Tag Archives: Joe Vannelli

Tower of Power: Step Up

On March 20, 2020, “Mack Avenue Records” label released “Step Up”, the 22nd Tower of Power album. It was recorded over the course of the 2010s, at “Blue Moon” in Los Angeles, “Track Shack” in Sacramento, and was produced by Joe Vannelli and Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Emilio Castillo – lead and backing vocals, tenor saxophone
  • Roger Smith – lead vocals, keyboards, Hammond B3 organ
  • Jerry Cortez – guitars, electric sitar, backing vocals
  • Marcus Scott – lead and backing vocals
  • Ray Greene – lead and backing vocals, trombone
  • Joe Vannelli – keyboards, auxiliary percussion, vibes, marimba
  • Tom E. Politzer – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Chuck Hansen – bass saxophone
  • Adolfo Acosta – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Sal Cracchiolo – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
  • David Garibaldi – drums
  • Leah Meux – backing vocals
  • Tiwana Porter – backing vocals
  • Melanie Jackson – backing vocals
  • Dave Eskridge – horn and string arrangements

Track listing:

  1. East Bay, All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  2. Step Up – Emilio Castillo, Roger Smith
  3. The Story of You and I – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  4. Who Would Have Thought – Stephen Kupka, Nick Lane, Lamont Van Hook
  5. Addicted to You – Emilio Castillo, Sydney Justin
  6. Look in My Eyes – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Kevin Henry Whalum
  7. You da One – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Sennie Rudolph Martin
  8. Sleeping with You Baby – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  9. If It’s Tea Give Me Coffee – Stephen Kupka, William Ross
  10. Beyond My Wildest Dreams – Bruce Conte
  11. Any Excuse Will Do – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Lenny Pickett
  12. If You Wanna Be a Winner – Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  13. Let’s Celebrate Our Love – Emilio Castillo, Mark Dolin
  14. East Bay! Oaktown All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez

Gino Vannelli: A Pauper in Paradise

On November 7, 1977, “A&M” label released “A Pauper in Paradise”, the fifth Gino Vannelli studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “AIR Studios”, and “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Gino Vanelli, and Joe Vanelli.

Personnel:

  • Gino Vannelli – lead vocals, arranger
  • Joe Vannelli – Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, acoustic piano, synthesizer programming, backing vocals; synthesizer, arstring and brass arrangements
  • Bill Meyers – acoustic piano, synthesizers, synth bass, backing vocals
  • Chris Rhyne – keyboards, synth bass
  • Mark Davis – bass guitar
  • Casey Scheuerell – drums
  • John J. Mandel – timpani, percussion
  • Dido Morris – congas, bongos
  • Dick Morrissey – tenor saxophone
  • Don Sebesky – orchestration, conductor
  • Barry Griffiths – orchestra leader
  • The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra
  • Joanie Bartels – backing vocals
  • Joanne Jayde – backing vocals
  • Jay Stone – backing vocals
  • The John McCarthy Choir – choir
  • Norm Kinney; John Kurlander – engineer
  • Steve Prestage – engineer assistant
  • Jon Kelly – remixi
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Fabio Nicola, Roland Young – art direction
  • Joanne Jayde – design
  • Beth Kelly – poster photography
  • Paul McCreath – back cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gino Vannelli.

  1. Mardi Gras
  2. Valleys of Valhalla
  3. The Surest Things Can Change
  4. One Night with You
  5. A Song and Dance
  6. Black and Blue
  7. A Pauper in Paradise (In Four Movements)

Gino Vannelli: The Gist of the Gemini

On September 21, 1976, “A&M” label released “The Gist of the Gemini”, the fourth Gino Vannelli studio album. It was recorded in 1976, at “AIR Studios” in London, and was produced by Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, and Geoff Emerick.

Personnel:

  • Gino Vannelli – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, clavinet, arrangements
  • Jay Graydon– electric guitar
  • Ross Vannelli – guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe Vannelli– acoustic and electric pianos, clavinet, synthesizers, string, and brass arrangements
  • Richard Baker – organ, synthesizers, synth bass, string, and brass arrangements
  • Graham Lear– drums
  • John J. Mandell – timpani, percussion
  • Dido Morris – congas, cuica, timbales
  • Dianne Brooks– backing vocals
  • Brenda Russell– backing vocals
  • The John McCarthy Choir – backing vocals
  • Geoff Emmerick – engineer
  • Jon Kelly, Steve Prestage – engineer assistant
  • Norm Kinney – remix
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Fabio Nicola – art direction
  • Clive Arrowsmith, Gered Mankowitz – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gino Vannelli.

  1. Love of My Life
  2. Ugly Man
  3. A New Fix for ’76
  4. Omens of Love
  5. Fly into This Night
  6. War Suite
  7. Prelude to the War
  8. The Battle Cry
  9. To the War
  10. Carnal Question
  11. After the Last Battle
  12. To the War (Reflection)
  13. Summers of My Life

 

Reo Speedwagon: Find Your Own Way Home

On April 3, 2007, “Speedwagon Recordings” and “Mailboat Records” labels released “Find Your Own Way Home”, the fifteenth REO Speedwagon studio album. It was recorded 2005 – 2006, and was produced by Joe Vannelli and Kevin Cronin.

Personnel:

  • Kevin Cronin– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Dave Amato– lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Neal Doughty– keyboards
  • Bruce Hall– bass, backing vocals
  • Bryan Hitt– drums
  • Joe Vannelli– keyboards

Track listing:

All tracks by Kevin Cronin, except where noted.

  1. Smilin’ in the End
  2. Find Your Own Way Home
  3. I Needed to Fail
  4. Dangerous Combination – Kevin Cronin, Jim Peterik
  5. Lost in the Road of Love
  6. Another Lifetime – Dave Amato, Kevin Cronin, Bruce Hall, Bryan Hitt
  7. Run Away Baby
  8. Everything You Feel
  9. Born to Love You – Bruce Hall
  10. Let My Love Find You

Gino Vannelli: Nightwalker

In March 1981, “Arista” label released “Nightwalker” the seventh Gino Vannelli studio album. It was recorded 1980-1981, at “Smoketree” in Chatsworth, California, and was produced by Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, and Ross Vannelli.

Personnel:

  • Gino Vannelli– lead and backing vocals
  • Joe Vannelli- electric piano, acoustic piano, organ and synthesizer, string arrangements
  • Mike Miller- acoustic and electric guitar
  • Neil Stubenhaus- bass
  • Vinnie Colaiuta- drums
  • Mike Fisher – congas, percussion
  • David Boruff – saxophone
  • Brad Cole – string arrangements
  • Stephanie Spruill – backing vocals
  • Julia Waters – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters – backing vocals
  • Ross Vannelli – backing vocals
  • Doug Parry – backing vocals
  • Norm Kinney – engineer
  • Doug Parry – assistant engineer
  • Rick Romano – engineer assistant
  • Bernie Grundman- mastering
  • Ria Lewerke – art direction
  • Mark Hanauer – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gino Vannelli, except where noted.

  1. Nightwalker
  2. Seek and You Will Find – Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Ross Vannelli
  3. Put the Weight on My Shoulders
  4. I Believe – Gino Vannelli and Ross Vannelli
  5. Santa Rosa
  6. Living Inside Myself
  7. Stay With Me
  8. Sally (She Says the Sweetest Things)