Tag Archives: John Rotella

June Christy: Something Cool

Leave a comment

On August 2, 1954, “Capitol” label released “Something Cool”, the debut June Christy album. It was recorded August 1953 – March 1954, and was produced by Lee Gillette. The album was released in 10” vinyl format.

Personnel:

  • June Christy — vocals
  • Pete Rugolo — arranger, conductor
  • Gus Bivona, Harry Klee, Bud Shank — flute, alto flute, alto saxophone
  • Bob Cooper, Ted Nash — flute, tenor saxophone
  • Skeets Herfurt, Willie Schwartz — alto saxophone
  • Fred Falensby, Jimmy Giuffre — tenor saxophone
  • Chuck Gentry, Bob Gordon, John Rotella — baritone saxophone
  • Frank Beach, Conte Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn, Ollie Mitchell, Uan Rasey, Shorty Rogers, Ray Triscari, Jimmy Zito — trumpet
  • Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Nick Dimaio, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herbie Harper, Tommy Pederson, Dick Reynolds, Frank Rosolino — trombone
  • Dick Noel, George Roberts — bass trombone
  • Vincent DeRosa, John Graas — French horn
  • Paul Sarmento, Phil Stephens — tuba
  • Buddy Collette, Paul Horn — reeds
  • Joe Castro, Geoff Clarkson, Russ Freeman, Paul Smith, Claude Williamson — piano
  • Barney Kessel, Jack Marshall, Tony Rizzi, Howard Roberts — guitar
  • Harry Babasin, Joe Comfort, Joe Mondragon — bass
  • Larry Bunker, Frank Carlson, Shelly Manne, Alvin Stoller — drums

Track listing:

  1. Something Cool – Billy Barnes
  2. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  3. Lonely House – Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes
  4. Midnight Sun – Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer
  5. I’ll Take Romance – Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II
  6. A Stranger Called the Blues – Mel Torme, Robert Wells
  7. I Should Care – Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl

Tim Buckley: Look At The Fool

Leave a comment

On September 13, 1973, “DiscReet” label released “Look at the Fool”, the ninth and final Tim Buckley studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Wally Heider” and “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Joe Falsia.

Personnel:

  • Tim Buckley – vocals, guitar
  • Joe Falsia – guitar, bass guitar, arrangements
  • Mike Melvoin – organ, piano, Moog synthesizer
  • Mark Tiernan – electric piano
  • Jim Fielder, Jim Hughart, Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
  • Earl Palmer – drums
  • King Errisson – congas
  • Gary Coleman – percussion
  • Terry Harrington – horn, saxophone
  • David Bluefield – clavinet 
  • Richard Nash, William Peterson, John Rotella, Anthony Terran – horn
  • Jesse Ehrlich – cello
  • Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
  • Stan Agol – recording, mixing
  • Wally Heider – mixing
  • Cal Schenkel – art direction
  • Napoleon – cover illustration

Track listing:

All tracks by Tim Buckley, except where noted.

  1. Look at the Fool
  2. Bring It on Up
  3. Helpless
  4. Freeway Blues – Tim Buckley, Larry Beckett
  5. Tijuana Moon – Tim Buckley, Larry Beckett
  6. Ain’t it Peculiar
  7. Who Could Deny You
  8. Mexicali Voodoo
  9. Down in the Street
  10. Wanda Lu

Jerry Garcia: Garcia

Leave a comment

In June 1974, “Round Records” label released “Compliments” (known as Garcia), the second Jerry Garcia solo album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by John Kahn.

Personnel:

  • Jerry Garcia – vocals, guitar, classical guitar
  • Arthur Adams – guitar
  • Larry Carlton– guitar
  • David Nichtern – guitar
  • Ben Benay – rhythm guitar
  • David Grisman- mandolin
  • Michael Omartian- piano, tack piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Merl Saunders- organ
  • Arnie Egilsson, Ray Siegal – string bass
  • John Kahn – bass, horn arrangement, string arrangement
  • Ron Tutt – drums
  • Bobbye Hall- percussion
  • Melvin Moore – trumpet
  • Gene Connors – trombone, horn arrangement
  • Jackie Kelso – saxophones
  • Amos Garrett– trombone
  • Joel Tepp- clarinet
  • Geoff Muldaur– clarinet
  • Tom Rose – clarinet
  • John Rotella – e flat clarinet
  • Willie Green – b flat clarinet
  • Gary Ray – b flat clarinet
  • Julian Sheer – bass clarinet
  • Sid Page– violin
  • Richard Greene – violin
  • Carl Pedersen – violin
  • Nathan Rubin – violin
  • Emily van Valkenburg – violin
  • Vassar Clements– violin
  • Miriam Dye – viola
  • Nancy Ellis – viola
  • Terry Adams – cello
  • Judiyaba – cello
  • Merry Clayton- backing vocals
  • Maria Muldaur, Clydie King, Patty- backing vocals
  • Ron Malo – engineer
  • Victor Moscoso – cover art
  • Richard Loren, Joshua Blardo – production assistant

Track listing:

  1. Let It Rock – Chuck Berry
  2. When The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game – Smokey Robinson
  3. That’s What Love Will Make You Do – Henderson Thigpen, James Banks, Eddy Marion
  4. Russian Lullaby – Irving Berlin
  5. Turn On The Bright Lights – Albert Washington
  6. He Ain’t Give You None – Van Morrison
  7. What Goes Around – Mac Rebbenack
  8. Let’s Spend The Night Together – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  9. Mississippi Moon – Peter Rowan
  10. Midnight Town – Robert Hunter, John Kahn

Harry Nillson: Duit on Mon Dei

Leave a comment

In March 1975, “RCA Victor” label released “Duit on Mon Dei”, the eleventh Harry Nilsson album. It was recorded 1974-1975, at “RCA’s Music Center of the World” in Hollywood, and was produced by Harry Nilsson.

Personnel:

  • Harry Nilsson – lead vocals
  • Jesse Ed Davis– guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar– guitar
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Van Dyke Parks– piano
  • Jane Getz – piano
  • Klaus Voormann– bass
  • Ringo Starr– drums
  • Jim Keltner– drums
  • Robert Greenidge – drums
  • Bobby Keys– saxophone
  • Gene Cipriano – saxophone
  • Charles Dinwiddie – saxophone
  • Martin M. Drystall – saxophone
  • Jerry Jumonville – saxophone
  • Trevor Lawrence – saxophone
  • John Rotella – saxophone
  • Clifford Shank – saxophone
  • Tommy Shepard – trombone
  • Tony Terran– trumpet
  • Malcolm McNabb – trumpet
  • Joey Deaguero – marimba
  • John Bergamo – marimba
  • Doug Dillard – banjo
  • John– banjo
  • Gene Estes– percussion, tympani
  • Milt Holland– percussion
  • Emmett Kennedy – percussion
  • Pat Murphy – percussion, conga
  • Denzil Lauchton – harp
  • Gayle Levant – harp
  • Gordon Howard Marrow – violin
  • Fredric Myrow – organ
  • Gloria Jones– vocals
  • Zodiac Singers – vocals
  • Perry Botkin, Jr.– arrangements, orchestra
  • Fredric Nyrow – arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Harry Nilsson, except where noted

  1. Jesus Christ You’re Tall
  2. It’s a Jungle Out There
  3. Down by the Sea
  4. Kojak Columbo
  5. Easier for Me
  6. Turn Out the Light
  7. Salmon Falls – Harry Nilsson, Klaus Voormann
  8. What’s Your Sign
  9. Home
  10. Good for God

The Mothers Of Invention: Freak Out!

Leave a comment

Freak Out!

On June 27, 1966, “Verve” label released “Freak Out!” the debut Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded in March 1996, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of T.T.G. Inc” in Hollywood, and was produced by Tom Wilson. In 1999, “Freak Out” was honored with the “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” ranked it at number 246 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, orchestration, arrangements, conductor, musical director
  • Elliot Ingber– alternate lead and rhythm guitar
  • Carol Kaye– 12-string guitar
  • Neil Le Vang– guitar
  • Ray Collins– vocals, harmonica, cymbals, sound effects, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin, weezers
  • Eugene Di Novi – piano
  • Mac Rebennack– piano
  • Les McCann– piano
  • Roy Estrada– bass, guitarron, boy soprano
  • Jimmy Carl Black– vocals, percussion, drums
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn, tuba
  • John Rotella – clarinet, sax
  • Kim Fowley– hypophone
  • Kurt Reher – cello
  • Raymond Kelley– cello
  • Paul Bergstrom – cello
  • Emmet Sargeant – cello
  • Joseph Saxon – cello
  • Edwin V. Beach – cello
  • Motorhead Sherwood– noises
  • Paul Butterfield– vocals
  • Jeannie Vassoir– the voice of Cheese
  • Val Valentin – engineer
  • Ami, Tom – engineer
  • Eugene Dinovi, Neil Levang, Vito, Ken Watson – engineer assistant
  • Jack Anesh – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. Hungry Freaks, Daddy
  2. I Ain’t Got No Heart
  3. Who Are the Brain Police?
  4. Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder – Frank Zappa, Ray Collins
  5. Motherly Love
  6. How Could I Be Such a Fool
  7. Wowie Zowie
  8. You Didn’t Try to Call Me
  9. Anyway, the Wind Blows
  10. I’m Not Satisfied
  11. You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here
  12. Trouble Every Day
  13. Help, I’m a Rock (Suite in Three Movements)
  • Okay to Tap Dance
  • In Memoriam, Edgard Varèse
  • It Can’t Happen Here
  1. The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet (Unfinished Ballet in Two Tableaux)
  • Ritual Dance of the Child-Killer
  • Nullis Pretii (No Commercial Potential)

The Mothers Of Invention: Absolutely Free

Leave a comment

Frank Zappa-Absolutely Free

On May 26, 1967, “Verve” label released “Absolutely Free”, the second Mothers of Invention album. It was recorded November 15–18, 1966, at “Sunset-Highland Studios of TTG”, and was produced by Tom Wilson and Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar, conductor
  • Jimmy Carl Black– drums, vocals
  • Ray Collins– vocals, tambourine
  • Roy Estrada– bass, vocals
  • Billy Mundi– drums, percussion
  • Don Preston– keyboards
  • Jim Fielder– guitar, piano
  • Bunk Gardner– woodwinds
  • Suzy Creamcheese (Lisa Cohen) – vocals
  • John Balkin – bass
  • Jim Getzoff – violin
  • Marshall Sosson – violin
  • Alvin Dinkin – viola
  • Armand Kaproff – cello
  • Don Ellis– trumpet
  • John Rotella– contrabass clarinet
  • Herb Cohen– cash register machine sounds
  • Terry Gilliam, girlfriend and others – voices

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. Plastic People
  2. The Duke of Prunes
  3. Amnesia Vivace
  4. The Duke Regains His Chops
  5. Call Any Vegetable
  6. Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin
  7. Soft-Sell Conclusion
  8. America Drinks
  9. Status Back Baby
  10. Uncle Bernie’s Farm
  11. Son of Suzy Creamcheese
  12. Brown Shoes Don’t Make It
  13. America Drinks & Goes Home