Tag Archives: King Curtis

Aretha Franklin: Live At Fillmore West

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On May 19, 1971, “Atlantic” label released “Aretha Live at Fillmore West”, the third Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in March 1971, at “Filmore West Concert Hall”, in San Francsico, and was produced by Jerry Wexler.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, Fender Rhodes
  • Cornell Dupree – guitar
  • Truman Thomas – piano
  • Ray Charles – piano
  • Billy Preston – organ
  • Jerry Jemmott – bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Pancho Morales – congas
  • King Curtis – saxophone, orchestra leader
  • Memphis Horns – horns
  • Brenda Bryant, Margaret Branch, Pat Smith – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – horn arrangements
  • Larry Wilcox – horn arrangements
  • Tom Dowd – horn arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Respect – Otis Redding
  2. Love the One Youy’re With – Stephen Stills
  3. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Paul Simon
  4. Eleanor Rigby – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Make It with You – David Gates
  6. Don’t Play That Song – Ahmet Ertegun, Betty Nelson
  7. Dr. Feelgood – Aretha Franklin
  8. Spirit in the Dark – Aretha Franklin
  9. Spirit in the Dark (reprise with Ray Charles) – Aretha Franklin
  10. Reach Out and Touch – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson

The Rascals: Once Upon A Dream

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On February 19, 1968, “Atlantic” label released “Once Upon a Dream”, the fourth Rascals (The) studio album. It was recorded September – November 1967, and was produced by Arif Mardin,

Personnel:

  • Felix Cavaliere – vocals, keyboards, sitar
  • Gene Cornish – vocals, guitar
  • Eddie Brigati – vocals, percussion, tamboura
  • Dino Danelli – drums, table
  • David Brigati – vocals
  • Chuck Rainey, Ron Carter, Richard Davis – bass guitar
  • Steve Marcus – soprano saxophone
  • King Curtis – tenor saxophone
  • Melvin Lastie – trumpet
  • Buddy Lucas – harmonica
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Arif Mardin – arranger, conductor
  • Gene Orloff – strings
  • Adrian Barber – sound effects
  • Tom Dowd – engineer
  • Joe Atkinson – mastering
  • Phil Iehle – mastering
  • Bill Inglot – mastering
  • Dave Schultz – mastering
  • Jean Ristori – mastering
  • Andree Buchler – coordination
  • Thierry Amsallem – coordination
  • Dino Danelli – cover sculpture, design
  • Urs Tschuppert – design
  • Mark Roth – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, except where noted.

  1. Intro: Easy Rollin
  2. Rainy Day
  3. Please Love Me
  4. Sound Effect
  5. It’s Wonderful
  6. I’m Gonna Love You – Gene Cornish
  7. Dave & Eddie
  8. My Hawaii
  9. My World
  10. Silly Girl
  11. Singin’ The Blues Too Long
  12. Bells
  13. Sattva
  14. (Finale) Once Upon a Dream

Roberta Flack: Chapter Two

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On August 12, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Chapter Two”, the second Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded December 1969 – March 1970, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn and King Curtis.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Donny Hathaway – piano, backing vocals. arrangements
  • Marshall Hawkins, Terry Plumeri, Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
  • Ray Lucas, Bernard Sweetney – drums
  • Warren Smith – percussion
  • Chauncey Welsch, Ernie Royal, Frank Wess, Garnett Brown, George Marge, John Frosk, John Glasel, Trevor Lawrence – horns
  • Hubert Laws, Joe Gentle – alto and bass flute
  • Corky Hale – harp
  • John Swallow – euphonium
  • Alfred Brown, Arnold Black, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Joe Malin, Kermit Moore, Leo Kahn, Lewis Eley, Max Kahn, Max Pollikoff, Noel Dacosta, Peter Buonconsiglio, Peter Dimitriades, Raoul Poliakin, Sanford Allen, Selwart Clarke, Seymour Myroff, Tosha Samaroff – strings
  • Eumir Deodato – conductor, horn and string arrangements
  • Joel Dorn – arrangements
  • King Curtis – arrangements, backing vocals
  • Gene McDaniels – backing vocals
  • Lew Hahn – recording, remix
  • Ira Friedlander – design
  • Jack Robinson – photography

Track listing:

  1. Reverend Lee – Gene McDaniels
  2. Do What You Gotta Do – Jimmy Webb
  3. Just Like a Woman – Bob Dylan
  4. Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
  5. Gone Away – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson, Curtis Mayfield
  6. Until It’s Time for You to Go – Buffy Sainte-Marie
  7. The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh
  8. Business Goes on as Usual – Fred Hellerman, Fran Minkoff

Oliver Nelson, King Curtis and Jimmy Forrest: Soul Battle

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In May 1962, “Prestige” label released “Soul Battle”, album by Oliver Nelson, King Curtis and Jimmy Forrest. It was recorded in 1960, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Oliver Nelson, King Curtis, Jimmy Forrest – tenor saxophone
  • Gene Casey – piano
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Roy Haynes – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Tom Wilson – liner notes
  • Esmond Edwards – supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Oliver Nelson, except where noted.

  1. Blues at the Five Spot
  2. Blues for M.F. – Mort Fega
  3. Anacruses – Juan Tizol
  4. Perdido
  5. In Passing

Paul Griffin

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On June 14, 2000, Paul Griffin died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards), performed and recorded with hundreds of musicians including: King Curtis, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick. Dion DiMucci, George Benson, Tom Rush, Wilson Pickett, Michael Franks, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Clayton-Thomas, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore, LaVern Baker, Janis Siegel, Solomon Burke, Jackie Lomax, Marlena Shaw, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Don Mclean, Carly Simon, Juddy Collins, Cheryl Lynn, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Donald Fagen,  Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Garland Jeffreys, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Laura Nyro.

The Rascals: Freedom Suite

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On March 17, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “Freedom Suite” the fifth Rascals (The) studio album. It was recorded May – December 1968, and was produced by Arif Mardin, Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli.

Personnel:

  • Felix Cavaliere – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano
  • Gene Cornish – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Eddie Brigati – lead and backing vocals, conga drums, tambourine
  • Dino Danelli – drums
  • Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
  • Richard Davis – bass guitar
  • Gerald Jemmott – bass guitar
  • King Curtis – tenor saxophone
  • David Newman – tenor saxophone
  • David Brigati – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements
  • Charles Morrow – arrangements
  • Adrian Barber – recording
  • Tom Dowd – recording
  • Don Casale – recording

Track listing:

  1. America the Beautiful – Felix Cavaliere
  2. Me and My Friends – Gene Cornish
  3. Any Dance’ll Do – Felix Cavaliere
  4. Look Around – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  5. A Ray of Hope – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  6. Island of Love – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  7. Of Course – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  8. Love Was So Easy to Give – Gene Cornish
  9. People Got to Be Free – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  10. Baby I’m Blue – Felix Cavaliere
  11. Heaven – Felix Cavaliere
  12. Adrian’s Birthday – Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Dino Danelli
  13. Boom – Dino Danelli
  14. Cute – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Dino Danelli

Doc Pomus

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On March 14, 1991, Jerome Solon Felder aka Doc Pomus died aged 65. He was singer and songwriter, co-writer (together with Mort Shuman) of big number of hits, many of them became rock and roll standards, including: “A Teenager in Love”, “Save The Last Dance For Me”, “Hushabye”, “This Magic Moment”, “Turn Me Loose”, “Sweets For My Sweet”, “Go, Jimmy, Go”, “Little Sister”, “Can’t Get Used to Losing You”, “Suspicion”, “Surrender” and “His Latest Flame”. He also co-wrote with Phil Spector few successful tracks including “Young Boy Blues”, “Ecstasy”, “First Taste of Love” and “What Am I to Do?” His songs were performed by hundreds of artists including The Beatles, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Bad Company, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Buble, Dolly Parton, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, Emmy Lou Harris, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Harry Nilsson, John Hiatt, The Beach Boys, B.B. King, Dion, The New York Dolls, Shawn Colvin and Los Lobos. As singer Pomus performed with Milt Jackson, Mickey Baker, and King Curtis. In 1991 he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, in 1992, in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and in 2012 into the “Blues Hall of Fame”.

Gary Wright: Footprint

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On November 1, 1971, “A&M” label released “Footprint”, the second Gary Wright studio album. It was recorded in 1971, in London and New York City, and was produced by Gary Wright.

Personnel:

  • Gary Wright – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar
  • George Harrison – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Hugh McCracken – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Jerry Donahue – electric guitar, percussion
  • Mick Jones – guitar
  • Klaus Voormann – bass
  • Tom Duffy – bass
  • Alan White – drums, percussion, harpsichord
  • Jim Keltner – drums
  • Jim Gordon – drums
  • Colin Allen – drums, percussion
  • Bryson Graham – drums
  • Bobby Keys – tenor saxophone
  • King Curtis – saxophone
  • Jim Price – trumpet, trombone
  • John Barham – string arrangements
  • Doris Troy, Nanette Newman, Madeline Bell, Liza Strike, Barry St John, P. P. Arnold, Jimmy Thomas – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Gary Wright.

  1. Give Me the Good Earth
  2. Two Faced Man
  3. Love to Survive
  4. Whether It’s Right or Wrong
  5. Stand for Our Rights
  6. Fascinating Things
  7. Forgotten
  8. If You Treat Someone Right

Curtis Ousley

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On August 13, 1971, Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery) aka King Curtis died aged 37. He was music director, record producer, and musician (soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, trumpet), worked in various music genres, rhythm, and blues, rock and roll, soul, blues, funk, and soul-jazz. He performed and recorded with numerous musicians and bands including Aretha Franklin, Nat Adderley, Wynton Kelly, ]Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Andy Williams, The Coasters, LaVern Baker, Joe South, John Lennon, the Rimshots, Champion Jack Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, Oliver Jackson, King Pins, Bernard Purdie, The Shirelles, The Noble Band, Cornell Dupree, and  Duane Allman. At the 1970 “Grammy Awards”, Curtis won the “Best R&B Instrumental Performance Grammy” for “Games People Play”. In March 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.

Aretha Franklin: Aretha Arrives

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On August 4, 1967, “Atlantic” label released “Aretha Arrives”, the eleventh Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in June 1967 at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Jerry Wexler.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead and background vocals, piano
  • Jimmy Johnson, Joe South– guitar
  • Tommy Cogbill– bass guitar
  • Roger Hawkins– drums
  • Ted Somers – vibraphone
  • Spooner Oldham, Truman Thomas – piano, organ, Fender Rhodes
  • Charles Chalmers, King Curtis– tenor saxophone
  • Tony Studd – bass trombone
  • Melvin Lastie– trumpet
  • Gene Orloff– director of string section
  • The Sweet Inspirations– backing vocals
  • Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Satisfaction – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
  2. You Are My Sunshine – Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell
  3. Never Let Me Go – Joe Scott
  4. 96 Tears – Rudy Martinez
  5. Prove It – Randy Evretts, Horace Ott
  6. Night Life – Willie Nelson, Walt Breeland,Paul Buskirk
  7. That’s Life – Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon
  8. I Wonder – Cecil Gant, Raymond Leveen
  9. Ain’t Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around) – Carolyn Franklin
  10. Going Down Slow – Louis Jimmy Oden
  11. Baby, I Love You – Ronnie Shannon