Tag Archives: January

B. B. King: There Must Be a Better World Somewhere

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In January 1981, “MCA” label released “There Must Be a Better World Somewhere” the twenty seventh B. B. King studio album. It was recorded in 1980, and was produced by Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack. The album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording”.

Personnel:

  • B. B. King- vocals, guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar
  • Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack- keyboards
  • Wilbur Bascomb- bass guitar
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
  • Hank Crawford- alto saxophone
  • David “Fathead” Newman- tenor saxophone
  • Ronald E. Cuber- baritone saxophone
  • Waymon Reed- trumpet
  • Tom Malone- trombone
  • Charlie Miller – trumpet
  • Donny Gerrard, Vennette Gloud, Carmen Twillie- backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Doc Pomus and Dr. John; except where noted.

  1. The Victim
  2. More, More, More – Hugh McCracken, Jay Hirsh
  3. You’re Going with Me
  4. Life Ain’t Nothing But a Party
  5. Born Again Human
  6. There Must Be a Better World Somewhere

Muddy waters: I’m Ready

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In January 1978, “Blue Sky” released “I’m Ready”, the thirteenth Muddy Waters studio album. It was recorded in October – November 1977, in Westport, Connecticut, and was produced by Johnny Winter. In 1978,the album earned Waters a “Grammy Award”.

Personnel:

  • Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield ) – vocal, guitar
  • Jimmy Rogers– guitar
  • Johnny Winter– guitar
  • Bob Margolin– guitar, bass
  • Pinetop Perkins– piano
  • Big Walter Horton– acoustic and amplified harmonica
  • Jerry Portnoy– amplified harmonica
  • Willie “Big Eyes” Smith– drums

Track listing:

All tracks by McKinley Morganfield; except where noted.

  1. I’m Ready – Willie Dixon
  2. 33 Years
  3. Who Do You Trust
  4. Copper Brown
  5. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man – Willie Dixon
  6. Mamie – McKinley Morganfield, Jimmy Rogers
  7. Rock Me
  8. Screamin’ And Cryin
  9. Good Morning, Little School Girl – Sonny Boy Williamson

Steeley Span: Commoners Crown

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In January 1975, “Chrysalis” label released “Commoners Crown”, the seventh  Steeleye Span album. It was recorded September-October 1974, at “Morgan Studios” in London, and was produced by Maddy Prior, Tim Hart, Bob Johnson, Rick Kemp, Nigel Pegrum and Robin Black.

Personnel:

  • Maddy Prior- vocals
  • Tim Hart- vocals, guitar, appalachian dulcimer
  • Bob Johnson- vocals, guitar
  • Rick Kemp- bass guitar, drums
  • Nigel Pegrum- drums, flute
  • Peter Knight- violin
  • Peter Sellers- ukulele

Track listing:

  1. Little Sir Hugh – traditional
  2. Bach Goes To Limerick – Tim THart, Bob Johnson, Rick Kemp,  Peter Knight, Nigel Pegrum, Maddy Prior
  3. Long Lankin – traditional
  4. Dogs and Ferrets -traditional
  5. Galtee Farmer – traditional
  6. Demon Lover – traditional
  7. Elf Call – traditional
  8. Weary Cutters – traditiona
  9. New York Girls – traditional

Mahavishnu Orchestra: Inner Worlds

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inner-worlds

In January 1976, “Columbia” label released “Inner Worlds”, the sixth Mahavishnu Orchestra. It was recorded July-August 1975, at “Studio Hérouville”, and was mixed at.”Trident Studios” in London.and was produced by Dennis Mackay and John McLaughlin.

Personnel:

  • John McLaughlin- guitar, guitar synthesizer, “360” systems frequency shifter, 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals, frequency shifter, E-mu  synthesizer sequencer
  • Stu Goldberg – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano, customized Mini-Moog and Steiner-Parker  synthesizers, clavinet
  • Ralphe Armstrong – lead and backing vocals, bass, brassmaster bass
  • Narada Michael Walden – lead vocals, drums, congas, bass marimba, shaker, piano, organ, tympani, sleigh bells, gong
  • Sal Caravello – art direction

Track listing:

  1. All in the Family – John McLaughlin
  2. Miles Out – John McLaughlin
  3. In My Life – John McLaughlin, Narada Michael Walden
  4. Gita – John McLaughlin
  5. Morning Calls – John McLaughlin, Narada Michael Walden
  6. The Way of the Pilgrim – Narada Michael Walden
  7. River of My Heart – Kanchan Cynthia Anderson, Narada Michael Walden
  8. Planetary Citizen – Ralphe Armstrong
  9. Lotus Feet – John McLaughlin
  10. Inner Worlds
  • Part 1 – John McLaughlin
  • Part 2 – Stu Goldberg

Tower of Power: Urban Renewal

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urban_renewal

In January 1975, “Warner Bros” label released “Urban Renewal”, the fifth Tower of Power album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito in California, and was produced by Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Lenny Williams: lead vocals
  • Bruce Conte: guitars, backing vocals
  • Chester Thompson: keyboards, organ, acoustic piano, clavinet, backing vocals, bass pedals
  • Francis “Rocco” Prestia: bass guitar
  • David Bartlett: drums
  • David Garibaldi: drums
  • Carter Collins: congas, percussion
  • Greg Adams: trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Emilio Castillo: tenor saxophone, backing vocals
  • Mic Gillette: trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
  • Stephen Kupka: baritone saxophone
  • Lenny Pickett: clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute, baritone, tenor & soprano saxophones
  • Bootche Anderson: vocals
  • Marilyn Scott: vocals
  • Pepper Watkins: vocals
  • Greg Adams, Chester Thompson – arrangements
  • Alan Chinowsky, Tom Flye – engineer
  • Lee Herschberg – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Only So Much Oil in the Ground – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  2. Come Back, Baby – Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams
  3. It’s Not the Crime – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  4. I Won’t Leave Unless You Want Me To – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams
  5. Maybe It’ll Rub Off – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester Thompson
  6. (To Say the Least) You’re the Most – Johnny “Guitar” Watson
  7. Willing to Learn – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  8. Give Me the Proof – David Bartlett
  9. It Can Never Be the Same – Bruce Conte, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  10. I Believe in Myself – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  11. Walkin’ Up Hip Street – Chester Thompson

 

Klaus Schulze: Picture Music

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In January 1975, “Brain” label released “Picture Music”, the fourth Klaus Schulze album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by Klaus Schulze.

Personnel:

  • Klaus Schulze – EMS VCS3 synthesizer, ARP Odyssey synthesizer, ARP 2600 synthesizer, Farfisa Professional Duo organ, drums, percussion
  • Jacques Wyrs – covert art

Track listing:

All tracks by Klaus Schulze.

  1. Totem
  2. Mental Door

Al Stewart: Modern Times

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moderntimes

In January 1975, “CBS” label released “Modern Times”, the sixth Al Stewart album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by Al Stewart.

Personnel:

  • Al Stewart – vocals, guitar, keyboard
  • Brian Bennett – background vocals
  • David Ellis – acoustic guitar
  • Isaac Guillory- guitar
  • Simon Nicol- guitar
  • Tim Renwick- guitar
  • Stuart Cowell – dobro, guitar
  • Pete Wingfield- keyboards
  • Peter Wood- keyboards, accordion
  • Graham Smith – harmonica
  • George Ford – bass
  • Peter Moss – fuzz bass
  • Gerry Conway- drums
  • Barry DeSouza – drums
  • Tony Carr – percussion
  • Neil Lancaster – backing vocals
  • Charles Mills – backing vocals
  • Alan Parsons- string arrangements, engineer
  • Andrew Powell- arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Stewart except where noted.

  1. Carol
  2. Sirens of Titan
  3. What’s Going On?
  4. Not the One
  5. Next Time
  6. Apple Cider Re-Constitution
  7. The Dark and the Rolling Sea
  8. Modern Times – Dave Mudge, Al Stewart

Gordon Lightfoot: Sundown

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sundown

In January 1974, “Reprise” label released “Sundown”, the tenth Gordon Lightfoot album. It was recorded in November 1973, at “Eastern Sound Studios” in Toronto, and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Gordon Lightfoot– lead and backing vocals, six and twelve string acoustic guitars, chimes, bells, high string guitar
  • Red Shea – dobro, electric, acoustic and classical guitars, slide dobro
  • Terry Clements – acoustic guitar
  • Gene Martynec– Moog synthesizer
  • Nick De Caro – accordion, horns, orchestration, piano, strings
  • Rick Haynes– bass guitar
  • John Stockfish – bass guitar
  • Jim Gordon– percussion, drum
  • Milt Holland– percussion, congas
  • Jack Zaza – English horn, recorder
  • Catherine Smith– harmony vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Gordon Lightfoot.

  1. Somewhere U.S.A.
  2. High and Dry
  3. Seven Island Suite
  4. Circle of Steel
  5. Is There Anyone Home
  6. The Watchman’s Gone
  7. Sundown
  8. Carefree Highway
  9. The List
  10. Too Late for Prayin’

Gram Parsons: Grievous Angel

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In January 1974, “Reprise” label released “Grievous Angel”, the second Gram Parsons solo album. It was compiled from summer 1973 sessions recorded at “Wally Heider Studio 4” in Hollywood, produced by Gram Parsons, and was released four months after his death in September 1973. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 425  on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Personnel:

  • Gram Parsons – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Emmylou Harris – vocals
  • Herb Pedersen – acoustic rhythm guitar, electric rhythm guitar
  • Al Perkins – pedal steel
  • Bernie Leadon – acoustic guitar, electric lead guitar, dobro
  • James Burton – electric lead guitar
  • Byron Berline – fiddle, mandolin
  • Glen D. Hardin – piano, electric piano
  • Emory Gordy, Jr. – bass
  • Ronnie Tutt – drums
  • D. Smart: drums
  • Steve Snyder: vibes
  • Linda Ronstadt: harmony vocal
  • Kim Fowley,Phil Kaufman, Ed Tickner, Jane & Jon Doe: “Background blah-blah”

Track listing:

  1. Return of the Grievous Angel – Gram Parsons, Tom Brown
  2. Hearts on Fire – Walter Egan, Tom Guidera
  3. I Can’t Dance – Tom T. Hall
  4. Brass Buttons – Gram Parsons
  5. $1000 Wedding – Gram Parsons
  6. Medley Live from Northern Quebec:
  • Cash on the Barrelhead – Charlie Louvin,Ira Louvin
  • Hickory Wind – Gram Parsons, Bob Buchanan
  1. Love Hurts – Boudleaux Bryant
  2. Ooh Las Vegas – Gram Parsons,Ric Grech
  3. In My Hour of Darkness – Gram Parsons,Emmylou Harris

Gil Scott Heron: The First Minute of a New Day

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the-first-minute

In January 1975, “Arista” label released “The First Minute of a New Day”, the fifth Gil Scott-Heron album, and the first one with Brian Jackson.It was recorded June- July 1974, at “D&B Sound” in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was produced by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson.

Personnel:

  • Gil Scott-Heron– vocals, piano, electric piano, guitar
  • Brian Jackson– synthesizer, keyboards, flute, vocals
  • Bilal Sunni Ali – flute, harmonica, saxophone
  • Danny Bowens – bass
  • Eddie Knowles – percussion, conga
  • Barnett Williams – percussion
  • Victor Brown – percussion, vocals
  • Charlie Saunders – congas, drums
  • Bob Adams – drums
  • Victor Bowens – tambourine, vocals, bells
  • Jose Williams – engineer, production assistance
  • David Lau – artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, except where noted.

  1. Offering
  2. The Liberation Song (Red, Black and Green)
  3. Must Be Something – Brian Jackson, Danny Bowens, Gill Scott-Heron, Bob Adams
  4. Ain’t No Such Thing As Superman – Gill Scott-Heron
  5. Pardon Our Analysis (We Beg Your Pardon)
  6. Guerilla – Gill Scott-Heron
  7. Winter in America – Gill Scott-Heron
  8. Western Sunrise – Bilal Sunny Ali
  9. Alluswe