label released “Something Cool”, the debut June Christy album. It was recorded August 1953 – March 1954, and was produced by Lee Gillette. The album was released in 10” vinyl format.

Personnel:

  • June Christy — vocals
  • Pete Rugolo — arranger, conductor
  • Gus Bivona, Harry Klee, Bud Shank — flute, alto flute, alto saxophone
  • Bob Cooper, Ted Nash — flute, tenor saxophone
  • Skeets Herfurt, Willie Schwartz — alto saxophone
  • Fred Falensby, Jimmy Giuffre — tenor saxophone
  • Chuck Gentry, Bob Gordon, John Rotella — baritone saxophone
  • Frank Beach, Conte Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn, Ollie Mitchell, Uan Rasey, Shorty Rogers, Ray Triscari, Jimmy Zito — trumpet
  • Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Nick Dimaio, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herbie Harper, Tommy Pederson, Dick Reynolds, Frank Rosolino — trombone
  • Dick Noel, George Roberts — bass trombone
  • Vincent DeRosa, John Graas — French horn
  • Paul Sarmento, Phil Stephens — tuba
  • Buddy Collette, Paul Horn — reeds
  • Joe Castro, Geoff Clarkson, Russ Freeman, Paul Smith, Claude Williamson — piano
  • Barney Kessel, Jack Marshall, Tony Rizzi, Howard Roberts — guitar
  • Harry Babasin, Joe Comfort, Joe Mondragon — bass
  • Larry Bunker, Frank Carlson, Shelly Manne, Alvin Stoller — drums

Track listing:

  1. Something Cool – Billy Barnes
  2. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  3. Lonely House – Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes
  4. Midnight Sun – Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer
  5. I’ll Take Romance – Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II
  6. A Stranger Called the Blues – Mel Torme, Robert Wells
  7. I Should Care – Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl

Split Enz: Mental Notes

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On July 31, 1975, “White Cloud” label released “Mental Notes”, the debut Split Enz album. It was recorded May – June 1975, at “Festival Studios”, and was produced by David Russell.

Personnel:

  • Tim Finn – vocals, piano
  • Phil Judd – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin
  • Wally Wilkinson – lead guitar
  • Eddie Rayner – acoustic and electric piano, mellotron, synthesizer, organ, clavinet
  • Mike Chunn – bass, piano
  • Emlyn Crowther – drums
  • Noel Crombie – percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Phil Judd and Tim Finn, except where noted.

  1. Walking Down a Road
  2. Under the Wheel
  3. Amy (Darling)
  4. So Long for Now
  5. Stranger Than Fiction
  6. Time for a Change – Phil Judd
  7. Maybe
  8. Titus – Phil Judd
  9. Spellbound
  10. Mental Notes – Phil Judd

Eastern Rebellion: Same

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In July 1976, “Dutch Timeless” label released the self-titled, debut Eastern Rebellion album. It was recorded in December 1975, at “C.I. Recording Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Cedar Walton.

Personnel:

  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • George Coleman – tenor saxophone
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Cedar Walton except where noted.

  1. Bolivia
  2. Naima – John Coltrane
  3. 5/4 Thing – George Coleman
  4. Bittersweet – Sam Jones
  5. Mode for Joe

Ronnie Laws: Pressure Sensitive

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In July 1975, “Blue Note” label released “Pressure Sensitive”, the debut Ronnie Laws album. It was recorded March – April 1975, at “Angel City Sound” in Los Angeles, and was produced by George Butler and Wayne Henderson.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie Laws – soprano and tenor saxophone, flute
  • Jerry Peters – electric piano, synthesizer
  • Mike Cavanaugh, Joe Sample – clavinet, electric piano
  • Roland Bautista – guitar
  • John Rowin – guitar
  • Wilton Felder – elctric bass
  • Clint Mosley – electric bass
  • Steve Guttierez, Michael Willars – drums
  • Joe Clayton – conga, tambourine, flexatone 
  • Side Effect – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Always There – William Jeffrey, Ronnie Laws
  2. Momma – Roland Bautista
  3. Never Be the Same – Roland Bautista, Mike Cavanaugh, Ronnie Laws
  4. Tell Me Something Good – Stevie Wonder
  5. Nothing to Lose – Ronnie Laws
  6. Tidal Wave – William Jeffrey
  7. Why Do You Laugh at Me – Wayne Henderson
  8. Mis’ Mary’s Place – Ronnie Laws

Dexter Wansel: Life On Mars

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In July 1976, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Life on Mars”, the debut Dexter Wansel album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Dexter Wansel.

Personnel:

  • Dexter Wansel – lead vocal, keyboards, synthesizer, arrangements
  • Calvin Harris – guitar
  • Derick Graves – bass
  • Darryl Brown – drums, percussion
  • Charles Collins – percussion
  • Joe Johnson – percussion
  • Bobby Malach – saxophone, flute
  • Al Harrison – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • MFSB – strings
  • Terry Welles – vocal
  • Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocal
  • Instant Funk
  • Jack Faith – arrangement
  • Jay Mark – engineer
  • Jim Gallagher – engineer
  • Jeffrey Stewart, Mike Hutchinson, Peter Humphreys – engineer assistant
  • Ed Lee – art direction
  • Chris Peterson – design
  • Gerard Huerta – design
  • Danny Wong, Eris Meola – photography
  • Nimitr Sarikananda – lacquer cut

Track listing:

All tracks by Dexter Wansel, except where noted.

  1. A Prophet Named K.G.
  2. Life on Mars
  3. Together Once Again – Vinnie Barrett
  4. Stargazer
  5. One Million Miles from the Ground
  6. You Can Be What You Wanna Be
  7. Theme from the Planets
  8. Rings of Saturn

Strongbow: Same

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In July 1975, “Southwind” label released the self-titled, debut Strongbow album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Mega Sound Studio” in Bailey, North Carolina, and was produced by Alan Lorber.

Personnel:

  • Michael Shortland – vocals, guitar
  • John Stelzer – vocals, organ, synthesizer, mellotron, alto and tenor saxophone, flute
  • Bill Bendler – vocals, piano, electric trombone
  • John Durzo – vocals, bass
  • David Smith – vocals, drums
  • Richard Royall – recording, mixing
  • Doug Rider – mixing assistant
  • Milton Sincoff – creative director
  • Martin Gulser – illustration
  • Jeff Chrisman – photography
  • Joe Brescio – lacquer cut

Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Bendler, except where noted.

  1. One Armed Bandit
  2. Sister Sea
  3. The Only One Around
  4. Move Over Gloom
  5. How Can I Be Loving You
  6. Wine Eyes – David Smith
  7. Hazy May

Roland Kirk: Triple Threat

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In July 1957, “King” label released “Triple Threat”, the debut Roland Kirk album.It was recirded in November 1956, in New York City,

Personnel:

  • Roland Kirk – tenor saxophone, manzello, flute, stritch
  • James Madison – piano
  • Carl Pruitt – bass
  • Henry Duncan – drums

Track listing”

All tracks by Roland Kirk except where noted.

  1. Roland’s Theme
  2. Slow Groove
  3. Stormy Weather – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  4. The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
  5. A La Carte
  6. Easy Living – Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
  7. Triple Threat

Druid: Toward The Sun

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In July 1975, “EMI” label released “Toward the Sun”, the debut Druid album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Morgan Studios” in London, and was produced by Bob Harris.

Personnel:

  • Dane Stevens – vocals, guitar, arrangements
  • Andrew McCrorie-Shand – keyboards, choral arrangements, arrangements
  • Neil Brewer – bass, arrangements
  • Cedric Sharpley – drums
  • George Nicholson – engineer
  • Adrian Sadgrove – design
  • Richard Langham – lacquer cut

Track listing:

  1. Voices – lyrics by Dane Stevens, music by Andrew McCroire Shand, Dane Stevens
  2. Remembering – lyrics by Dane Stevens, music by Dane Stevens, Neil Brewer
  3. Theme – Andrew McCroire Shand, Cedric Sharpley, Dane Stevens, Neil Brewer
  4. Toward the Sun – Dane Stevens
  5. Red Carpet for an Autumn – lyrics by Neil Brewer, music by Andrew McCroire Shand, Neil Brewer
  6. Dawn of Evening – lurics by Neil Brewer, music by Andrew McCRoire Shand, Neil Brewer
  7. Shangri – La – Dane Stevens, Neil Brewer

Deke Leonard: Iceberg

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In July 1973, “United Artists” label released “Iceberg”, the debut Deke Leonard album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Rockfield Studios” in Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales, “Olympic Studios” and “Mayfair Studios” in London, and was produced by Dave Edmunds, Deke Leonard, The Man Band and Tim Boyle.

Personnel:

  • Deke Leonard – vocals, guitar, slide guitar, harmonium, keyboards, organ, mellotron, choir
  • Malcolm Morley – guitar, choir
  • Mickey Jones – guitar
  • Richard Treece – guitar
  • Martin Ace – bass
  • Paul Burton – bass
  • Beau Adams – drums
  • Dave Charles – drums
  • Mike Gibbons – drums
  • Terry Williams – drums
  • Tom Riley – drums
  • Dave Charles – drums
  • Dave Phillips – violin
  • Byron Berline – fiddle
  • Crosby Eichler – vocals
  • Dave Charles – vocals
  • Paul Burton – vocals
  • Dave Charles, George Ace, Martin Ace, The Rockfield Choir – choir
  • Ralph Down – electronics, engineer
  • Anton Matthews, Dave Edmunds, George Peckham, Kingsley Ward, Pat Moran – engineer
  • Pierre Tubbs – art direction, photography

Track listing:

  1. Razor Blade and Rattlesnake
  2. I Just Can’t Win
  3. Lisa
  4. Nothing Is Happening
  5. Looking for a Man
  6. A Hard Way to Live
  7. Broken Ovation
  8. Jesse
  9. Ten Thousand Takers
  10. The Ghost of Musket Flat
  11. Crosby (Second Class Citizen Blues)
  12. 7171551