Tag Archives: Hal Blaine

V.A.: A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records

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On November 22, 1963, “Philles” label released “A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records”, an album of Christmas songs. It was recorded September – October 1963, at “Gold Star” in Hollywood, and was produced by Phil Spector. In 2003, the album was ranked at no. 142 on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, and in 2019, it was ranked the greatest “Christmas Album of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Darlen Love – performer (White Christmas, Marshmallow World, Winter Wonderland, Christmas, Baby Please Come Home)
  • The Ronettes – performer (Frosty the Snowman, Sleigh Ride, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus)
  • Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans – performer (The Bells of St. Mary’s, Here Comes Santa Claus)  
  • The Crystals – performer (Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers)
  • Phil Spector – performer (Silent Night)
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Bill Pitman – guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco – guitar
  • Nino Tempo – guitar
  • Irv Rubins – guitar
  • Leon Russell – piano
  • Al De Lory – piano
  • Don Randi – piano
  • Ray Pohlman – bass
  • Jimmy Bond – bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Sonny Bono – percussion
  • Frank Capp – percussion
  • Jack Nitzsche – percussion, arrangements
  • Jay Migliori – saxophone
  • Steve Douglas – baritone saxophone
  • Roy Caton – trumpet
  • Lou Blackburn – horns
  • Johnny Vidor – strings
  • Larry Levine – engineer

Track listing:

  1. White Christmas – Irving Berlin
  2. Frosty the Snowman – Steve Nelson, Walter Rollins
  3. The bells of St. Mary’s – A. Emmet Adams, Douglas Furber
  4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
  5. Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
  6. Marshmallow World – Carl Sigman, Peter DeRose
  7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Tommie Connor
  8. Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer – Johnny Marks
  9. Winter Wonderland – Felix Bernard, Dick Smith
  10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers – Leon Jessel
  11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home – Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector
  12. Here Comes Santa Claus – Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
  13. Silent Night – Josef Mohr, Franz X. Gruber

Sonny & Cher: Look at Us

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On August 2, 1965. “Atco” label released “Look at Us”, the debut Sonny & Cher studio album. It was recorded in 1965, and was produced by Sonny Bono.

Personnel:

  • Cher – co-lead vocals
  • Sonny Bono – co-lead vocals
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Steve Mann – guitar
  • Monte Dunn – guitar
  • Donald Peake – guitar
  • Harold Battiste – piano
  • Don Randi – piano
  • Lyle Ritz – bass guitar
  • Cliff Hills – bass guitar
  • Frank Capp – drums
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Brian Stone – percussion
  • Michel Rubini – harpsichord
  • Harold Battiste Jr. – arrangements
  • Stan Ross – engineer
  • Haig Adishian – design
  • Robert W. Young – photography

Track listing:

  1. I Got You Babe – Sonny Bono
  2. Unchained Melody – Hy Zaret, Alex North
  3. Then He Kissed Me – Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry
  4. Sing C’est la Vie – Sonny Bono, Charles Green, Brian Stone
  5. It’s Gonna Rain – Sonny Bono
  6. 500 Miles – Hedy West
  7. Just You – Sonny Bono
  8. The Letter – Don Harris, Dewey Terry
  9. Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
  10. You Don’t Love Me – Bo Diddley, Willie Cobba
  11. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
  12. Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love – Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry

Spanky and Our Gang: Like To Get To Know You

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In April 1968, “Mercury” label released “Like to Get to Know You”, the second Spanky and Our Gang studio album. It was recorded in 1967, at “Western Recorders” in Hollywood, “Universal Recording Studio” in Chicago, “Impact Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Bob Dorough and Stuart Scharf.

Personnel:

  • Spanky McFarlane – vocals
  • Malcolm Hale – vocals, lead guitar, trombone
  • Lefty Baker – vocals, lead guitar, banjo
  • Nigel Pickering – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Kenny Hodges – vocals, bass
  • John Seiter – vocals, drums
  • Mike Deasy – guitar
  • Walter Raim – 12-string guitar
  • Red Rhodes – steel guitar
  • Artie Schroeck – organ, piano
  • Chet Amsterdam, Larry Knechtel, Richard Davis – bass
  • Bill LaVorgna, Donald MacDonald, Hal Blaine – drums
  • Lee Katzman – trumpet

Track listing:

  1. The Swingin’ Gate – John Ferrell, Geoffrey Meyers
  2. Prescription for the Blues – Little Brother Montgomery, Bruce Saunders
  3. Three Ways from Tomorrow – Lefty Baker
  4. My Bill – Bob Dorough, Daniel Greenburg, Monte Ghertler
  5. Sunday Mornin’ – Margo Guryan
  6. Echoes (Everybody’s Talkin’) – Fred Neil
  7. Suzanne – Leonard Cohen
  8. Stuperflabbergasted – Bruce Summers, Carlos Bernal
  9. Like to Get to Know You – Stuart Scharf
  10. Chick-a-Ding-Ding – Stuart Scharf
  11. Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish
  12. Coda (Like to Get to Know You) – Stuart Scharf

The Beach Boys: 15 Big Ones

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On July 5, 1976, “Brother/Reprise” label released “15 Big Ones”, the 20th Beach Boys (The) studio album. It was recorded December 1969 – May 1976, at “Brother” in Santa Monica, “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Brian Wilson – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano, Moog bass, ARP synthesizer, ARP String Ensemble, bass guitar, harmonica, chimes, bells
  • Carl Wilson – lead and backing vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, Jew’s harp, percussion
  • Dennis Wilson – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, vibraphone
  • Al Jardine – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Mike Love – lead and backing vocals, arranger
  • Thomas J. Tedesco – guitar
  • Ben Benay – guitar
  • Jerry Cole – guitar
  • Bruce Johnston – piano, backing vocals
  • Carl L. Fortina – accordion
  • James D. Hughart – string bass
  • Tim Drummond – bass
  • Ray Pohlman – bass
  • Lyle Ritz – bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Dennis Dragon – drums
  • Ricky Fataar – drums, percussion
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Julius Wechter – percussion, bells
  • Roy Wood (credited as “Roy Wood and Wizzard”) – saxophone
  • Mike Altschul – saxophone, clarinet
  • Steve Douglas – saxophone, horns, flute
  • Dennis Dreith – saxophone, clarinet
  • Jay Migliori – saxophone, horns, flute
  • Bobby Shew – trumpet
  • Daryl Dragon – clavinet, vocal arrangements
  • Charles Lloyd – flute
  • Jules Jacobs – clarinet
  • Carol Lee Miller – autoharp
  • Maureen L. West – harp

The Sid Sharp Strings

  • Murray Adler – violin
  • Arnold Belnick – violin
  • Henry Ferber – violin
  • Lou Klass – violin
  • Bernard Kundell – violin
  • William Kurasch – violin
  • James Getzoff – violin
  • Henry L. Roth – violin
  • Sidney Sharp – violin
  • Tibor Zelig – violin
  • William Kurasch – violin
  • James Getzoff – violin
  • Henry L. Roth – violin
  • Sidney Sharp – violin
  • Tibor Zelig – violin
  • Toni Tennille – backing vocals
  • Marilyn Wilson – backing vocals
  • Dean Torrence, Jim Evans – album cover, art direction, logo

Track listing:

  1. Rock and Roll Music – Chuck Berry
  2. It’s Ok – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  3. Hard to Phone Ya – Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Diane Rovell
  4. Chapel of Love – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  5. Everyone’s in Love with You – Mike Love
  6. Talk to Me – Joe Seneca – includes an interpolation of the track “Tallahassee Lassie” originally performed by Freddy Cannon
  7. That Same Song – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  8. T M Song – Brian Wilson
  9. Palisades Park – Chuck Berry
  10. Susie Cincinnati – Al Jardine
  11. A Casual Look – Ed Wells
  12. Blueberry Hill – Al Lewis, Larry Stock, Vincent Rose
  13. Back Home – Brain Wilson, Bob Norberg
  14. In the Still of the Night – Fred Parris
  15. Just Once in My Life – Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Phil Spector

Jackie Lomax: Is This What You Want?

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On March 21, 1969, “Apple” label released “Is This What You Want?”, the debut Jackie Lomax album. It was recorded June –January 1969, at “Sound Recorders Studio” in Los Angeles, “EMI Studios” and “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by George Harrison and Jackie Lomax.

Personnel:

  • Jackie Lomax – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass
  • George Harrison – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Larry Knechtel – piano, electric piano, organ
  • Paul McCartney – bass, electric guitar, drums, backing vocals
  • Eric Clapton – electric guitar
  • Nicky Hopkins – piano, organ
  • Klaus Voormann – bass
  • Joe Osborn – bass
  • Spike Heatley – standup bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Ringo Starr – drums
  • Bishop O’Brien – drums
  • Tony Newman – drums
  • Pete Clark – drums, percussion
  • Alan Branscombe – saxophone
  • Paul Beaver – Moog synthesizer
  • Bernie Krause – Moog synthesizer
  • Mal Evans – sound effects
  • Alan Pariser – sound effects
  • John Barham – string and brass arrangements
  • uncredited – female backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Jackie Lomax, except where noted.

  1. Speak to Me
  2. Is This What You Want?
  3. How Can You Say Goodbye
  4. Sunset
  5. Sour Milk Sea – George Harrison
  6. Fall Inside Your Eyes
  7. Little Yellow Pills
  8. Take My Word
  9. The Eagle Laughs at You
  10. Baby You’re a Lover
  11. You’ve Got Me Thinking
  12. I Just Don’t Know

Hal Blaine

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On March 11, 2019, Harold Simon Belsky aka Hal Blaine died aged 90. He was musician (drums) regarded to be one of the most recorded studio drummers in the history of the modern music. He had more than 35,000 recording sessions in various music genres including big number of film and TV soundtracks. He worked with Shelley Fabares, The Crystals, Jan & Dean, The Beach Boys, Dean Martin, Lorne Greene, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, The Byrds, Sonny & Cher, Barry McGuire, Petula Clark, Nancy Sinatra, The Mamas & the Papas, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Rivers, The Supremes, The Association, Simon & Garfunkel, Tommy Roe, The 5th Dimension, Henry Mancini, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, The Partridge Family, The Raiders, Barbra Streisand, John Denver, Captain & Tennille, Diana Ross, Sam Cooke, Van Dyke Parks, John Lennon, Lulu, Dennis Wilson, Paul Simon, Richard Harris, Glen Campbell, Emitt Rhodes, Art Garfunkel, Juice Newton, Michael Nesmith, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, J.J. Cale, José Feliciano, Bobby Darin, Rosanne Cash, Cass Elliot, Rodney Crowell, Dion DiMucci, Paul Anka, Barry Mann, Emmylou Harris, Jackie Lomax, Elkie Brooks, Helen Reddy, John Philips, Thelma Houston and Leonard Cohen. As leader Blaine released five albums.

Paul Simon: Same

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On January 24, 1972, “Columbia” label released the self-titled, second Paul Simon album. It was recorded January – March 1971, at “CBS Studios” in san Francisco, “CBS Studios” in Los Angeles, “CBS Studios” in New York City, “Western Recorders” in Los Angeles, “Dynamic Sound Studios”, “Kingston Studio CBE” in Paris, and was produced by Paul Simon and Roy Halee.

Personnel:

  • Paul Simon – vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion,  arranger
  • Stéphane Grappelli – violin
  • Lynford “Hux” Brown – lead guitar
  • David Spinozza – acoustic guitar
  • Wallace Wilson – rhythm guitar 
  • Stefan Grossman – bottleneck guitar 
  • Jerry Hahn – electric guitar
  • Neville Hinds – Hammond organ 
  • Larry Knechtel – piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, harmonium, Hammond organ
  • Charlie McCoy – bass harmonica
  • Jackie Jackson – bass guitar
  • Joe Osborn – bass guitar
  • Ron Carter – double bass
  • Russell George – bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Winston Grennan – drums
  • Denzil Laing – percussion
  • Victor Montanez – congas 
  • Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Fred Lipsius – alto saxophone
  • John Schroer – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Steven Turre – trombone
  • Los Incas – flute, charango, percussion
  • Mike Mainieri – vibes 
  • Cissy Houston, Von Eva Sims, Renelle Stafford and Deirdre Tuck – backing vocals
  • Roy Halee – engineer
  • Phil Ramone – engineer
  • Bernard Estardy – additional engineering
  • John Berg, Ron Coro – design
  • P.A. Harper – photography
  • Leslie Kong – contractor

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Simon, except where noted. 

  1. Mother and Child Reunion
  2. Duncan
  3. Everything Put Together Falls Apart
  4. Run That Body Down
  5. Armistice Day
  6. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
  7. Peace Like a River
  8. Papa Hobo
  9. Hobo’s Blues – Paul Simon, Stéphane Grappelli
  10. Paranoia Blues
  11. Congratulations

Beach Boys: Beach Boys’ Party!

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On November 8, 1965, “Capitol” label released “Beach Boys’ Party!”, the tenth Beach Boys studio album. It was recorded in September 1965, at “United Western Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Al Jardine – vocals, acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars, ashtray
  • Bruce Johnston – vocals, electric bass
  • Mike Love – vocals
  • Brian Wilson – vocals, bass, piano, bongos
  • Carl Wilson – vocals, acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars, overdubbed bass
  • Dennis Wilson – vocals, bongos, castanet, harmonica
  • Hal Blaine – bongos
  • Ray Avery – bongos
  • Steve Korthof – bongos, tambourine
  • Ron Swallow – tambourine
  • Terry Melcher – tambourine
  • Marilyn Wilson – vocals
  • Billy Hinsche – harmonica
  • Dean Torrence – co-lead vocal

Tack listing:

  1. Hully Gully – Fred Smith, Cliff Goldsmith
  2. I Should Have Known Better – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Tell Me Why – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  4. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow – Carl White, Al Frazier, Sonny Harris, Turner Wilson Jr.
  5. Mountain of Love – Harold Dorman
  6. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  7. Devoted to You – Boudleaux Bryant
  8. Alley Oop – Dallas Frazier
  9. There’s No Other (Like My Baby) – Phil Spector, Leroy Bates
  10. Medley (I Get Around / Little Deuce Coupe) – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian
  11. The Times They Are a-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
  12. Barbara Ann – Fred Fassert

Gerry Mulligan: Feelin’ Good

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In December 1965, “Limelight” label released “Feelin’ Good”, the 40th Gerry Mulligan album. It was recorded in October 1965, at “Annex Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Jack Tracy.

Personnel:

  • Gerry Mulligan- baritone saxophone, clarinet
  • Jimmy Helms, Johnny Gray – guitar
  • Jimmy Bond- bass
  • Hal Blaine- drums
  • Harry Bluestone- violin, concertmaster
  • Julian Lee – string arrangements, conductor
  • Fred Schnell – photography

Track listing:

  1. The Lonely Night (Night Lights) – Gerry Mulligan, Judy Holliday
  2. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone – Sam H. Stept, Sidney Clare
  3. The Second Time Around – Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
  4. Not Mine – Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer
  5. S. I Love You – Gordon Jenkins, Mercer
  6. The Song Is Ended – Irving Berlin
  7. Love Walked In – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  8. Feeling Good – Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
  9. Love Is the Sweetest Thing – Ray Noble
  10. I’ll Walk Alone – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
  11. The Shadow of Your Smile – Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster

Cass Elliot: Bubblegum, Lemonade and…Something for Mama

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On July 5, 1969, “Dunhill” label released “Bubblegum, Lemonade and… Something for Mama”, the second Cass Elliot album under the billing “Mama Cass”. It was recorded in 1969 and was produced by Steve Barri.

Personnel:

  • Mama Cass – vocals
  • Mike Deasy– guitar
  • Red Rhodes– steel guitar
  • Larry Knechtel– organ, piano
  • Ben Benay – guitar, harmonica
  • Jimmie Haskell– accordion, arranger, conductor
  • Joe Osborn– bass
  • Hal Blaine– drums, percussion
  • Steve Barri– percussion
  • Phil Kaye – percussion, engineer
  • Gary Burden- art direction, design
  • Henry Diltz- photography

Track listing

  1. It’s Getting Better – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
  2. Blow Me a Kiss – Jack Carone
  3. Sour Grapes -Tom Ghent
  4. Easy Come, Easy Go – Diane Hildebrand, Jack Keller
  5. I Can Dream, Can’t I? – Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal
  6. Welcome To the World – Martin Eagle Siegel, Scott English
  7. Lady Love – Delaney Bramlett
  8. He’s a Runner – Laura Nyro
  9. Move in a Little Closer, Baby – Robert O’Connor, Arnold Jay Capitanelli
  10. When I Just Wear My Smile – Tom V. Lane, Sharyn Pulley
  11. Who’s To Blame – Leah Kunkel