Tag Archives: Los Angeles

Don Henley: Building The Perfect Beast

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On November 19, 1984, “Geffen” label released “Building the Perfect Beast”, the second Don Henley studio album. It was recorded 1983 – 1984, at “Record One”, “Bill Schnee Studio”, “The Villa” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Greg Ladanyi and Mike Campbell.

Personnel:

  • Don Henley – lead and harmony vocals, chant voices, drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements, art direction
  • Lindsey Buckingham – guitar, harmony vocals
  • Charlie Sexton – guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar – synthesizers, organ, guitar, horns, omnichord, percussion, guitar synthesizer solo, horn solo, synthesizer arrangements, keyboards, arrangements
  • Mike Campbell – synthesizers, guitar, percussion
  • Steve Porcaro – synthesizers, programming
  • Benmont Tench – keyboards, acoustic piano, synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
  • David Paich – acoustic piano, synthesizers , synthesizer arrangements
  • Michael Boddicker – programming, sequencing, synthesizers, E-mu Emulator, synthesizer arrangements
  • Albhy Galuten – synclavier
  • Randy Newman – synthesizers, synthesizer arrangements
  • Bill Cuomo – synthesizers, programming, percussion
  • Larry Klein – bass
  • Pino Palladino – bass
  • Tim Drummond – bass
  • Ian Wallace – drums
  • Kevin McCormick – African drums
  • Jim Keltner – additional drums
  • Maren Jensen – intro and interlude composer
  • Jerry Hey – horn arrangements
  • Belinda Carlisle – harmony vocals
  • Sam Moore – harmony vocals
  • Martha Davis – chant voices, harmony vocals
  • Michael O’Donahue – chant voices
  • Carla Olson – chant voices
  • Patty Smyth – chant voices, harmony vocals
  • J. D. Souther – chant voices
  • Waddy Wachtel – chant voices
  • Marie-Pascale Elfman – the French Girls ensemble
  • Dominique Mancinelli – the French Girls ensemble
  • Niko Bolas – recording, mixing
  • Greg Ladanyi – recording, mixing
  • Richard Bosworth, Tom Knox.- additional engineer
  • Richard Bosworth, Dan Garcia, David Schober, Duane Seykora – engineer assistant
  • Allen Sides – horns recording
  • Mark Ettel – horns recording assistant
  • Mike Reese, Doug Sax – mastering
  • Jeri McManus –graphic coordinator, art direction
  • DiMaren Jensen – art direction.
  • Herb Ritts – photography

Track listing:

  1. The Boys of Summer – Don Henley, Mike Campbell
  2. You Can’t Make Love – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar
  3. Man With a Mission – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, J.D. Souther
  4. You’re Not Drinking Enough – Danny Kortchmar
  5. Not Enough Love in the World – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench
  6. Building the Perfect Beast – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar
  7. All She Wants to Do Is Dance – Danny Kortchmar
  8. Sunset Girl – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Benmont Tench
  9. Drivin’ with Your Eyes Closed – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Stan Lynch
  10. Land of Living – Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar

Tommy Bolin: Teaser

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On November 17, 1975, “Nemperor Records” label released “Teaser”, the debut Tommy Bolin album. It was recorded in July 1975 at “The Record Plant” in Los Angeles, “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by Tommy Bolin and Lee Kiefer.

Personnel:

  • Tommy Bolin – lead vocals, guitar
  • Dave Foster – piano, synthesizer
  • Jan Hammer – synthesizer, drums
  • Ron Fransen – piano
  • Stanley Sheldon – bass
  • Paul Stallworth – bass
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums
  • Prairie Prince – drums
  • Michael Walden – drums
  • Bobbie Berge – drums
  • Phil Collins – percussion
  • Sammy Figueroa – percussion
  • Rafael Cruz – percussion
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Dave Brown – backing vocals
  • Lee Kiefer – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. The Grind – Tommy Bolin, Jeff Cook, Stanley Sheldon, John Tesar
  2. Homeward Strut – Tommy Bolin
  3. Dreamer – Jeff Cook
  4. Savannah Woman – Tommy Bolin, Jeff Cook
  5. Teaser – Tommy Bolin, Jeff Cook
  6. People, People – Tommy Bolin
  7. Marching Powder – Tommy Bolin
  8. Wild Dogs –  Tommy Bolin, John Tesar
  9. Lotus – Tommy Bolin, John Tesar

Sparks: Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins

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On November 15, 1994, at “Logic” label released “Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins”, the 16th Sparks album. It was recorded in 1994, at “Sparks Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – vocals
  • Ron Mael – keyboards
  • Tsui Hark, Bill Kong – guest vocals
  • Alan Fisch – engineeri
  • John Thomas – additional engineering, mixing
  • Steve Bates – additional engineering, mixing
  • Mark Stagg – additional production
  • Linus Burdick – additional production

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. Gratuitous Sax
  2. When Do I Get to Sing ‘My Way
  3. (When I Kiss You) I Hear Charlie Parker Playing
  4. Frankly, Scarlett, I Don’t Give a Damn
  5. I Thought I Told You to Wait in the Car
  6. Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil
  7. Now That I Own the BBC
  8. Tsui Hark
  9. The Ghost of Liberace
  10. Let’s Go Surfing
  11. Senseless Violins

Thomas Tedesco

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On November 10, 1997, Thomas J. Tedesco died aged 67. He was a musician (guitar), part of the loose collective of Los Angeles area’s session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. As he played on hundreds studio recordings, “Guitar Player” magazine described him as “the most recorded guitarist in music history”. He recorded with the Beach Boys, Chet Baker, the Mamas & the Papas, the Everly Brothers, the Association, Bobby Darrin, Barbra Streisand, Jan and Dean, the 5th Dimension, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Ricky Nelson, Cher, Neil Diamond, Van Dyke Parks, Michael Franks, Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Richard Harris, Peggy Lee, Johnny Rivers, Al Kooper, Michael Nesmith, Paul Anka, Don Ellis, Minnie Riperton, Maria Muldaur, Leon Russell, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, J.J. Cale, Quincy Jones, Stephen Bishop, Kenny Loggins, Jack Nitzsche, Sarah Vaughan, Lalo Schifrin, Randy Newman, Hugh Masakela, and Joan Baez. Tedesco performed on soundtracks including The French Connection, Jaws, The Godfather, Field of Dreams, and The Deer Hunter. As a leader he released ten albums.

Billy Preston: I Wrote a Simple Song

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On November 8, 1971, “A&M” label released “I Wrote a Simple Song”, the sixth Billy Preston studio album. It was recorded February, August and September 1971, at “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Billy Preston.

Personnel:

  • Billy Preston – vocals, piano, Hammond organ, keyboards
  • David T. Walker – electric guitar
  • George Harrison – guitar, dobro
  • Manuel Kellough – drums
  • King Errisson – congas, percussion
  • Rocky Peoples – tenor saxophone
  • Carlos Garnette – trumpet
  • Quincy Jones – string and horn arrangements
  • Clydie King, Douglas Gibbs, Duane Rogers, Eugene Bryant, Jesse Kirkland, Merry Clayton, Myrna Matthews, Patrice Holloway, Sherrell Atwood, Venetta Fields – backing vocals,
  • Tommy Vicari – engineer
  • Roland Young – art direction
  • Jim McCrary – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Billy Preston and Joe Green, except where noted.

  1. Should Have Known Better
  2. I Wrote a Simple Song
  3. John Henry – Billy Preston, Robert Sam
  4. Without a Song – William Rose, Edward Eliscu, Vincent Youmans
  5. The Bus
  6. Outa-Space
  7. The Looner Tune – Billy Preston, Joe Greene, Jesse Kirkland
  8. You Done Got Older – Billy Preston, Bruce Fisher
  9. Swing Down Chariot – traditional; arranged by Billy Preston, Joe Greene
  10. God Is Great
  11. My Country, ‘Tis of Thee – traditional

Sparks: Lil’ Beethoven

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On October 14, 2002, “Lil’ Beethoven / Artful” labels released “Lil’ Beethoven”, the 19th Sparks album. It was recorded 2001 – 2002, at “Sparks Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

Personnel:

  • Russell Mael – vocals, programming, arrangements
  • Ron Mael – keyboards, orchestrations, programming, arrangements
  • Dean Menta – guitar
  • Tammy Glover – drums
  • Günther Koch – vocals
  • John Thomas – mixing, additional engineering

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Mael and Russell Mael.

  1. The Rhythm Thief
  2. How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?
  3. What Are All These Bands So Angry About?
  4. I Married Myself
  5. Ride ’Em Cowboy
  6. My Baby’s Taking Me Home
  7. Your Call’s Very Important To Us. Please Hold
  8. Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls
  9. Suburban Homeboy

The Wallflowers: Breach

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On October 10, 2000, “Interscope” label released “Breach”, the third Wallflowers studio album. It was recorded in 2000, at “Sunset Sound”, “The Sound Factory” in Hollywood, “Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, “Sound Inn” in Tokyo, and was produced by Andrew Slater and Michael Penn.

Personnel:

  • Jakob Dylan – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Michael Ward – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Rami Jaffee – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Greg Richling – bass guitar
  • Mario Calire – drums, percussion
  • Matt Chamberlain – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Jakob Dylan.

  1. Letters from the Wasteland
  2. Hand Me Down
  3. Sleepwalker
  4. I’ve Been Delivered
  5. Witness
  6. Some Flowers Bloom Dead
  7. Mourning Train
  8. Up from Under
  9. Murder 101
  10. Birdcage
  11. Babybird (hidden track) 

Jackson Browne: Standing in the Breach

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On October 7, 2014, “Inside Recordings” label released “Standing in the Breach”, the 14th Jackson Browne studio album. It was recorded 2013 – 2014, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Jackson Browne and Paul Dieter.

Personnel:

  • Jackson Browne – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, piano
  • Greg Leisz – electric 12-string guitar, baritone guitar, tenor acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar
  • Val McCallum – electric guitar, baritone guitar, harmony vocals
  • Carlos Varela – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Mark Goldenberg – electric guitar
  • Aldo López-Gavilán – piano
  • Benmont Tench – organ, piano
  • Jeff Young – organ
  • Mike Thompson – organ
  • Alex Al – bass
  • Sebastian Steinberg – bass
  • Tal Wilkenfeld – bass
  • Taylor Goldsmith – bass, harmony vocals
  • Bob Glaub – bass
  • Julio César González – bass
  • Kevin McCormick – bass
  • Don Heffington – drums
  • Jim Keltner – drums
  • Griffin Goldsmith – drums, tambourine, harmony vocals
  • Mauricio Lewak – drums
  • Pete Thomas – drums
  • Jay Bellerose – snare, tambourine, cymbal, percussion
  • Luis Conte – udu, tambourine, djembe, shaker
  • David Goodstein – loops
  • Alethea Mills – harmony vocals
  • Chavonne Stewart – harmony vocals
  • Kipp Lennon – harmony vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Jackson Browne except where noted.

  1. The Birds of St. Marks
  2. Yeah Yeah
  3. The Long Way Around
  4. Leaving Winslow
  5. If I Could Be Anywhere
  6. You Know the Night – lyrics by Woody Guthrie, music by Jackson Browne and Rob Wasserman
  7. Walls and Doors – Carlos Varela
  8. Which Side
  9. Standing in the Breach
  10. Here

J. Geils Band: The Morning After

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On October 2, 1971, “Atlantic” label released “The Morning After”, the second J. Geils Band studio album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Record Plant West” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk and Seth Justman.

Personnel:

  • Peter Wolf– lead vocals
  • J. Geils– guitar
  • Seth Justman– keyboards
  • Magic Dick– harmonica
  • Danny Klein– bass
  • Stephen Bladd – drums
  • Bill Szymczyk– engineer

Track listing:

  1. I Don’t Need You No More – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
  2. Whammer Jammer – Juke Joint Jimmy
  3. So Sharp – Arlester Christian
  4. The Usual Place – Don Covay, Leroy Randolph
  5. Gotta Have Your Love – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
  6. Looking for a Love – W. Alexander, Zelda Samuels
  7. Gonna Find Me a New Love – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
  8. Cry One More Time – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
  9. Floyd’s Hotel – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
  10. It Ain’t What You Do (It’s How You Do It!) – Juke Joint Jimmy

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: Ella and Louis

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In October 1956, “Verve” label released “Ella and Louis”, a studio album by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, accompanied by the Oscar Peterson Quartet. It was recorded in August 1956, at “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Ella Fitzgerald– vocals
  • Louis Armstrong– vocals, trumpet
  • Oscar Peterson– piano
  • Herb Ellis– guitar
  • Ray Brown– bass
  • Buddy Rich– drums
  • Val Valentin – engineer
  • Phil Stern – photography

Track listing:

  1. Can’t We Be Friends? – Paul James, Kay Swift
  2. Isn’t This a Lovely Day? – Irving Berlin
  3. Moonlight in Vermont – John Blackburn, Karl Suessdorf
  4. They Can’t Take That Away from Me – Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
  5. Under a Blanket of Blue – Jerry Livingston, Al J. Neiburg, Marty Symes
  6. Tenderly – Walter Gross, Jack Lawrence
  7. A Foggy Day – Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin
  8. Stars Fell on Alabama – Mitchell Parish, Frank Perkins
  9. Cheek to Cheek – Irving Berlin
  10. The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
  11. April in Paris – Vernon Duke, Yip Harburg