Tag Archives: Leon Russell

Harper Bizarre: Feelin’ Groovy

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In April 1967, “Warner Bros” label released “Feelin’ Groovy”, the debut Harpers Bizarre album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Dickie Scoppettone – vocals, guitar
  • Ted Templeman – vocals, guitar
  • Eddie James – guitar
  • Dick Yount – vocals, bass
  • John Petersen – drums 
  • Randy Newman – piano
  • Van Dyke Parks – piano
  • Leon Russell – arrangements
  • Randy Newman – arrangements
  • Perry Botkin Jr. – arrangements
  • Ron Elliott – arrangements
  • Lee Herschberg – engineer
  • Ed Thrasher – art direction
  • Jim Marshall – photography
  • Stan Cornyn – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Come to the Sunshine – Van Dyke Parks
  2. Happy Talk – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  3. Come Love – Alan Bergman, Larry Marks, Marilyn Keith
  4. Raspberry Rug – Leon Russell
  5. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) – Paul Simon
  6. The Debutante’s Ball – Randy Newman
  7. Happy Land – Randy Newman
  8. Peter and the Wolf – Sergei Prokofieff, Robert Durand
  9. I Can Hear the Darkness – Donna Washburn, Leon Russell
  10. Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear – Randy Newman

V.A.: A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records

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On November 22, 1963, “Philles” label released “A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records”, an album of Christmas songs. It was recorded September – October 1963, at “Gold Star” in Hollywood, and was produced by Phil Spector. In 2003, the album was ranked at no. 142 on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”, and in 2019, it was ranked the greatest “Christmas Album of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Darlen Love – performer (White Christmas, Marshmallow World, Winter Wonderland, Christmas, Baby Please Come Home)
  • The Ronettes – performer (Frosty the Snowman, Sleigh Ride, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus)
  • Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans – performer (The Bells of St. Mary’s, Here Comes Santa Claus)  
  • The Crystals – performer (Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers)
  • Phil Spector – performer (Silent Night)
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Bill Pitman – guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco – guitar
  • Nino Tempo – guitar
  • Irv Rubins – guitar
  • Leon Russell – piano
  • Al De Lory – piano
  • Don Randi – piano
  • Ray Pohlman – bass
  • Jimmy Bond – bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Sonny Bono – percussion
  • Frank Capp – percussion
  • Jack Nitzsche – percussion, arrangements
  • Jay Migliori – saxophone
  • Steve Douglas – baritone saxophone
  • Roy Caton – trumpet
  • Lou Blackburn – horns
  • Johnny Vidor – strings
  • Larry Levine – engineer

Track listing:

  1. White Christmas – Irving Berlin
  2. Frosty the Snowman – Steve Nelson, Walter Rollins
  3. The bells of St. Mary’s – A. Emmet Adams, Douglas Furber
  4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
  5. Sleigh Ride – Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
  6. Marshmallow World – Carl Sigman, Peter DeRose
  7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Tommie Connor
  8. Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer – Johnny Marks
  9. Winter Wonderland – Felix Bernard, Dick Smith
  10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers – Leon Jessel
  11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home – Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector
  12. Here Comes Santa Claus – Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
  13. Silent Night – Josef Mohr, Franz X. Gruber

The Ventures: Where the Action Is

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In January 1965, “Dolton Records” label released “Where the Action Is”, the 20th Ventures (The) album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Joe Saraceno.

Personnel:

  • Don Wilson – rhythm guitar
  • Bob Bogle – lead guitar, bass
  • Nokie Edwards – bass, lead guitar
  • Mel Taylor – drums
  • Harold “Lanky” Lintstrot – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Ken Kim – design

Track listing:

  1. Action – Steve Venet, Tommy Boyce
  2. Lies – Beau Charles, Buddy Randell
  3. Fever – Eddie Cooley, John Davenport
  4. Stop Action – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  5. 3’s Crowd – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  6. A Taste of Honey – Bobby Scott, Ric Marlow
  7. No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In) – Granville Sasha Burland
  8. Action Plus – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  9. Hang on Sloopy – Bert Russell, Wes Farrell
  10. Nutty – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  11. Little Bit of Action – Don Wilson, Mel Taylor, Nokie Edwards, Bob Bogle
  12. She’s Just My Style – Al Capps, Gary Lewis, Leon Russell, Tom Lesslie

Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M

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On November 7, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “The Divine Miss M”, the debut Bette Midler studio album. It was recorded 1971 – 1972, at “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegun, Barry Manilow. Geoffrey Haslam and Joel Dorn. The album was certified Platinum in US and Canada.

Personnel:

  • Bette Midler – lead vocals
  • Dickie Frank – guitar
  • David Spinozza – guitars
  • Don Arnone – guitar
  • Dick Hyman – piano
  • Barry Manilow – piano
  • Pat Rebillot – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass guitar
  • Michael Federal – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • Ted Sommer – drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • Kevin Ellman – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion instruments
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Tender Loving Care (Renelle Broxton, Diedre Tuck, Beverly McKenzie) – backing vocals
  • Gail Kantor – backing vocals
  • Melissa Manchester – backing vocals
  • Merle Miller – backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Selwart Clarke – viola
  • Kermit Moore – cello
  • Thom Bell – horn and string arrangements
  • Barry Manilow – arranger, conductor
  • William S. Fischer – string arrangement
  • Marty Nelson – vocal arranger
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements
  • Lew Hahn – engineer
  • Richard Amsel – illustration
  • Richard Mantel – art direction, design
  • Kenn Duncan – photography
  • Geoffrey Haslam, Lew Hahn, Bob Liftin – remix

Track listing:

  1. Do You Want to Dance – Bobby Freeman
  2. Chapel of Love – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  3. Superstar – Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell
  4. Daytime Hustler – Jeff Kent
  5. Am I Blue – Harry Akst, Grant Clarke
  6. Friends (Session 1) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart
  7. Hello in There – John Prine
  8. Leader of the Pack – George Morton, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
  9. Delta Dawn – Larry Collins, Alex Harvey
  10. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Don Raye, Hughie Prince
  11. Friends (Session 2) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart

Nigel Olsson: Nigel Olsson’s Drum Orchestra and Chorus

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In August 1971, “DJM” label released “Nigel Olsson’s Drum Orchestra and Chorus”, the debut Nigel Olsson album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Dick James Studio”, and was produced by Nigel Olsson.

Personnel:

  • Nigel Olsson – vocal, drums, percussion
  • B.J. Cole – steel guitar, dobro
  • Caleb Quaye – guitar, keyboards
  • Mick Grabham – guitar, percussion
  • Dee Murray – bass guitar
  • Jeff Titmus, Stuart Epps – percussion
  • Katrhi McDonald – lead and backing vocals
  • Claudia Linnear, Doris Troy, Liza Strike – backing vocals
  • Clive Franks – engineer
  • Barry Sherlock – tape operator
  • David Larkham – art direction, design
  • Ian Digby Ovens – photography

Track listing:

  1. Sunshine Looks Like Rain – Caleb Quaye, Mick Grabham, Nigel Olsson
  2. I’m Coming Home – Caleb Quaye, Mick Grabham, Nigel Olsson
  3. Nature’s Way – Randy California
  4. Hummingbird – Leon Russell
  5. Some Sweet Day – Caleb Quaye, Mick Grabham, Nigel Olsson
  6. I Can’t Go Home Again – Gary Wright, Kristina Uppstrom
  7. And I Know in My Heart – Caleb Quaye, Mick Grabham, Nigel Olsson
  8. We’ve Got a Long Way To Go – Ricky Nelson
  9. Wierdhouse – Nigel Olsson
  10. China – Mick Grabham

Dwight Twilley Band: Sincerely

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In July 1976, “Shelter Records” label released “Sincerely”, the debut Dwight Twilley Band album. It was recorded 1974 – 1976, and was produced by Dwight Twilley and Phil Seymour.

Personnel:

  • Dwight Twilley – lead and harmony vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica
  • Phil Seymour – lead and harmony vocals, bass, drums, percussion
  • Bill Pitcock IV – lead guitar
  • Roger Linn – lead guitar, bass
  • Leon Russell – piano, bass
  • Johnny Johnson – bass
  • Jerry Naifeh – drums
  • Jim Barth, Roger Harris, Roger Linn, Robin Cable, Ted Sharp, Bob Schaper, John Harkin – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Dwight Twilley.

  1. I’m on Fire
  2. Could Be Love
  3. Feeling in the Dark
  4. You Were So Warm
  5. I’m Losing You
  6. Sincerely
  7. TV
  8. Release Me
  9. Three Persons
  10. Baby Let’s Cruise
  11. England
  12. Just Like the Sun

Leon Russell: Life and Love

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In June 1979, “Warner Bros” label released “Life and Love”, the 16th Leon Russell album. It was recorded in 1979, and was produces by Leon Russell.

Personnel:

  • Leon Russell – vocal, guitar, piano
  • Jody Pein – guitar
  • Marty Greeb – guitar, saxophone
  • Roger Linn – guitar
  • Mickey Raphael – harmonica
  • Roger Linn – drums, engineer
  • Bernetta Rand, Frances Pye, Lena Luckey, Wornell Jones, Joe Chemay – backing vocals
  • Tom Kemp – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Leon Russell.

  1. One More Love Song
  2. You Girl
  3. Struck By Lightning
  4. Strange Love
  5. Life and Love
  6. On the First Day
  7. High Horse
  8. Sweet Mystery
  9. On the Borderline

Delaney & Bonnie: Home

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In May 1969, “Stax” label released “Home”, the debut Delaney & Bonnie album. It was recorded 1968 – 1969, at “Stax Studios” in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Don Nix and Donald “Duck” Dunn.

Personnel:

  • Delaney Bramlett – vocals, guitar
  • Bonnie Bramlett – vocals
  • Steve Cropper – guitar
  • Leon Russell – keyboards
  • Booker T. Jones – keyboards
  • Isaac Hayes – vocals, keyboards
  • Donald Dunn – bass
  • Carl Radle – bass
  • Al Jackson Jr. – drums
  • Jimmy Karstein – percussion
  • The Memphis Horns :
  • Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
  • Ed Logan – tenor saxophone
  • Jim Terry – saxophone
  • Joe Arnold – saxophone
  • Dick Steff – trumpet
  • Wayne Jackson – trumpet
  • Jay Pruitt – trumpet
  • John Davis – trumpet
  • Ben Cauley – trumpet
  • William Bell – vocals
  • Phil Forrest – vocals
  • Ron Capone – engineer
  • Jamie Putman – art direction
  • Tom Wilkes – design
  • Barry Feinstein – photography
  • Michael Point – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. It’s Been a Long Time Coming – Delaney Bramlett, Bonnie Bramlett
  2. A Right Now Love – Bonnie Bramlett, Homer Banks
  3. We Can Love – Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd
  4. My Baby Specializes – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
  5. Everybody Loves a Winner – Booker T. Jones, William Bell
  6. Things Get Better – Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Wayne Jackson
  7. Just Plain Beautiful – Steve Cropper, Bettye Crutcher
  8. Hard to Say Goodbye – Bonnie Bramlett, Carl Radle
  9. Pour Your Love on Me – Homer Banks, Bonnie Bramlett
  10. Piece of My Heart – Bert Berns, Jerry Ragovoy

Leon Russel: Americana

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In July 1978, “Paradise Records” label released “Americana”, the fourteen Leon Russel album. It was recorded in 1978, and was produced by Leon Russell.

Personnel:

  • Leon Russell – lead vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar, bass, bass instrument
  • Joe Chemay – lead and backing vocals, bass, bass instrument
  • Jon Woodhead – guitar
  • Marty Grebb – guitar, saxophone, trumpet
  • Mike Meros – keyboards, organ, synthesizer
  • Brent Nelson – drums, backing vocals
  • Wornell Jones – lead and backing vocals
  • Scott Goddard – vocals
  • Joe Chemay – backing vocals
  • Lee Loughnane – trumpet, horn arrangements
  • James Pankow – trombone
  • Walter Parazaider – tenor saxophone
  • Mark Peters -orchestral arrangements
  • Gene Meros, Steve Ripley – recording
  • Frank Latouf – technician
  • Mike Johnstone – technician
  • Steve Marr – technician
  • Tom Kemp – technician
  • Paul Hodara – photography

Track listing:

  1. Let’s Get Started – Kim Fowley, Leon Russell
  2. Elvis and Marilyn – Dyan Diamond, Kim Fowley, Leon Russell
  3. From Maine to Mexico – Kim Fowley, Leon Russell
  4. When A Man Loves A Woman – A. Wright, C. Lewis
  5. It’s Only Me – Dyan Diamond, Leon Russell
  6. Midnight Lover – Kim Fowley, Leon Russell
  7. Housewife – Dyan Diamond, Kim Fowley, Leon Russell
  8. Ladies of the Night – Kim Fowley, Leon Russell
  9. Shadow And Me – Leon Russell
  10. Jesus On My Side – Kim Fowley, Leon Russell

Kate Ceberano & Paul Grabowsky: Tryst

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On May 3, 2019, “ABC” label released “Tryst”, album by Kate Ceberano and Paul Grabowsky. It was recorded in 2018, and was produced by Paul Grabowsky and Mal Stanley. In 2019, at the “ARIA Music Awards” it won “Best Jazz Album” award. At the “AIR Awards” of 2020, “Tryst” won “Best Independent Jazz Album or EP” award.

Personnel:

  • Kate Ceberano – vocal
  • Paul Grabowsky – piano
  • Mal Stanley – engineer, mixing, mastering
  • Peter Barrett – design
  • Natasha Curato – photography

Track listing:

  1. Wild Is the Wind – Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington
  2. A Song for You – Leon Russell
  3. For Cilla (medley)
  4. Make You Feel My Love – Bob Dylan
  5. Suzanne
  6. Melange D’Amour (medley)
  7. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
  8.  I Touch Myself – Christina Amphlett, Tom Kelly, Mark McEntee, Billy Steinberg
  9. Forever Young – Bob Dylan
  10. Skylark – Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael