Tag Archives: Michael Allen

Kansas: Always Never the Same

On May 19, 1998, “River North” label released “Always Never the Same”, the thirteenth Kansas studio album. This album consists of new songs and covers of the band’s previous work, re-recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra. It was recorded September 1997 – February 1998, at “Southern Tracks”, “Electric Landlady” and “Tree Sound Studios” in Atlanta, Georgia, “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Phil Ehart, Rich Williams and Trammell Starks.

Personnel:

  • Steve Walsh – lead vocals, keyboards
  • Robby Steinhardt – lead and backing vocals, violin
  • Rich Williams – guitars
  • Billy Greer – vocals, bass
  • Phil Ehart – drums
  • The London Symphony Orchestra, arranged and conducted by Larry Baird
  • Russ Fowler, James Majors, Jim “Z” Zumpano – engineer
  • Peter Cobbin – orchestra recordings engineer
  • Jeff Glixman – mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Brian Jobson, James Majors – digital editing
  • Trammell Starks – digital editing
  • Michael Allen – copyist
  • Pennie Moore, Conni Treantafeles – art direction, design
  • Marti Griffin – photography

Track listing:

  1. Eleanor Rigby – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  2. Dust in the Cover- Kerry Livgren
  3. Preamble (orchestral) – Larry Baird
  4. Song for America – Kerry Livgren
  5. In Your Eyes – Steve Walsh
  6. Miracles Out of Nowhere – Kerry Livgren
  7. Hol On – Kerry Livgren
  8. The Sky Is Falling – Steve Walsh
  9. Cheyenne Anthem – Kerry Livgren
  10. Prelude & Introduction (medley) – Phil Ehart, Billy Greer, Robby Steinhardt, Steve Walsh, Rich Williams, Larry Baird
  11. The Wall – Kerry Livgren, Steve Walsh
  12. Need to Know – Steve Walsh

Wolfgang Press: Bird Wood Cage

On November 7, 1988, “4AD” label released “Bird Wood Cage”, the third Wolfgang Press studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “The Townhouse”, and was produced by Flood.

Personnel:

  • Michael Allen – vocals, bass
  • Mark Cox – keyboards
  • Andrew Gray – guitar, photography
  • Peter Ulrich – percussion
  • Gini Ball – violin
  • Sonia Slany – violin
  • Chris Pitsillides – viola
  • Audrey Riley – cello
  • Ruby James – backing vocals
  • Lorna Wright – backing vocals
  • Steven Young – drum programming
  • Lincoln Fong – engineer
  • Hugo Nicholson – engineer
  • Michael Butterworth – engineer assistant
  • Kevin Metcalfe – mastering
  • Chris Bigg – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Allen, Mark Cox, and Andrew Gray.

  1. King of Soul
  2. Raintime
  3. Bottom Drawer
  4. Kansas
  5. Swing Like a Baby
  6. See My Wife
  7. The Holy Man
  8. Hang on Me (For Papa)
  9. Shut That Door

From the Big Sex EP.:

  1. The Wedding
  2. The Great Leveler
  3. That Heat
  4. God’s Number

The Wolfgang Press: The Burden of Mules

On August 1, 1983, “4AD” label released “The Burden of Mules”, the debut Wolfgang Press (The) studio album. It was recorded May 1982 – June 1983 and was produced by Mark Cox and Michael Allen.

Personnel:

  • Michael Allen – vocals, drums, percussion, bass guitar, synthesizer, piano, organ, drum loops, cymbal, saxophone
  • Mark Cox – synthesizer, percussion, clarinet, “noises”, pixiephone and chimes, piano, organ, “scratches”, whistling, bass guitar
  • Andrew Gray – guitar, percussion, drums, sleeve photography
  • David Steiner – drums
  • Richard Thomas – drums, flute, piano

Track listing:

  1. Lisa (The Passion) – Andrew Gray, Mark Cox, Michael Allen
  2. Prostitute I – Mark Cox, Michael Allen
  3. The Burden of Mules – Andrew Gray, Mark Cox, Michael Allen
  4. Complete and Utter – Mark Cox, Michael Allen
  5. Prostitute II – Mark Cox, Michael Allen
  6. Slow as a Child – Mark Cox, Michael Allen
  7. Journalists – Andrew Gray, Mark Cox, Michael Allen, David Steiner
  8. Give It Back – Mark Cox, Michael Allen
  9. On the Hill – Mark Cox, Michael Allen

The Breeders: Pod

On May 29, 1990, “4AD” label released “Pod”, the debut Breeders (The) album. It was recorded in January 1990, at “Palladium” in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was produced by Steve Albini.

Personnel:

  • Kim Deal– lead vocals, guitar
  • Tanya Donelly– guitar, backing vocals
  • Britt Walford(Shannon Doughton) – drums, backing vocals
  • Josephine Wiggs– Spanish guitar, bass, backing vocals
  • Michael Allen – backing vocals
  • Carrie Bradley– violin
  • Steve Albini– engineer
  • Vaughan Oliver/ V23 – design
  • Kevin Westenberg – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Kim Deal, except where noted.

  1. Glorious – Kim Deal, Ray Halliday
  2. Doe – Kim Deal, Ray Halliday
  3. Happiness Is a Warm Gun- John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  4. Oh
  5. Hellbound
  6. When I Was a Painter
  7. Fortunately Gone
  8. Iris
  9. Opened
  10. Only in 3’ s – Kim Deal, Tanya Donelly
  11. Lime House
  12. Metal Man – Kim Deal, Josephine Wiggs

Wolfgang Press: Standing Up Straight

On May 1, 1986, “4AD” label released “Standing Up Straight”, the second Wolfgang Press studio album. It was recorded January – March 1986, at “Blackwing Studios” in London, and was produced by John Fryer, Michael Allen, Mark Cox and Andrew Gray.

Personnel:

  • Michael Allen – vocals, bass
  • Andrew Gray – guitars
  • Mark Cox – keyboards
  • John Fryer – marimba, percussion, programming, engineer
  • Gini Ball – violin, viola
  • Elizabeth Fraser– vocals
  • Martin McGarrick – cello
  • 23 Envelope – design, typography, photography
  • Chris Bigg – typography
  • Ruth Rowland – typography

Track listing:

All tracks by Andrew Gray, Mark Cox and Michael Allen.

  1. Dig a Hole
  2. My Life
  3. Hammer the Halo
  4. Bless My Brother
  5. Fire – Fly
  6. Ghost
  7. Rotten Fodder
  8. Forty Days, Thirty Nights
  9. I Am the Crime

 

Al Green: Full Of Fire

In February 1976, “Hi” label released “Full of Fire”, the tenth Al Green studio album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Willie Mitchell.

Personnel:

  • Al Green – vocals
  • Teenie Hodges- guitar
  • Archie Turner, Michael Allen – piano
  • Charles Hodges- organ
  • Leroy Hodges- bass
  • Howard Grimes- drums, congas
  • Andrew Love, Lewis Collins – tenor saxophone
  • James Mitchell – baritone saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson- trumpet
  • Jack Hale – trombone
  • The Memphis Strings – strings
  • Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes, Sandra Rhodes – backing vocals
  • Norman Seeff- photography

Track listing:

  1. Glory, Glory – Al Green, Willie Mitchell
  2. That’s the Way It Is – Al Green
  3. Always – Al Green, Charles Hodges
  4. There’s No Way – Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle
  5. I’d Fly Away – Al Green
  6. Full of Fire – Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges
  7. Together Again – Buck Owens
  8. Soon as I Get Home – Al Green, Michael Allen
  9. Let It Shine – Al Green, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges

Al Green: Al Green Explores Your Mind

In October 1974, “Hi” label released “Al Green Explores Your Mind”, the eighth Al Green album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by Willie Mitchell.  In 2004, the album song “Take Me to the River” was ranked at number 117 on “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Personnel:

  • Al Green – vocals
  • Teenie Hodges- guitar
  • Charles Hodges- organ, piano
  • Archie Turner, Michael Allen – piano
  • Leroy Hodges- bass
  • Howard Grimes- drums, congas
  • Andrew Love, Ed Logan – tenor saxophone
  • James Mitchell – baritone saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson– trumpet
  • Jack Hale – trombone
  • Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes, Sandra Rhodes – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Green; except where noted.

  1. Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)
  2. Take Me to the River – Al Green, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges
  3. God Blessed Our Love – Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle
  4. The City – Al Green, Charles Hodges
  5. One Nite Stand
  6. I’m Hooked on You – Al Green, Willie Mitchell
  7. Stay with Me Forever – Al Green, Alma Sanders
  8. Hangin’ On – Al Green, Michael Allen
  9. School Days

Al Green: Al Green Is Love

In August 1975, “Hi” label released “Al Green Is Love”, the ninth Al Green studio album. It was recorded 1974 – 1975, and was produced by Willie Mitchell.

Personnel:

  • Al Green – vocals
  • Larry Lee, Teenie Hodges- guitar
  • Charles Hodges- organ, piano
  • Archie Turner, Michael Allen – piano
  • Leroy Hodges- bass
  • Howard Grimes- drums, congas
  • Conga Lou (Johnny Keyes) – congas
  • Andrew Love, Lewis Collins – tenor saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson- trumpet
  • James Mitchell – baritone saxophone, string arrangements
  • Jack Hale – trombone
  • The Memphis Strings – strings
  • Charles Chalmers, Donna Rhodes, Sandra Rhodes – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Al Green; except where noted.

  1. L-O-V-E (Love) – Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges
  2. Rhymes – Al Green, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges
  3. The Love Sermon – Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle
  4. There Is Love – Willie Mitchell, Lawrence Seymore, Yvonne Mitchell
  5. Could I Be the One? – Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Ann Mitchell
  6. Love Ritual
  7. I Didn’t Know
  8. Oh Me, Oh My (Dreams in My Arms) – Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges
  9. I Gotta Be More (Take Me Higher)
  10. I Wish You Were Here – Willie Mitchell