Tag Archives: Mike Melvoin

Tom Waits: Nighthawks At Diner

Leave a comment

On October 21, 1975, “Asylum” label released “Nighthawks at the Diner”, the third Tom Waits studio album. It was recorded in July 1975, at “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bones Howe.

Personnel:

  • Tom Waits – vocals, piano, guitar
  • Mike Melvoin – piano, electric piano, guitar
  • Jim Hughart – upright bass
  • Bill Goodwin – drums
  • Pete Christlieb – tenor saxophone

Track listing:

All tracks by Tom Waits, except where noted.

  1. Opening Intro
  2. Emotional Weather Report
  3. Intro
  4. On a Foggy Night
  5. Intro
  6. Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson)
  7. Intro
  8. Better Off Without a Wife
  9. Nighthawk Postcards (From Easy Street)
  10. Intro
  11. Warm Beer and Cold Women
  12. Intro
  13. Putnam County
  14. Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission) – Tom Waits, Chuck E. Weiss
  15. Nobody
  16. Intro
  17. Big Joe and Phantom 309 – Tommy Faile
  18. Spare Parts II and Closing

Johnny Hartman: Unforgettable Songs By Johnny Hartman

Leave a comment

In September 1966, “ABC Paramount” label released “Unforgettable Songs by Johnny Hartman”, the 13th Johnny Hartman album. It was recorded in February 1966, at “United Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hartman – vocals
  • Harold Land – tenor saxophone
  • Teddy Edwards – tenor saxophone
  • Curtis Amy – tenor saxophone
  • Anthony Ortega – saxophone
  • Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone
  • Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Bud Brisbois – trumpet
  • Jules Chaikin – trumpet
  • Frederick Hill – trumpet
  • Melvin Moore – trumpet
  • John Ewing – trombone
  • Michael Barone – trombone
  • Lester Robertson – trombone
  • Ernie Tack – trombone
  • Mike Melvoin – piano
  • Herb Ellis – guitar
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • John Gray – guitar
  • Ray Brown – bass
  • Jimmy Bond Jr. – bass
  • Stan Levey – drums
  • Gerald Wilson – arrangements, conductor

Track listing:

  1. The Very Thought of You – Ray Noble
  2. Fools Rush In – Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom
  3. Love Is Here to Stay – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  4. Once in a While – Michael Edwards, Bud Green
  5. Bidin’ My Time – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  6. Down in the Depths – Cole Porter
  7. Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Fats Waller, Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf
  8. Isn’t It Romantic? – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  9. Unforgettable – Irving Gordon
  10. The More I See You – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
  11. What Do I Owe Her? – Fred E. Ahlert, Benny Goodman
  12. Almost Like Being in Love – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe

Tim Buckley: Look At The Fool

Leave a comment

On September 13, 1973, “DiscReet” label released “Look at the Fool”, the ninth and final Tim Buckley studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Wally Heider” and “Record Plant” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Joe Falsia.

Personnel:

  • Tim Buckley – vocals, guitar
  • Joe Falsia – guitar, bass guitar, arrangements
  • Mike Melvoin – organ, piano, Moog synthesizer
  • Mark Tiernan – electric piano
  • Jim Fielder, Jim Hughart, Chuck Rainey – bass guitar
  • Earl Palmer – drums
  • King Errisson – congas
  • Gary Coleman – percussion
  • Terry Harrington – horn, saxophone
  • David Bluefield – clavinet 
  • Richard Nash, William Peterson, John Rotella, Anthony Terran – horn
  • Jesse Ehrlich – cello
  • Venetta Fields, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
  • Stan Agol – recording, mixing
  • Wally Heider – mixing
  • Cal Schenkel – art direction
  • Napoleon – cover illustration

Track listing:

All tracks by Tim Buckley, except where noted.

  1. Look at the Fool
  2. Bring It on Up
  3. Helpless
  4. Freeway Blues – Tim Buckley, Larry Beckett
  5. Tijuana Moon – Tim Buckley, Larry Beckett
  6. Ain’t it Peculiar
  7. Who Could Deny You
  8. Mexicali Voodoo
  9. Down in the Street
  10. Wanda Lu

Gábor Szabó And Bob Thiele: Light My Fire

Leave a comment

In February 1968, “Impulse!” label released “Light My Fire”, album Gábor Szabó and Bob Thiele (the seventh Gábor Szabó album overall). It was recorded August – September 1967, in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Gábor Szabó – guitar
  • Bob Thiele – director
  • Dennis Budimir, Louis Morell – rhythm guitar
  • Bill Plummer – sitar
  • Lincoln Mayorga – piano, harpsichord
  • Mike Melvoin – piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Max Bennett, Carol Kaye – electric bass
  • Jim Gordon, John Guerin – drums
  • Gary Coleman, Emil Richards – percussion
  • Buddy Collette, Bob Hardaway, Bud Shank – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
  • Tom Scott – tenor saxophone
  • Ollie Mitchell, Ray Triscari, Jimmy Zito, Gary Barone, Bud Brisbois – trumpet
  • Lew McCreary, Mike Barone, Dick Leith – trombone
  • Howard Johnson – tuba
  • Sid Feller – arranger
  • The California Dreamers: Ron Hicklin, Al Capps, Loren Farber, John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ian Freebairn-Smith, Sally Stevens, Sue Allen, Jackie Ward – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Gábor Szabó, except where noted.

  1. Forest Flower – Charles Lloyd
  2. Rainy Day Woman – Bob Dylan
  3. Krishna
  4. Light My Fire – Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger
  5. Fakin’ It – Paul Simon
  6. Eight Miles High – David Crosby, Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn
  7. Sophisticated Wheels

Gábor Szabó: Wind, Sky And Diamonds

Leave a comment

In February 1968, “Impulse!” label released “Wind, Sky and Diamonds”, the eight Gábor Szabó album. It was recorded in September 1967, at “Western Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Gábor Szabó – guitar, recitation
  • Dennis Budimir, Herb Ellis, Louis Morell, Howard Roberts – guitar
  • Bill Plummer – sitar
  • Mike Melvoin – piano, harpsichord
  • Carol Kaye, Ray Pohlman – electric bass
  • Jimmy Gordon, John Guerin – drums
  • Victor Feldman, Emil Richards – percussion
  • The California Dreamers: Ron Hicklin, Al Capps, Loren Farber, John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ian Freebairn-Smith, Sally Stevens, Sue Allen, Jackie Ward – vocals
  • Eddie Bracket – engineer
  • Robert and Barbara Flynn – front cover design
  • Joe Lebow – liner design
  • Jim Marshall – cover photography
  • Irv Glaser – liner photography

 Track listing:

  1. San Franciscan Nights – Eric Burdon, Vic Briggs, John Weider, Barry Jenkins, Danny McCulloch
  2. A Day in the Life – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon) – John Phillips
  4. To Sir with Love – Don Black, Mark London
  5. White Rabbit – Grace Slick
  6. Guantanamera – Joseíto Fernández
  7. Saigon Bride – Joan Baez, Nina Duscheck
  8. The End of Life – John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Gábor Szabó
  9. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  10. Are You There? – Gábor Szabó, Steve Allen
  11. W.C. Fields – John Bahler, Tom Bahler

Donovan: 7-Tease

Leave a comment

In November 1974, “Epic” label released “7-Tease”, the 14th Donovan studio album. It was recorded September – October 1974, and was produced by Norbert Putnam, Donovan Leitch and Mark Radice.

Personnel:

  • Donovan – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, harmonica
  • Reggie Young – electric guitar
  • Teddy Erwin – electric guitar
  • Johnny Christopher – rhythm guitar
  • David Briggs – keyboards, string arrangement
  • Norbert Putnam – bass guitar
  • Red Callender – bass guitar
  • Kenneth Buttrey – drums, percussion
  • Mike Melvoin – keyboards
  • Earl Palmer – drums, percussion
  • Ben Cauley, Charlie Rose, Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Ronnie Eades, Bill Puett, George Tidwell, George Bohanon, Johnny Rotella, Tony Terran – horns
  • Buffy Sainte-Marie, Byron Warner, Florence Warner, Ginger Holladay, Lea Jane Berinati, Mary Holladay – background vocals
  • Sheldon Kurland – concertmaster

Track listing:

All tracks by Donovan Leitch.

  1. Rock and Roll Souljer
  2. Your Broken Heart
  3. Salvation Stomp
  4. The Ordinary Family
  5. Ride-a-Mile
  6. Sadness
  7. Moon Rok
  8. Love of My Life
  9. The Voice of Protest
  10. How Silly
  11. The Greatest Song of the Sky
  12. The Quest

Quincy Jones: Mellow Madness

Leave a comment

In August 1975, “A&M” label released “Mellow Madness”, the twenty – fifth Quincy Jones album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Record Plant” and “Westlake Audio” and was produced by Quincy Jones.

Personnel:

  • Quincy Jones – lead and backing vocals, arranger, keyboards, trumpet
  • Toots Thielemans- guitar, harmonica
  • Minnie Riperton, Leon Ware, Jesse Kirkland, Myrna Matthews, Paulette McWilliams, Joseph Greene, Jim Gilstrap, Paulette Williams, Carolyn Willis, Watts Prophets, George Johnson – vocals
  • Wah Wah Watson, George Johnson, Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Mike Melvoin, Jerry Peters– keyboards
  • Ian Underwood– synthesizer
  • Louis Johnson, Max Bennett, Chuck Rainey– bass
  • Grady Tate, Harvey Mason– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald- conga, drums, percussion
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Ernie Krivda, Sahib Shihab– saxophone
  • Bill Lamb, Chuck Findley, Tom Bahler – trumpet
  • Frank Rosolino- trombone, trumpet
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Hubert Laws– flute
  • Jerome Richardson– wind

Track listing:

All tracks by Quincy Jones, except where noted.

  1. Is It Love That We’re Missing? – George Johnson, Debbie Smith
  2. Paranoid
  3. Mellow Madness – Tom Bahler, Al Ciner, Quincy Jones, Paulette McWilliams
  4. Beautiful Black Girl – Quincy Jones, Otis Smith
  5. Listen (What It Is)
  6. Just a Little Taste of Me
  7. My Cherie Amour – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  8. Tryin’ to Find Out About You
  9. Cry Baby
  10. Bluesette – Norman Gimbel, Toots Thielemans

The Manhattan Transfer: Coming Out

Leave a comment

On August 19, 1976, “Atlantic” label released “Coming Out”, the third Manhattan Transfer (The) album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Richard Perry.

Personnel:

  • Tim Hauser– vocals, arrangements
  • Laurel Massé– vocals, arrangements
  • Alan Paul– vocals, arrangements
  • Janis Siegel– vocals, arrangements
  • Ira Newborn– guitar, autoharp, arrangements
  • Ben Benay, Robert Bowles – guitar
  • Dave Frishberg– Clavinet, keyboards, piano
  • Paul Griffin– keyboards, organ, synthesizer
  • Dr. John– piano, keyboards
  • John Barnes, Clarence McDonald– piano
  • Arthur Jenkins– piano, arranger
  • Mike Melvoin– piano
  • Bill Payne, Roger Steinman – piano
  • Steve Paietta – accordion
  • Andy Muson – double bass, bass guitar
  • Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, David Kemper, Roy Markowitz, Jim Nelson, Rick Shlosser, Ringo Starr– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– congas, percussion
  • Nicky Marrero – percussion, timbales
  • Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez Jr– bongos, percussion
  • Bobbye Hall, Doug Thorngren – percussion
  • Michael Brecker– soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Jackie Kelso– tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Jay Migliori– tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Douglas Botnick, Lewis Hahn, Rick Rowe – engineer
  • Douglas Botnick, Lewis Hahn, Rick Rowe – engineer
  • Howard Steele – engineer, remixing
  • Dennis Devlin, Dan Latham, Tim Sadler – engineer assistant
  • Allen Zentz – mastering
  • Tim Hauser– assistant producer
  • Tim Hauser– assistant producer

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Let Go – Jesse Stone
  2. Zindy Lou – Johnny Moore, Eddie Smith
  3. Chanson D’Amour – Wayne Shanklin
  4. Helpless – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  5. Scotch and Soda – Dave Guard
  6. The Speak Up Mambo (Cuentame) – Al Castellanos
  7. Poinciana(The Song Of The Tree) Nat Simon, Buddy Bernier
  8. O.S – Ron Roker, Gerry Shury, Phil Swern
  9. Popsicle Toes – Michael Franks
  10. It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference – Todd Rundgren
  11. The Thought of Loving You – David White

Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Faryar: The Zodiac:Cosmic Sounds

Leave a comment

In May 1967, “Elektra” label released “The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds”, concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac, by Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Cyrus Faryar. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Alex Hassilev.

Personnel:

  • Cyrus Faryar– narration
  • Paul Beaver– Moog, electronic instruments
  • Mike Melvoin– keyboards
  • Carol Kaye– bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Emil Richards– exotic percussion
  • Bud Shank– bass flute

Track listing:

All music by Mort Garson, all lyrics by Jacques Wilson

  1. Aries – The Fire-Fighter
  2. Taurus – The Voluptuary
  3. Gemini – The Cool Eye
  4. Cancer – The Moon Child
  5. Leo – The Lord of Lights
  6. Virgo – The Perpetual Perfectionist
  7. Libra – The Flower Child
  8. Scorpio – The Passionate Hero
  9. Sagittarius – The Versatile Daredevil
  10. Capricorn – The Uncapricious Climber
  11. Aquarius – The Lover of Life
  12. Pisces – The Peace Piper

The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

Leave a comment

Pet Sounds

On May 16, 1966, “Capitol” label released “Pet Sounds”, the eleventh Beach Boys studio album. It was recorded July 12, 1965 – April 13, 1966, at “United Western Recorders”, “Gold Star Studios”, “CBS Columbia Square”, and “Sunset Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Brian Wilson. The album is regarded as one of the most important and influential albums in the music history. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Pet Sounds” at number two on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

The Beach Boys

  • Al Jardine– lead, harmony and backing vocals, tambourine
  • Bruce Johnston– harmony and backing vocals
  • Mike Love– lead, harmony and backing vocals
  • Brian Wilson– lead, harmony and backing vocals, dog whistles, organ, piano, sound effects
  • Carl Wilson– lead, harmony and backing vocals, guitar, twelve-string guitar
  • Dennis Wilson– harmony and backing vocals, drums
  • Glen Campbell– guitar, twelve-string electric guitar
  • Al Casey– guitar
  • Mike Deasy– guitar
  • Bill Pittman– guitar
  • Tommy Tedesco– acoustic guitar
  • Barney Kessel– guitar, mandolin
  • Billy Strange– electric guitar, guitar, twelve-string electric guitar
  • Jerry Cole– electric guitar, guitar, mandolin
  • Terry Melcher– tambourine
  • Ron Swallow– tambourine
  • Don Randi– piano
  • Al De Lory– harpsichord, organ, piano, tack piano
  • Tony Asher– plucked piano, strings
  • Carl Fortina– accordion
  • Frank Marocco– accordion
  • Tommy Morgan– harmonica
  • Larry Knechtel– organ
  • Ray Pohlman– Danelectro bass, electric bass, mandolin, guitar
  • Carole Kaye– electric bass
  • Lyle Ritz– string bass, ukulele
  • Chuck Berghofer– string bass
  • Hal Blaine– bongos, drums, tympani
  • Ritchie Frost– drums, empty Coca-Cola cans, percussion
  • Nick Martinis– drums
  • Gary Coleman – bongos, tympani
  • Julius Wechter– tympani, latin percussion, percussion, vibraphone
  • Jerry Williams– percussion
  • Frank Capp– bells, glockenspiel, latin percussion, percussion, tympani, vibraphone
  • Jim Gordon– drums, percussion
  • Paul Tanner– theremin
  • Bill Green– flute, percussion, saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • Leonard Hartman– bass clarinet, clarinet, English horn
  • Jim Horn– baritone saxophone, flute, tenor saxophone, saxophone
  • Jay Migliori– baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute, saxophone
  • Steve Douglas– clarinet, flute, percussion, tenor saxophone, saxophone
  • Paul Horn– tenor saxophone
  • Bobby Klein– tenor saxophone
  • Jack Nimitz– baritone saxophone
  • Roy Caton– trumpet
  • Gail Martin– trombone
  • Ernie Tack– bass trombone
  • Alan Robinson – French horn
  • Jules Jacob– flute
  • Plas Johnson– flute, percussion, saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • James Getzoff– violin
  • William Kurasch– violin
  • Leonard Malarsky– violin
  • Arnold Belnick– violin
  • Jerome Reisler– violin
  • Tibor Zelig– violin
  • Ralph Schaeffer– violin
  • Sid Sharp– violin
  • Norman Botnick– viola
  • Harry Hyams– viola
  • Joseph DiFiore– viola
  • Darrel Terwilliger– viola
  • Justin DiTullio– cello
  • Jesse Erlich– cello
  • Joseph Saxon– cello
  • Mike Melvoin– harpsichord
  • “Tony” – sleigh bell

Track listing

All tracks by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher except where noted.

  1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
  2. You Still Believe in Me
  3. That’s Not Me
  4. Don’t Talk
  5. I’m Waiting for the Day – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  6. Let’s Go Away for Awhile – Brian Wilson
  7. Sloop John B – trad. arr. Brian Wilson
  8. God Only Knows
  9. I Know There’s an Answer – Brian Wilson, Terry Sachen, Mike Love
  10. Here Today
  11. I Just Wasnt Made for These Times
  12. Pet Sounds – Brian Wilson
  13. Caroline, No