Tag Archives: Hal Blaine

The Mama’s and the Papa’s: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

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In March 1966, “Dunhill” label released “If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears”, the debut Mamas & the Papas album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, and was produce by Lou Adler. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 127 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Denny Doherty– vocals
  • Cass Elliot– vocals
  • John Phillips– vocals, guitar
  • Michelle Phillips– vocals
  • F. Sloan– guitars, additional vocals
  • Larry Knechtel- keyboards
  • Joe Osborn– bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Bud Shank– flute
  • Peter Pilafian – electric violin
  • Bones Howe– engineer
  • Guy Webster – photography

Track listing:

  1. Monday, Monday – John Phillips
  2. Straight Shooter – John Phillips
  3. Got a Feelin’ – John Phillips, Denny Doherty
  4. I Call Your Name – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Do You Wanna Dance – Bobby Freeman
  6. Go Where You Wanna Go – John Phillips
  7. California Dreamin’ – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  8. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
  9. Somebody Groovy – John Phillips
  10. Hey Girl – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  11. You Baby – Steve Barri,  F. Sloan
  12. The ‘In’ Crowd – Billy Page

The Mamas & The Papas: Deliver

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On February  2, 1967, “Dunhill” label released “The Mamas & The Papas Deliver”, the third Mamas & the Papas album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Lou Adler.

Personnel:

  • Denny Doherty- vocals
  • Cass Elliot- vocals
  • John Phillips- vocals, guitar
  • Michelle Phillips- vocals
  • “Doctor” Eric Hord – guitar
  • F. Sloan- guitar
  • Larry Knechtel- keyboards
  • Joe Osborn- bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine- drums, percussion
  • Gary Coleman – percussion, bells, marimba
  • Jim Horn- flute, saxophone

Track listing:

All tracks by John Phillips except where noted.

  1. Dedicated to the One I Love – Ralph Bass, Lowman Pauling
  2. My Girl – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  3. Creeque Alley – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  4. Sing for Your Supper – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  5. Twist and Shout – Phil Medley, Bert Russell
  6. Free Advice – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  7. Look Through My Window
  8. Boys and Girls Together
  9. String Man – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  10. Frustration
  11. Did You Ever Want to Cry
  12. John’s Music Box

Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle

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In December 1967, “Warner Bros” label released “Song Cycle”, the debut Van Dyke Parks album. It, was recorded in 1967 at “Sunset Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Van Dyke Parks – vocal
  • Ron Elliott, Dick Rosmini – guitar
  • Nicolai Bolin, Vasil Crlenica, William Nadel, Alan Reuss, Leon Stewart, Thomas Tedesco– balalaika
  • Carl Fortina – accordion
  • Misha Goodatieff – violin
  • Virginia Majewski – viola
  • Don Bagley, Gregory Bemko, Chuck Berghofer, Harry Bluestone, Samuel Boghossian, Dennis Budimir, Joseph Ditullio, Jesse Ehrlich, Nathan Gershman, Philip Goldberg, Armand Kaproff, William Kurasch, Leonard Malarsky, Jerome Reisler, Orville Rhodes, Trefoni Rizzi, Lyle Ritz, Joseph Saxon, Ralph Schaffer, Leonard Selic, Frederick Seykora, Darrel Terwilliger, Bob West – strings
  • Gayle Levant – harp
  • Norman Benno, Arthur Briegleb, Vincent DeRosa, George Fields, William Green, James Horn, Richard Hyde, Jay Migliori, Thomas Morgan, Ted Nash, Richard Perissi, Thomas Scott, Thomas Shepard– woodwind
  • Billie J. Barnum, Gerri Engeman, Karen Gunderson, James and Vanessa Hendricks, Durrie and Gaile Parks, Julia E. Rinker, Paul Jay Robbins, Nik Woods – choir
  • Hal Blaine, Gary Coleman, James Gordon, Earl Palmer– percussion
  • Steve Young – folk

Track listing:

All tracks by Van Dyke Parks, except where noted.

  1. Vine Street – Randy Newman
  2. Palm Desert
  3. Widow’s Talk
  4. Laurel Canyon Blvd
  5. The All Golden
  6. Van Dyke Parks (Public Domain)
  7. Public Domain
  8. Donovan’s Colours – Donovan Leitch
  9. The Attic
  10. Laurel Canyon Blvd
  11. By the People
  12. Pot Pourri

Steve Young: Rock Salt & Nails

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In November 1969, “A&M” label released “Rock Salt & Nails”, the debut Steve Young album. It was recorded in 1969, at “A&M Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tommy LiPuma.

Personnel:

  • Steve Young – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Don Beck – guitar
  • James Burton – guitar, dobro
  • Bernie Leadon– unverified guitar
  • Gram Parsons– organ, unverified guitar
  • Gene Clark– harmonica, unverified guitar
  • David Jackson – bass
  • Chris Ethridge– bass
  • Richard Greene– fiddle
  • Meyer Sniffin – fiddle
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Bob Thompson – string arrangements
  • Dick Bogert – recording
  • Tom Wilkes – art direction
  • Barry Feinstein – front cover photography
  • Jim McCrary – back cover photography
  • Jim McCrary, Steve Young – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Young, except where noted:

  1. That’s How Strong My Love Is – Roosevelt Jamison
  2. Rock Salt and Nails – Utah Phillips
  3. I’m a One-Woman Man – Johnny Horton, Tillman Franks
  4. Coyote – Peter La Farge
  5. Gonna Find Me a Bluebird – Marvin Rainwater
  6. Love in My Time
  7. Seven Bridges Road
  8. Kenny’s Song – Kenny Austin
  9. Holler in the Swamp
  10. Hoboin’ – traditional, arranged by Steve Young
  11. My Sweet Love Ain’t Around – Hank Williams

The Sandpipers: Come Sunday Morning

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In August 1970, “A&M” label released “Come Saturday Morning”, the eight Sandpipers (The) album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Bob Alcivar and Allen Stanton.

Personnel:

  • Michael Piano, Jim Brady, Richard Shoff – vocals
  • Dennis Budimer – electric guitar
  • Mike Anthony, Tommy Tedesco – rhythm guitar
  • Larry Knechtel – piano, organ
  • Jimmy Rowles – piano
  • Joe Osborn – bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Larry Bunker: percussion
  • The Bill Holman Orchestra
  • Patrice Holloway, Carolyn Willis, Susan Tallman – vocals
  • Ray Gerhardt – engineer
  • Shelley Gordon, Jill Sheridan, Ruth – production assistant
  • Tom Wilkes – art direction
  • Jim McCrary – photography

Track listing:

  1. Santo Domingo – Rudi Lindt, Peter Poll, Michael Piano
  2. The Long and Winding Road – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Free to Carry On – Jim Brady, Dale Bobbitt
  4. A Song of Joy – Miguel Ríos
  5. Where There’s a Heartache – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. (He’s Got the) Whole World In His Hands – traditional, a by Bob Alcivar
  7. The Drifter – Paul Williams, Roger Nichols
  8. Sound of Love – Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
  9. Autumn Afternoon – Dick and Don Addrisi
  10. Come Saturday Morning – Fred Karlin, Dory Previn
  11. The Wonder of You – Baker Knight
  12. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls – Stu Phillips, Bob Stone

5th Dimensions: Stoned Soul Picnic

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In August 1968, “Soul City” label released “Stoned Soul Picnic”, the third  5th Dimension album. It was recorded March – June 1968, at “United/Western Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bones Howe.

Personnel:

  • Billy Davis, Jr. – vocals
  • Florence LaRue – vocals
  • Marilyn McCoo – vocals
  • Lamonte McLemore – vocals
  • Ron Townson – vocals
  • Mike Deasy- acoustic and electric guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco- acoustic and electric guitar
  • Larry Bunker- marimba, bells, vibraphone, temple blocks, percussion
  • Larry Knechtel, Jimmy Rowles- piano, organ, keyboard
  • Ray Pohlman- guitar, “super-twang” bass
  • Joe Osborn- bass
  • Hal Blaine- drums, percussion
  • The Sid Sharp Strings – string Section
  • The Bill Holman Brass – horn Section
  • Bill Hilman – horns and strings arrangements
  • Bob Alcivar – vocal arrangements
  • Bones Howe – music arrangements
  • Ray Pohlman – music arrangements
  • Captain Nemo (Michael Shields), Bones Howe, Alex Kazanegras, Phil Ramone, Joe Sidore, Sol Weiss, Winston Wong, Mary Wood – engineer
  • Elliot Federman – mastering
  • Arlessa Barnes, Glenn Delgado, Christina DeSimone, Robin Diamond, Karyn Friedland, Felicia Gearhart, Marc Gordon, Laura Gregory, Jeremy Holiday, Robin Manning, Brooke Nochomson, Ed Osborne, Larry Parra, Dana Renert, Steve Strauss – project coordinator
  • Mandana Eidgah – product manager
  • Bones Howe, Tom Tierney, Russ Wapensky – production assistant
  • Hal Blaine – orchestra manager
  • René DeKnight – music director
  • Ray Pohlman – vocals coach
  • Johnny Rivers – realization
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Wayne Kimbell – design
  • Rob Santos – photography
  • Mike Ragogna – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Sweet Blindness – Laura Nyro
  2. It’ll Never Be the Same Again – Jeff Comanor
  3. The Sailboat Song – Jeff Comanor
  4. It’s a Great Life – Denny McReynolds, Karen O’Hara
  5. Stoned Soul Picnic – Laura Nyro
  6. California Soul – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  7. Lovin’ Stew – Jules Alexander, Jeff Comanor
  8. Broken Wing Bird – Bob Alcivar, Kellie McKinney
  9. Good News – Dick Addrisi, Don Addrisi
  10. Bobbie’s Blues (Who Do You Think of?) – Jeff Comanor
  11. The Eleventh Song (What a Groovy Day!) – Jimmy Webb

Roger McGuinn: Same

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In June 1973, “Columbia” label released the self-titled, debut Roger McGuinn solo album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Wally Heider Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Roger McGuinn.

Personnel:

  • Roger McGuinn– vocals, guitars, banjo, Moog synthesizer, harmonica
  • Gene Clark, Spanky McFarlane– vocals
  • David Crosby, Graham Nash– vocals, guitars
  • Jerry Cole– guitar
  • Buddy Emmons– pedal steel guitar
  • Bruce Johnston–vocals, piano
  • Spooner Oldham– organ, piano
  • David Vaught, Chris Ethridge, Chris Hillman, Leland Sklar– bass
  • John Guerin, Michael Clarke, Jim Gordon– drums
  • Charles Lloyd- saxophone
  • Hal Blaine– tambourine, percussion
  • Bob Dylan– harmonica
  • Jimmy Joyce Children’s Chorus—vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Roger McGuinn and Jacques Levy, except where noted.

  1. I’m So Restless
  2. My New Woman
  3. Lost My Drivin’ Wheel – David Wiffen
  4. Draggin’
  5. Time Cube – Roger McGuinn, R. J. Hippard
  6. Bag Full Of Money
  7. Hanoi Hannah
  8. Stone – Spooner Oldham, Dan Penn
  9. Heave Away – traditional, arr. by Roger McGuinn
  10. M’ Linda
  11. The Water Is Wide – traditional, arr. by Roger McGuinn

The Mamas & The Papas: The Papas & The Mamas

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In May 1968, “Dunhill” label released “The Papas & the Mamas”, the fourth The Mamas & the Papas album. It was recorded 1967-1968, at the home of John  and Michelle Phillips, and was produced by Lou Adler.

Personnel:

  • Denny Doherty- lead and backing vocals
  • Cass Elliot- lead and backing vocals
  • John Phillips- guitar, lead and backing vocals
  • Michelle Phillips- lead and backing vocals
  • “Doctor” Eric Hord – guitar
  • Paul Downing – guitar
  • Larry Knechtel- keyboards
  • Joe Osborn- bass guitar
  • John York- bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine- percussions
  • Peter Pilafian -engineer
  • Gary Burden- art direction, package design
  • Tad Diltz- photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Phillips, except where noted.

  1. The Right Somebody to Love – Jack Yellen,Lew Pollack
  2. Safe in My Garden
  3. Meditation Mama (Transcendental Woman Travels) – John Phillips,Lou Adler –
  4. For the Love of Ivy – John Phillips,Denny Doherty
  5. Dream a Little Dream of Me – Fabian Andre,Wilbur Schwandt, Gus Kahn
  6. Mansions
  7. Gemini Childe
  8. Nothing’s Too Good for My Little Girl – Ned Wynn
  9. Too Late
  10. Twelve Thirty
  11. Rooms
  12. Midnight Voyage

Richard Harris: A Tramp Shining

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In May 1958, “Dunhill” label released “A Tramp Shining”, the debut Richard Harris album. It was recorded December 1967-January 1958, and was produced by Jimmy Webb.

Personnel:

  • Richard Harris – vocals
  • Mike Deasy– guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco– guitar
  • Larry Knechtel– keyboards
  • Joe Osborn– bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Jim Horn– saxophone
  • Jules Chaikin – trumpet
  • Jimmy Webb– arrangmentsr
  • Sid Sharp – string arrangements
  • Armen Steiner – engineer
  • Peter Himmelman – engineer
  • Gary Burden– art direction, design
  • Henry Diltz– photography
  • Patrick Ward – photography
  • William F. Williams – supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Jimmy Webb.

  1. Prelude
  2. Didn’t We?
  3. Interlude
  4. Paper Chase
  5. Interlude
  6. Name of My Sorrow
  7. Interlude
  8. Lovers Such as I
  9. In the Final Hours
  10. MacArthur Park
  11. Dancing Girl
  12. Interlude
  13. If You Must Leave My Life
  14. A Tramp Shining

Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Faryar: The Zodiac:Cosmic Sounds

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In May 1967, “Elektra” label released “The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds”, concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac, by Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Cyrus Faryar. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Alex Hassilev.

Personnel:

  • Cyrus Faryar– narration
  • Paul Beaver– Moog, electronic instruments
  • Mike Melvoin– keyboards
  • Carol Kaye– bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Emil Richards– exotic percussion
  • Bud Shank– bass flute

Track listing:

All music by Mort Garson, all lyrics by Jacques Wilson

  1. Aries – The Fire-Fighter
  2. Taurus – The Voluptuary
  3. Gemini – The Cool Eye
  4. Cancer – The Moon Child
  5. Leo – The Lord of Lights
  6. Virgo – The Perpetual Perfectionist
  7. Libra – The Flower Child
  8. Scorpio – The Passionate Hero
  9. Sagittarius – The Versatile Daredevil
  10. Capricorn – The Uncapricious Climber
  11. Aquarius – The Lover of Life
  12. Pisces – The Peace Piper