Tag Archives: Gary Usher

The Beach Boys: Surfin’ USA

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On March 25, 1963, “Capitol” label released “Surfin’ U.S.A.”, the second Beach Boys (The) studio album. It was recorded June 1962 – February 1962, at “Capitol Studios” and “Western” in Hollywood, and was produced by Nick Venet.

Personnel:

  • Mike Love – lead vocals
  • Brian Wilson – vocals, keyboards, bass
  • Carl Wilson – lead guitar
  • Dennis Wilson – vocals, drums
  • David Marks – rhythm guitar
  • John Severson – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Surfin’ U.S.A. – Brian Wilson, Chuck Berry
  2. Farmer’s Daughter – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  3. Misirlou – Nick Roubanis, Freed Wise, Milton Leeds, Bob Russell
  4. Stoked – Brian Wilson
  5. Lonely Sea – Brian Wilson, Gary Usher
  6. Shut Down – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian
  7. Noble Surfer – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  8. Honky Tonk – Bill Doggett, Shep Sheperd, Clifford Scott, Billy Butler
  9. Lana – Brian Wilson
  10. Surf Jam – Carl Wilson
  11. Let’s Go Trippin’ – Dick Dale
  12. Finders Keepers – Brian Wilson, Mike Love

The Beach Boys: Shut Down Vol. 2

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On March 2, 1964, “Capitol” label released “Shut Down Volume 2”, the fifth Beach Boys (The) studio album. It was recorded January – February 1964, at “Western” and “Gold Star” in Hollywood, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Carl Wilson – lead and backing vocals, electric guitar
  • Brian Wilson – lead and backing vocals, piano, Hammond B-3 organ
  • Mike Love – lead and backing vocals, tenor saxophone
  • Al Jardine – bass guitar, electric rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Dennis Wilson – lead and backing vocals, drums, floor tom
  • Bill Pitman – archtop acoustic guitar 
  • Tommy Tedesco – electric guitar 
  • Leon Russell – piano, tack piano
  • Al de Lory – piano
  • Ray Pohlman – 6-string bass guitar, bass guitar
  • Jimmy Bond – double bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums, tambourine, bell-tree, percussion, timpani
  • Frank Capp – glockenspiel, temple blocks, castanets 
  • Steve Douglas – tenor saxophone
  • Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone
  • Jay Migliori – baritone saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Fun, Fun, Fun – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  2. Don’t Worry Baby – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian
  3. In the Parkin’ Lot – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian
  4. ‘Cassius’ Love vs Sonny Wilson – Mike Love, Brian Wilson
  5. The Warmth of the Sun – Mike Love, Brian Wilson
  6. This Car of Mine – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  7. Why Do Fools Fall in Love – Frankie Lymon, George Goldner
  8. Pom, Pom Play Girl – Brian Wilson, Gary Usher
  9. Keep an Eye on Summer – Brian Wilson, Bob Norberg
  10. Shut Down, Part II – Carl Wilson
  11. Louie, Louie – Richard Berry
  12. Denny’s Drums – Dennis Wilson

The Beach Boys: Surfer Girl

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On September 16, 1963, “Capitol” label released “Surfer Girl”, the third Beach Boys (The) studio album, It was recorded May – July 1963, at “Western” in Hollywood, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Brian Wilson – vocals, keyboards, bass
  • Mike Love – vocals
  • Al Jardine – vocals, guitar, bass
  • Bruce Johnston – vocals, keyboards, bass
  • Ken Veeder – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Surfer Girl – Brian Wilson
  2. Catch a Wave – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  3. The Surfer Moon – Brian Wilson
  4. South Bay Surfer – Stephen Foster, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine
  5. The Rocking Surfer – Brian Wilson
  6. Little Deuce Coupe – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian
  7. In My Room – Brian Wilson, Gary Usher
  8. Hawaii – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  9. Surfer’s Rule – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  10. Our Car Club – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  11. Your Summer Dream – Brian Wilson, Bob Norberg
  12. Boogie Woodie – traditional, arranged by Brian Wilson

Sagittarius: Present Tense

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On July 3, 1968, “Columbia” label released “Present Tense”, the debut Sagittarius  album. It was recorded 1967 – 1968, and was produced by Gary Usher and Curt Boettcher.

Personnel:

  • Glen Campbell – guitar
  • Bruce Johnston – vocals
  • Terry Melcher – vocals
  • Gary Usher – vocals, arrangements
  • Curt Boettcher – vocals, arrangements
  • Keith Olsen – arrangements
  • Roy Halee – engineer
  • Tom May – engineer
  • Bob Irwin – mixing, mastering
  • Tom Wilkes – cover art, design
  • Andy Morten – artwork, design
  • Janet Atkins – design
  • Joe Foster – linear notes
  • Dawn Eden – linear notes, photography
  • Clark Besch – photography
  • Steve Besch – photography
  • Guy Webster – photography

Track listing:

  1. Another Time – Curt Boettcher
  2. Song to the Magic Frog (Will You Ever Know) – Curt Boettcher, O’Malley
  3. You Know I’ve Found a Way – Curt Boettcher, Mallory
  4. The Keeper of the Games – Curt Boettcher
  5. Glass – Marks, Sheldon
  6. Would You like to Go – Alexander, Curt Boettcher
  7. My World Fell Down – Carter/Stephens
  8. Hotel Indiscreet – Gordon, Griffin
  9. I’m Not Living Here – Curt Boettcher
  10. Musty Dusty – Curt Boettcher
  11. The Truth Is Not Real – Gary Usher

Gener Clark: Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers

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In February 1967, “Columbia” label released “Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers”, the debut Gene Clark album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Larry Marks and Gary Usher.

Personnel:

  • Gene Clark– vocals, guitar, harmonica
  • Glen Campbell– electric guitar
  • Jerry Cole– guitars
  • Bill Rinehart– guitars
  • Clarence White– guitar
  • Doug Dillard– electric banjo
  • Leon Russell– piano, harpsichord; string arrangements
  • Van Dyke Parks– keyboards
  • Chris Hillman– bass
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Michael Clarke– drums
  • Vern Gosdin– backing vocals
  • Rex Gosdin– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Gene Clark, except where noted.

  1. Echoes
  2. Think I’m Gonna Feel Better
  3. Tried So Hard
  4. Is Yours Is Mine
  5. Keep on Pushin’ – Gene Clark, Bill Rinehart
  6. I Found You
  7. So You Say You Lost Your Baby
  8. Elevator Operator – Gene Clark, Bill Rinehart
  9. The Same One
  10. Couldn’t Believe Her
  11. Needing Someone

Millenium: Begin

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In July 1968, “Columbia” label released “Begin”, the only Millennium studio album. It was recorded in 1968, at “Columbia Studios”, and was produced by Curt Boettcher and Keith Olsen.

Personnel:

  • Mike Fennelly– vocals
  • Sandy Salisbury– vocals
  • Curt Boettcher– vocals, arrangements
  • Lee Mallory– vocals, guitar
  • Joey Stec– vocals, guitar
  • Doug Rhodes– keyboards, bass, saxophone
  • Ron Edgar – drums
  • Jerry Hochman – engineer
  • Geller and Butler Advertising – design
  • Gary Usher– executive coordination

Track listing:

  1. Prelude – Ron Edgar. Doug Rhodes
  2. To Claudia on Thursday – Michael Fennelly, Joey Stec
  3. I Just Want to Be Your Friend – Curt Boettcher
  4. 5 A.M – Sandy Salisbury
  5. I’m With You – Lee Mallory
  6. The Island – Curt Boettcher
  7. Sing to Me – Lee Mallory
  8. It’s You – Michael Fennelly, Joey Stec
  9. Some Sunny Day – Lee Mallory
  10. It Won’t Always Be the Same – Michael Fennelly, Joey Stec
  11. The Know It All – Curt Boettcher
  12. Karmic Dream Sequence #1 – Curt Boettcher, Lee Mallory
  13. There is Nothing More to Say – Curt Boettcher, Lee Mallory, Michael Fennelly
  14. Anthem (Begin) – Curt Boettcher, Lee Mallory

 

The Byrds: Younger Than Yesterday

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Younger Than Yesterday

On February 6, 1967, “Columbia” released “Younger Than Yesterday”, the fourth Byrds (The) album. It was recorded November – December 1966, at the “Columbia Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Gary Usher. In 2012, the album was ranked at number 127 on “Rolling Stone’s” magazine list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Jim McGuinn – vocals, lead guitar
  • David Crosby – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Chris Hillman – vocals, electric bass
  • Michael Clarke– drums
  • Vern Gosdin– acoustic guitar
  • Clarence White– guitar
  • Cecil Barnard – piano
  • Jay Migliori- saxophone
  • Hugh Masekela– trumpet
  • Daniel Ray (Big Black) – percussion

Track listing:

  1. So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star – Jim McGuinn, Chris Hillman
  2. Have You Seen Her Face – Chris Hillman
  3. T.A.-102 – Jim McGuinn, Robert J. Hippard
  4. Renaissance Fair – David Crosby, Jim McGuinn
  5. Time Between – Chris Hillman
  6. Everybody’s Been Burned – David Crosby
  7. Thoughts and Words – Chris Hillman
  8. Mind Gardens – David Crosby
  9. My Back Pages – Bob Dylan
  10. The Girl with No Name – Chris Hillman
  11. Why – Jim McGuinn, David Crosby

 

The Byrds: The Notorious Byrd Brothers

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Notorious Byrd Brothers

On January 15, 1968, “Columbia” label released “The Notorious Byrd Brothers”, the fifth Byrds (The) studio album. It was recorded June – December, 1967, at the “Columbia Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Gary Usher.

Personnel:

  • Roger McGuinn – vocals, lead guitar, Moog synthesizer
  • David Crosby – vocals, rhythm guitar, electric bass
  • Chris Hillman– vocals, electric bass, guitar, mandolin
  • Michael Clarke– drums
  • Gene Clark– backing vocal
  • Clarence White, James Burton– guitar
  • Red Rhodes– pedal steel guitar
  • Paul Beaver, Terry Trotter – piano
  • Paul Beaver, Gary Usher– Moog synthesizer
  • Barry Goldberg– organ
  • Dennis McCarthy– celeste
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Lester Harris, Raymond Kelley, Paul Bergstrom, Jacqueline Lustgarten – cello
  • Victor Sazer, Carl West, William Armstrong – violin
  • Alfred McKibbon – double bass
  • Ann Stockton – harp
  • Richard Hyde– trombone
  • Jay Migliori– saxophone
  • Roy Caron, Virgil Fums, Gary Weber – brass
  • Dennis Faust, Gary Usher – percussion
  • Curt Boettcher, Gary Usher – backing vocals
  • Firesign Theatre– sound effects

Track listing:

  1. Artificial Energy – Roger McGuinn,Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke
  2. Goin’ Back – Carole King, Gerry Goffin
  3. Natural Harmony – Chris Hillman
  4. Draft Morning – David Crosby, Chris Hillm, Roger McGuinn
  5. Wasn’t Born to Follow – Carole King, Gerry Goffin
  6. Get to You – Gene Clark and Roger McGuinn
  7. Change Is Now – Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
  8. Old John Robertson – Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
  9. Tribal Gathering – David Crosby, Chris Hillma
  10. Dolphin’s Smile – David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn
  11. Space Odyssey – Roger McGuinn, Robert J. Hippard