Tag Archives: James Taylor

Ray Charles: Just Between Us

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In July 1988, “Columbia” label released “Just Between Us”, the 49th Ray Charles album. It was recorded in 1988, at “RPM Studios” in Johannesburg, South Africa, and was produced by Ray Charles and Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • Ray Charles – vocal, piano
  • B.B. King – guitar
  • Kenny Carr – guitar
  • Gladys Knight – vocals
  • Lou Rawls – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Nothing Like a Hundred Miles – James Taylor
  2. I Wish I’d Never Loved You at All – K. Morrison Phelps, R. Hice
  3. Too Hard to Love You – Jim Johnson
  4. Now I Don’t Believe That Anymore – David A. Morgan
  5. Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  6. Stranger in My Hometown – Percy Mayfield
  7. Over the Top – Tony Colton, Keith Christopher
  8. I’d Walk a Little More for You – Ken Hirsch, Doc Pomus
  9. If That’s What’cha Want – Dave Loggins
  10. Save the Bones for Henry Jones – Danny Barker, Vernon Lee

John Stewart: Willard

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In July 1970, “Capitol” label released “Willard”, the third John Stewart studio album. It was recorded at “Crystal Sound” in Hollywood, California, “Woodland Studios” in Nashville, Tennessee, and was produced by Peter Asher.

Personnel:

  • John Stewart – vocal, acoustic and electric guitar, 12-string guitar, auto harp, boxes
  • James Taylor – acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Fred “The Flash” Carter – acoustic guitar
  • Danny Kooch – electric guitar
  • Mike Stewart – guitar
  • Bobby Thompson – banjo
  • Ralph Schuckett – piano, harmonium
  • Carole King – piano
  • Peter Asher – tambourine, bass, auto harp, backing vocals
  • Norbert “Home town” Putnam – bass
  • Bryan Garofalo – bass, backing vocals
  • Joel Bishop O’Brien – drums, conga
  • Russ Kunkel – knees, drums, boxes
  • Kenneth “Down wind” Buttrey – knees, drums
  • Doug Kershaw – fiddle, backing vocals
  • Chris Darrow – fiddle
  • “Goodtime” Charlie McCoy – harp
  • Bill Mumy – cow bell
  • Buffy Ford – backing vocals
  • Abigale Haness – backing vocals
  • The People – backing vocals
  • John Andrew Tartaglia – orchestration
  • Richard Sanford Orshoff – engineer
  • Robert Paull – second engineer
  • James Wyeth – cover drawing
  • Henry Diltz – insert photos

Track listing:

All tracks by John Stewart.

  1. Big Joe
  2. Julie, Judy, Angel Rain
  3. Belly Full of Tennessee
  4. Friend of Jesus
  5. Clack Clack
  6. Hero From the War
  7. Back in Pomona
  8. Willard
  9. Golden Rollin’ Belly
  10. All American Girl
  11. Oldest Living Son
  12. Earth Rider
  13. Great White Cathedrals
  14. Marshall Wind

Carly Simon: Come Upstairs

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On June 16, 1980, “Warner Bros” label released “Come Upstairs”, the ninth Carly Simon studio album. It was recorded October 1979 – May 1980, at “The Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Mike Mainieri.

Personnel:

  • Carly Simon – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Pete Hewlett – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Sid McGinnis – lead guitar, electric slide guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar
  • Billy Mernit – electric piano
  • Mike Mainieri – acoustic piano, Oberheim synthesizer, Prophet-5, Oberheim OB-X, Yamaha CS30, synthesizers, marimba, backing vocals
  • Don Grolnick – acoustic piano
  • Ed Walsh – Oberheim OB-X, synthesizer programming, Oberheim 8 voice
  • Ken Landrum – Prophet-5
  • Larry Fast – synthesizers
  • Tony Levin – bass guitar, fretless bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Rick Marotta – drums
  • Jerry Grossman – cello
  • James Taylor – backing vocals
  • Mariah Aguiar – backing vocals
  • Christine Martin – backing vocals
  • Laraine Newman – backing vocals
  • Hugh Taylor – backing vocals
  • Alex Taylor – backing vocals
  • Sally Taylor – backing vocals
  • Gail Boggs – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Carly Simon, except where noted.

  1. Come Upstairs
  2. Stardust
  3. Them
  4. Jesse
  5. James
  6. In Pain – Carly Simon, Mike Mainieri, Don Grolnick
  7. The Three of Us in the Dark
  8. Take Me as I Am – Carly Simon, Mike Mainieri, Sid McGinnis
  9. The Desert

David Lindley

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On March 3, 2023, David Perry Lindley died aged 78. He was musician (violin, acoustic and electric guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, upright and electric bass, cittern, bağlama,  gumbus,  charango,  cümbüş,  oud  and zither. Lindley was founding member of the bands Kaleidoscope and El Rayo-X, recorded and performed with Ry Cooder, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Curtis Mayfield, Dolly Parton, Waren Zevon, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, James Taylor, David Crosby, Terry Reid, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Toto, Rod Stewart, Dan Fogelberg, Joe Walsh, Henry Kaiser, G. E. Smith, Wally Ingram, Hani Naser, Leonard Cohen, The Youngbloods, America, Maria Muldaur, Iain Matthews, Lonnie Mack, Karla Bonoff, Jimmy Barnes, Emmylou Harris, Tanita Tikaram, Marshall Crenshaw, Shawn Colvin, Jerry Joseph, Dzukis Kuche, Ben Harper, Jordan Zevon, Rickie Lee Jones, Arlen Roth and The Sound Field.

David Crosby

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On January 19, 2023, David Van Cortlandt Crosby died aged 81. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the most influential artists who helped shape the sound of Sixties rock music. Crosby was founding member of The Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and CPR, and was member of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Crosby performed and recorded with Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Dave Mason, Rick Roberts, Art Garfunkel, Carole King, Becca Stevens, Michelle Willis, Gary Wright, Elton John, J. D. Souther, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Michael League, Chris Thile, Hot Tuna, Phil Collins, Lucinda Williams, Indigo Girls, David Gilmour and John Mayer. Crosby was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” twice: once as member of The Byrds and again as member of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Five albums to which he contributed are included in Rolling Stone’s magazine list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2019 documentary “David Crosby: Remember My Name” was produced by Cameron Crowe. As leader Crosby released eight albums.  

Bobby Womack: Communication

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On September 15, 1971, “United Artists” label released “Communication”, the third Bobby Womack studio album. It was recorded in 1971, at “United Artists Recording Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bobby Womack.

Personnel:

  • Bobby Womack – vocals, guitar, organ, string and horn arrangements
  • Barry Beckett – piano, clavichord, harpsichord, electric piano, Moog synthesizer
  • Jimmy Johnson, Tippy Armstrong – guitar
  • Truman Thomas, Clayton Ivey – keyboards
  • David Hood – bass
  • Roger Hawkins – drums, percussion
  • Ronnie Eades – baritone saxophone
  • Harvey Thompson – tenor saxophone
  • Harrison Calloway – trumpet
  • Dale Quillen – trombone
  • Friendly Womack, Jr., Curtis Womack, Harry Womack, Cecil Womack, Patrice Holloway, Pam Grier, Janice Singleton – backing vocals
  • René Hall – string arrangements
  • John Van Hamersveld – art direction
  • Norman Seeff – photography

Track listing:

  1. Communication – Bobby Womack
  2. Come l’ amore – Bob Hillard, Leon Ware
  3. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
  4. (If You Don’t Want My Love) Give It Back – Bobby Womack
  5. Medley: Monologue / (They Long to Be) Close to You – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. Everything is Beautiful – Ray Stevens
  7. That’s the Way I Feel About You – Jimmy Grisby, Joe Hicks, Bobby Womack
  8. Yield Not to Temptation – Horatio Palmer

James Taylor: American Standard

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On February 28, 2020, “Fantasy” label released “American Standard”, the twentieth James Taylor studio album. It was recorded at “The Barn” in Washington, MA, “United Recording Studios” in Hollywood, “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles, “Treasure Isle Studios” and “Blackbird Studios” in Nashville, TN, and was produced by Dave O’Donnell, John Pizzarelli and James Taylor. “American Standard” won “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” at the 63rd “Annual Grammy Awards”.

Personnel:

  • James Taylor – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Kate Markowitz – vocals
  • Arnold McCuller – vocals
  • Caroline Taylor – vocals
  • John Pizzarelli – rhythm guitar
  • Michael Landau – lead guitar
  • Larry Goldings – piano, keyboards
  • Jimmy Johnson – bass
  • Viktor Krauss – double bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Dorian Holley – vocals
  • Louis Marini, Jr. – saxophones, flute, clarinet
  • Walter Fowler – trumpets, flügelhorn
  • Andrea Zonn – vocals, violin
  • Stuart Duncan – violin
  • Jerry Douglas – dobro, engineer
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Justin Shturtz – mastering assistant
  • Carrie Smith – art direction, design

Track listing:

  1. My Blue Heaven – Walter Donaldson, George A. Whiting
  2. Moon River – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
  3. Teach Me Tonight – Gene de Paul,, Sammy Cahn
  4. As Easy as Rolling Off a Log – M.K. Jerome, Jack Scholl
  5. Almost Like Being in Love – Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
  6. Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat – Frank Loesser
  7. The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
  8. You’ve Got to be carefully Taught – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  9. God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
  10. Pennies from Heaven – Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke
  11. My Heart Stood Still – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  12. Ol’ Man River – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  13.  It’s Only a Paper Moon – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Billy Rose
  14. The Surrey with the Fringe on Top – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II

George Benson: 20/20

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On January 7, 1985, “Warner Bros” label released “20/20”, the 22nd George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 1984, at “Amigo Studios”, “Devonshire Sound Studios”, “Bill Schnee Studios” in Hollywood, “Atlantic Studios”, “A&R Recording”, “Automated Sound Studios”, “Rosebud Recording”, “The Hit Factory”, “the Review Room”, “Avatar Studios”, “Sigma Sound Studios” in New York City, “Grand Slam Studios” in New Jersey, “House of Music” in Orange, NJ, “Bossa Nova Hotel”, “Village Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Russ Titelman, Michael Masser, Daniel Sembello and Michael Sembello.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – lead and harmony vocals, guitar
  • Michael Sembello – guitars, drum programming, backing vocals
  • Dann Huff – guitar
  • Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
  • Cecil Womack – guitar, backing vocals
  • David Williams – rhythm guitar
  • Freddie Green – rhythm guitar
  • Joe Sample – acoustic piano
  • Wells Christie – Synclavier programming
  • Randy Waldman – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • James Newton Howard – acoustic piano, synthesizers, string arrangements
  • Clifford Carter – keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming
  • Rob Mounsey – Synclavier, vocoder, synthesizer bass
  • Richard Tee – Fender Rhodes, synthesizer bass
  • Daniel Sembello – DX7 Rhodes, synthesizer bass, synthesizers, drum programming, ride cymbal
  • Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, synthesizer programming, arrangements
  • Randy Goodrum – synthesizer programming, Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
  • Barnaby Finch – DX7 Rhodes
  • Dave Grusin – string synthesizer, flute
  • Neil Larsen – synthesizers
  • Randy Kerber – keyboards
  • Marcus Miller – bass
  • Nathan East – bass
  • Earl May – bass
  • Anthony Jackson – bass
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • Clif Magness – drum programming, track arrangements
  • Russ Titelman – drum programming
  • Steve Ferrone – additional drums
  • Dave Weckl – additional drums, additional cymbals
  • Bryan Lee Janszen – Simmons drum programming
  • Carlos Vega – drums
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Steve Kipner – Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
  • Rick Shlosser – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – finger cymbals
  • Ralph MacDonald – triangle, percussion
  • Gary Herbig – saxophone
  • Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone
  • Frank Wess – alto saxophone
  • Charles Williams – alto saxophone
  • Robert Eldridge – baritone saxophone
  • George Coleman – tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
  • Robin Eubanks – trombone
  • Slide Hampton – trombone
  • Benny Powell – trombone
  • Dave Taylor – trombone
  • Gary Grant – trumpet
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, horn arrangements
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Earl Gardner – trumpet
  • Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Felix Vega – trumpet
  • George Young – flute
  • Frank Foster – horn arrangements, conductor
  • Ralph Burns – string arrangements, conductor
  • Michael Masser – rhythm track arrangements
  • Gene Page – rhythm track and string arrangements
  • Roberta Flack – lead vocals
  • Patti Austin – backing and harmony vocals
  • Gordon Grody – backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals
  • Richard Marx – backing vocals
  • Deborah Thomas – backing vocals
  • James Taylor – backing and harmony vocals
  • Linda Womack – backing vocals
  • David Cochrane – backing vocals
  • Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals
  • Russ Titelman – executive producer
  • Mary Melia – production coordinator
  • Jim Boyer, Lee Herschberg, Gary Ladinsky, Michael Mancini, Elliot Scheiner, Russell Schmitt, Thom Wilson – engineer
  • Dick Bogart, Kendal Brown, Dean Burt, John Convertino, Jim Gallagher, Josiah Gluck, Cliff Hodson, John Rollo, Nicholas Spigel – additional engineering
  • Michael Abbott, Mike Allaire, Nelson Ayers, Mike Birnholz, Paul Brown, Ollie Cotton, Nick Delre, Paul Higgins, Steve Hirsch, Cliff Jones, Barbara Ivone, Leslie Klein, Robin Laine, Bruce Lampcov, James Nichols, Bobby Warner, Jay Willis – engineer assistant
  • Jim Boyer, Ed Rak, Elliot Scheiner, Russ Titelman – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Simon Levy – art direction
  • Kav DeLuxe – design
  • Richard Bomersheim – photography

Track listing:

  1. No One Emotion – Cliff Magness, Mark Mueller, Tom Keane
  2. Please Don’t Walk Away – James Newton Howard, Steve Lukather
  3. I Just Wanna Hang Around You – Chuz Sembello, Daniel Sembello, Jon Sembello, Michael Sembello
  4. Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You – Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin
  5. Beyond the Sea (la Mer) – Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence
  6. 20/20 – Randy Goodrum, Steve Kipner
  7. New Day – Cecil Womack, Linda Womack
  8. Hold Me – Michael Sembello, Daniel Sembello
  9. Stand Up – Neil Larsen
  10. You Are the Love of My Love – Linda Creed, Michael Masser

Carly Simon: No Secrets

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On November 16, 1972, “Elektra” label released “No Secrets”, the third Carly Simon studio album. It was recorded September – October 1972, at “Trident Studio” in London, and was produced by Richard Perry.

Personnel:

  • Carly Simon – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, acoustic guitar, string arrangements, ARP synthesizer arrangements
  • David Hentschel – ARP synthesizer
  • Peter Robinson – acoustic piano
  • Nicky Hopkins – acoustic piano
  • Bill Payne – organ
  • Paul Keough – acoustic guitar
  • Lowell George – slide guitar
  • Jimmy Ryan – bass, acoustic, electric and lead guitar
  • Klaus Voormann – bass
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Jim Gordon – drums
  • Jim Keltner – drums
  • Ray Cooper – congas
  • Richard Perry – percussion
  • Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone
  • Kirby Johnson – electric piano, string arrangements, horn arrangements, woodwind arrangements, conductor
  • Paul Buckmaster – orchestration, synthesizers; orchestra, synthesizer and woodwind arrangements, conductor
  • Vicki Brown – backing vocals
  • Liza Strike – backing vocals
  • Mick Jagger – backing vocals
  • James Taylor – backing vocals
  • Bonnie Bramlett – backing vocals
  • Linda McCartney – backing vocals
  • Paul McCartney – backing vocals
  • Doris Troy – backing vocals
  • Robin Geoffrey Cable – engineer, recording, remixing
  • Mark Berry – recording
  • Bill Schnee – engineer, remixing
  • Doug Sax – disc cutting
  • Robert L. Heimall – art direction, design
  • Ed Caraeff – cover photography
  • Peter Simon – inner sleeve photography
  • David Katz – musicians contractor

Track listing:

All tracks by Carly Simon, except where noted.

  1. The Right Thing to Do
  2. The Carter Family – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
  3. You’re So Vain
  4. His Friends Are More Than Fond of Robin
  5. We Have No Secrets
  6. Embrace Me, Tour Child
  7. Waited So Long
  8. It Was So Easy – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
  9. Night Owl – James Taylor
  10. When You Close Your Eyes – Carly Simon, Bill Mernit

Howard Johnson

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On January 11, 2021, Howard Lewis Johnson died aged 79. He was musician (tuba, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, trumpet), member and leader of the tuba ensembles Tuba Libre, Substructure, and Gravity. He recorded and performed with some of the world best known musicians and bands, including George Gruntz, Hank Crawford, Gil Evans, Charles Mingus, Hank Crawford, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Archie Shepp, Hank Mobley, Levon Helm, Tomasz Stanko, Gary Burton, Gábor Szabó, Bob Thiele, Charlie Haden, Jazz Composers, Andrew Hill, Leon Thomas, Johnny Coles, Taj Mahal, Charles Tolliver, The Band, Carla Bley, John Lennon, Sam Rivers, Gato Barbieri, Jaco Pastorius, Muddy Waters, Dexter Gordon, Clifford Jordan, David “Fathead” Newman,  James Taylor, Jack De Johnette, Jimmy Heath, Franco Ambrosetti, George Gruntz, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, NDR Big Band, Ray Anderson, Barbara Dennerlein, John Scofield, T. S. Monk, Mario Pavone, and Chet Baker. As leader he released four albums.