Tag Archives: Ken Bichel

Aretha Franklin: La Diva

Leave a comment

On September 6, 1979, “Atlantic” label released “La Diva”, the twenty-fifth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded February – May 1979, at “Penny Lane Studios” in New York City, “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Aretha Franklin, Van McCoy, Skip Scarborough and Charles Kipps.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
  • Jack Cavari, Cornell Dupree, Tom Hanlon – guitar
  • Van McCoy – keyboards, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
  • Kenneth Ascher, Richard Tee, Paul Griffin – keyboards
  • Ken Bichel – synthesizer, orchestra bells
  • Brian Aslop, Gordon Edwards – bass guitar
  • Chris Parker – drums
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett, George Devens – percussion
  • Richard Gibbs – rhythm arrangements
  • Arthur Jenkins – rhythm arrangements
  • Skip Scarborough – rhythm arrangements
  • Zulema Cusseaux – rhythm arrangements, backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – conductor
  • Albert Bailey – backing vocals
  • Sharon Brown – backing vocals
  • Diane Destry – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Franklin – backing vocals
  • Richard Harris – backing vocals
  • Brenda Hilliard – backing vocals
  • Jerome Jackson – backing vocals
  • Pete Marshall – backing vocals
  • Pat Williamson – backing vocals
  • Lee Decarlo, Alan Varner – engineer
  • Rick Delana, Brian Marine, John Terrell – engineer assistant
  • George Piros – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Ladies Only – Aretha Franklin
  2. It’s Gonna Get a Bit Better – Lalome Washburn
  3. What If I Should Ever Need You – Charles H. Kipps
  4. Honey I Need Your Love – Aretha Franklin
  5. I Was Made for You – Clarence Franklin
  6. Only Star – Aretha Franklin
  7. Reasons Why – Skip Scarborough, Wanda Hutchinson, Wayne Vaughan
  8. You Brought Me Back to Life – Van McCoy
  9. Half a Love – Zulema Cusseaux
  10. The Feeling – Van McCoy

Ringo Starr: Ringo The 4th

Leave a comment

On September 20, 1977, “Polydor” label released “Ringo the 4th”, the sixth Ringo Starr studio album. It was recorded February – June 1977, in Cherokee, Los Angeles, Atlantic, and New York City, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Ringo Starr– lead vocals, drums
  • David Spinozza– guitar
  • John Tropea– guitar
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • Cornell Dupree– guitar
  • Lon Van Eaton– guitar
  • Dick Fegy – guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar– guitar
  • David Bromberg– guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass guitar
  • Chuck Rainey– bass guitar
  • Hugh McDonald– bass guitar
  • Don Grolnick– keyboards
  • David Foster– keyboards, clavinet, piano
  • Richard Tee– clavinet, piano
  • Jeff Gutcheon – keyboards
  • Ken Bichel– keyboards
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Michael Brecker– saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Don Brooks– harmonica
  • Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
  • Brie Howard– backing vocals
  • David Lasley – backing vocals
  • Debra Gray – backing vocals
  • Duitch Helmer – backing vocals
  • Jimmy Gilstrap – backing vocals
  • Joe Bean – backing vocals
  • Luther Vandross– backing vocals
  • Lynn Pitney – backing vocals
  • Marietta Waters – backing vocals
  • Maxine Anderson – backing vocals
  • Melissa Manchester– backing vocals
  • Rebecca Louis – backing vocals
  • Robin Clark– backing vocals
  • Vini Poncia– backing vocals
  • Bette Midler– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Drowning in the Sea of Love – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
  2. Tango All Night – Steve Hague, Tom Seufert
  3. Wings – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  4. Gave It All Up – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  5. Out on the Streets – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  6. Can She Do It Like She Dances – Steve Duboff, Gerry Robinson
  7. Sneaking Sally Through the Alley – Allen Toussaint
  8. It’s No Secret – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  9. Gypsies in the Flight – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  10. Simple Love Song – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia

 

Carly Simon: Spy

Leave a comment

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

Aretha Franklin: With Everything I Feel in Me

Leave a comment

On November 25, 1974, “Atlantic” label released “With Everything I Feel in Me”, the twenty-first Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded January–April, 1974, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City and “Criteria Studios” in Miami, FL, and was produced by Aretha Franklin, Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano
  • Ken Bichel– synthesizer, piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Margaret Branch – background vocals
  • Brenda Bryant – background vocals
  • Cornell Dupree– guitar
  • Gordon Edwards – bass guitar
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Albhy Galuten– synthesizer
  • Ralph MacDonald– percussion
  • Arif Mardin– string arrangements, horn arrangements, synthesizer arrangements
  • Hugh McCracken– guitar
  • Robbie McIntosh– percussion
  • The Memphis Horns– horns
    • Andrew Love– tenor saxophone, tenor sax solo
    • Ed Logan– tenor saxophone
    • Wayne Jackson– trumpet
    • James Mitchell– baritone saxophone
    • Jack Hale– trombone
  • Gene Orloff– concertmaster
  • Leon Pendarvis– Hammond organ
  • Bernard Purdie– drums
  • Chuck Rainey– bass
  • Pat Rebillot– mellotron
  • Pat Smith – background vocals
  • Hamish Stuart– percussion
  • Grady Tate– drums
  • Richard Tee– piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond organ
  • Gene Paul, Karl Richardson – recording
  • Lew Hahn – additional engineering
  • Arif Mardin, Gene Paul – mixing
  • Bob Defrin – art direction
  • Joel Brodsky – photography

Track listing:

  1. Without Love – Carolyn Franklin, Ivy Jo Hunter
  2. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  3. When You Get Right Down to It – Barry Mann
  4. You’ll Never Get to Heaven – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  5. With Everything I Feel in Me – Aretha Franklin
  6. I Love Every Little Thing About You – Stevie Wonder
  7. Sing It Again – Say It Again – Carolyn Franklin
  8. All of These Things – James Cleveland
  9. You Move Me – Glen Murdock, Mike Keck

Avarage White Band: AWB

Leave a comment

In August 1974, “Atlantic” label released “AWB”, the second Average White Band studio album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City and “Cand Criteria Sound Studios” in Miami, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Alan Gorrie– lead and co-lead vocals, backing vocals, bass, guitar
  • Hamish Stuart– lead and backing vocals, guitar, bass
  • Onnie McIntyre – guitar, backing vocals
  • Roger Ball– keyboards, alto and baritone saxophones, horns arrangements
  • Molly Duncan– tenor saxophone
  • Robbie McIntosh– drums, percussion
  • Ralph MacDonald– congas, percussion
  • Michael Brecker– tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker, Marvin Stamm, Mel Davis – trumpet
  • Glenn Ferris– trombone
  • Ken Bichel– mellotron
  • Gene Paul- mixing, engineer
  • Lewis Hahn, Karl Richardson, Steve Klein, Ron Albert, Howard Albert, Jimmy Douglass, Bobby Warner – engineer
  • Arif Mardin– mixing
  • Dennis King – mastering
  • Alan Pariser – direction
  • Alan Gorrie – logo concept
  • Tim Bruckner – front cover drawing
  • Barry Feinstein- design, photography

Track listing:

  1. You Got It – Roger Ball, Hamish Stuart, Alan Gorrie
  2. Got the Love – Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Robbie McIntosh
  3. Pick Up the Pieces – Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Molly Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Robbie McIntosh, Ralph MacDonald
  4. Person to Person – Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball, Molly Duncan, Onnie McIntyre, Robbie McIntosh, Ralph MacDonald
  5. Work to Do – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
  6. Nothing You Can Do – Alan Gorrie, Hamish Stuart, Roger Ball
  7. Just Wanna Love You Tonight – Roger Ball, Alan Gorrie
  8. Keepin’ It to Myself – Alan Gorrie
  9. I Just Can’t Give You Up – Hamish Stuart
  10. There’s Always Someone Waiting – Alan Gorrie

Carly Simon: Boys in the Trees

Leave a comment

In April 1978, “Elektra” label released “Boys in the Trees”, the seventh Carly Simon studio album. It was recorded in 1978, and was produced by Arif Mardin. The album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Album Package”.

Personnel:

  • Carly Simon – vocals, guitar, piano
  • James Taylor- guitar, backing vocals
  • John Hall – guitar, backing vocals
  • Hamish Stuart- guitar, backing vocals
  • Richard Tee- keyboards
  • Cornell Dupree- guitar
  • Eric Gale- guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar
  • Onnie McIntyre – guitar
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • Stuart Scharf – guitar
  • Don Grolnick- keyboards
  • Ken Bichel- keyboards
  • Gordon Edwards – bass
  • Will Lee- bass
  • Tony Levin- bass
  • Steve Gadd- drums
  • Rubens Bassini- percussion
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion
  • David Sanborn- alto saxophone
  • George Young – alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker- tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber- baritone saxophone
  • Jaroslav Jakubovic- baritone saxophone
  • Randy Brecker- trumpet
  • James Buffington – French horn
  • Brooks Tillotson – French horn
  • Eddie Bert – trombone
  • Barry Rogers- trombone
  • Phil Bodner – oboe
  • Joe Farrell- flute
  • Gloria Agostini – harp
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • David Carey – marimba
  • Alex Ligertwood- backing vocals
  • Lucy Simon- backing vocals
  • Luther Vandross – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston- backing vocals
  • Steven Dickson, Marc Embree, Ruderick George, Alyia Orme, Joanna Simon, Ken Williams – backing vocals
  • George Marge – recording
  • Harvey Estrin – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Carly Simon except where noted.

  1. You Belong to Me – Carly Simon, Michael McDonald
  2. Boys in the Trees
  3. Back Down to Earth
  4. Devoted to You – Boudleaux Bryant
  5. De Bat (Fly in Me Face)
  6. Haunting
  7. Tranquillo (Melt My Heart) – Carly Simon, James Taylor, Arif Mardin
  8. You’re the One
  9. In a Small Moment
  10. One Man Woman – James Taylor
  11. For Old Times Sake – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman