Tag Archives: Michael Jackson

Milton Nascimento And Esperanza Spalding: Milton + Esperanza

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On August 9, 2024, “Concord” label released “Milton + Esperanza”, album by Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding. It was recorded in 2023, and was produced by Esperanza Spalding.

Personnel:

  • Milton Nascimento – vocals
  • Esperanza Spalding – vocals, bass, liner notes
  • Dianne Reeves – vocal
  • Paul Simon – vocal
  • Matthew Stevens – guitar
  • Lula Galvão – guitar
  • Guinga – guitar
  • Leo Genovese – piano
  • Corey D. King – vocals, synths
  • Justin Tyson – drums
  • Eric Doob – drums
  • Kainã Do Jêje – percussion
  • Ronaldinho Silva – percussion
  • Elena Pinderhughes – flute
  • Carolina Shorter
  • Orquestra Ouro Preto
  • Lianne La Havas
  • Maria Gadú
  • Tim Bernardes
  • Lula Galvão

Track listing:

  1. The Music was There – Justin Tyson
  2. Cais – Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos
  3. Late September – Esperanza Spalding
  4. Outubro – Milton Nascimento
  5. A Day in the Life – Lennon, McCartney
  6. Interlude for Saci – Corey D. King
  7. Saci – Guinga, Paulo César Pinheiro
  8. Wings for the Thought Bird – Esperanza Spalding
  9. The Way You Are – Esperanza Spalding
  10. Earth Song – Michael Jackson
  11. Morro Velho – Milton Nascimento
  12. Saudade dos Aviões da Panair – Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant
  13. Um Vento Passou – Milton Nascimento, Márcio Borges
  14. Get It by Now – Esperanza Spalding
  15. Outro Planeta – Tyson
  16. When You Dream – Wayne Shorter, Edgy Lee

Jackson 5: Skywriter

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On March 29, 1973, “Motown” label released “Skywriter”, the seventh Jackson 5 studio album. It was recorded April 1972 – January 1973, and was produced by Hal Davis and The Corporation.

Personnel:

  • Tito Jackson – vocals, lead guitar, synthesizer
  • Jermaine Jackson – lead vocals, bass guitar
  • Michael Jackson – lead vocals, percussion
  • Jackie Jackson – lead vocals, percussion
  • Marlon Jackson – vocals, percussion
  • Rod Dyer – design
  • Leandro Correa – photography
  • Berry Gordy – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Skywriter – Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino
  2. Hallelujah Day – Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian
  3. The Boogie Man – Deke Richards
  4. Touch – Pam Sawyer, Frank Wilson
  5. Corner of the Sky – Stephen Schwartz
  6. I Can’t Quit Your Love – Leonard Caston, Kathy Wakefield
  7. Uppermost – Clifton Davis
  8. World of Sunshine – Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino
  9. Ooh, I’d Love to Be with You – Fonce Mizell, Larry Mizell
  10. You Made Me What I Am – The Corporation

Quincy Jones

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On November 3, 2024, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. died aged 91. He was musician (trumpet), music producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer, with career spanned over 70 years. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by magazine “Time”.

For his work he received the following awards and honors:

  • Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music (1983)
  • Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Ray Charles in 1984.
  • Grammy Legend Award in 1992
  • Garfield High School in Seattle named a performing arts center after him.
  • Quincy Jones Elementary School, located in South Central Los Angeles, is named after him.
  • Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards in 2008.
  • John F. Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.
  • National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama on March 2, 2011.
  • Los Angeles Press Club Visionary Award in 2014.
  • Honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music, London, in 2015.
  • Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
  • In 2021, Jones was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame as a “foundational inductee”.
  • He won 28 Grammy Awards (third in the list of all-time Grammy award wins).

Quincy Jones was producer of “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (1982), the best sold album in music history (more than 51.3 million copies sold).

As leader, Quincy Jones released 40 albums.  

Enrico Rava: Rava On The Dance Floor

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On August 24, 2012, “ECM” label released “Rava on the Dance Floor”, the 42nd Enrico Rava album. It was recorded in 2011, at “Auditorium Parco della Musica” in Rome, Italy, and was produced by Manfred Eicher.

Personnel:

  • Enrico Rava – trumpet
  • Daniele Tittarelli – alto saxophone, flute
  • Dan Kinzelman – tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
  • Andrea Tofanelli, Claudio Corvini – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Mauro Ottolini – trombone, tuba
  • Marcello Giannini – electric guitar
  • Franz Bazzani – keyboard
  • Giovanni Guidi – piano, Fender Rhodes, toy piano
  • Dario Deidda – bass
  • Zeno de Rossi – drums
  • Ernesto Lopez Maturell – percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Jackson, except where noted.

  1. Speechless
  2. They Don’t Care About Us
  3. Thriller – Rod Temperton
  4. Privacy – Bernard Belle, LaShawn Daniels, Michael Jackson, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins
  5. Smile – Charlie Chaplin
  6. I Just Can’t Stop Loving You/Smooth Criminal
  7. Little Susie
  8. Blood on the Dance Floor – Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley
  9. History – James Harris III, Michael Jackson, Terry Lewis

Chris Cornell: Carry On

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On May 28, 2007, “Suretone” label released “Carry On”, the second Chris Cornell studio album. It was recorded 2006 – 2007, and was produced by Steve Lillywhite.

Personnel:

  • Chris Cornell – lead vocals, guitar, keyboard
  • Gary Lucas – guitar
  • Cameron Greider – guitar
  • Brian Ray – guitar
  • Dimitri Coats – guitar
  • Steve Lillywhite – piano, mixing 
  • Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
  • Miles Mosley – bass guitar, upright bass
  • Nir Zidkyahu – drums
  • Joe Sublett – tenor saxophone
  • Darrell Leonard – trumpet
  • Dave Cobb – horn arrangements
  • Todd Parker – recording, mixing
  • Ryan Castle – engineeri
  • Cameron Barton – additional engineering
  • David Colving – additional engineering
  • D. Sardy – mixing 
  • Stephen Marcusson – mastering
  • Cindi Peters – production coordination

Track listing:

All tracks by Chris Cornell, except where noted.

  1. Bo Such Thing
  2. Poison Eye
  3. Arms Around Your Love
  4. Safe and Sound
  5. She’ll Never Be Your Man
  6. Ghosts
  7. Killing Birds
  8. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
  9. Scar on the Sky
  10. Your Soul Today
  11. Finaly Forever
  12. Silence the Voices
  13. Disappearing Act
  14. You Know My Name – Chris Cornell, David Arnold

Jackson 5: ABC

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On May 8, 1970, “Motown” label released “ABC”, the second Jackson 5 studio album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, and was produced by Hal Davis, The Corporation and Bobby Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Jackie Jackson – vocal
  • Jermaine Jackson – vocal
  • Marlon Jackson – vocal
  • Michael Jackson – vocal
  • Tito Jackson – vocal
  • Motown Record Corp. – cover design
  • PF – Bovema EMI Art Studio – liner design
  • Joseph Hernandez – photography
  • Paul Slaughter – photography
  • Randy Kling – lacquer cut

Track listing:

  1. The Love You Save – The Corporation
  2. One More Chance – The Corporation
  3. ABC – The Corporation
  4. 2-4-6-8 – Leon Ware, Paw Sawyer
  5. (Come Round Here) I’m the One You Need – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland
  6. Don’t Know Why I Love You – Lula Mae Hardway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  7. Never had a Dream Come True – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
  8. True Love Can Be Beautiful – Leonard Caston Jr., Jeana Jackson, Bonny Taylor
  9. La-La (Means I Love You) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  10. I’ll bet You – George Clinton, Sydney Barnes, Theresa Lindsey
  11. I Found That Girl – The Corporation
  12. The Young Folks – George Gordy, Allen Story

The Brothers Johnson: Light Up the Night

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On April 4, 1980, “A&M” label released “Light Up the Night”, the fourth Brothers Johnson (The) album. It was recorded 1978 – 1980, at “Allen Zentz Recording” and “A&M Studios” in Hollywood, “Kendun Recorders” in Burbank, California, and was produced by Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • George Johnson – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, rhythm arrangements
  • Louis Johnson – acoustic piano, Prophet-5, guitars, lead guitar, bass, backing vocals, rhythm arrangements
  • Greg Phillinganes – acoustic and electric piano, synthesizer
  • Rod Temperton – electric piano, synthesizer and BGV arrangements
  • Steve Porcaro – synthesizers, synthesizer programming
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion, vocal percussion
  • Richard Heath – lead and backing vocals, percussion
  • Kim Hutchcroft – soprano, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute
  • Larry Williams – alto and tenor saxophone, flute, synthesizers
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – euphonium, trombone, slide trumpet
  • Gary Grant – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, flugelhorn, French horn, horn and string arrangements
  • Alex Weir – lead and backing vocals
  • Michael Jackson – backing vocals fills, BGV arrangements
  • Merry Clayton – backing vocals
  • Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals
  • Susaye Greene-Brown – backing vocals
  • Josie James – backing vocals
  • Valerie Johnson – backing vocals
  • Scherrie Payne – backing vocals
  • Quincy Jones – rhythm, synthesizer and BGV arrangements, backing vocals
  • Johnny Mandel – synthesizer arrangements
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – string conductor
  • Bruce Swedien – recording, mixing
  • Tim Gerrity – engineer assistant
  • Ralph Osborn – engineer assistant
  • Randy Pipes – engineer assistant
  • John Van Nest – engineer assistant
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Chuck Beeson – art direction
  • Glen Wexler – art direction, cover concept, photography
  • Ed Eckstien – cover concept
  • Kurt Triffet – illustration
  • The Fitzgerald/Hartley Co. – direction

Track listing:

  1. Stomp! – Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson, Valerie Johnson
  2. Light Up the Night – Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
  3. You Make Me Wanna Wiggle – Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson, Valerie Johnson
  4. Treasure – Rod Temperton
  5. This Had to Be – Michael Jackson, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
  6. All About the Heaven – Rod Temperton
  7. Smilin’ on Ya – George Johnson, Greg Phillinganes, Louis Johnson, Jerry Hey
  8. Closer to the One That You Love – Rod Templeton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
  9. Celebration – Rod Templeton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson

Weezer: Same

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On January 24, 2019, “Crush Music” and “Atlantic” labels released the self-titled, twelfth Weezer studio album (known as Teal Album). It was recorded in 2018, and was produced by Mark Rankin, Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell and Scott Shriner.

Personnel:

  • Rivers Cuomo – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, piano, keyboards
  • Brian Bell – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Scott Shriner – bass, backing vocals
  • Patrick Wilson – drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Mark Rankin – engineer, mixing
  • Jason Clark – engineer
  • Suzy Shinn – vocal engineer
  • Eric Boulanger – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Africa – David Paich, Jeff Porcaro
  2. Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Chris Hughes
  3. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart
  4. Take on Me – Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, Pål Waaktaar
  5. Happy Together – Alan Gordon, Garry Bonner
  6. Paranoid – Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osborne, Bill Ward
  7. Mr. Blue Sky – Jeff Lynne
  8. Np Scrubs – Kevin Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Tameka Cottle, Lisa Lopes
  9. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
  10. Stand by Me – Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

Melvin Ragin

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On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).

David Williams

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On March 6, 2009, David Williams died aged 58. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar), vocalist, song writer and music producer, known as a prominent and most in demand session guitarist. He worked with The Dells, The Temptations, Madonna, Michael Jackson,  Chanson, The Pointer Sisters, Peter Allen, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Julio Iglesias, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Michael McDonald, Melissa Manchester, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, Shalamar, Go West, ABC, Boz Scaggs, Karen Carpenter, Mariah Carey, Julian Lennon, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Johnny Mathis, Del Shannon, Chaka Khan, Paul Hardcastle, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Diana Ross, the Crusaders, Andraé Crouch, Eddie Murphy, Herbie Hancock, Peter Cetera, Whitney Houston and Monkey Business. As leader he released two albums.