Tag Archives: Hollywood Hills

Pierre Boulez: The Perfect Stranger

On August 23, 1984, “Angel” label released “The Perfect Stranger”, an album featuring the music of Frank Zappa, conducted in part by Pierre Boulez. It was recorded January – April 1984, at “IRCAM” in Paris, and “UMRK” in Hollywood Hills, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– synclavier, liner notes
  • Pierre Boulez– conductor, direction
  • Péter Eötvös– musical director
  • Pierre-Laurent Aimard– piano
  • The London Symphony Orchestra
  • Ensemble InterContemporain– orchestra
  • Guy Arnaud – bass clarinet
  • Paul Meyer– clarinet
  • Jérôme Naulais– trombone
  • Antoine Curé– trumpet
  • Lawrence Beauregard – flute
  • Jacques Ghestem – violin
  • Marie-Claire Jamet– harp
  • Daniel Ciampolini – percussion
  • David Ocker – programming
  • John Matousek – mastering
  • Don Hunstein– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. The Perfect Stranger
  2. Naval Aviation in Art?
  3. The Girl in the Magnesium Dress
  4. Outside Now Again
  5. Love Story
  6. Dupree’s Paradise
  7. Jonestown

Steve Vai: Sex & Religion

On July 27, 1993, “Relativity” label released “Sex & Religion”, the third Steve Vai studio album. It was recorded in 1993, at “The Mothership Studio” in Hollywood Hills, and was produced by Steve Vai.

Personnel:

  • Steve Vai– vocals, guitar, arrangement, engineer
  • Devin Townsend– lead vocals
  • M. Stevens– bass
  • Terry Bozzio– drums
  • Kane Roberts– backing vocals
  • Bernie Grundman– mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Vai, except where noted.

  1. An Earth Dweller’s Return
  2. Here & Now
  3. In My Dreams With You – Steve Vai, Desmond Child, Roger Greenawalt
  4. Still My Bleeding Heart
  5. Sex & Religion
  6. Dirty Black Hole
  7. Touching Tongues
  8. State of Grace
  9. Survive
  10. Pig – Steve Vai, Devin Townsend
  11. The Road to Mt. Cavary
  12. Down Deep into the pain
  13. Rescue Me or Bury Me

Steve Vai: Real Illusions: Reflections

On February 22, 2005, “Epic” label released “Real Illusions: Reflections”, the seventh Steve Vai studio album. It was recorded in 2004, at “The Mothership Studio” in Hollywood Hills, “The Harmony Hut” in Los Angeles, and “De Oosterpoort” in Amsterdam, and was produced by Steve Vai.

Personnel:

  • Steve Vai– lead vocals, guitar, instrumentation, engineer, mixing
  • Chris Opperman– piano
  • Billy Sheehan, Bryan Beller– bass
  • Jeremy Colson– drums, percussion
  • Gregg Bissonette– percussion
  • Dan Higgins– saxophone
  • Larry Williams – saxophone
  • Jerry Hey, Gary Grant – trumpet
  • Bill Reichenbach, Jr., Charlie Loper – trombone
  • Metropole Orchestra – orchestra
  • Pia Vai– harp
  • Fire Vai, Laurel Fishman, Ruby Birman, Len Birman, Jeff Mallard, Michael Mesker, Thomas Nordegg – spoken vocals
  • Stacy Ellis – backing vocals
  • David Kole – orchestration
  • Dick Bakker – conducting
  • Neil Citron, Paul Bliven – engineer assistant
  • Bernie Grundman– mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Vai.

  1. Building the Church
  2. Dying for Your Love
  3. Glorious
  4. K’m-Pee-Du-Wee
  5. Firewall
  6. Freak Show Exces
  7. Lotus Feet
  8. Yai Yai
  9. Midway Creatures
  10. I’m Your Secrets
  11. Under it All