Tag Archives: It’s Your Thing

Lou Donaldson: Hot Dog

In August 1969, “Blue Note” label released “Hot Dog”, the 32nd Lou Donaldson album. It was recorded in April 1969, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff.

Personnel:

  • Lou Donaldson – vocals, varitone alto saxophone
  • Ed Williams – trumpet
  • Charles Earland – Hammond organ
  • Melvin Sparks – guitar
  • Leo Morris – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Lou Donaldson, except where noted.

  1. Who’s Making Love? – Homer Banks, Bettye Crutcher, Don Davis, Raymond Jackson
  2. Turtle Walk
  3. Bonnie – Tommy Turrentine
  4. Hot Dog
  5. It’s Your Thing – Rudolph Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley

Christian McBride: Conversations with Christian

On November 8, 2011, “Mack Avenue” label released “Conversations with Christian”,  the tenth Christian McBride album. It was recorded in 2011, at “Avatar Studios”, and “MSR Studios” in New York City, “Chicago Recording Company” in Chicago, “LeGonks”  in Los Angeles, and was produced by Christian McBride.

Personnel:

  • Christian McBride – upright bass
  • Angélique Kidjo – vocal
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocal
  • Sting – vocal
  • Gina Gershon – vocal
  • Russell Malone – guitar
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Chick Corea – piano
  • Billy Taylor – piano
  • George Duke – keyboards
  • Regina Carter – violin
  • Ron Blake – saxophone
  • Roy Hargrove – trumpet
  • Mat Lejeune – engineer
  • Fernando Lodeiro – engineer assistant
  • Randall Kennedy – creative director
  • Anna Webber – photography
  • André Kimo – associate producer

Track listing:

  1. Afrika – Jean Hébrail, Angélique Kidjo
  2. Fat Bach and Greens – Johann Sebastian Bach, traditional
  3. Consider Me Gone – Sting
  4. Guajeo y Tumbao – Eddie Palmieri
  5. Baubles, Bangles and Beads – George Forrest, Robert Wright
  6. Spiritual – Billy Taylor
  7. It’s Your Thing – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
  8. Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
  9. McDukey Blues – Christian McBride
  10. Tango Improvisation #1 – Chick Corea, Christian McBride
  11. Sister Rosa – Christian McBride
  12. Shake ‘n Blake – Christian McBride
  13. Chitlins and Gefiltefish – Christian McBride

Aretha Franklin: Jump To It

In July 1982, “Arista” label released “Jump To It”, the thirtyfirst Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded 1981 – 1982, at “Mediasound Studios” in New York City, “Record Plant” and “The Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, “Soundsuite” in Detroit, and was produced by Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin. The album received the “American Music Award” for “Best Soul Album”.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, rhythm and vocal arrangements
  • Levi Stubbs – lead vocals
  • Doc Powell– guitar
  • Steve Love – guitar
  • George Duke– piano
  • Sonny Burke– keyboards
  • Nat Adderley, Jr.– keyboards, rhythm arrangements
  • Luther Vandross– keyboards, backing vocals, rhythm and vocal arrangements
  • Marcus Miller– bass, keyboards, synthesizer, synthesizer and rhythm arrangements
  • Francisco Centeno, Louis Johnson– bass
  • Yogi Horton, Buddy Williams– drums
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – congas, percussion
  • Paulinho Da Costa– percussion
  • George Young – soprano saxophone
  • Paul Riser, Leon Pendarvis, Jr., Jerry Hey– horn and string arrangements
  • Four Tops– backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Erma Franklin, Pam Vincent, Sandra Dance, Brenda White, Cissy Houston, Fonzi Thornton, Michelle Cobbs, Phillip Ballou, Tawatha Agee, Norma Jean Wright, Alexandra Brown, Darlene Love, Paulette McWilliams, Stephanie Spruill, Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
  • Michael Brauer – recording, mixing
  • Carl Beatty, Lee Keifer – additional engineering
  • Michael Christopher, Karat Faye, John Hanlon, Harry Spiridakis, Don Wershba, Warren Woods
  • Ria Lewerke-Shapiro – art direction, design
  • Harry Langdon – photography
  • Sue Reilly – lettering
  • Sephra Herman – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Jump to It – Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
  2. Love Me Right – Luther Vandross
  3. If She Don’t Want Your Lovin’ – Sam Dees
  4. This Is for Real – Luther Vandross
  5. (It’s Just) Your Love – Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
  6. I Wanna Make It Up to You – Aretha Franklin
  7. It’s Your Thing – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
  8. Just My Daydream – Smokey Robinson

The Temptations: Puzzle People

puzzle-people

On September 23, 1969, “Gordy” label released “Puzzle People”,the eleventh  Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards – vocals
  • Eddie Kendricks – vocals
  • Paul Williams – vocals
  • Melvin Franklin – vocals
  • Otis Williams – vocals
  • Barrett Strong – yricist
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. I Can’t Get Next to You – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  2. Hey Jude – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Don’t Let The Joneses Get You Down – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Message From A Black Man – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  5. It’s Your Thing – Ronald Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley
  6. Little Green Apples – Bobby Russell
  7. You Don’t Love Me No More – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Roger Penzabene
  8. Since I’ve Lost You – Norman Whitfield
  9. Running Away (Ain’t Gonna Help You) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  10. That’s the Way Love Is – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  11. Slave – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong