On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).
Tag Archives: Janet Jackson
Ramsey Lewis: Sky Islands
On October 5, 1993, “GRP” label released “Sky Islands”, the 63rd Ramsey Lewis album. It was recorded in 1993, and was produced by Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen, Ramsey Lewis, Frayne Lewis, Maurice White and Carl Griffin.
Personnel:
- Ramsey Lewis – piano, backing vocals
- Henry Johnson – guitar
- Michael Logan – keyboards, backing vocals
- Chuck Webb – bass guitar, double bass
- Steve Cobb – vocals, drums, percussion
- Tony Carpenter – percussion, backing vocals
- Art Porter Jr. – alto saxophone
- Eve Cornelious – backing vocals
- Sheila Fuller – backing vocals
- Carl Griffin – backing vocals
- Robert Lewis – backing vocals
- Mark Ruffin – backing vocals
- Brenda Stewart – backing vocals
- Morris Stewart – backing vocals
- Rich Breen – engineer, mixing
- Dennis Tousana – engineer assistant
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Michael Landy – post production
- Larry Rosen – executive producer
- Michael Logan – associate producer
- Sharon Franklin – production coordination
- Sonny Mediana – production director
Track listing:
1. Julia – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
2. Après Vous – Ramsey Lewis
3. Who Are You – Bill Cantos
4. Suavecito – Ramsey Lewis
5. Tonight – Frayne Lewis, Robert Lewis, Ramsey Lewis, Mike Logan
6. Sky Island – Larry Dunn, Dianne Reeves
7. A Song for Jan – Ramsey Lewis
8. Medley: Wade in the Water, Hang On Sloopy, The in Crowd – Wes Farrell, Ramsey Lewis, William Page, Bert Russell
9. Love Will Find a Way – Greg Phillinganes, Lionel Richie
10. Come Back to Me – James Harris, Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson
11. Tonight (instrumental) – Frayne Lewis, Robert Lewis, Ramsey Lewis, Mike Logan
Michael Jackson: Thriller
On November 30, 1982, “Epic” label released “Thriller”, the sixth Michael Jackson studio album. It was recorded April – November 1982, at the “Westlake Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. With more than 65 million copies sold worldwide“Thriller” is the best selling album of all time. In 1984, the album won a record eight “Grammy Awards”, including “Album of the Year” award. In 2003 magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Thriller” on number 20 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. “The National Association of Recording Merchandisers” ranked “Thriller” at number three in its “Definitive 200” albums of all time. The album was included in the “Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry” of culturally significant recordings. In 2012, magazine “Slant” ranked “Thriller” at number one on its list of “Best Albums of the 1980”.
Personnel:
- Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals, drum case beater, bathroom stomp board, handclaps, vocal arrangements, rhythm arrangements , horn arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
- Paul McCartney– vocals
- Quincy Jones– rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements, musical arrangements
- Steve Lukather– guitar, bass guitar, additional guitars musical arrangements
- Eddie Van Halen– guitar
- Paul Jackson, Jr.– guitar
- Dean Parks – guitar
- David Williams – guitar
- Rod Temperton – keyboards, synthesizers, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements , synthesizer arrangements
- Steve Porcaro – keyboards, synthesizers, synthesizer programming , musical arrangements
- Bill Wolfer – keyboards , synthesizers, synthesizer programming
- Brian Banks – keyboards, synthesizer, synthesizer programming
- Michael Boddicker– keyboards, synthesizers, Emulator, Vocoder
- N’dugu Chancler– drums
- Paulinho da Costa– percussion
- David Foster– synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
- Anthony Marinelli– synthesizer programming
- David Paich – keyboards, synthesizers, piano, rhythm arrangements, musical arrangements
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards , synthesizers, electric piano, synthesizer programming
- Greg Smith – synthesizers
- Louis Johnson– bass guitar
- Jeff Porcaro – drums
- Larry Williams – saxophone, flute
- Jerry Hey– trumpet, flugelhorn, horn arrangements, string arrangements, strings conductor
- Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Bill Reichenbach – trombone
- Chris Shepard – vibraslap
- Vincent Price – voice-over
- La Toya Jackson, Janet Jackson – backing vocals
Track listing:
- Wanna Be Startin’ Something – Michael Jackson
- Baby Be Mine – Rod Temperton
- The Girl Is Mine – Michael Jackson
- Thriller – Rod Temperton
- Beat It – Michael Jackson
- Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
- Human Nature – Steve Porcaro, John Bettis
- Pretty Young Thing – James Ingram, Quincy Jones
- The Lady In My Life – Rod Temperton
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