Tag Archives: James Gadson

Michael Kiwanuka: Small Chages

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On November 22, 2024, “Polydor” label released “Small Changes”, the fourth Michael Kiwanuka studio album. It was recorded in 2024, and was produced by Danger Mouse and Inflo.

Personnel:

  • Michael Kiwanuka – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, Wurlitzer, piano, drums
  • Inflo – drums, piano, backing vocals, keyboards, Rhodes, synthesizer, bass guitar
  • James Payne – electric slide guitar 
  • Jimmy Jam – organ, Hammond organ
  • Pino Palladino – bass guitar
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Brian Burton – drums, synthesizer programming
  • Alecia Chakour – backing vocals
  • Stevvi Alexander – backing vocals
  • LaVance Colley – backing vocals
  • Sharlotte Gibson – backing vocals
  • Emily Holligan – backing vocals
  • Simone Richards – backing vocals
  • Rosie Danvers – string arrangements
  • Pete Anthony – orchestra conductor
  • Richard Woodcraft – engineer, mixing
  • Todd Monfalcone – engineer
  • Kennie Takahashi – engineer
  • Tom Hardistry – strings engineering, strings recording
  • Chandler Harrod – strings recording
  • Alex Kalteziotis – engineer assistant
  • Brian Bair – engineer assistant
  • Dave Clarke – engineer assistant
  • Emily Reeves – engineer assistant
  • Emma Marks – engineer assistant
  • Jacob Spitzer – engineer assistant
  • Max Anstruther – engineer assistant
  • Noah Rastegar – engineer assistant
  • Rich Wheeler – engineer assistant
  • Ryan Nelson – engineer assistant
  • Rich Wheeler – strings engineer assistant
  • Ryan Nelson – strings engineer assistant
  • Dave Clarke – strings engineer assistant
  • Brian Bair – strings engineer assistant
  • Ben Baptie – additional engineering
  • Matt Colton – mastering
  • Yout – art
  • Marcus Grey – photography, creative direction
  • Jeremy Ngatho Cole – creative direction, design
  • Jude Amponsah – design

Track listing:

All tracks are written by Michael Kiwanuka, Brian Burton, and Dean Josiah Cover, except where noted.

  1. Floating Parade
  2. Small Changes
  3. One and Only
  4. Rebel Soul
  5. Lowdown (Part I)
  6. Lowdown (Part II)
  7. Follow Your Dreams
  8. Live for Your Love
  9. Stay By My Side
  10. The Rest of Me
  11. Four Long Years – Michael Kiwanuka, Brian Burton

Paul McCartney: Chaos And Creation In The Backyard

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On September 12, 2005, “Parlaphone” label released “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard”, the thirteenth Paul McCartney studio album. It was recorded September 2023 – April 2005, at “RAL” and “AIR” in London, “Ocean Way” in Hollywood, and was produced by Nigel Godrich.

Personnel:

  • Paul McCartney – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, classical guitar, 12 string guitar, tambourine on snare, piano, electric piano, B 3 organ, Moog synthesizer, autoharp, Baldwin spinet, bass guitar, cello, drums, drum machine, flugelhorn, violin, gong, güiro, harmonium, acoustic guitar loops, maracas, melodica, recorders, tubular bells, triangle, toy glockenspiel, percussion, vibrachimes, woodblock, art direction
  • Jason Falkner – electric guitar, classical guitar
  • Rusty Anderson – acoustic guitar
  • Brian Ray – acoustic guitar
  • Nigel Godrich – piano and Epiphone acoustic guitar loops
  • Pedro Eustache – duduk
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Joey Waronker – bass drum, bongos, shaker
  • Abe Laboriel Jr. – percussion, block, tambourine
  • The Los Angeles Music Players – strings
  • Millennia Ensemble – strings, brass instrument
  • Joby Talbot – string and brass arrangements, conducting
  • David Campbell – string arrangement
  • Dan Grech-Marguerat – production assistant
  • Darrell Thorp – engineer
  • Alan Yoshida – mastering
  • Stylorouge London – art direction
  • Mike McCartney – cover
  • Brian Clarke – inlay
  • Bill Bernstein – back cover

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul McCartney.

  1. Fine Line
  2. How Kind of You
  3. Jenny Wren
  4. At the mercy
  5. Friends to Go
  6. English Tea
  7. Too Much Rain
  8. A Certain Softness
  9. Riding to Vanity Fair
  10. Follow Me
  11. Promise to You Girl
  12. This Never Happened Before
  13. Anyway
  14. I’ve Only Got Two Hands (unlisted instrumental)

Eddie Kendricks: The Hit Man

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In July 1975, “Tamla” label released “The Hit Man”, the sixth Eddie Kendricks album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston and Brian Holland.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Kendricks – lead and backing vocals
  • Jay Graydon, Johnny McGhee, Melvin “Wah-Wah” Ragin, Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Harold Johnson, Leonard Caston Jr. – keyboards
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Earl Palmer, Ed Greene, Harvey Mason, James Gadson – drums
  • Bobbye Hall, Gary Coleman, Gene Estes – percussion
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – congas
  • Bobby Taylor, Carolyn Majors, Frank Wilson, Harold Johnson, Joe Croyle, Joe White, John Fox, Karin Patterson, Leonard Caston Jr., Mara Baygulow, Mike Campbell – vocal ensemble
  • Jim Britt – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. If Anyone Can – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
  2. Happy – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
  3. Get the Cream Off the Top – Brian Holland, Eddie Holland
  4. Body Talk – Frank Wilson, Kathy Wakefield
  5. Fortune Teller – Barrett Strong
  6. Skippin’ Work Today – J. Christopher Fox
  7. You Loved Me Then – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
  8. I’ve Got to Be – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston

The Undisputed Truth: Cosmic Truth

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In June 1975, “Gordy” label released “Cosmic Truth”, the fifth Undisputed Truth (The) studio album. It was recorded 1974 – 1975, at “Motown / Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Joe “Pep” Harris – lead vocals
  • Billie Rae Calvin – co-lead and backing vocals
  • Brenda Joyce Evans – co-lead and backing vocals
  • Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, Johnny McGhee, Melvin “Wah Wah” Ragin, Paul Warren – guitar
  • Mark Davis – keyboards
  • Henry Davis – bass
  • Eddie Green, Eddie Fisher, James Gadson, Zachary Slatter – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – congas
  • Bob Zimitte – timpani
  • Angel Balestier, Bob Robitaille, Glenn Jordan – engineer
  • Art Stewart – engineer, mastering
  • Norman Whitfield – mastering
  • Katarina Pettersson – art direction
  • Bob Gleason – illustration
  • Jim Britt – photography

Track listing:

  1. Earthquake Shake – Joe Harris, Norman Whitfield
  2. Down by the River – Neil Young
  3. UFO’s – Norman Whitfield
  4. Lil’ Red Ridin Hood – Norman Whitfield
  5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me – Norman Whitfield
  6. Spaced Out – Norman Whitfield
  7. Got To Get My Hands on Some Lovin’ – Norman Whitfield
  8. 1990 – Norman Whitfield
  9. I Know I’m Losing You – Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield

Blue Mitchell: African Violet

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On March 13, 1978, “Impulse!” label released “African Violet”, the 27th Blue Mitchell album. It was recorded in 1977, at “The Burbank Studios” in Burbank, California, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Herman Riley, Harold Land – tenor saxophone
  • Sonny Burke – electric piano, piano
  • McKinley Jackson, Michael Boddicker – synthesizer
  • Lee Ritenour – electric guitar, guitar
  • Scott Edwards – bass, electric bass
  • Chuck Domanico – electric bass, bass
  • James Gadson, Harold Mason – drums
  • Paulinho Da Costa – congas
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – congas, percussion
  • Bob Zimmitti – marimba, percussion
  • Julia Tillman, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters Willard, Oren Waters – vocals
  • The Sid Sharp Strings

Track listing:

  1. Mississippi Jump – Larry Nash
  2. Ojos de Rojo – Cedar Walton
  3. Sand Castles – Dana Kaproff
  4. African Violet – Steve Hulse
  5. As – Stevie Wonder
  6. Square Business – Cedar Walton
  7. Forget – Don Sebesky

Blue Mitchell: Summer Soft

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On February 22, 1978, “Impulse!” label released “Summer Soft”, the 28th and the final Blue Mitchell album. It was recorded in 1977, at “ABC Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Blue Mitchell – vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Eddie Harris, Harold Land, Herman Riley – tenor saxophone
  • Cedar Walton – piano, electric piano
  • Bobby Lyle – electric piano, piano
  • Richard Tee – keyboard 
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizer 
  • Mike Dosco, Lee Ritenour – guitar
  • Scott Edwards – bass
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
  • Julia Tillman Waters, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters Willard, Oren Waters – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Try Not to Forget – Cedar Walton
  2. Summer Soft – Stevie Wonder
  3. A Day at the Mint – Blue Mitchell
  4. Love Has Made Me a Dreamer – Mike Dosco, Esmond Edwards
  5. Evergreen – Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams
  6. 30 Degrees to the Wind – Cedar Walton, Susan Brickell
  7. Funkthesizer – Eddie Harris

Smokey Robinson: Being With You

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On February 17, 1981, “Motown” label released “Being with You”, the ninth Smokey Robinson album. It was recorded November – January 1981, at “Studio Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, “Motown Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by George Tobin, Mike Piccirillo and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead and backing vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards, arrangements
  • Ronnie Rancifer – keyboards
  • Bill Cuomo – keyboards
  • Mike Piccirillo – synthesizers, organ, guitars, additional keyboards, percussion, steel drums, associate producer
  • Scott Edwards – bass
  • Robert “Pops” Popwell – bass
  • Ed Greene – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Scotty Harris – drums
  • Howard Lee Wolen – percussion
  • Mark Wolfson – percussion
  • Joel Peskin – saxophones
  • Harry Kim – trumpet
  • David Strout – trombone
  • George Tobin – arrangements
  • Ivory Davis – backing vocals
  • Patricia Henley – backing vocals
  • Robert John – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Julia Waters Tillman – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals
  • Michael Lizzio – engineer, mixing
  • Howard Lee Wolen, Mark Wolfson – engineer
  • Richie Griffin, Ginny Pallante – engineer assistant
  • George Tobin – mixing
  • John Lemay – mastering
  • Johnny Lee – art direction
  • Ginny Livingston – design
  • Gary Heery – photography
  • Lisa Marie – production coordinator
  • Randy Dunlap, Barbara Ramsey – project manager

Track listing:

All tracks by Smokey Robinson, except where noted.

  1. Being With You
  2. Food For Thought
  3. If You Wanna Make Love (Come ‘Round Here)
  4. Who’s Sad – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  5. Can’t Fight Love – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  6. You Are Forever
  7. As You Do – Peter Kingsbery
  8. I Hear The Children Singing – Forest Hairston

David Ruffin: Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay

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In December 1974, “Motown” label released “Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay”, the fifth David Ruffin album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Whitfield and Mark Davis.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals
  • Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, Johnny McGhee, Melvin Ragin – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Mark Davis – keyboards
  • Henry Davis, Ron Brown – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Ed Greene, James Gadson – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown, Stephanie Spruill – percussion
  • Mykal Moore – saxophone
  • Freddy Dunn, Kenny Copeland – trumpet
  • Carolyn Willis, Jessie Kirkland, Joe Greene, Julia Waters, Lisa Roberts, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I Saw You When You Met Her – Norman Whitfield
  2. Take Me Clear from Here – Vincent DiMirco
  3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay – Norman Whitfield
  5. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  6. No Matter Where – Clarence Drayton, Tamy Smith
  7. City Stars – Charles Higgins Jr, Dobie Gray
  8. I Just Want to Celebrate – Dino Fekaris, Nick Zesses

Doug Sahm: Texas Tornado

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In December 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Texas Tornado”, the second Doug Sahm studio album. It was recorded in October 1972, at “Atlantic Studios” and “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Doug Sahm.

Personnel:

  • Doug Sahm – vocals, guitar, bajo sexto, fiddle, electric piano, arrangements
  • Atwood Allen – acoustic guitar, harmony
  • Frank Paredes – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Luis Ortéga – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Owens – steel guitar
  • Andy Statman – mandolin
  • Mike Nock – electric piano
  • George Stubbs – electric piano
  • Flaco Jiménez – accordion
  • Augie Meyers – Vox Continental
  • Dr. John – piano, organ
  • Jack Barber – bass
  • Steve Vargas – bass
  • George Rains – drums
  • Pancho Morales – percussion
  • Warren Chiasson – vibraphone
  • David Bromberg – dobro
  • Kenny Kosek – fiddle
  • Rocky Morales – tenor saxophone
  • David “Fathead” Newman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Martin Fierro – tenor saxophone
  • Mel Martin – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson – trumpet
  • Jack Wilmoth – trumpet
  • Charley MacBirney – trumpet
  • Neil Rosengarden – flugelhorn
  • Jimmy Douglass – engineer
  • Ken Hopkins – engineer, mixing
  • Dan Healy – mixing
  • Lew Hahn – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Doug Sahm.

  1. San Francisco FM Blues
  2. Someday
  3. Blue Horizon
  4. Tennessee Blues
  5. Ain’t That Loving You
  6. Texas Tornado
  7. Jaun Mendoza
  8. Chicano
  9. I’ll Be There
  10. Hard Way
  11. Nitty Gritty

Natalie Cole: Thankful

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On November 16, 1977, “Capitol” label released “Thankful”, the fourth Natalie Cole album. It was recorded August – November 1977, at “ABC Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy.

Personnel:

  • Natalie Cole – lead vocals
  • Criss Johnson – guitar
  • Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Lee Ritenour – guitar
  • Linda Williams – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Marvin Yancy – acoustic piano, organ, clavinet
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – organ
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizers
  • Larry Ball – bass guitar
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Donnell Hagan – drums
  • Paul Humphrey – drums
  • Teddy Sparks – drums
  • Alan Estes – percussion
  • Chuck Jackson – handclaps
  • Hal Brooks – handclaps
  • Gene Barge – alto saxophone, arrangements
  • Richard Evans – arrangements
  • The Colettes – backing vocals
  • The “N” Sisters – backing vocals
  • Anita Anderson – backing vocals
  • Yasmine “Sissy” Peoples – backing vocals
  • Barney Perkins – engineer, mixing, mastering
  • Zollie Johnson, Lester Smith – engineer assistant
  • Barney Per – mixing
  • Dean Rod – assistant
  • John Golden – mastering
  • Roy Kohara – art direction
  • Craig Nelson – illustration
  • Gene Barge – co-producer
  • Larkin Arnold – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy, except where noted.

  1. Lovers – Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, Natalie Cole
  2. Our Love
  3. La Costa – Natalie Cole. Linda Williams
  4. There Ain’t Nothing Stronger Than Love
  5. Be Thankful
  6. Just Can’t Stay Away
  7. Annie Mae – Natalie Cole
  8. Keeping a Light – Natalie Cole