Tag Archives: Hugh McCracken

Art Garfunkel: Watermark

watermark

On October 25, 1977, “Columbia” label released “Watermark”, the third Art Garfunkel solo studio album. It was recorded in 1977, and was produced by Art Garfunkel and Phil Ramone. The album cover photo was taken by actress Laurie Bird, Garfunkel’s girlfriend.

Personnel:

  • Art Garfunkel – vocals
  • Paul Simon– vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Stephen Bishop– guitar, backing vocals
  • Pete Carr– guitar
  • Jimmy Johnson– guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Bob Dorough– vocals
  • James Taylor– vocals
  • Jimmy Webb– keyboards
  • Richard Tee– electric piano
  • Barry Beckett– piano
  • Bill Payne– synthesizer
  • Derek Bell – harmonica
  • David Hood– bass
  • Tony Levin– bass
  • Joe Osborn– bass
  • Rick Shlosser– drums
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Roger Hawkins– drums
  • Tom Roady – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Craig Krampf– percussion
  • Thomas Latondre – percussion, handclapping
  • Jack Schroer– saxophone
  • Paul Desmond– alto saxophone
  • Michael Tubridy– flute
  • Joe Farrell– flute, English horn, oboe
  • Martin Fay– fiddle
  • Seán Keane– fiddle
  • Paddy Moloney– uilleann pipes, tin whistle
  • Tommy Vig– vibraphone, backing vocals
  • Fred Farell – vocals
  • Carol Flamm – vocals
  • Ed Hasselbrink – vocals
  • Shelley Hirsch – vocals
  • Oklahoma Uni Chorale – vocals
  • Alexandra Stavrou – vocals
  • David Crosby– backing vocals
  • Leah Kunkel– backing vocals
  • David Campbell– arrangement
  • Christopher Dedrick – arrangements
  • Jimmie Haskell– arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Jimmy Webb, except where noted

  1. Crying in My Sleep
  2. Marionette
  3. Shine It on Me
  4. Watermark
  5. Saturday Suit
  6. All My Love’s Laughter
  7. (What a) Wonderful World – Herb Alpert, Sam Cooke, Lou Adler
  8. Shuck’n Jive
  9. Paper Chase
  10. She Moved Through the Fair – traditional
  11. Someone Else
  12. Wooden Planes

John Lennon And Yoko Ono: Wedding Album

wedding-album

On October 20, 1969, “Apple” label released “Wedding Album”, the final of the three experimental albums by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It followed “Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins” and  “Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions”. It was recorded 25–31 March 1969, at Room 902, Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam, and 22 and 27 April 1969, at “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Personnel:

  • John Lennon – vocals, guitars, keyboards, heartbeat sounds
  • Yoko Ono– vocals, rare sounds, heartbeat sounds
  • Klaus Voormann– electric guitar, bass guitar
  • Nicky Hopkins– piano, chimes
  • Hugh McCracken– piano, chimes

Track listing:

All tracks by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, except where noted.

  1. John & Yoko
  2. Amsterdam
  3. Who Has Seen the Wind? – Yoko Ono
  4. Listen, the Snow Is Falling – Yoko Ono
  5. Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow) – Yoko Ono

Billy Joel: The Stranger

the-stranger

On September 29, 1977, “Family Productions” label released “The Stranger” the fifth Billy Joel studio album. It was recorded July – August 1977, at “A&R Recording, Inc.” in New York City, and was produced by Phil Ramone. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “The Stranger” at number 70 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.  The album became Joel’s critical and commercial breakthrough, and remains his best-selling non-compilation album to date. The album was certified 5 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Hong Kong by “IFPI Hong Kong”; Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”, and Diamond in the US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Billy Joel– vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards, synthesizers, Fender Rhodes
  • Steve Khan– six and twelve string electric guitars, acoustic rhythm guitar, high string guitar
  • Hiram Bullock– electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– acoustic guitar
  • Steve Burgh – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Dominic Cortese – accordion
  • Richard Tee– organ
  • Doug Stegmeyer– bass guitar
  • Liberty DeVitto– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Richie Cannata– tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, flute, organ, tuba
  • Patrick Williams– orchestration
  • Phil Woods– alto saxophone
  • Phoebe Snow– backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals
  • Gwen Guthrie– backing vocals
  • Patti Austin– backing vocals
  • Ted Jensen– mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Joel.

  1. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)
  2. The Stranger
  3. Just the Way You Are
  4. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
  5. Vienna
  6. Only the Good Die Young
  7. She’s Always a Woman
  8. Get It Right the First Time
  9. Everybody Has a Dream/The Stranger (reprise)

James Taylor: Walking Man

Walking Man

On June 1, 1974, “Warner Bros” released “Walking Man”, the fifth James Taylor studio album. It was recorded January–April 1974, at “The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by David Spinozza.

Personnel:

  • James Taylor – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • David Spinozza– acoustic and electric electric guitar, Wurlitzer electric piano
  • Hugh McCracken – acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Don Grolnick– piano, Hammond organ, Vox humana,
  • Kenny Ascher– Fender Rhodes electric piano, piano
  • Andy Muson – bass
  • Rick Marotta– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • George Young – alto saxophone
  • Kenny Berger – baritone saxophone
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • Barry Rogers– trombone
  • Alan Rubin– trumpet
  • Ralph Schuckett– clavinet
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Peter Gordon– French horn
  • Howard Johnson– tuba
  • George Marge –oboe
  • Carly Simon– vocals
  • Linda McCartney– vocals
  • Paul McCartney– backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff– strings
  • Harry Maslin – recording, mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by James Taylor, except where noted.

  1. Walking Man
  2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Music Now
  3. Let It All Fall Down
  4. Me and My Guitar
  5. Daddy’s Baby
  6. Ain’t No Song – Joey Levine,David Spinozza
  7. Hello Old Friend
  8. Migration
  9. The Promised Land – Chuck Berry
  10. Fading Away

 

 

 

 

Paul McCartney: Ram

Ram

On May 17, 1971, “Apple” label released “Ram”, the second Paul McCartney studio album. It was recorded October 1970 – March 1971, at “Columbia Recording Studio” in New York, and was produced by Linda McCartney and Paul McCartney. “Ram” is the only album credited to Linda and Paul together.

Personnel:

  • Paul McCartney- lead, harmony and backing vocals, bass, piano, keyboards, guitar, ukulele
  • Linda McCartney- co-lead vocals, harmony and backing vocals
  • David Spinozza- guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar
  • Denny Seiwell- drums
  • Heather McCartney- backing vocals
  • Marvin Stamm- flugelhorn
  • New York Philharmonic

Track listing:

  1. Too Many People – Paul McCartney
  2. 3 Legs – Paul McCartney
  3. Ram On – Paul McCartney
  4. Dear Boy – Paul and Linda McCartney
  5. Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey – Paul and Linda McCartney
  6. Smile Away – Paul McCartney
  7. Heart of the Country – Paul and Linda McCartney
  8. Monkberry Moon Delight – Paul and Linda McCartney
  9. Eat at Home – Paul and Linda McCartney
  10. Long Haired Lady – Paul and Linda McCartney
  11. Ram On (reprise) – Paul McCartney
  12. The Back Seat of My Car – Paul McCartney

Art Garfunkel: Lefty

Artlefty

On March 29, 1988, “Columbia” label released “Lefty”, the seventh Art Garfunkel album. It was recorded in 1987, and was produced by Geoff Emerick, Art Garfunkel, Jay Graydon and Steve Gadd. The album title came from the fact that Garfunkel is left-handed..

Personnel:

  • Art Garfunkel– vocals
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Nicky Hopkins– keyboards
  • Rob Sabino– synthesizer
  • Joe Osborn– bass guitar
  • Eddie Gómez– acoustic bass guitar
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Michael Brecker– saxophone
  • Jeremy Steig – flute
  • Stephen Bishop– omnichord, backing vocals
  • Del Newman – strings, brass, woodwind
  • Kenny Rankin– backing vocals
  • Leah Kunkel– backing vocals
  • Mary Ann Kennedy – backing vocals
  • Pam Rose – backing vocals
  • Geoff Emerick– engineer
  • Jay Graydon– engineer
  • Stuart Breed – engineer
  • Ian Eales – engineer
  • Mick Gazauski – engineer
  • Doug Sax – mastering
  • Ron Lewter – mastering
  • Chris Austropchuk – design
  • Jules Garfunkel – photography
  • Caroline Greyshock – back cover photography

Track listing:

  1. This Is the Moment – David Foster, Cynthia Weil, Linda Jenner, Ray ParkerJr.
  2. I Have a Love – Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein
  3. So Much in Love – George Williams, Bill Jackson, Roy Straigis
  4. Slow Breakup – Stephen Bishop
  5. Love Is the Only Chain – Mary Ann Kennedy, Pam Rose, Pat Bunch
  6. When a Man Loves a Woman – Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright
  7. I Wonder Why – Bill Lovelady, Marita Phillips, Peter Skellern
  8. King of Tonga – Stephen Bishop
  9. If Love Takes You Away – Stephen Bishop
  10. The Promise – Nick Holmes

Art Garfunkel: Fate For Breakfast

Fate for Breakfast

On March 15, 1979, “Columbia” label released “Fate for Breakfast” the fourth Art Garfunkel solo album. It was recorded January – February 1979, and was produced by Louie Shelton and Mike Batt.

Personnel:

  • Art Garfunkel– lead and harmony vocals
  • Lee Ritenour– electric guitar
  • Larry Rolando – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Jeffrey Staton – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Spedding– guitar
  • Stephen Bishop – guitar, backing vocals
  • Louie Shelton – guitar
  • Roland Harker – guitar
  • Richie Zito – guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Larry Knechtel– piano
  • Richard Tee– electric piano
  • Rob Mounsey– synthesizer, clavinet, Fender Rhodes, Oberheim
  • Dennis Belfield – bass
  • DeLisle Harper – bass
  • Edwin Roxburgh – bass
  • Lyle Harper, Les Hurdle, Neil Jason, Neil Johnson – bass
  • Roy J. Morgan – drums
  • Michael Baird– drums
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Simon Phillips– drums
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion
  • Ray Cooper– percussion
  • Alan Estes – percussion
  • Lyle Forman – percussion
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • Tom Scott– tenor saxophone
  • Penny Nichols – backing vocals
  • Leah Kunkel– backing vocals
  • Billy Alessi – backing vocals
  • Bobby Alessi – backing vocals
  • Maxine Anderson – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Dennis– backing vocals
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
  • Gene Page– arrangements
  • Del Newman – string arrangements

Track listing:

  1. In a Little While (I’ll Be on My Way) – Dennis Belfield
  2. Since I Don’t Have You – Joseph Rock, Jimmy Beaumont, Lenny Martin
  3. And I Know – Michael Sembello, David Batteau
  4. Sail on a Rainbow – Stephen Bishop
  5. Miss You Nights – Dave Townsend
  6. Bright Eyes – Mike Batt
  7. Finally Found a Reason – Michael Sembello, David Batteau, Craig Bickhardt, Rick Bell
  8. Beyond the Tears – Jeffrey Comanor, Robert Gundry
  9. Oh How Happy – Charles Hatcher
  10. When Someone Doesn’t Want You – Jeffrey Staton
  11. Take Me Away – Grant Gullickson, Lance Gullickson

Steely Dan: Two Against Nature

Steely Dan- Two against nature

On February 29, 2000, “Giant Records/Warner Bros” label released “Two Against Nature” the eighth Steely Dan album. “Two Against nature” was recorded 1977 to 1999, and was produced by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. The album won Steely Dan four “Grammy Awards”, including “Album of the Year”.

Personnel:

  • Walter Becker– bass, lead guitar
  • Donald Fagen– vocals, organ, piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
  • Ted Baker – piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Jon Herington– acoustic and rhythm guitar
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Dean Parks– guitar
  • Tom Barney – bass
  • Keith Carlock– drums
  • Leroy Clouden – drums
  • Vinnie Colaiuta– drums
  • Sonny Emory– drums
  • Ricky Lawson– drums
  • Michael White – drums
  • Gordon Gottlieb – percussion
  • Will Lee– percussion
  • Daniel Sadownick – percussion, timbales
  • David Shank – vibraphone
  • Steve Shapiro– vibraphone
  • Lawrence Feldman – clarinet, tenor saxophone
  • Amy Helm – whistle
  • Michael Hitchcock – trumpet
  • Michael Leonhart– trumpet, Wurlitzer, conductor
  • Lou Marini– alto saxophone
  • Chris Potter– alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Jim Pugh– trombone
  • Roger Rosenberg – bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
  • David Tofani– saxophone
  • Cynthia Calhoun– backing vocals
  • Mike Harvey – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Leonhart– backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Gaslighting Abbie
  2. What a Shame About Me
  3. Two Against Nature
  4. Janie Runaway
  5. Almost Gothic
  6. Jack of Speed
  7. Cousin Dupree
  8. Negative Girl
  9. West of Hollywood

Aretha Franklin: Let Me In Your Life

Let_Me_In_Your_Life

On February 25, 1974, “Atlantic” label released “Let Me in Your Life”, the twenty-first Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded April – September 1973, at the “Whitney Studios” in Glendale, and was produced by Jerry Wexler and Aretha Franklin.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic and electric piano
  • Donny Hathaway- acoustic and electric piano
  • Bob James- organ, keyboards
  • David Spinozza- guitar
  • Cornell Dupree- guitar
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Deodato- arranger, electric piano
  • Kenneth Bichel- synthesizer
  • Richard Tee- keyboards
  • Stanley Clarke– bass
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Willie Weeks- bass
  • Rick Marotta- drums
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
  • Pancho Morales – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald- percussion
  • Arif Mardin- string arranger
  • Gene Orloff- concert master
  • Joe Farrell- tenor saxophone, flute
  • Ernie Royal- trumpet
  • Gwen Guthrie- backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston- backing vocals
  • Ann S. Clark – backing vocals
  • Sylvia Shemwell – backing vocals
  • Myrna Smith- backing vocals
  • Judy Clay- backing vocals
  • Deirdre Tuck Corley – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Let Me in Your Life – Bill Withers
  2. Every Natural Thing – Eddie Hinton
  3. Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. I’m in Love – Bobby Womack
  5. Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) – Clarence Paul,Stevie Wonder, Morris Broadnax
  6. The Masquerade is Over – Herbert Magidson, Allie Wrubel
  7. With Pen in Hand – Bobby Goldsboro
  8. Oh Baby – Aretha Franklin
  9. Eight Days On the Road – Michael Gayle, Jerry Ragovoy
  10. If You Don’t Think – Aretha Franklin
  11. A Song for You – Leon Russell

Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted And Black

ArethaFranklinYoung,Gifted&Black

On January 24, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Young, Gifted and Black”, the nineteenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded August 1970 – February 1971, and was produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler. In 1972, the album won Aretha Franklin “Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance”. In 2003, the TV network “VH1” ranked it the 76th greatest album of all time.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic piano, celesta, electric piano
  • Don Arnone – acoustic guitar
  • Cornell Dupree- guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar
  • Donny Hathaway- organ, electric piano
  • Billy Preston- organ
  • Eric Gale- bass
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Robert Popwell- bass, percussion
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
  • Al Jackson, Jr.- drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • The Memphis Horns- horn section
  • Andrew Love (of the Memphis Horns) – tenor saxophone
  • Neal Rosengarden – trumpet, vibraphone
  • Wayne Jackson (of the Memphis Horns) – trumpet
  • Hubert Laws- flute
  • Tom Dowd- horn arrangements
  • Pat Smith – backing vocals
  • Ronald Bright – backing vocals
  • R. Bailey – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Franklin- backing vocals
  • Erma Franklin- backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Ann S. Clark – backing vocals
  • The Sweet Inspirations- backing vocals
  • Sammy Turner – backing vocals
  • Stanislaw Zagorski – cover design
  • David Nathan – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby) – Jim Doris
  2. Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin
  3. Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
  4. Young, Gifted and Black – Weldon Irvine, Nina Simone
  5. All the King’s Horses – Aretha Franklin
  6. A Brand New Me – Theresa Bell, Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble
  7. April Fools – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  8. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
  9. First Snow in Kokomo – Aretha Franklin
  10. The Long and Winding Road – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  11. Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  12. Border Song (Holy Moses) – Bernie Taupin, Elton John