Tag Archives: Don Wardell

John Denver: Back Home Again

On June 15, 1974, “RCA Victor” label released “Back Home Again”, the eighth John Denver studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “RCA’s Music Center of the World” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Milton Okun and Susan Ruskin.

Personnel:

  • John Denver – vocals, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars
  • Julie Connor – vocals
  • John Sommers – banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, backing vocals
  • Steve Weisberg – acoustic guitar, dulcimer, dobro, backing vocals, arrangements
  • Jim Connor – vocals, banjo, harmonica
  • Glen Hardin – piano
  • David Jackson – bass
  • Dick Kniss – bass
  • Jim Gordon – drums, percussion
  • Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
  • Buddy Collette – clarinet
  • Lee Holdridge – orchestral arrangements
  • Don Wardell – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by John Denver, except where noted.

  1. Back Home Again
  2. On the Road – Carl Franzen
  3.  Grandma’s Feather Bed – Jim Connor
  4. Matthew
  5. Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Sommers
  6. The Music Is You
  7. Annie’s Song
  8. It’s Up to You – Steve Weisberg
  9. Cool an’ Green an’ Shady – John Denver, Joe Henry
  10. Eclipse
  11. Sweet Surrender
  12. This Old Guitar

Pure Prairie League: Bustin’ Out

In October 1972, “RCA” label released “Bustin’ Out”, the second Pure Prairie League studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “RCA Studios” in Toronto, and was produced by Bob Ringe, Susan Ruskin and Don Wardell.

Personnel:

  • George Powell –vocals,  electric guitar
  • David Huchins – guitar
  • Craig Fuller– vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar
  • Billy Hinds – drums
  • Mick Ronson– guitar, backing vocals, string arrangements
  • Gary Smith – guitar
  • Al “Brisco” Clark – steel guitar
  • Michael Connor – piano, keyboards
  • James Rolleston – bass
  • Bob Ringe – percussion, marimba
  • Dianne Brooks, Steven Edney – backing vocals
  • Acy Lehman – art direction

Track listing:

All tracks by Craig Fuller, except where noted.

  1. Jazzman – Ed Holstein
  2. Angel No. 9
  3. Leave My Heart Alone – George Powell
  4. Early Morning Riser
  5. Falling In and Out of Love
  6. Amie
  7. Boulder Skies
  8. Angel
  9. Call Me, Tell Me

Elvis Presley: Moody Blue

In July 1977, “RCA” label released “Moody Blue”, the final Elvis Presley studio album. It was recorded February – October 1976, April 1977, and was produced by Felton Jarvis, Chick Crumpacker and Don Wardell. The album was a mixture of live and studio work, and included the four tracks from Presley’s final studio recording sessions in October 1976 and two tracks left over from the previous Graceland session in February 1976. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Canada by “CRIA”, and 2 x Platinum in US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Elvis Presley – vocals, piano, guitars, executive producer
  • James Burton– lead guitar
  • John Wilkinson – rhythm guitar
  • David Briggs– keyboards
  • Jerry Scheff– bass
  • Grayham Passmore – bass
  • Ronnie Tutt– drums
  • The Sweet Inspirations– backing vocals
  • Sherrill Nielson – backing vocals
  • Kathy Westmoreland – backing vocals
  • D. Sumner& The Stamps – backing vocals
  • Myrna Smith– backing vocals
  • Bergen White – string and horn arrangements
  • Dick Baxter – engineer
  • Don Wardell – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Unchained Melody – Alex North, Hy Zaret
  2. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) – John Rostill
  3. Little Darlin’ – Maurice Williams
  4. Let Me Be There – John Rostill
  5. Way Down – Layng Martine, Jr.
  6. Pledging My Love – Don Robey, Ferdinand Washington
  7. Moody Blue – Mark James
  8. She Thinks I Still Care – Dickey Lee, Steve Duffy
  9. It’s Easy for You – Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice

John Denver: Farewell Andromeda

In June 1973, “RCA” label released “Farewell Andromeda”, the seventh John Denver album. It was recorded at “RCA Studio D” in New York City, and was produced by Milton Okun.

Personnel:

  • John Denver — vocals, guitar
  • Paul Prestopino — guitar, autoharp
  • John Sommers — banjo, guitar, mandolin
  • Eric Weissberg— banjo, steel guitar
  • Jan Camp Garrett — vocals, mandolin
  • Lawrence Gottlieb — vocals, steel guitar
  • Lee Holdridge— string arrangements
  • Michael Holmes — piano
  • Frank Owens — piano
  • Toots Thielemans— harmonica
  • Victor Garrett — vocals, bass
  • Richard Kniss — bass
  • Herb Lovelle— drums
  • George Marge — woodwind
  • Bryan Bowers — autoharp
  • Chip Taylor, Steve Chapin, Bill Danoff, Taffy Danoff, Steve Mandell, Martine Habib, Campden Street Choir — vocals
  • Acy R. Lehman – art director
  • Mark English – cover art
  • Don Wardell — executive producer
  • Kris O’Connor – producer assistant

Personnel:

All tracks by John Denver; except where noted.

  1. I’d Rather Be a Cowboy (Lady’s Chains)
  2. Berkeley Woman – Bryan Bowers
  3. Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas) – Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert
  4. Angel from Montgomery – John Prine
  5. River of Love – John Sommers
  6. Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada)
  7. Whiskey Basin Blues
  8. Sweet Misery – Hoyt Axton
  9. Zachary and Jennifer
  10. We Don’t Live Here No More – Bill Danoff
  11. Farewell Andromeda (Welcome To My Morning)