Tag Archives: George Johnson

The Brothers Johnson: Light Up the Night

On April 4, 1980, “A&M” label released “Light Up the Night”, the fourth Brothers Johnson (The) album. It was recorded 1978 – 1980, at “Allen Zentz Recording” and “A&M Studios” in Hollywood, “Kendun Recorders” in Burbank, California, and was produced by Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • George Johnson – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, rhythm arrangements
  • Louis Johnson – acoustic piano, Prophet-5, guitars, lead guitar, bass, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
  • Greg Phillinganes – acoustic and electric piano, synthesizer
  • Rod Temperton – electric piano, synthesizer and BGV arrangements
  • Steve Porcaro – synthesizers, synthesizer programming
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion, vocal percussion
  • Richard Heath – lead and backing vocals, percussion
  • Kim Hutchcroft – soprano, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute
  • Larry Williams – alto and tenor saxophone, flute, synthesizers
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – euphonium, trombone, slide trumpet
  • Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn, French horn, horn and string arrangements
  • Alex Weir – lead and backing vocals
  • Michael Jackson – backing vocals fills, BGV arrangements
  • Merry Clayton – backing vocals
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
  • Susaye Greene-Brown – backing vocals
  • Josie James – backing vocals
  • Valerie Johnson – backing vocals
  • Scherrie Payne – backing vocals
  • Quincy Jones – rhythm, synthesizer and BGV arrangements, backing vocals
  • Johnny Mandel – synthesizer arrangements
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – string conductor
  • Bruce Swedien – recording, mixing
  • Tim Gerrity – engineer assistant
  • Ralph Osborn – engineer assistant
  • Randy Pipes – engineer assistant
  • John Van Nest – engineer assistant
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Chuck Beeson – art direction
  • Glen Wexler – art direction, cover concept, photography
  • Ed Eckstien – cover concept
  • Kurt Triffet – illustration
  • The Fitzgerald/Hartley Co. – direction

Track listing:

  1. Stomp! – Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson, Valerie Johnson
  2. Light Up the Night – Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
  3. You Make Me Wanna Wiggle – Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson, Valerie Johnson
  4. Treasure – Rod Temperton
  5. This Had to Be – Michael Jackson, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
  6. All About the Heaven – Rod Temperton
  7. Smilin’ on Ya – George Johnson, Greg Phillinganes, Louis Johnson, Jerry Hey
  8. Closer to the One That You Love – Rod Templeton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
  9. Celebration – Rod Templeton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson

Quincy Jones: Mellow Madness

In August 1975, “A&M” label released “Mellow Madness”, the twenty – fifth Quincy Jones album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Record Plant” and “Westlake Audio” and was produced by Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • Quincy Jones – lead and backing vocals, arranger, keyboards, trumpet
  • Toots Thielemans- guitar, harmonica
  • Minnie Riperton, Leon Ware, Jesse Kirkland, Myrna Matthews, Paulette McWilliams, Joseph Greene, Jim Gilstrap, Paulette Williams, Carolyn Willis, Watts Prophets, George Johnson – vocals
  • Wah Wah Watson, George Johnson, Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Mike Melvoin, Jerry Peters– keyboards
  • Ian Underwood– synthesizer
  • Louis Johnson, Max Bennett, Chuck Rainey– bass
  • Grady Tate, Harvey Mason– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald- conga, drums, percussion
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Ernie Krivda, Sahib Shihab– saxophone
  • Bill Lamb, Chuck Findley, Tom Bahler – trumpet
  • Frank Rosolino- trombone, trumpet
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Hubert Laws– flute
  • Jerome Richardson– wind

Track listing:

All tracks by Quincy Jones, except where noted.

  1. Is It Love That We’re Missing? – George Johnson, Debbie Smith
  2. Paranoid
  3. Mellow Madness – Tom Bahler, Al Ciner, Quincy Jones, Paulette McWilliams
  4. Beautiful Black Girl – Quincy Jones, Otis Smith
  5. Listen (What It Is)
  6. Just a Little Taste of Me
  7. My Cherie Amour – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  8. Tryin’ to Find Out About You
  9. Cry Baby
  10. Bluesette – Norman Gimbel, Toots Thielemans

Billy Preston: Music Is My Life

Music_Is_My_Life

On October 8, 1972, “A&M” label released “Music is my Life” the seventh Billy Preston studio album.  It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Billy Preston.

Personnel:

  • Billy Preston – vocals, keyboards, bass guitar
  • George Johnson – guitars
  • Hubert Heard – keyboards
  • Louis Johnson – bass guitar
  • Manuel Kellough – drums
  • Tom Scott – horn
  • Jim Horn – horn
  • George Bohanon – horn
  • Buck Monari – horn
  • Paul Hubison – horn
  • Clarence McDonald, David T. Walker- arrangements
  • Roland Young – art direction
  • Jim McCarty – photography

Track listing:

All songs by Billy Preston, except where noted.

  1. We’re Gonna Make It
  2. One Time or Another – Billy Preston, Robert Sam
  3. Blackbird – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  4. I Wonder Why – Billy Preston, George Johnson
  5. Will It Go Round in Circles – Billy Preston, Bruce Fisher
  6. Ain’t That Nothin – Billy Preston, Joe Greene, Robert Sam
  7. God Loves You – Billy Preston, John Schuler
  8. Make the Devil Mad – Turn on to Jesus
  9. Nigger Charlie – Billy Preston, Joe Greene
  10. Heart Full of Sorrow – Billy Preston, George Johnson
  11. Music Is My Life