Tag Archives: France

Ben Howard: Is It?

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On June 16, 2023, “Island” label released “Is It?”, the fifth Ben Howard studio album. It was recorded 2022 – 2023, at “Le Manoir de Léon in Léon” in Landes, France, “Real World Studios” in Box, Wiltshire, England, and was produced by Nathan Jenkins.

Personnel:

  • Ben Howard – vocals, guitar, electric guitar, aerophones, electro-acoustic realization
  • Nathan Jenkins – synthesizer, programming, backing vocals, drum programming, mixing
  • Mickey Smith – guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussion, baritone, tape realization, backing vocals
  • Nat Wason – guitar, lap steel guitar
  • Richard Thomas – piano, synthesizer, harmonium, backing vocals
  • James Arben – saxophone, bass clarinet, oboe
  • Raven Bush – strings
  • Michael McGoldrick – uilleann pipes, flute
  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering
  • Bráulio Amado – artwork
  • Allan Wilson – photography
  • Roddy Bow – photography

Track listing:

  1. Couldn’t Make It Up – Ben Howard, Mickey Smith
  2. Walking Backwards – Ben Howard, Nathan Jenkins, Mickey Smith
  3. Days of Lantana – Ben Howard, Mickey Smith – contains a sample of “Trois Beaux Oiseaux De Paradis”, written by Maurice Ravel and performed by Linda Thompson
  4. Life in the Time – Ben Howard, Mike Smith
  5. Moonraker – Ben Howard, Nathan Jenkins, Mike Smith
  6. Richmond Avenue – Ben Howard, Michael McGoldrick, Mike Smith
  7. Interim of Sense – Ben Howard, Nathan Jenkins, Mike Smith
  8. Total Eclipse – Ben Howard, Mike Smith
  9. Spirit – Ben Howard, Nathan Jenkins, Mike Smith
  10. Little Planet – Ben Howard, Nathan Jenkins, Mike Smith

Manic Street Preachers: Everything Must Go

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On May 20, 1996, “Epic” label released “Everything Must Go”, the fourth Manic Street Preachers studio album. It was recorded 1995 – 1996, at “Chetau de la Rouge Motte” in Normandy, France, “Big Noise” in Cardiff, Wales, “Real World”, “Box” in UK, and was produced by Mike Hedges, Dave Eringa and Stephen Hague.

Personnel:

  • James Dean Bradfield – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, piano
  • Richey Edwards – rhythm guitar
  • Sean Moore – drums, percussion, trumpet, backing vocals
  • Nicky Wire – bass guitar and backing vocals
  • John Green – Hammond organ, keyboards
  • Martin Ditcham – percussion
  • Gini Ball – violin
  • Sally Herbert – violin
  • Anne Stephenson – violin
  • Chris Pitsillides – viola
  • Clare Orsler – viola
  • Julie Aliss – harp
  • Martin Greene – string arrangements
  • Spike Drake – engineer
  • Ian Grimble – engineer, mixing
  • Dave Eringa – mixing
  • Guy Massey – mixing assistant
  • Chris Blair – mastering
  • Mark Farrow – design
  • Rankin – photography
  • Jackson Pollock – sleeve quote

Track listing:

All lyrics are written by Nicky Wire,except where noted, all music by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore, except where noted.

  1. Elvis Impersonator: Blackpool Pier – lyrics by Richey Edwards
  2. A Design for Life
  3. Kevin Carter – lyrics by Richey Edwards, music by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore
  4. Enola/Alone
  5. Everything Musty Go
  6. Small Black Flowers That Grow in the Sky – lyrics by Richey Edwards, music by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore
  7. The Girl Who Wanted to Be Good – lyrics by Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards
  8. Removables – lyrics by Richey Edwards, music by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore
  9. Australia
  10. Interiors (Song for Willem de Kooning)
  11. Further Away
  12. No Surface All Feeling

Dizzy Gillespie: New Wave!

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In March 1963, “Philips” label released “New Wave!”, the 37th Dizzy Gillespie album. It was recorded May – July 1962, in New York City and Juan-les-Pins, France, and was produced by Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet, arrangements
  • Leo Wright – alto saxophone, flute
  • Charlie Ventura – tenor and bass saxophone
  • Lalo Schifrin – piano, arrangements
  • Bola Sete – guitar
  • Elek Bacsik – guitar
  • Jose Paula – vocal, guitar, tamboura, percussion
  • Chris White – bass
  • Rudy Collins – drums
  • Carmen Costa – vocal, maracas, cabasa, güiro
  • Pepito Riestra – percussion
  • Fred Schnell – photography

Track listing:

  1. In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town – Joe Young, John Siras, Little Jack Little
  2. Careless Love – Dizzy Gillespie
  3. Chega de Saudade – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes
  4. Taboo – Sidney Keith Russell
  5. One Note Samba – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça
  6. Manhã de Carnaval – Antonio Naria, Luiz Bonfa
  7. Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You –  Andy Razaf, Don Redman
  8. Pergunte ao Joao – Helena Silvia, Milton Costa

Chris Bell: I Am The Cosmos

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On February 21, 1992, “Rykodisc” label released “I Am the Cosmos”, the only Chris Bell album. It was posthumously released with materials recorded 1974 – 1975, at “Studio Hérouville” in Château d’Hérouville, France, and was produced by Chris Bell.

Personnel:

  • Chris Bell – vocals, guitar
  • Alex Chilton – guitar, backing vocals
  •  Jim Dickinson – piano
  • Ken Woodley – bass guitar, organ
  • Richard Rosebrough – drums
  • Jody Stephens – drums
  • Bill Cunningham – arrangements
  • Steven Jurgensmeyer – package design
  • David Bell – photography, booklet notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Chris Bell.

  1. I Am the Cosmos
  2. Better Save Yourself
  3. Speed of Sound
  4. Get Away
  5. You and Your Sister
  6. Make a Scene
  7. Look Up
  8. I Got Kinda Lost
  9. There Was a Light
  10. Fight at the Table
  11. I Don’t Know
  12. Though I Know She Lies

Gemma Hayes: Bones + Longing

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On November 14, 2014, “Chasing Dragons” label released “Bones + Longing”, the fifth Gemma Hayes studio album. It was recorded in Dublin Ireland, Noyant-la-Gravoyère in France, in London, and was produced by David Odlum and Gemma Hayes.

  • Gemma Hayes – vocals, guitar, piano, programming, bassline programming, vocal arrangements, voice arrangements, arrangements
  • David Odlum – vocals, guitar, synth, beats, bass, engineer
  • Romy – vocals, keys, synthesizers
  • Mark Stanley – drums
  • Jayne Gould – design
  • Humphrey Bangham – artwork
  • Simon Long – photography
  • Pip – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gemma Hayes.

  1. Laughter
  2. Dreamt You Were Fine
  3. Iona
  4. Joy
  5. Dark Moon
  6. Palomino
  7. To Be Your Honey
  8. Chasing
  9. Making My Way
  10. Caught
  11. Bones and Longing

Carla Bley: Carla’s Christmas Carols

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On November 3, 2009, “Watt/ECM” label released “Carla’s Christmas Carols”, the 26th Carla Bley album. It was recorded in December 2008, at “La Buissonne Studios”, Avignon, France, and was produced by Steve Swallow.

Personnel:

  • Carla Bley – piano, celeste
  • Steve Swallow – bass guitar, chimes
  • Tobias Weidinger – trumpet, flugelhorn, glockenspiel
  • Axel Schlosser – trumpet, flugelhorn, chimes
  • Christine Chapman – horn
  • Adrian Mears – trombone
  • Ed Partyka – bass trombone, tuba
  • Nikolaus Lowe – engineer
  • Nicolas Baillard – engineer
  • Gerard de Garo – engineer
  • Ricarda Molder – editing, mastering
  • Watt Works – design
  • Bill Strode – photography

Track listing:

  1. Tannenbaum – traditional
  2. Away in a Manger – James R. Murray
  3. The Christmas Song – Mel Torme, Bob Wells
  4. Ring Christmas Bells – Mykola Leontovych
  5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Part 1 – traditional
  6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Part 2 – traditional
  7. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Richard Storrs Willis, Edmund Sears
  8. Hell’s Bells – Carla Bley
  9. Jesus Maria – Carla Bley
  10. Jingle Bells – James Pierpont
  11. O Holy Night – Adolphe Adam, Placide Cappeau
  12. Joy to the World – Lowell Mason, Isaac Watts

Scorpions: Blackout

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On March 29, 1982, “Harvest” label released “Blackout”, the eighth Scorpions studio album. It was recorded November 1981 – January 1982, at “Villa San Pecaire” in Saint Jacques, France, “Dierks Studios” in Stommeln, Germany, and was produced by Dieter Dierks. In 2017, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Blackout” and number 73, on its list of “The 100 Greatest Metal Albums Of All Time”. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Klaus Meine – lead vocals
  • Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitars, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars, lead guitars, backing vocals
  • Matthias Jabs – lead guitars, rhythm guitars, 12-string acoustic guitars, backing vocals
  • Francis Buchholz – bass, backing vocals
  • Herman Rarebell – drums, backing vocals
  • Don Dokken – backing vocals
  • Dieter Dierks – engineer
  • Gerd Rautenbach – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig, Howie Weinberg – mastering 

Track listing:

All music by Rudolf Schenker, all lyrics as noted.

  1. Blackout – lyrics by Klaus Meine, Herman Rarebell, Sonja Kittelsen
  2. Can’t Live Without You – lyrics by Klaus Meine
  3. No One Like You – lyrics by Klaus Meine
  4. You Give Me All I Need – lyrics by Herman Rarebell
  5. Now – lyrics by Klaus Meine, Herman Rarebell
  6. Dynamite – lyrics by Klaus Meine, Herman Rarebell
  7. Arizona – lyrics by Herman Rarebell
  8. China White – lyrics by Klaus Meine
  9. When the Smoke Is Going Down – lyrics by Klaus Meine

Sweet: Level Headed

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On January 3, 1978, “Polydor” label released “Level Headed”, the sixth Sweet studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Château d’Hérouville” in France, “Kingsway Recorders” in London, and was produced by Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker.

Personnel:

  • Brian Connolly – lead vocals
  • Steve Priest – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, synthesizer voice
  • Andy Scott – lead and backing vocals, guitar, synthesizer
  • Mick Tucker – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Geoff Westley – keyboards, string arrangements 
  • Ronnie Asprey – brass
  • Richard Harvey – baroque wind
  • Stevie Lange – vocals
  • Louis Austin – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker except where noted.

  1. Dream On – Andy Scott
  2. Love Is Like Oxygen – Andy Scott, Trevor Griffin
  3. California Nights
  4. Strong Love
  5. Fountain
  6. Anthem No. I (Lady of the Lake)
  7. Silverbird
  8. Lettres D’Amour
  9. Anthem No. II
  10. Air on ‘A’ Tape Loop – Steve Priest, Andy Scott, Mick Tucker

Noir Désir: 666.667 Club

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On December 17, 1996, “Barclay” label released “666.667 Club”, the fifth Noir Désir studio album. It was recorded in 1996, and was produced by Ted Niceley, Bertrand Cantat, Serge Teyssot-Gay, Jean-Paul Roy and Denis Barthe. French edition of “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “666.667 Club” at number 12 on its list of the “Greatest 100 French Albums of all Time”. The album was certified 2 x Platium in France by “SNEP”.

Personnel:

  • Bertrand Cantat – vocals, guitars, harmonica, percussion
  • Serge Teyssot-Gay – guitars, organ
  • Jean-Paul Roy – bass
  • Denis Barthe – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Frédéric Vidalenc – bass
  • Akosh Szelevényi – saxophone, kalimba, oboe, bass clarinet, Tibetan bells
  • Lajkó Félix – violin
  • Alain Perrier, Les Elèves De L’Ecole Nationale De Musique Et De Danse Des Landes, Patrice Labèque, Thierry Duvigneau – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Bertrand Cantat, Serge Teyssot-Gay, Jean-Paul Roy and Denis Barthe, except where noted.

  1. 666.667 Club
  2. Fin de siècle
  3. Un jour en France
  4. À ton étoile
  5. Ernestine
  6. Comme elle vient
  7. Prayer for a Wanker
  8. Les persiennes
  9. L’homme pressé
  10. Lazy
  11. A la longue
  12. Septembre, en attendant – lyrics by Bertrand Cantat, music by Frédéric Vidalenc
  13. Song for JLP (bonus track, not listed in album cover)

Morrissey: Low in High School

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On November 17, 2017, “BMG” label released “Low in High School”, the eleventh Morrissey studio album. It was recorded in 2017, at “Forum Studios” in Italy, “La Fabrique Studios” in France, and was produced by Joe Chiccarelli.

Personnel:

  • Morrissey – lead vocals
  • Boz Boorer – guitars
  • Mando Lopez – bass guitar
  • Jesse Tobias – guitars
  • Gustavo Manzur – keyboards
  • Matthew Ira Walker – drums
  • Roger Joseph Manning – string and horn arrangement
  • Steve Aho – orchestration
  • Andy Martin – trombone
  • Fred Simmons – trombone
  • H.E.R. – violin
  • Songa Lee – violin
  • Kathleen Sloan – violin
  • Erik Arvinder – viola
  • Gustavo Manzur – backing vocals
  • Davide Dell’Amore – engineer
  • Damien Arlot – engineer
  • Samuel Wahl – engineer
  • Morgane Myollet – engineer
  • Miro Lagioa – technical assistant

Track listing:

  1. My Love, I’d Do Anything for You – Morrissey, Mando Lopez
  2. I Wish You Lonely – Morrissey, Boz Boorer
  3. Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Upon the Stage – Morrissey, Boz Boorer
  4. Home Is a Question Mark – Morrissey, Gustavo Manzur
  5. Spent the Day in Bed – Morrissey, Gustavo Manzur
  6. I Burry the Living – Morrissey, Jesse Tobias
  7. In Your Lap – Morrissey, Gustavo Manzur
  8. The Girl from Tel Aviv Who Wouldn’t Kneel – Morrissey, Gustavo Manzur
  9. All the Young People Must Fall in Love – Morrissey, Boz Boreer
  10. When You Open Your Legs – Morrissey, Jesse Tobias
  11. Who Will Protect Us from the Police – Morrissey, Boz Boreer
  12. Israel – Morrissey, Gustavo Manzur