Tag Archives: Luther Vandross

David Bowie: Young Americans

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On March 7, 1975, “RCA” label released “Young Americans”, the ninth David Bowie studio album. It was recorded August 1974 – January 1975, at “Sigma Sound” in Philadelphia, “Record Plant” and “Electric Land Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Tony Visconti, Harry Massin and David Bowie.

Personnel:

  • David Bowie – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • John Lennon – vocals and backing vocals, guitar
  • Carlos Alomar – guitars
  • Earl Slick – guitars
  • Mike Garson – piano
  • Willie Weeks – bass guitar
  • Emir Ksasan – bass guitar
  • Dennis Davis – drums 
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion 
  • Pablo Rosario – percussion 
  • Larry Washington – congas
  • David Sanborn – saxophone
  • Ava Cherry – backing vocals
  • Robin Clark – backing vocals
  • Luther Vandross – backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Anthony Hinton – backing vocals
  • Diane Sumler – backing vocals
  • Jean Fineberg – backing vocals
  • Jean Millington – backing vocals 

Track listing:

All tracks by David Bowie, except where noted.

  1. Young Americans
  2. Win
  3. Fascination – David Bowie, Luther Vandross
  4. Right
  5. Somebody There Likes Me
  6. Across the Universe – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  7. Can You Hear Me
  8. Fame – David Bowie, Carlos Alomar, John Lennon

Aretha Franklin: Get It Right

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On July 14, 1983, “Arista” label released “Get It Right”, the twenty-ninth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1983, and was produced by Luther Vandross.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Doc Powell – guitar
  • Georg Wadenius – guitar
  • Teddy F. White – guitar
  • Nat Adderley Jr. – keyboards, rhythm arrangements
  • Marcus Miller – synthesizers, bass guitar, rhythm arrangements
  • Yogi Horton – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion, congas, bongos
  • Steve Kroon – congas, triangle
  • Dave Friedman – vibraphone
  • David Carey – timpani
  • George Young – soprano saxophone
  • Alan Rubin, George Young, Gregory Williams, Jim Pugh, John Clark, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini, Peter Gordon, Ronnie Cuber, Tom Malone – horns
  • Alfred Brown, Barry Finclair, Elena Barere, Emanuel Vardi, Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Harry Zaratzian, Homer Mensch, Jan Mullen, Jean R. Dane, Jesse Levy, John Beal, John Pintavalle, Jonathan Abramowitz, Joseph Rabushka, Judy Geist, Julien Barber, Kathryn Kienke, Kermit Moore, Lamar Alsop, Lewis Eley, Margaret Ross, Marilyn Wright, Regis Landiorio, Richard Sortomme, Richard Young, Sanford Allen, Sue Pray, Winterton Garvey – strings
  • Rob Mounsey – string arrangements, horn arrangements
  • Paul Riser – string and horn arrangements
  • Luther Vandross – vocal arrangements, backing vocals
  • Michael Love Smith – vocal arrangements, backing vocals
  • Brenda White – backing vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
  • Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
  • Phillip Ballou – backing vocals
  • Tawatha Agee – backing vocals
  • Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Darlene Love – backing vocals
  • Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals
  • Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Sandra Richardson – backing vocals
  • Aaron T. Smith – backing vocals
  • Danny Dedusual Smith – backing vocals
  • Myrna Smith – backing vocals
  • Don Cuminale – engineer
  • Paul Brocek, Michael Christopher – additional engineering, engineer assistant
  • Mark Cobrin – engineer assistant
  • Michael H. Brauer – mixing
  • Donn Davenport – art direction
  • Howard Fritzson – design

Track listing:

All tracks written by Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller, except where noted.

  1. Get It Right
  2. Pretender
  3. Every Girl (Wants My Guy)
  4. When You Love Me Like That
  5. I Wish It Would Rain – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene
  6. Better Friends Than Lovers – Michael Lovesmith
  7. I Got Your Love – Luther Vandross
  8. Giving In – Clarence Franklin

Aretha Franklin: What You See Is What You Sweat

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On June 25, 1991, “Arista” label released “What You See Is What You Sweat”, the thirty-third Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1990, and was produced by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, David “Pic” Conley, Aretha Franklin, Michel Legrand, Oliver Leiber, Gene Lennon, Bruce Roberts, Joshua Thompson, David Townsend, Luther Vandross, Narada Michael Walden and Elliot Wolff.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, piano
  • Rick Iantosca – acoustic guitar
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Dean Parks – guitar
  • Vernon Black – guitar
  • David Townsend – guitar
  • Jean-Marc Benais – guitar
  • Teddy F. White – guitar
  • Al Turner – bass guitar
  • Marcus Miller – bass guitar
  • Dominique Bertram – bass guitar
  • Rudolph Stansfield – piano
  • Thierry Eliez – piano
  • Skip Anderson – keyboards
  • Burt Bacharach – keyboards
  • Oliver Leiber – keyboards, drum programming, guitar
  • Jason Miles – keyboards
  • Louis Biancaniello – keyboards, programming
  • David Foster – keyboards, programming
  • Nat Adderley Jr. – keyboards
  • Bobby Wooten – keyboards, electric piano, drum programming, synthesizer
  • Michael Boddicker – keyboards, programming
  • Hubert Eaves III – keyboards, drum programming
  • Elliot Wolff – keyboards, drum programming
  • Joshua Thompson – keyboards, guitar, synthesizer
  • Peter Schwartz – additional keyboards
  • Charles Scales – synthesizer
  • Michel Legrand – synthesizer
  • Guy Vaughn – drum programming
  • Narada Michael Walden – drums, programming
  • Buster Marbury – drums
  • André Ceccarelli – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion
  • Larry Fratangelo – percussion
  • Larry Williams – programming
  • Franck Thore – Pan pipes
  • Onita Sanders – harp
  • Candy Dulfer – saxophone
  • David Boruff – saxophone
  • Gene Lennon – programming
  • Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals
  • Jesse Richardson – backing vocals
  • Sandra Feva – backing vocals
  • Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
  • Diane Green – backing vocals
  • Sherry Fox – backing vocals
  • Portia Griffin – backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Jarvis Barker – backing vocals
  • Nikita Germaine – backing vocals
  • Skyler Jett – backing vocals
  • Jeanie Tracy – backing vocals
  • Tony Lindsay – backing vocals
  • Gwen Guthrie – backing vocals
  • Tawatha Agee – backing vocals
  • Donna Davis – backing vocals
  • Marj Harber – backing vocals
  • Esther Ridgeway – backing vocals
  • Gloria Ridgeway – backing vocals
  • Gracie Ridgeway – backing vocals
  • Clive Davis – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Everyday people – Sly Stone
  2. Ever Changing Times – Burt Bacharach, Bill Conti, Carole Bayer Sager
  3. What You See Is What You Sweat – David Conley, Derrick Culler, Gene Lennon, Joshua Thompson
  4. Mary Goes Round – Elliot Wolff, Oliver Leiber
  5. I Dreamed a Dream – Alain Boubill, Herbert Kretzmer, Jean Marc Natel, Claude Michel Schonberg
  6. Someone’s Else’s Eyes – Bruce Roberts, Burt Bacharach, Bayer Sager
  7. Doctor’s Orders – Luther Vandross, Hubert Eaves III
  8. You Can’t Take Me for Granted – Aretha Franklin
  9. What You Give – Aretha Franklin
  10. Everyday People (Shep Pettibone Remix) – Sly Stone

Bette Midler: Songs for the New Depression

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On January 8, 1976, “Atlantic” label released “Songs for the New Depression”, the third Bette Midler studio album. It was recorded 1972 – 1976, at “Secret Sound Studio” New York, N.Y., “Electric Lady” and “Media Sound Studios” in New York, N.Y., “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York, N.Y., and was produced by Bette Midler, Joel Dorn, Ahmet Ertegün, Arif Mardin, Mark “Moogy” Klingman, and Jack Malken.

Personnel:

  • Bette Midler – lead and backing vocals, assistant engineer
  • Glaswegians Orchestra – arranged and conducted by Arif Mardin
  • Moogy Klingman – piano, electric piano, RMI Computer keyboard, Mini Korg synthesizer, harmonica, arranger and conductor
  • Ralph Schuckett – acoustic piano, clavinet, organ, Sound City piano, harmonium, string ensemble, arranger, conductor
  • Bob Dylan – vocals 
  • Dick Hyman – piano
  • David Spinozza – guitar
  • Jerry Friedman – guitar
  • Todd Rundgren – guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Webster – slide guitar 
  • Rick Derringer – pedal steel guitar
  • Eric Weissberg – banjo, mandolin
  • Don Brooks – harmonica
  • Sivuca – accordion
  • Dominic Cortese – accordion
  • Boris Matusewitch – concertina
  • John Siegler – bass guitar 
  • Milt Hinton – acoustic bass, bass guitar
  • John Miller – acoustic bass
  • Teddy Sommer – drums, percussion
  • Mark Rosengarden – drums, percussion
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • John Wilcox – drums 
  • Barbara Burton – percussion
  • Angel Allende – percussion
  • Jack Malken – additional percussion
  • Norman Pride – conga
  • Randy Brecker – horns, trumpet solo
  • Michael Brecker – horns
  • Barry Rogers – horns
  • Mel Davis – trumpet
  • William Siapin – flute
  • John Lissauer – saxophone, chimes, arranger, conductor
  • David Nadien – strings
  • Barry Finclair – strings
  • Raul Poliakin – strings
  • Tony Posk – strings
  • Gene Orloff – strings
  • Harry Lookofsky – strings
  • Charles McCracken – strings
  • Jessy Levy – strings
  • Harry Lookofsky – violin
  • Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Kenny Kosek – fiddle
  • Luther Vandross – arranger, backing vocals
  • Dianne Sumler – backing vocals
  • David Lasley – backing vocals
  • Erin Dickins – backing vocals
  • Annie Sutton – backing vocals
  • Donny Beard – backing vocals
  • Charlotte Crossley – backing vocals
  • Leata Galloway – backing vocals
  • Ben Harney – backing vocals
  • Rhetta Hughes – backing vocals
  • Thomas Moore – backing vocals
  • Ula Hedwig – backing vocals
  • Sharon Redd – backing vocals
  • Ramona Stubblefield – backing vocals
  • Clifford Townsend – backing vocals
  • Revelation – backing vocals
  • Rosie – backing vocals
  • Gotham – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – arranger, conductor, backing vocals, remix
  • Marty Nelson – vocal arranger
  • Jack Malken – recording, remix engineer
  • Lew Hahn – recording, remix engineer
  • Jan Rathbun – engineer
  • Gerry Block – engineer assistant
  • Dave Wittman – engineer assistant
  • Richard Amsel – inner sleeve illustration
  • Michaele Vollbracht – shopping bag
  • Kenn Duncan – poster photography
  • Deborah Turbville – photography

Track listing:

  1. Strangers in the Night – Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton, Eddie Snyder
  2. I Don’t Want the Night to End – Phoebe Snow
  3. Mr. Rockefeller – Jerry Blatt, Bette Midler
  4. Old Cape Cod – Claire Rothrock, Allan Jeffrey, Milton Yakus
  5. Buckets of Rain – Bob Dylan
  6. Love Says It’s Waiting – Nick Holmes
  7. Shiver Me Timbers / Samedi et Vendredi – Tom Waits, Bette Midler, Moogy Klingman
  8. No Jestering – Carlton Malcolm
  9. Tragedy – Gerald Nelson, Fred Burch
  10. Marahuana – Arthur Jonston, Sam Coslow
  11. Let Me Just Follow Behind – Moogy Klingman

Ralph MacDonald

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On December 18, 2011, Ralph Anthony MacDonald died aged 67. He was musician (percussion, steelpan), songwriter, arranger, record producer, and philanthropist. His best known compositions are “Where Is the Love”, a “Grammy Award” winner for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway duet), “Just the Two of Us” (recorded by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.), and “Mister Magic” (recorded by Grover Washington Jr.). MacDonald was member of the bands Desperadoes Steel Orchestra,  Steelband Panorama, and Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He recorded with many famous musicians including David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Bob James, Ashford and Simpson, and The Brothers Johnson. As a leader MacDonald released ten albums.

Ringo Starr: Ringo The 4th

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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

 

J. Geils Band: Monkey island

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On June 9, 1977, “Atlantic” label released “Monkey Island”, the seventh J. Geils Band album. It was recorded in 1977, and was produced by Peter Wolf, J. Geils, Magic Dick, Seth Justan, Danny Klein and Stephen Bladd.

Personnel:

  • Peter Wolf- lead vocals
  • Geils- guitar
  • Magic Dick- harmonica
  • Seth Justman- keyboards
  • Danny Klein- bass
  • Stephen Bladd – drums
  • Michael Brecker- tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Ronnie Cuber– saxophone
  • Lew Del Gatto – saxophone
  • Arif Mardin- strings conductor
  • Alan Rubin– trumpet
  • Lew Soloff– trumpet
  • Frank Vicari– saxophone
  • Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
  • Evette Benton – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston- backing vocals
  • Barbara Ingram- backing vocals
  • Theresa Reed – backing vocals
  • Diane Sumler – backing vocals
  • Harriet Tharpe – backing vocals
  • Luther Vandross- backing vocals
  • David Thoener – engineer
  • Jay Krugman, Rod O’Brien, Corky Stasiak – engineer assistant
  • David Thoener – mixing
  • George Marino – remastering
  • Peter Corriston – design
  • Alen MacWeeney – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Peter Wolf and Seth Justman except where noted.

  1. Surrender
  2. You’re the Only One
  3. I Do – Melvin Mason, Johnny Paden, Frank Paden, Alfred Smith, Willie Stephenson
  4. Somebody
  5. I’m Falling
  6. Monkey Island
  7. I’m Not Rough
  8. So Good
  9. Wreckage

 

Aretha Franklin: Jump To It

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In July 1982, “Arista” label released “Jump To It”, the thirtyfirst Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded 1981 – 1982, at “Mediasound Studios” in New York City, “Record Plant” and “The Village Recorder” in Los Angeles, “Soundsuite” in Detroit, and was produced by Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin. The album received the “American Music Award” for “Best Soul Album”.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, rhythm and vocal arrangements
  • Levi Stubbs – lead vocals
  • Doc Powell– guitar
  • Steve Love – guitar
  • George Duke– piano
  • Sonny Burke– keyboards
  • Nat Adderley, Jr.– keyboards, rhythm arrangements
  • Luther Vandross– keyboards, backing vocals, rhythm and vocal arrangements
  • Marcus Miller– bass, keyboards, synthesizer, synthesizer and rhythm arrangements
  • Francisco Centeno, Louis Johnson– bass
  • Yogi Horton, Buddy Williams– drums
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – congas, percussion
  • Paulinho Da Costa– percussion
  • George Young – soprano saxophone
  • Paul Riser, Leon Pendarvis, Jr., Jerry Hey– horn and string arrangements
  • Four Tops– backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Erma Franklin, Pam Vincent, Sandra Dance, Brenda White, Cissy Houston, Fonzi Thornton, Michelle Cobbs, Phillip Ballou, Tawatha Agee, Norma Jean Wright, Alexandra Brown, Darlene Love, Paulette McWilliams, Stephanie Spruill, Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
  • Michael Brauer – recording, mixing
  • Carl Beatty, Lee Keifer – additional engineering
  • Michael Christopher, Karat Faye, John Hanlon, Harry Spiridakis, Don Wershba, Warren Woods
  • Ria Lewerke-Shapiro – art direction, design
  • Harry Langdon – photography
  • Sue Reilly – lettering
  • Sephra Herman – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Jump to It – Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
  2. Love Me Right – Luther Vandross
  3. If She Don’t Want Your Lovin’ – Sam Dees
  4. This Is for Real – Luther Vandross
  5. (It’s Just) Your Love – Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller
  6. I Wanna Make It Up to You – Aretha Franklin
  7. It’s Your Thing – O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
  8. Just My Daydream – Smokey Robinson

Carly Simon: Boys in the Trees

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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

The J. Geils Band: Freeze – Frame

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J._Geils_Band_-_Freeze_Frame

On October 26, 1981, “EMI” label released “Freeze-Frame”, the 12th J. Geils Band (The) studio album.  It was recorded 1980 – 1981 at the “Long View Farm” in Massachusetts, and was produced by Seth Justman.

Personnel:

  • Peter Wolf- vocals
  • John Geils – guitar
  • Seth Justman – vocals, keyboard
  • Danny Klein – bass
  • Stephen Bladd – percussion, drums, backing vocals
  • Magic Dick – harmonica, saxophone
  • Randy Brecker, Tom “Bones” Malone, Lou Marini, George Young, Ronnie Cuber, Alan Rubin– horns
  • Cengiz Yaltkaya – conductor
  • Tawatha Agee, Cissy Houston, Fonzi Thornton, Luther Vandross, Ken Williams – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Seth Justman except where noted.

  1. Freeze-Frame – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
  2. Rage in the Cage – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
  3. Centerfold
  4. Do You Remember When – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
  5. Insane, Insane Again
  6. Flamethrower
  7. River Blindness
  8. Angel in Blue
  9. Piss on the Wall – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf