Tag Archives: Jesse Levy

Patti Austin: Havana Candy

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On October 26, 1977, “CTI” label released “Havana Candy”, the second Patti Austin studio album. It was recorded in Austin 1977, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen.

Personnel:

  • Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals
  • Dave Grusin – acoustic and electric piano, slide whistle, synthesizers, arrangements, conductor
  • Richard Tee – acoustic piano
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – electric guitar
  • Steve Khan – electric guitar
  • Will Lee – electric bass
  • Francisco Centeno – electric bass
  • Anthony Jackson – electric bass
  • Frank Gravis – electric bass
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion, congas
  • Gerry Niewood – alto saxophone
  • Lou Marini – tenor saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
  • Alan Rubin – trumpet
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Valentin – flute, timbales
  • Seymour Barab, Gene Bianco, David Davis, Peter Dimitriades, Regis Iandiorio, Theodore Israel, Jesse Levy, Charles Libove, Guy Lumia, Elliot Magaziner, Joe Malin, Richard Maximoff, Elliot Rosoff, Paul Winter – string section
  • Lani Groves, Gwen Guthrie, Ullanda McCullough, Ken Williams – backing vocals
  • Larry Rosen – recording, mixing
  • Michael Frondelli – engineer assistant
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Sib Chalawick – design
  • Alen MacWeeney – photography
  • Donna Putney – production coordinator
  • Tony Martell – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Patti Austin, except where noted.

  1. That’s Enough for Me – Patti Austin, Dave Grusin
  2. Little Baby
  3. I Just Want to Know
  4. Havana Candy
  5. Golden Oldies
  6. I Need Somebody
  7. We’re in Love
  8. Lost in the Stars – Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill

Bob James: Two

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On May 29. 1975, “CTI” label released “Two”, the fourth Bob James album. It was recorded December 1974 – January 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taulor.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – electric piano, clavinet, ARP Odyssey, Yamaha YC-30 combo organ, arrangements, conductor
  • Richard Resnicoff – guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar, bass
  • Gary King – bass
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Arthur Jenkins – percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Patti Austin – vocals, lead vocal
  • Frank Floyd – vocals
  • Lani Groves – vocals
  • Zachary Sanders – vocals
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • John Frosk – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Victor Paz – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Eddie Bert – trombone
  • Tom Mitchell – trombone
  • Tony Studd – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute, electric flute
  • Eddie Daniels – clarinet
  • James Buffington – French horn
  • Peter Gordon – French horn
  • Al Richmond – French horn
  • Harry Cykman, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, David Nadien, Gene Orloff and Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Seymour Barab, Alla Goldberg, Warren Lash, Jesse Levy, George Ricci, Alan Shulman and Anthony Sophos – cello
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Bob Ciano – design
  • Greg Laurents – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Take Me to the Mardi Gras – Paul Simon
  2. I Feel a Song (In My Heart) – Tony Camillo, Mary Sawyer
  3. The Golden Apple – Bob James
  4. Farandole – Georges Bizet
  5. You’re as Right as Rain – Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  6. Dream Journey – Bob James

Aretha Franklin: Get It Right

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On July 14, 1983, “Arista” label released “Get It Right”, the twenty-ninth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1983, and was produced by Luther Vandross.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Doc Powell – guitar
  • Georg Wadenius – guitar
  • Teddy F. White – guitar
  • Nat Adderley Jr. – keyboards, rhythm arrangements
  • Marcus Miller – synthesizers, bass guitar, rhythm arrangements
  • Yogi Horton – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion, congas, bongos
  • Steve Kroon – congas, triangle
  • Dave Friedman – vibraphone
  • David Carey – timpani
  • George Young – soprano saxophone
  • Alan Rubin, George Young, Gregory Williams, Jim Pugh, John Clark, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini, Peter Gordon, Ronnie Cuber, Tom Malone – horns
  • Alfred Brown, Barry Finclair, Elena Barere, Emanuel Vardi, Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Harry Zaratzian, Homer Mensch, Jan Mullen, Jean R. Dane, Jesse Levy, John Beal, John Pintavalle, Jonathan Abramowitz, Joseph Rabushka, Judy Geist, Julien Barber, Kathryn Kienke, Kermit Moore, Lamar Alsop, Lewis Eley, Margaret Ross, Marilyn Wright, Regis Landiorio, Richard Sortomme, Richard Young, Sanford Allen, Sue Pray, Winterton Garvey – strings
  • Rob Mounsey – string arrangements, horn arrangements
  • Paul Riser – string and horn arrangements
  • Luther Vandross – vocal arrangements, backing vocals
  • Michael Love Smith – vocal arrangements, backing vocals
  • Brenda White – backing vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
  • Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
  • Phillip Ballou – backing vocals
  • Tawatha Agee – backing vocals
  • Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Darlene Love – backing vocals
  • Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals
  • Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Sandra Richardson – backing vocals
  • Aaron T. Smith – backing vocals
  • Danny Dedusual Smith – backing vocals
  • Myrna Smith – backing vocals
  • Don Cuminale – engineer
  • Paul Brocek, Michael Christopher – additional engineering, engineer assistant
  • Mark Cobrin – engineer assistant
  • Michael H. Brauer – mixing
  • Donn Davenport – art direction
  • Howard Fritzson – design

Track listing:

All tracks written by Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller, except where noted.

  1. Get It Right
  2. Pretender
  3. Every Girl (Wants My Guy)
  4. When You Love Me Like That
  5. I Wish It Would Rain – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene
  6. Better Friends Than Lovers – Michael Lovesmith
  7. I Got Your Love – Luther Vandross
  8. Giving In – Clarence Franklin

Spyro Gyro: Catching the Sun

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In February 1980, “MCA” label released “Catching the Sun”, the third Spyro Gyra studio album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Secret Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.

Personnel:

  • Jay Beckenstein – soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, Fender Rhodes, percussion
  • Tom Schuman – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, synthesizers programming, effects
  • Jeremy Wall – synthesizers, synthesizer programming, percussion, effects, horn arrangements, assistant producer
  • Hiram Bullock – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Chet Catallo – electric guitar
  • John Tropea – acoustic and electric rhythm guitar
  • Will Lee – bass
  • Jim Kurzdorfer – bass guitar
  • Eli Konikoff – drums
  • Gerardo Velez – percussion, bongos
  • Richard Calandra – tambourine, percussion
  • Dave Samuels – marimba, vibraphone, steel drums
  • Rubens Bassini – congas, percussion
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Barry Rogers – trombone
  • Tom Malone – trombone
  • Bob Malache – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Nathan – clavinet, synthesizer programming
  • Jeremy Wall – string arrangements, conductor
  • Harry Lookofsky – concertmaster
  • Charles McCracken, Jesse Levy, Alan Shulman – cello
  • Peter Dimitriades, Lewis Eley, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondim Richard Sortomme – violin
  • Michael Barry – engineer
  • Jack Malken – engineer
  • Jason Corsaro – assistant engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Peter Corriston – art direction, design
  • David Heffernan – illustration

Track listing:

  1. Catching the Sun – Jay Beckenstein
  2. Cockatoo – Jay Beckenstein, Tom Schuman, Jeremy Wall, Chet Catallo, Jim Kurzdorfer, Eli Konikoff
  3. Autumn of Our Love – Jeremy Wall
  4. Laser Material – Tom Schuman
  5. Percolator – Jay Beckenstein
  6. Philly – Jim Kurzdorfer
  7. Lovin’ You/Lovin’ You (for Christine) – Chet Catallo
  8. Here Again – Jay Beckenstein
  9. Safari – Jeremy Wall

Janis Ian: Aftertones

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In July 1976, “CBS” label released “Aftertones”, the eight Janis Ian album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Brooks Arthur.

Personnel:

  • Janis Ian – vocals, piano, guitar, arranger, conductor
  • Jeff Layton – guitar
  • Bucky Pizzerella – guitar
  • Al Gorgoni – guitar
  • Larry Harlow – piano
  • Stu Woods – bass
  • Richard Davis – bass
  • Barry Lazarowitz – drums, percussion
  • Arthur Jenkins – congas
  • Artie Kaplan – bass clarinet, contractor
  • George Young – tenor saxophone
  • Artie Kaplan – baritone saxophone
  • Larry Spencer, Pete Nater, Bobby Fortunato, Ernie Royal, Joe Shepley – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre, Lewis Kahn, Tom Malone, Mickey Gravine – trombone
  • Gonzalo Fernandez – flute
  • Phil Bodner – oboe, alto flute, English horn 
  • Romeo Pengue – oboe, flute, English horn, piccolo flute
  • Bruce Rogers, Charles McCracken, Jesse Levy, Kermit Moore, Max Hollander – cello
  • Gene Orloff – violin
  • Ezra Kliger – violin
  • Manny Vardi – viola
  • David Sackson, Manni Vardi, Eugenie Dengel, George Browne, Selward Clarke – viola
  • Phoebe Snow – solo vocal
  • Brooks Arthur, Claire Bay, Odetta, V. Martin Fink – vocals
  • Claire Bay – 2nd vocals
  • Larry Harlow – arranger
  • Mike Gibson – arranger, conductor
  • Jerry Ragavoy – arranger, conductor
  • Ron Frangipane – arranger, conductor
  • Brooks Arthur – engineer
  • David L’Heureux – design
  • Peter Cunningham – photography
  • Herb Gart – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Janis Ian.

  1. Aftertones
  2. I Would Like to Dance
  3. Love Is Blind
  4. Roses
  5. Belle of the Blues
  6. Goodbye to Morning
  7. Boy, I really Tied One on
  8. This Must be Wrong
  9. Don’t Cry, Old Man
  10. Hymn

George Benson: Bad Benson

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On October 13, 1974, “CTI” label released “Bad Benson”, the twelve George Benson album. It was recorded April – June 1974, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – guitar
  • Phil Upchurch – guitar, electric bass, percussion, musical concept
  • Kenny Barron – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Garnett Brown, Warren Covington, Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Paul Faulise – bass trombone
  • Alan Rubin, Joe Shepley, John Frosk – trumpet
  • Phil Bodner – English horn, clarinet, alto flute
  • George Marge – English horn, flute, piccolo flute
  • Ray Beckenstein – flute
  • Al Regni – flute, clarinet
  • Brooks Tillotson, Jim Buffington – French horn
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, Frank Levy, Jesse Levy, Paul Tobias, Seymour Barab – cello
  • Don Sebesky – arrangements, conductor
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer, mastering
  • Bob Ciano – album’s design
  • Ben Rose – cover photography
  • Pete Turner – liner photography

Track listing:

  1. Take Five – Paul Desmond
  2. Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams – Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Johnny Mandel
  3. My Latin Brother – George Benson
  4. No Sooner Said Than Done – Phil Upchurch
  5. Full Compass – Phil Upchurch
  6. The Changing World – George Benson, Art Gore

Carly Simon: Spy

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On June 30, 1979, “Elektra” label released “Spy”, the eight Carly Simon studio album. It was recorded December 1978 – April 1979, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Carly Simon – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano
  • Ian McLagan– acoustic piano
  • Don Grolnick– acoustic piano, clavinet
  • Warren Bernhardt– keyboards, acoustic piano, electric piano
  • Richard Tee– clavinet, electric piano
  • Ken Bichel– Polymoog, synthesizer
  • Cliff Carter – synthesizer
  • Billy Mernit – acoustic piano
  • Joe Caro – acoustic and electric guitar
  • John Hall – electric guitar
  • David Spinozza– acoustic and electric guitar
  • Frank Carillo– guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass
  • Will Lee– bass
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Rick Marotta– drums
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion, congas
  • Raphael Cruz – cowbell, congas, percussion
  • Mike Mainieri– vibraphone
  • David Sanborn– alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Peter Ballin – alto saxophone
  • Lew Del Gatto – baritone saxophone
  • Tom Malone– trombone
  • Hubert Laws– flute
  • Arif Mardin– horn, string and choir arrangement
  • Gene Orloff– concertmaster
  • Tim Curry– backing vocals
  • Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals
  • James Taylor– backing vocals
  • Lucy Simon – backing vocals
  • Jonathan Abramowitz, Lamar Alsop, Julien Barber, Phil Bodner, James Buffington, Frederick Buldrini, Jean R. Dane, Eddie Daniels, Peter Dimitriades, Lewis Eley, Gerald Tarack, Paul Gershman, Ted Hoyle, Regis Iandiorio, Teddy Israel, Harold Kohon, Jesse Levy, Guy Lumia, Joseph Malin, Richard Maximoff, Kermit Moore, Eugene J. Moye, Gene Orloff, Tony Posk, Alan Shulmanand Mitsue Takayama – strings
  • Lew Hahn – recording, mixing
  • Mike O’Malley – engineer assistant
  • George Piros – mastering
  • Robert Heimall – art direction, design
  • Pam Frank – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Carly Simon, except where noted.

  1. Vengeance
  2. Just Like You Do
  3. We’re So Close
  4. Coming to Get You
  5. Never Been Gone – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
  6. Pure Sin – Carly Simon, Frank Carillo
  7. Love You By Heart – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman, Libby Titus
  8. Spy – Carly Simon, James Taylor, Arif Mardin
  9. Memorial Day

Stanley Clarke: Same

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In December 1974, “Nemperor” and “Atlantic” labels released the self-titled, second Stanley Clarke studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Stanley Clarke.

Personnel:

  • Stanley Clarke – vocals, bass guitar, double bass, guitar, piano
  • Jan Hammer– keyboards
  • Bill Connors– guitar
  • Tony Williams– drums
  • Airto Moreira– percussion
  • David Taylor – trombone, brasses
  • Jon Faddis, James Buffington, Lew Soloff, Garnett Brown, Peter Gordon – brasses
  • David Nadien, Charles McCracken, Jesse Levy, Carol Buck, Beverly Lauridsen, Harry Cykman, Harold Kohon, Paul Gershman, Harry Lookofsky, Emanuel Green – string section
  • Michael Gibbs– string and brass arrangement
  • Ken Scott– engineer
  • Dave Whitman – engineer assistant
  • Brian Gardner– mastering engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Stanley Clarke; except where noted.

  1. Vulcan Princess
  2. Yesterday Princess – Stanley Clarke, Carolyn Clarke
  3. Lopsy Lu
  4. Power
  5. Spanish Phases for Strings & Bass – Michael Gibbs
  6. Life Suite
  • Part I
  • Part II
  • Part III
  • Part IV

Patti Smith: Dream of Life

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In June 1988, “Arista” label released “Dream of Life”, the fifth Patti Smith studio album. It was recorded in 1987, at “The Hit Factory” in New York City, “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Fred Smith and Jimmy Iovine.

Personnel:

  • Patti Smith– vocals
  • Fred “Sonic” Smith– guitar
  • Richard Sohl– keyboards
  • Bob Glaub– bass
  • Malcolm West – bass
  • Gary Rasmussen – bass
  • Kasim Sulton– bass
  • Jay Dee Daugherty– drums, keyboards, consultant
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion
  • Hearn Gadbois – percussion
  • Sammy Figueroa– percussion
  • Jesse Levy – cello
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • Andi Ostrowe – backing vocals
  • Robin Nash – backing vocals
  • Thom Panunzio– engineer
  • Jim Michewicz – engineer
  • Kevin Killen – engineer
  • Jay Healey – engineer
  • Brian Sperber – engineer
  • Bill-Dog Dooley – engineer assistant
  • Dave McNair – engineer assistant
  • Richard Travali – engineer, assistant
  • Rob Jacobs – engineer assistant
  • Robert DeLaGarza – engineer assistant
  • Roger Talkov – engineer assistant
  • Marc DeSisto – engineer assistant
  • Shelly Yakus– mixing
  • Scott Litt– миџинг, associate producer
  • Vic Anesini – mastering
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering
  • Maude Gilman – design
  • Robert Mapplethorpe– photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Patti Smith and Fred “Sonic” Smith.

  1. People Have the Power
  2. Going Under
  3. Up There Down There
  4. Paths That Cross
  5. Dream of Life
  6. Where Duty Calls
  7. Looking for You (I Was)
  8. The Jackson Song