Tag Archives: Elliot Gilbert

Bill Withers: Menagerie

In December 1977, “Columbia” label released “Menagerie”, the sixth Bill Withers studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “The Record Plant” in Los Angeles, “A&R Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Withers, Keni Burke, Clarence McDonald and Clifford Coulter.

Personnel:

  • Bill Withers – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Clarence McDonald – keyboards, string arrangements, horn arrangements, arrangements
  • Dean Gant – keyboards
  • Clifford Coulter – keyboards, synthesizer solo
  • Mike Jones – synthesizers
  • Jerry Knight – bass
  • Keni Burke – bass
  • Russ Kunkel – drums, shaker
  • Alvin Taylor – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Paul Riser – horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Charles Veal – concertmaster
  • Pat Hodges – backing vocals
  • Denita James – backing vocals
  • Jessica Smith – backing vocals
  • Phil Jantaas – assistant engineer
  • Roger Carpenter – design
  • Lou Beach – illustration
  • Elliot Gilbert – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Withers, except where noted.

  1. Lovely Day – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough
  2. I Want to Spend the Night
  3. Lovely Night for Dancing
  4. Then You Smile at Me – Bill Withers, Clarence McDonald
  5. She Wants To (Get on Down) – Bill Withers, Larry Nash
  6. It Ain’t because of Me Baby – Bill Withers, Michael Jones
  7. Tender Things
  8. Wintertime – Cliff Coulter
  9. Let Me Be the One You Need – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough

Van Halen: Same

Van_Halen

On February 10, 1978, “Warner Bros” released the self titled, debut Van Halen studio album.  It was recorded August – September 1977, at “Sunset Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ted Templeman. “Guitar World” magazine readers ranked the album at number 7 on a list of the “Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time”. In 2013, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Van Halen” at number 27 of its list of the “100 Best Debut Albums of All Time”. The album sold more than ten million copies in the US by 1999 and was certified Diamond  by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • David Lee Roth– lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Eddie Van Halen– guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Anthony– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Alex Van Halen– drums
  • Dave Bhang – art direction, design
  • Elliot Gilbert – photography
  • Jodi Cohen – typesetting

Track listing:

All tracks by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, except where noted.

  1. Runnin’ with the Devil
  2. Eruption
  3. You Really Got Me – Ray Davies
  4. Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love
  5. I’m the One
  6. Jamie’s Cryin’
  7. Atomic Punk
  8. Feel Your Love Tonight
  9. Little Dreamer
  10. Ice Cream Man – John Brim
  11. On Fire