Tag Archives: Motown Recording Studios

Smokey Robinson: Being With You

On February 17, 1981, “Motown” label released “Being with You”, the ninth Smokey Robinson album. It was recorded November – January 1981, at “Studio Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, “Motown Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by George Tobin, Mike Piccirillo and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead and backing vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards, arrangements
  • Ronnie Rancifer – keyboards
  • Bill Cuomo – keyboards
  • Mike Piccirillo – synthesizers, organ, guitars, additional keyboards, percussion, steel drums, associate producer
  • Scott Edwards – bass
  • Robert “Pops” Popwell – bass
  • Ed Greene – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Scotty Harris – drums
  • Howard Lee Wolen – percussion
  • Mark Wolfson – percussion
  • Joel Peskin – saxophones
  • Harry Kim – trumpet
  • David Strout – trombone
  • George Tobin – arrangements
  • Ivory Davis – backing vocals
  • Patricia Henley – backing vocals
  • Robert John – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Julia Waters Tillman – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals
  • Michael Lizzio – engineer, mixing
  • Howard Lee Wolen, Mark Wolfson – engineer
  • Richie Griffin, Ginny Pallante – engineer assistant
  • George Tobin – mixing
  • John Lemay – mastering
  • Johnny Lee – art direction
  • Ginny Livingston – design
  • Gary Heery – photography
  • Lisa Marie – production coordinator
  • Randy Dunlap, Barbara Ramsey – project manager

Track listing:

All tracks by Smokey Robinson, except where noted.

  1. Being With You
  2. Food For Thought
  3. If You Wanna Make Love (Come ‘Round Here)
  4. Who’s Sad – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  5. Can’t Fight Love – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  6. You Are Forever
  7. As You Do – Peter Kingsbery
  8. I Hear The Children Singing – Forest Hairston

David Ruffin: Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay

In December 1974, “Motown” label released “Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay”, the fifth David Ruffin album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Whitfield and Mark Davis.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals
  • Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, Johnny McGhee, Melvin Ragin – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Mark Davis – keyboards
  • Henry Davis, Ron Brown – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Ed Greene, James Gadson – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown, Stephanie Spruill – percussion
  • Mykal Moore – saxophone
  • Freddy Dunn, Kenny Copeland – trumpet
  • Carolyn Willis, Jessie Kirkland, Joe Greene, Julia Waters, Lisa Roberts, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I Saw You When You Met Her – Norman Whitfield
  2. Take Me Clear from Here – Vincent DiMirco
  3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay – Norman Whitfield
  5. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  6. No Matter Where – Clarence Drayton, Tamy Smith
  7. City Stars – Charles Higgins Jr, Dobie Gray
  8. I Just Want to Celebrate – Dino Fekaris, Nick Zesses

Doug Sahm: Texas Tornado

In December 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Texas Tornado”, the second Doug Sahm studio album. It was recorded in October 1972, at “Atlantic Studios” and “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Doug Sahm.

Personnel:

  • Doug Sahm – vocals, guitar, bajo sexto, fiddle, electric piano, arrangements
  • Atwood Allen – acoustic guitar, harmony
  • Frank Paredes – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Luis Ortéga – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Owens – steel guitar
  • Andy Statman – mandolin
  • Mike Nock – electric piano
  • George Stubbs – electric piano
  • Flaco Jiménez – accordion
  • Augie Meyers – Vox Continental
  • Dr. John – piano, organ
  • Jack Barber – bass
  • Steve Vargas – bass
  • George Rains – drums
  • Pancho Morales – percussion
  • Warren Chiasson – vibraphone
  • David Bromberg – dobro
  • Kenny Kosek – fiddle
  • Rocky Morales – tenor saxophone
  • David “Fathead” Newman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Martin Fierro – tenor saxophone
  • Mel Martin – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson – trumpet
  • Jack Wilmoth – trumpet
  • Charley MacBirney – trumpet
  • Neil Rosengarden – flugelhorn
  • Jimmy Douglass – engineer
  • Ken Hopkins – engineer, mixing
  • Dan Healy – mixing
  • Lew Hahn – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Doug Sahm.

  1. San Francisco FM Blues
  2. Someday
  3. Blue Horizon
  4. Tennessee Blues
  5. Ain’t That Loving You
  6. Texas Tornado
  7. Jaun Mendoza
  8. Chicano
  9. I’ll Be There
  10. Hard Way
  11. Nitty Gritty

The Commodores: Midnight Magic

In July 1979, “Motown” label released “Midnight Magic”, the seventh Commodores (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Motown Recording Studios” and “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by James Anthony Carmichael, Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, William King and Walter Orange.

Personnel:

  • Lionel Richie– vocals, piano, keyboards, saxophone
  • Thomas McClary– vocals, guitar
  • Milan Williams– keyboards
  • Ronald LaPread – bass guitar
  • William King– trumpet
  • Walter Orange – vocals, drums

Track listing:

  1. Gettin’ It – David Cochrane, Walter Orange
  2. Midnight Magic – Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie
  3. You’re Special – William King, Harold Hudson
  4. Still – Lionel Richie
  5. Wonderland – Milan Williams
  6. Sexy Lady – Thomas McClary
  7. Lovin’ You – Ronald LaPread
  8. Sail On – Lionel Richie
  9. 12:01 A.M. (reprise) – Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie

Commodores: Hot On The Tracks

In June 1976, “Motown” label released “Hot on the Tracks”, the fourth Commodores album. It was recorded in 1976, “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by James Anthony Carmichael,  Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, William King and Walter Orange.

Personnel:

  • Lionel Richie– vocals, saxophone, keyboards
  • Thomas McClary – vocals, guitar
  • Milan Williams– keyboards
  • Ronald LaPread – bass guitar
  • Walter Orange – vocals, drums, percussion
  • William King– trumpet

Track listing:

  1. Let’s Get Started – Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Ronald La Pread, Thomas McClary, William King
  2. Girl, I Think the World About You – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  3. High On Sunshine – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  4. Just to Be Close to You – Lionel Richie
  5. Fancy Dancer – Lionel Richie, Ronald La Pread
  6. Come Inside – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  7. Thumpin’ Music – William King
  8. Captain Quickdraw – Milan Williams
  9. Can’t Let You Tease Me – Walter Orange

Commmodores: Machine Gun

Commodores_-_Machine_Gun

On July 22, 1974, “Motown” label released “Machine Gun”, the debut Commodores studio album. It was recorded 1972 – 1974, at “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by James Anthony Carmichael, Lionel Ritchie, Ronald LaPread, William King, Walter Orange, Thomas McClary and Milan Williams.

Personnel:

  • Lionel Richie- vocals, saxophone, keyboards
  • Thomas McClary – vocals, guitar
  • Milan Williams- guitar, keyboards
  • Ronald LaPread – bass guitar
  • Walter Orange – vocals, drums, percussion
  • William King – trumpet, percussion

Track listing:

  1. Machine Gun – Milan Williams
  2. Young Girls are My Weakness  -William King, Ronald LaPread
  3. I Feel Sanctified – Lionel Richie, Jeffrey Bowen, Ronald LaPread, Walter Orange, Milan Williams, Thomas McClary
  4. The Bump – Milan Williams
  5. Rapid Fire – Milan Williams
  6. The Assembly Line – Gloria Jones,Pam Sawyer
  7. The Zoo (The Human Zoo) – Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer
  8. Gonna Blow Your Mind – Thomas McClary, Walter Orange, Milan Williams
  9. There’s a Song in My Heart – Lionel Richie
  10. Superman – Lionel Richie