Tag Archives: Johnny Rotella

The Mothers: The Grand Wazoo

On November 27, 1972, “Bizarre” and “Reprise” label released “The Grand Wazoo”, the eleventh Mothers (The) album. It was recorded April – May 1972, at “Paramount Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, percussion, arrangements, art direction
  • Tony Duran – guitar, rhythm guitar
  • George Duke – vocals, keyboards
  • Don Preston – Mini Moog
  • Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar – drums
  • Bob Zimmitti – percussion
  • Alan Estes – percussion
  • Lee Clement – gong
  • Mike Altschul – woodwind
  • Joel Peskins – woodwind
  • Joanna Caldwell – woodwind
  • Johnny Rotella – woodwind
  • Earl Dumler – woodwind
  • Fred Jackson – woodwind
  • Tony “Bat Man” Ortega – woodwind
  • Ernie Watts – C Melody Saxophone
  • Sal Marquez – vocals, trumpet , brass
  • Ken Shroyer – trombones
  • Billy Byers – trombone
  • Malcolm McNab – brass
  • Ken Shroyer – brass
  • Ernie Tack – brass
  • Sal Marquez – brass
  • Janet Neville-Ferguson – vocals
  •  “Chunky” (Lauren Wood) – vocals
  • Kerry McNabb – engineer
  • Cal Schenkel – cover illustration
  • Ed Caraeff, Tony Esparza, Barry Feinstein – photography
  • Paul Hof – special assistance, contractor
  • Kenny Shroyer – spiritual advisor

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)
  2. The Grand Wazoo
  3. Cletus Awreetus – Awrightus
  4. Eat That Question
  5. Blessed Relief

Donovan: 7-Tease

In November 1974, “Epic” label released “7-Tease”, the 14th Donovan studio album. It was recorded September – October 1974, and was produced by Norbert Putnam, Donovan Leitch and Mark Radice.

Personnel:

  • Donovan – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, harmonica
  • Reggie Young – electric guitar
  • Teddy Erwin – electric guitar
  • Johnny Christopher – rhythm guitar
  • David Briggs – keyboards, string arrangement
  • Norbert Putnam – bass guitar
  • Red Callender – bass guitar
  • Kenneth Buttrey – drums, percussion
  • Mike Melvoin – keyboards
  • Earl Palmer – drums, percussion
  • Ben Cauley, Charlie Rose, Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Ronnie Eades, Bill Puett, George Tidwell, George Bohanon, Johnny Rotella, Tony Terran – horns
  • Buffy Sainte-Marie, Byron Warner, Florence Warner, Ginger Holladay, Lea Jane Berinati, Mary Holladay – background vocals
  • Sheldon Kurland – concertmaster

Track listing:

All tracks by Donovan Leitch.

  1. Rock and Roll Souljer
  2. Your Broken Heart
  3. Salvation Stomp
  4. The Ordinary Family
  5. Ride-a-Mile
  6. Sadness
  7. Moon Rok
  8. Love of My Life
  9. The Voice of Protest
  10. How Silly
  11. The Greatest Song of the Sky
  12. The Quest

Steely Dan: Countdown to Ecstasy

In July 1973, “ABC” label released “Countdown to Ecstasy”, the second Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, “The Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Gary Katz. The cover painting was by Dorothy White.

Personnel:

  • Donald Fagen – lead vocals, acoustic and electric pianos, synthesizer
  • Walter Becker– electric bass, harmonica, backing vocals
  • Denny Dias– electric guitar, mixing
  • Jeff “Skunk” Baxter– electric and pedal steel guitars
  • Ben Benay– acoustic guitar
  • Rick Derringer– slide guitar
  • Ray Brown– string bass
  • Jim Hodder– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Victor Feldman– vibraphone, marimba, percussion
  • Ernie Watts, Johnny Rotella, Lanny Morgan, Bill Perkins– saxophone
  • Sherlie Matthews, Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall, David Palmer, James Rolleston, Michael Fennelly– backing vocals
  • Roger Nichols – engineer
  • Miss Natalie – engineer assistant
  • Dotty of Hollywood – design
  • Ed Caraeff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.

  1. Bodhisattva
  2. Razor Boy
  3. The Boston Rag
  4. Your Gold Teeth
  5. Show Biz Kids
  6. My Old School
  7. Pearl of the Quarter
  8. King of the World