Tag Archives: Derek Varnals

Khan: Space Shanty

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On June 2, 1972, “Deram” label released “Space Shanty”, the only Khan album. It was recorded December 1971 – March 1972, at “Command Studios”, “Olympic Studios” and “Tollington Park Studios” in London, and was produced by Neil Slaven.

Personnel:

  • Steve Hillage – vocals, guitars
  • Dave Stewart – organ, piano, celesta, marimbas
  • Nick Greenwood – bass guitar
  • Eric Peachey – drums
  • Pete Booth – engineer
  • George Chkiantz – engineer
  • Derek Varnals – engineer, remix
  • Dave Grinstead – remix
  • David Anstey – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Hillage, except where noted.

  1. Space Shanty (Including The Cobalt Sequence and March of the Sine Squadrons)
  2. Stranded (Including Effervescent Psycho Novelty No. 5)
  3. Mixed Up Man of the Mountains – Nick Greenwood
  4. Driving to Amsterdam
  5. Stargazers
  6. Hollow Stone (Including Escape of the Space Pilots)

Mellow Candle: Swaddling Songs

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In April 1972, “Deram” label released “Swaddling Songs”, the only Mellow Candle album. It was recorded in December 1971, and was produced by David Hitchcock.

Personnel:

  • Clodagh Simonds – lead and backing vocals, piano, harpsichord, mellotron
  • Alison Williams – lead and backing vocals
  • David Williams – guitar, backing vocals
  • Frank Boylan – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • William Murray – drums, percussion
  • Derek Varnals – engineer
  • Kevin Fuller – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Clodagh Simonds, except where noted.

  1. Heaven Heath – Alison Williams
  2. Sheep Season – Clodagh Simonds, Alison Williams, David Williams
  3. Silversong
  4. The Poet and the Witch
  5. Messenger Birds – Alice Williams
  6. Dan the Wing
  7. Reverend Sisters
  8. Break Your Token
  9. Buy or Beware – David Williams
  10. Vile Excesses – David Williams, William Murray
  11. Lonely Man
  12. Boulders on My Grave

Ray Thomas: From Mighty Oaks

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On July 11, 1975, “Threshold” and “Decca” labels released “From Mighty Oaks” the debut Ray Thomas album. It was recorded 1974 – 1975, and was produced by Ray Thomas and Derek Varnals.

Personnel:

  •  Ray Thomas – lead and backing vocals, flute, bass flute, harmonica
  • Mike Silver– acoustic guitar, backing vocal
  • John Jones – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
  • J. Cole– pedal steel guitar
  • Mike Moran– keyboards
  • Trevor Jones – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Potts – drums, percussion
  • Nicky James – percussion, backing vocals
  • Richard Hewson– orchestral arranger, conductor
  • Derek Varnals – recording
  • Dave Baker – 2nd engineer
  • Phil Travers – illustration, design
  • Graham Hughes – photography
  • Mike Pulland – photography

Track listing:

  1. From Mighty Oaks – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  2. Hey Mama Life – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  3. Play It Again – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  4. Rock-A-Bye Baby Blues – Nicky James
  5. High Above My Head – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  6. Love Is the Key – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  7. You Make Me Feel Alright – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  8. Adam and I – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  9. I Wish We Could Fly – Ray Thomas

Ray Thomas: Hopes, Wishes and Dreams

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On June 3, 1976, “Threshold” label released “Hopes, Wishes and Dreams”, the second Ray Thomas studio album. It was recorded February – April 1976 at “Threshold Studios” in London, and was produced by Ray Thomas and Derek Varnals.

Personnel:

  • Ray Thomas – lead and backing vocals, flute, bass flute, harmonica
  • Mike Moran– keyboards
  • John Jones – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Trevor Jones – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Graham Deakin– drums, percussion
  • Barry St. John – backing vocals
  • Liza Strike – backing vocals
  • Helen Chappelle – backing vocals
  • Nicky James – backing vocals
  • Terry James – orchestral arrangements
  • Derek Varnals – recording, associate producer
  • Dave Baker – recording
  • Phil Travers – illustration, design
  • Gered Mankowitz– photography

Track listing:

  1. In Your Song – Nicky James
  2. Friends – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  3. We Need Love – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  4. Within Your Eyes – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  5. One Night Stand – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  6. Keep On Searching – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  7. Didn’t I – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  8. Migration – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  9. Carousel – Ray Thomas, Nicky James
  10. The Last Dream – Ray Thomas

Justin Hayward: Songwriter

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On February 11, 1977, “Deram” label released “Songwriter”, the second Justin Hayward album. It was recorded June – December 1976, at “Threshold” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke, Justin Hayward and Martin Wyatt.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, drums, bass, violin, cello, flute, tambourine
  • Jim Cockey – violin
  • Tom Tompkins – viola
  • Tim Tompkins – cello
  • Mel Galley– bass
  • Terry Rowley – guitar
  • Dave Holland– drums
  • Ken Freeman– keyboards
  • Doremi Hayward – backing vocals
  • Peter Knight- strings arranger, conductor
  • Tony Clarke, Derek Varnals, Dave Baker – engineer
  • Dean Rod – engineer assistant
  • Gary Ladinkski – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Justin Hayward.

  1. Tightrope
  2. Songwriter Part 1
  3. Songwriter Part 2
  4. Country Girl
  5. One Lonely Room
  6. Lay It on Me
  7. Stage Door
  8. Raised on Love
  9. Doin’ Time
  10. Nostradamus

Keef Hartley Band: The Battle of North West Six

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In October 1969, “Deram” label released “The Battle of North West Six”, the second Keef Hartley Band album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Neil Slaven.

Personnel:

  • Keef Hartley– drums, percussion
  • Miller Anderson– vocals, guitars
  • Henry Lowther– trumpet, flugelhorn, violin, brass arrangements
  • Jim Jewell, Chris Mercer– tenor saxophone
  • Gary Thain– bass guitar
  • “Spit James” (Ian Cruickshank) – guitar
  • Mick Weaver– organ, piano, percussion
  • Mick Taylor– guitar
  • Mike Davis – trumpet
  • Harry Beckett– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Lyn Dobson– tenor saxophone, flute
  • Barbara Thompson– baritone saxophone, flute
  • Ray Warleigh– flute
  • Derek Varnals – recording
  • Adrian Martins, John Punter– engineer assistant
  • Art Wood– artwork
  • Richard Sacks – photography

Track listing:

  1. The Dansette Kid / Hartley Jam for Bread – Fiona Hewitson, Spit James, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain
  2. Don’t Give Up – Fiona Hewitson, Spit James, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain
  3. Me and My Woman – Gene Barge
  4. Hickory – Fiona Hewitson, Spit James, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain
  5. Don’t Be Afraid – Fiona Hewitson, Spit James, Keef Hartley, Peter Dines, Gary Thain
  6. Not Foolish, Not Wise – Fiona Hewitson, Spit James, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain
  7. Waiting Around – Fiona Hewitson, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain
  8. Tadpole – Fiona Hewitson, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain
  9. Poor Mabel (You’re Just Like Me) – Fiona Hewitson, Spit James, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain
  10. Believe In You – Fiona Hewitson, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain

The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

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Every_Good_Boy_Deserves_Favour

On July 23, 1971, “Threshold Records” released “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour”, the seventh Moody Blues (The) album. It was  recorded November 1970 – March 1971, at “Wessex Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Clarke.

Personnel:

  • Justin Hayward– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, sitar
  • John Lodge– vocals, bass, cello
  • Ray Thomas  vocals,  flute,  tambourine,  oboe,  woodwinds,  harmonica
  • Graeme Edge– electric and acoustic drums, percussion
  • Mike Pinder– vocals, mellotron, harpsichord, Hammond organ, piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer
  • Derek Varnals – recording
  • David Baker – engineer assistant
  • Harry Fisher – cutting engineer
  • Phil Travers – sleeve artist
  • Randall Nelson – lyrics sheet photograph

Track listing:

  1. Procession – Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, John Lodge, Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas
  2. The Story in Your Eyes – Justin Hayward
  3. Our Guessing Game – Ray Thomas
  4. Emily’s Song – John Lodge
  5. After You Came – Graeme Edge
  6. One More Time to Live – John Lodge
  7. Nice to Be Here – Ray Thomas
  8. You Can Never Go Home – Justin Hayward
  9. My Song – Mike Pinder

John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers: Bare Wires

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Bare_Wires

On June 21, 1968, “Decca” label released “Bare Wires”, the eight John Mayall and the Bluesbrakers album. It was recorded in April 1968, at “Decca Studios”  in London, and was produced by Mike Vernon and John Mayall. “Bare Wires” was the last John Mayall studio album to feature the name “Bluesbreakers”.

Personnel:

  • John Mayall– vocals,  harmonica,  piano,  harpsichord,  organ, harmonium, guitar
  • Peter Green– guitar
  • Mick Taylor– lead guitar, Hawaiian guitar
  • Tony Reeves– string bass, bass guitar
  • Jon Hiseman– drums, percussion
  • Keef Hartley– drums
  • Dick Heckstall-Smith – soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Chris Mercer –tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Henry Lowther– cornet, violin
  • Derek Varnals – engineer
  • Pete Smith, Jan Persson –photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Mayall, except where noted.

  1. Bare Wires Suite (Medley)
  • Bare Wires
  • Where Did I Belong
  • I Started Walking
  • Open Up A New Door
  • Fire
  • I Know Now
  • Look In The Mirror
  1. I’m a Stranger
  2. No Reply – John Mayall, Mick Taylor
  3. Hartley Quits – Mick Taylor
  4. Killing Time
  5. She’s Too Young
  6. Sandy