Tag Archives: George Ricci

Roberta Flack: First Take

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On June 20, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “First Take”, the debut Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded in February 1969, at “Atlantic” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “First Take” at number 451 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
  • Bucky Pizzarelli – guitars
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Ray Lucas – drums, percussion
  • Seldon Powell, Frank Wess – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Benny Powell – trombone
  • Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff – violin
  • Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Theodore Israel – viola
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
  • William S. Fischer – horn and string arrangements, string conducting
  • William Arlt – recording
  • Bob Liftin – remix
  • Stanislaw Zagorski – design
  • Ken Heinen – photography

Track listing:

  1. Compared to What – Gene McDaniels
  2. Angelitos Negros – Andrés Eloy Blanco, Manuel Álvarez Maciste
  3. Our Ages or Our Hearts – Robert Ayers, Donny Hathaway
  4. I Told Jesus – traditional, arranged by Roberta Flack
  5. Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye – Leonard Cohen
  6. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
  7. Tryin’ Times – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
  8. Ballad of the Sad Young Men – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf

Donny Hathaway: Extension Of A Man

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On June 18, 1973, “Atco” label released “Extension of a Man”, the fourth and final Donny Hathaway studio album. It was recorded October – November 1972, at “A&R”, “Bell Sound”, “Regent Sound” and “Atlantic” in New York City, “Universal” in Chicago, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Donny Hathaway – lead vocals, Fender Rhodes electric piano, all pianos, Hammond organ, keyboards, bass, arrangements
  • Cornell Dupree – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – banjo, guitar
  • Willie Weeks, Russ Savakus, Stanley Clarke, Gordon Edwards – bass
  •  Grady Tate, Fred White, Rick Marotta, Ray Lucas – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Julien Barber, Noel DaCosta, Sanford Allen, Theodore Israel – violin
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Kermit Moore – cello
  • Gloria Agostini – harp 
  • David Newman – saxophone
  • Marvin Stamm, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Dominick Gravine, Garnett Brown, Paul Faulise, Wayne Andre, Tony Studd, Garnett Brown – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Don Butterfield – tuba
  • Phil Bodner – clarinet, alto saxophone
  • Seldon Powell – clarinet, reeds, tenor saxophone
  • Vincent Abato – clarinet
  • Romeo Penque, William Slapin – reeds
  • Jim Buffington, Julius Watkins, Tony Miranda – French horn
  • Henry Schuman – oboe
  • Myrna Summers & The Interdenominational Singers – choir 
  • Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, Jimmy Douglass, Mario “Big M” Medious, Richard Wells, William “Mac” McCollum – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Donny Hathaway, except where noted.

  1. I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)
  2. Someday We’ll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway, Edward Howard
  3. Flying Easy
  4. Valdez in the Country
  5. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know – Al Kooper
  6. Come Little Children
  7. Love, Love, Love – J.R. Bailey, Ken Williams
  8. The Slums
  9. Magdalena – Danny O’Keefe
  10. I Know It’s You – Leon Ware
  11. Lord Help Me – Joe Greene, Billy Preston

Bob James: Two

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On May 29. 1975, “CTI” label released “Two”, the fourth Bob James album. It was recorded December 1974 – January 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taulor.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – electric piano, clavinet, ARP Odyssey, Yamaha YC-30 combo organ, arrangements, conductor
  • Richard Resnicoff – guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar, bass
  • Gary King – bass
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Arthur Jenkins – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Patti Austin – vocals, lead vocal
  • Frank Floyd – vocals
  • Lani Groves – vocals
  • Zachary Sanders – vocals
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • John Frosk – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Victor Paz – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Eddie Bert – trombone
  • Tom Mitchell – trombone
  • Tony Studd – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute, electric flute
  • Eddie Daniels – clarinet
  • James Buffington – French horn
  • Peter Gordon – French horn
  • Al Richmond – French horn
  • Harry Cykman, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Gene Orloff and Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Seymour Barab, Alla Goldberg, Warren Lash, Jesse Levy, George Ricci, Alan Shulman and Anthony Sophos – cello
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Bob Ciano – design
  • Greg Laurents – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Take Me to the Mardi Gras – Paul Simon
  2. I Feel a Song (In My Heart) – Tony Camillo, Mary Sawyer
  3. The Golden Apple – Bob James
  4. Farandole – Georges Bizet
  5. You’re as Right as Rain – Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  6. Dream Journey – Bob James

George Benson: The Other Side of Abbey Road

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In June 1970, “A&M” label released “The Other Side of Abbey Road”, the eight George Benson album. It was recorded October – November 1969, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – vocals, guitar
  • Bob James – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Ernie Hayes – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Jerry Jemmott – bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Ed Shaughnessy – drums
  • Ray Barretto – percussion
  • Andy Gonzalez – percussion
  • Sonny Fortune – alto saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
  • Don Ashworth – baritone saxophone
  • Phil Bodner – flute, oboe
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Wayne Andre – trombone, euphonium
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Mel Davis – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Bernie Glow – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Raoul Poliakin – violin
  • Max Pollikoff – violin
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Don Sebesky – arrangements
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Sam Antupit – design
  • Eric Meola – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.

  1. Golden Slumbers / You Never Give Me Your Money
  2. Because / Come Together
  3. Oh! Darling
  4. Here Comes the Sun – George Harrison / I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
  5. Something – George Harrisons / Octopus’s Garden – Richard Starkey / The End

Don McLean: Same (third album)

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In November 1972, “United Artists” label released the self-titled, third Don McLean album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Record Plant Studios” in New York City and was produced by Ed Freeman.

Personnel:

  • Don McLean – guitar, vocals
  • Warren Bernhardt – piano
  • Dick Hyman – piano
  • Neil Larsen – piano
  • Ed Trickett – hammered dulcimer
  • Don Brooks – harmonica
  • Howard “Buzz” Feiten – guitar
  • Tony Levin – bass
  • Bob Rothstein – bass, vocals
  • Russ Savakus – bass, violin, vocals
  • Chris Parker – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion, conga
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Ed Freeman – string arrangements
  • West Forty Fourth Street Rhythm and Noise Choir – chorus
  • Tom Flye, Dennis Ferrante, Ed Sprigg, Rod O’Brien – engineer
  • John Olson – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Don McLean, except where noted.

  1. Dreidel
  2. Bronco Bill’s Lament
  3. Oh, My What a Shame
  4. If We Try
  5. The More You Pay (The More It’s Worth)
  6. Narcisissima
  7. Falling Through Time
  8. On the Amazon – Vivian Ellis, Clifford Grey, Greatrex Newman
  9. Birthday Song
  10. The Pride Parade

Freddie Hubbard: First Light

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On October 12, 1971, “CTI” label released “First Light”, the 23rd Freddie Hubbard album. It was recorded in September 1971, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Richard Wyands – piano
  • George Benson – guitar
  • Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes piano
  • Phil Kraus – vibraphone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Wally Kane – flute, bassoon
  • George Marge – flute, clarinet
  • Romeo Penque – flute, English horn, oboe, clarinet
  • Jane Taylor – bassoon
  • Ray Alonge – French horn
  • James Buffington – French horn
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • David Nadien – violin
  • Paul Gershman – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Harold Kohon – violin
  • Joe Malin – violin
  • Gene Orloff – violin
  • Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Tosha Samaroff – violin
  • Irving Spice – violin
  • Alfred Brown – viola
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Don Sebesky – arranger, conductor

Track listing:

  1. First Light – Freddie Hubbard
  2. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey –  Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
  3. Moment to Moment – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
  4. Yesterday’s Dreams – Norman Martin, Don Sebesky
  5. Lonely Town (from On the Town) – Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Asolph Green
  6. Fantasy in D – Cedar Walton

Eumir Deodato: Deodato 2

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On July 18, 1973, “CTI” label released “Deodato 2”, the second Eumir Deodato studio album. It was recorded April – May 1973, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Eumir Deodato – keyboards, acoustic and electric piano
  • John Tropea – guitars
  • John Giulino – bass
  • Stanley Clarke – bass
  • Alvin Brehm, Russell Savakus – arco bass
  • Billy Cobham, Rick Marotta – drums
  • Gilmore Degap, Rubens Bassini – congas, percussion
  • Joe Temperley – baritone sax
  • George Marge, Hubert Laws, Jerry Dodgion, Romeo Penque – flute
  • Tony Studd – bass trombone
  • Garnett Brown, Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Brooks Tillotson, Jim Buffington – French horn
  • Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm, Jon Faddis – flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Burt Collins, Joe Shepley, Victor Paz – trumpet
  • David Nadien, Elliot Rosoff, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harold Kohon, Harry Cykman, Harry Glickman, Harry Lookofsky, Irving Spice, Joe Malin, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman: violin
  • Alfred Brown, Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello

 Track listing:

  1. Nights in White Satin – Justin Hayward
  2. Pavane for a Dead Princess – Maurice Ravel
  3. Skyscrapers – Eumir Deodato
  4. Super Strut – Eumir Deodato
  5. Rhapsody in Blue – George Gershwin, arrangement and adaptation by Eumir Deodato

 

Tim Hardin: Bird on a Wire

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In June 1971, “Columbia” label released “Bird on a Wire”, the sixth Tim Hardin album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Ed Freeman and Bob Devere.

Personnel:

  • Tim Hardin – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Sam T. Brown – guitar
  • Ed Freeman – guitar, string and horn arrangements
  • Monte Dunn – guitar
  • Joe Rudd – guitar
  • Gilles Malkine – guitar
  • Ralph Towner– guitar
  • Bill Keith– pedal steel guitar
  • Paul Hornsby– keyboards
  • Joe Zawinul– keyboards
  • Warren Bernhardt– keyboards
  • Bill Chelf – keyboards
  • Miroslav Vitouš– bass
  • Tony Levin– bass
  • Glen Moore– bass
  • Robert Popwell– bass
  • Rob Rothstein– bass
  • Bill Stewart – drums, percussion
  • Steve Haas – drums, percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald– drums, percussion
  • Natoga – drums, percussion
  • Alphonse Mouzon– drums, percussion
  • Mike Mainieri– vibraphone, backing vocals
  • Collin Walcott– vibraphone, backing vocals
  • Richard Bock – cello
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • Canby Singers – backing vocals
  • Jim Greene, Lacy O’Neal, Doug Pomeroy – engineer
  • Lous Schlossberg – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Tim Hardin, except where noted.

  1. Bird on the Wire – Leonard Cohen
  2. Moonshiner – traditional
  3. Southern Butterfly
  4. A Satisfied Mind – Joe Hayes, Jack Rhodes
  5. Soft Summer Breeze
  6. Hoboin’ – John Lee Hooker, Joe Josea
  7. Georgia on My Mind – Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell
  8. Andre Johray
  9. If I Knew
  10. Love Hymn

The Youngbloods: Same

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In January 1967, “RCA Victor” label released the self-titled, debut Youngbloods  (The) album. It was recorded in 1966, at “RCA Victor’s Studio B” in New York City, and was produced by Felix Pappalardi.

Personnel:

  • Jesse Colin Young– lead vocals, bass, rhythm guitar
  • Jerry Corbitt– rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Lowell “Banana” Levinger – lead guitar, electric piano
  • Joe Bauer – drums, percussion
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Bob Cullen – recording supervision
  • Mike Moran – engineer
  • Mickey Crofford – engineer
  • Ray Hall – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Grizzly Bear – Jerry Corbitt
  2. All Over the World (La-La) – Jerry Corbitt
  3. Statesboro Blues – Blind Willie McTell
  4. Get Together – Chet Powers
  5. One Note Man – Paul Arnoldi
  6. The Other Side of This Life – Fred Neil
  7. Tears Are Falling – Jesse Colin Young
  8. Four in the Morning – George Remailly
  9. Foolin’ Around (The Waltz) – Jesse Colin Young
  10. Ain’t That Lovin’ You – Jimmy Reed
  11. C. Rider – Mississippi John Hurt