Tag Archives: Hugh McCracken

Steely Dan: Everything Must Go

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On June 10, 2003, “Reprise” label released “Everything Must Go”, the ninth Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded 2001 – 2003, at “Sear Sound”, “Skyline Studios” and “River Sound” in  New York City, “Hyperbolic Sound” in Maui, “Bearsville Studios” in Bearsville, and was produced by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. It was the last studio album with founding member Walter Becker before his death in 2017.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen– lead vocals, organ, synthesizer, piano, Hohner Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, solo synth, percussion, horn arrangements, arrangements
  • Walter Becker– lead vocals, bass, solo guitar, percussion, arrangements
  • Jon Herington– guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Ted Baker – piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
  • Bill Charlap– piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Keith Carlock– drums
  • Gordon Gottlieb – percussion
  • Walt Weiskopf– alto and tenor saxophone
  • Chris Potter– tenor saxophone
  • Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophone
  • Tony Kadleck – trumpet
  • Michael Leonhart– trumpet
  • Jim Pugh– trombone
  • Ken Hitchcock – clarinet
  • Tawatha Agee– backing vocals
  • Ada Dyer – backing vocals
  • Michael Harvey – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Leonhart– backing vocals
  • Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals
  • Catherine Russell– backing vocals
  • Brenda White-King – backing vocals
  • Sam Berd – technician
  • Art Smith – drum technician
  • Sam Berd – piano tuner
  • Tom Doherty, Roger Nichols, Dave Russell, Elliot Scheiner – engineer
  • Suzy Barrows, Tom Doherty, Steve Mazur, Keith Nelson, Todd Parker, Matt Scheiner – engineer assistant
  • Elliot Scheiner – mixing
  • Joe Peccerillo – mixing assistant
  • Darcy Proper – mastering
  • Larry Alexander – editing

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. The Last Mall
  2. Things I Miss the Most
  3. Blues Beach
  4. Godwhacker
  5. Slang of Ages
  6. Green Book
  7. Pixeleen
  8. Lunch With Gina
  9. Everything Must Go

Leon Russell: Life Journey

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On April 1, 2014, “Universal Records” label released “Life Journey”, the 37th Leon Russell album. It was recorded 2013 – 2014, at “Capitol Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tommy LiPuma.

Personnel:

  • Leon Russell – lead and background vocals, piano, liner notes
  • Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
  • John Clayton- bass, conductor, arranger
  • Dixieland Band
  • William Cantos – background vocals
  • Alvin Chea– background vocals
  • Perry Morgan – background vocals
  • Louis Price– background vocals
  • Graham Dechter – acoustic guitar
  • Robben Ford– guitar
  • Anthony Wilson– guitar
  • Chris Simmons- slide guitar
  • Greg Leisz- pedal steel, pedal steel guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar, soloist
  • Larry Goldings- Hammond B3
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Lee Callet – tenor saxophone
  • Charles Owens – tenor saxophone
  • Rickey Woodard– tenor saxophone
  • Keith Fiddmont – alto saxophone
  • Ira Nepus – trombone
  • Ryan Porter – trombone
  • Maurice Spears – bass trombone
  • Bijon Watson – trumpet
  • Gilbert Castellanos– trumpet
  • Clay Jenkins – trumpet
  • Sal Cracchiolo – trumpet
  • James Ford – trumpet
  • Darrell Leonard- flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Jeff Clayton- clarinet, alto saxophone
  • James Gordon – clarinet
  • Christoph Luty – bass
  • Willie Weeks- bass
  • Jeff Hamilton- drums
  • Abe Laboriel Jr.– drums
  • Elena Barere – concert master
  • Alan Broadbent- string arrangements
  • Jill Dell’Abate – string contractor
  • Elton John- executive producer
  • Shari Sutcliffe – music contractor, production coordination
  • Chandler Harrod – engineer, Pro-Tools
  • Mark Lambert – piano engineer, vocal engineer
  • Elliot Scheiner- string engineer
  • Al Schmitt- engineer, mixing
  • Doug Saks – mastering
  • Ryan Roth – design, photography
  • Mike Diehl – design

Track listing:

  1. Come On in My Kitchen – Robert Johnson
  2. Big Lips – Leon Russell
  3. Georgia on My Mind- Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell
  4. That Lucky Old Sun- Haven Gillespie, Beasley Smith 4:09
  5. Fever- Eddie Cooley, John Davenport
  6. Think of Me – Mike Reid
  7. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)- Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  8. The Masquerade Is Over – Herb Magidson, Allie Wrubel
  9. I Really Miss You – Paul Anka
  10. New York State of Mind- Billy Joel
  11. Fool’s Paradise -Johnny Fuller, Bob Geddins, Dr. David Rosenbaum
  12. Down in Dixieland – Leon Russell

Graham Parker: Another Grey Area

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On March 15, 1982, “RCA” label released “Another Grey Area”, the sixth Graham Parker album, his first solo album without his regular band, The Rumour. It was recorded in 1981, at “Record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Jack Douglas and Graham Parker.

Personnel:

  • Graham Parker – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
  • Nicky Hopkins– acoustic piano
  • George Small – keyboards, ondioline
  • Hugh McCracken– electric guitars, harmonica
  • David Brown – electric guitars
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass
  • Michael Braun – drums
  • Kurt McGettric – flute, baritone saxophone
  • Jim Clouse – saxophones
  • Paul Prestopino – banjo
  • Jack Douglas– percussion
  • Krystal Davis, Karen Lawrence, Eric Troyer, Fred Hostetler – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Graham Parker.

  1. Temporary Beauty
  2. Another Grey Area
  3. No More Excuses
  4. Dark Side of the Bright Lights
  5. Can’t Waste a Minute
  6. Big Fat Zero
  7. You Hit the Spot
  8. It’s All Worth Nothing Alone
  9. Crying for Attention
  10. Thankless Task
  11. Fear Not

Aretha Franklin: With Everything I Feel in Me

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On November 25, 1974, “Atlantic” label released “With Everything I Feel in Me”, the twenty-first Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded January–April, 1974, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City and “Criteria Studios” in Miami, FL, and was produced by Aretha Franklin, Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano
  • Ken Bichel– synthesizer, piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Margaret Branch – background vocals
  • Brenda Bryant – background vocals
  • Cornell Dupree– guitar
  • Gordon Edwards – bass guitar
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Albhy Galuten– synthesizer
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Arif Mardin– string arrangements, horn arrangements, synthesizer arrangements
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Robbie McIntosh– percussion
  • The Memphis Horns– horns
    • Andrew Love– tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo
    • Ed Logan– tenor saxophone
    • Wayne Jackson– trumpet
    • James Mitchell– baritone saxophone
    • Jack Hale– trombone
  • Gene Orloff– concertmaster
  • Leon Pendarvis– Hammond organ
  • Bernard Purdie– drums
  • Chuck Rainey– bass
  • Pat Rebillot– mellotron
  • Pat Smith – background vocals
  • Hamish Stuart– percussion
  • Grady Tate– drums
  • Richard Tee– piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ
  • Gene Paul, Karl Richardson – recording
  • Lew Hahn – additional engineering
  • Arif Mardin, Gene Paul – mixing
  • Bob Defrin – art direction
  • Joel Brodsky – photography

Track listing:

  1. Without Love – Carolyn Franklin, Ivy Jo Hunter
  2. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  3. When You Get Right Down to It – Barry Mann
  4. You’ll Never Get to Heaven – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  5. With Everything I Feel in Me – Aretha Franklin
  6. I Love Every Little Thing About You – Stevie Wonder
  7. Sing It Again – Say It Again – Carolyn Franklin
  8. All of These Things – James Cleveland
  9. You Move Me – Glen Murdock, Mike Keck

Roberta Flack: Blue Lights In The Basemant

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On December 13, 1977, “Atlantic” label released “Blue Lights in the Basement”, the sixth Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded 1976 – 1977, and was produced by Rubina Flake, Joe Ferla and Gene McDaniels.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack– vocals, keyboards, arrangements
  • Reggie Lucas– guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar, musical arrangements
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • David Spinozza– guitar
  • John Tropea– guitar
  • Paul Griffin– keyboards
  • Ronnie Foster– keyboards, background vocals
  • Don Grolnick– keyboards
  • Rob Mounsey– keyboards
  • Leon Pendarvis– keyboards, background vocals, musical arrangements
  • Harry Whitaker – keyboards, musical arrangements
  • Anthony Jackson– bass guitar
  • Basil Fearrington – bass
  • Will Lee– bass guitar
  • Gary King– bass, musical arrangements
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Allan Schwartzberg– drums
  • Jimmy Wong – drums
  • Howard King – drums
  • Idris Muhammad– drums
  • Crusher Bennett – percussion
  • David Carey – percussion
  • Jimmy Maelen– percussion
  • James Mtume– percussion, background vocals
  • Michael Kamen– oboe solo, musical arrangements
  • Jim Gilstrap, Lani Groves, Gwen Guthrie, Yvonne Lewis, Gene McDaniels, Zach Sanders, Brenda White, Deniece Williams– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Why Don’t You Move in with Me – Gene McDaniels
  2. The Closer I Get to You – Reggie Lucas, James Mtume
  3. Fine, Fine Day – Rachel Perry
  4. This Time I’ll Be Sweeter – Pat Grant, Gwen Guthrie
  5. 25th of Last December – Gene McDaniels
  6. After You – Michael Masser, Ron Miller
  7. I’d Like to Be Baby to You – Morgan Ames
  8. Soul Deep – Wayne Carson
  9. Love is the Healing – Gene McDaniels
  10. Where I’ll Find You – David McHugh

Ron carter: Pastels

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In December 1976, “Milestone” label released “Pastels”, the ninth Ron Carter album. It was recorded in October 1976, at “Fantasy Studios” in Berkeley, California, and was produced by Retrac.

Personnel:

  • Ron Carter- bass, piccolo bass, arrangements
  • Kenny Barron- piano
  • Hugh McCracken – acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica
  • Harvey Mason- drums
  • Sanford Allen – concertmaster
  • Virginia Baker, Myra Bucky, Fei-Pang Ching, Ronald Erickson, Daniel Kobialka, Roy Oakley Jr., Nathan Rubin, Emily Van Valkenburgh, Mark Volkert – violin
  • Arthur Bauch, Denis DeCoteau, Daniel Yale – viola
  • Garfield Moore, Kermit Moore, Melinda Ross – cello
  • Don Sebesky- conductor, arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Carter

  1. Woolaphant
  2. Ballad
  3. One Bass Rag
  4. Pastels
  5. 12 + 12

Laura Nyro: Smile

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In February 1976, “Columbia” label released “Smile”, the sixth Laura Nyro album. It was recorded in 1975, at “CBS 30th Street Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Laura Nyro and Charlie Calello.

Personnel:

  • Laura Nyro – vocals, piano, guitar, wood block
  • John Tropea, Hugh McCracken, Joe Beck, Jeff Mironov, Jerry Friedman, Greg Bennett – guitar
  • Will Lee, Richard Davis, Bob Babbitt- bass
  • Chris Parker, Allan Schwartzberg, Rick Marotta- drums
  • Jimmy Maelen- tambourine, wood block
  • Nydia Mata, Carter C.C. Collins – congas
  • Rubens Bassini- shaker
  • David Friedman – vibraphone
  • Joe Farrell, Michael Brecker, George Young – saxophone
  • Randy Brecker- trumpet
  • Paul Messing – triangle
  • Nisako Yoshida, Reiko Kamota – koto
  • Don Puluse, Tim Geelan – engineer
  • Jay Messina, Lou Waxman, Stan Tonkel – engineer assistant
  • Ed Lee – artwork
  • Patty Newport – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Laura Nyro, except where noted.

  1. Sexy Mama – Al Goodman, Sylvia Robinson, Harry Ray
  2. Children of the Junks
  3. Money
  4. I Am the Blues
  5. Stormy Love
  6. The Cat Song
  7. Midnite Blue
  8. Smile

Foreigner: Inside Information

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On December 8, 1987, “Atlantic” label released “Inside Information”, the sixth Foreigner studio album. It was recorded in 1987, at “Right Track Recording” in New York City.and was produced by Frank Filipetti and Mick Jones. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Lou Gramm– vocals
  • Mick Jones– guitar, keyboards such as the Roland D-50 and Yamaha DX7, backing vocals
  • Rick Wills– bass, backing vocals
  • Dennis Elliott– drums
  • Hugh McCracken– Spanish guitar
  • Peter-John Vettese– keyboards
  • Tom Bailey– additional keyboards
  • Kevin Jones – Synclavier
  • Ian Lloyd, Mark Rivera – backing vocals
  • Sammy Merendino – electronic percussion
  • Billy Miranda – engineer assistant
  • Frank Filipetti – mixing
  • Ted Jensen- mastering
  • Kevin Jones – technical support
  • Warren Austerer – pre-production assistant
  • Bob Defrin – art direction
  • J. Camp – band photography
  • Roger Corbeau – front and back photography

Track listing:

  1. Can’t Wait – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
  2. Say You Will – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
  3. I Don’t Want to Live Without You – Mick Jones
  4. Counting Every Minute – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
  5. Inside Information – Mick Jones
  6. The Beat of My Heart – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
  7. Face to Face – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
  8. Out of the Blue – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, Rick Wills, Dennis Elliott
  9. A Night to Remember – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm

Tom Rush: The Circle Game

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In December 1968, “Elektra” label released “The Circle Game”, the sixth Tom Rush album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Arthur Gorson.

Personnel:

  • Tom Rush – vocals, guitar
  • Hugh McCracken, Don Thomas, Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Jonathan Raskin – acoustic guitar, bass
  • Bruce Langhorne– acoustic guitar
  • Paul Harris– keyboards
  • Joe Mack, Bob Bushnell– bass
  • Herb Lovelle, Bernard Purdie, Richie Ritz – drums
  • Joe Grimm – saxophone
  • Buddy Lucas– saxophone
  • Paul Harris– arrangements
  • Bruce Botnick, Brooks Arthur – engineer
  • Zal Schreiber – mastering
  • William S. Harvey – design
  • Linda Eastman (McCartney) – photography
  • Jac Holzman– production supervisor

Track listing:

  1. Tin Angel – Joni Mitchell
  2. Something in the Way She Moves – James Taylor
  3. Urge for Going – Joni Mitchell
  4. Sunshine, Sunshine – James Taylor
  5. The Glory of Love – Billy Hill
  6. Shadow Dream Song – Jackson Browne
  7. The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell
  8. So Long – Charlie Rich
  9. Rockport Sunday – Tom Rush
  10. No Regrets – Tom Rush

B. B. King: Indianola Mississippi Seeds

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In October 1970, “ABC” label released “Indianola Mississippi Seeds”, the eighteenth B. B. King studio album. It was recorded January 1969 – June 1970, at “The Record Plant” in Los Angeles and “Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk.

Personnel:

  • B. King– vocals, guitar, piano
  • Joe Walsh– guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Carole King– piano, electric piano
  • Leon Russell– piano
  • Paul Harris– piano
  • Bryan Garofalo, Gerald Jemmott– bass
  • Russ Kunkel, Herb Lovelle– drums
  • Sherlie Matthews, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Venetta Fields- Angelic chorus
  • Joe Zagarino— engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by B. B. King, except where noted.

  1. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother
  2. You’re Still My Woman – B. King, Dave Clark
  3. Ask Me No Questions
  4. Until I’m Dead and Cold
  5. King’s Special
  6. Ain’t Gonna Worry My Life Anymore
  7. Chains and Things – B. King, Dave Clark
  8. Go Underground – B. King, Dave Clark
  9. Hummingbird – Leon Russell