Tag Archives: Grammy for Album of the Year

John Lennon And Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy

JohnLennon-double fantasy

On November 17, 1980, “Geffen” label released “Double Fantasy”, album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.  It was the seventh and final studio album released by Lennon in his lifetime, three weeks after its release, Lennon was murdered. The album was recorded from August 7 to September 22, 1980, at the “The Hit Factory” in New York, and was produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Jack Douglas. In 1981, “Double Fantasy” won “Grammy” for “Album of the Year”.

Personnel:

  • John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals; rhythm and acoustic guitars,  piano, keyboards, arrangements
  • Yoko Ono– lead and backing vocals; arranger
  • Earl Slick, Hugh McCracken– lead guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass
  • George Small– keyboards
  • Andy Newmark– drums
  • Arthur Jenkins– percussion
  • Ed Walsh – Oberheim synthesizer
  • Robert Greenidge– steel drum
  • Matthew Cunningham – hammer dulcimer
  • Randy Stein – English concertina
  • Howard Johnson, Grant Hungerford, John Parran, Seldon Powell, George “Young” Opalisky, Roger Rosenberg, David Tofani, Ronald Tooley – horns
  • Tony Davillo – hornarrangements and musical associate
  • Michelle Simpson, Cassandra Wooten, Cheryl Mason Jacks, Eric Troyer, Benny Cummings Singers, The Kings Temple Choir – backing vocals
  • Kishin Shinoyama– cover photo, photography

Track listing:

  1. (Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon
  2. Kiss Kiss Kiss – Yoko Ono
  3. Cleanup Time – John Lennon
  4. Give Me Something – Yoko Ono
  5. I’m Losing You – John Lennon
  6. I’m Moving On – Yoko Ono
  7. Beautiful Boy – John Lennon
  8. Watching the Wheels – John Lennon
  9. Yes, I’m Your Angel – Yoko Ono
  10. Woman – John Lennon
  11. Beautiful Boys – Yoko Ono
  12. Dear Yoko – John Lennon
  13. Every Man Has a Woman Who loves Him – Yoko Ono
  14. Hard Times Are Over – Yoko Ono

Billy Joel: 52nd Street

Billy_Joel_52nd_Street

On October 13, 1978, “Family Productions” label released “52nd Street”, the sixth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded July – August 1978, at the  “A&R Recording, Inc”., 799 7th Avenue at 52nd Street, New York City. The album won 1979 “Grammy for Album of the Year”. In 2003, “52nd Street” was ranked by the magazine “Rolling Stone” number 352  on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel – vocals, acoustic piano, Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers
  • Steve Khan – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • David Spinozza– acoustic guitar
  • Eric Gale– electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– nylon string guitar
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass, backing vocals
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • David Friedman – orchestral chimes, percussion
  • Richie Cannata– saxophones, organ, clarinet
  • Freddie Hubbard– flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Mike Mainieri– vibes, marimba
  • Donnie Dacus& Peter Cetera – backing vocals
  • Frank Floyd, Babi Floyd, Zack Sanders, Milt Grayson, Ray Simpson – backing vocals
  • George Marge – sopranino recorder
  • Robert Freedman – horn and string orchestration
  • Dave Grusin– horn orchestration
  • David Nadien – concert master

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. Big Shot
  2. Honesty
  3. My Life
  4. Zanzibar
  5. Stiletto
  6. Rosalinda’s Eyes
  7. Half a Mile Away
  8. Until the Night
  9. 52nd Street