Tag Archives: Neil Diamond

Gene Ammons: Got My Own

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In December 1972, “Prestige” label released “Got My Own”, the 35th Gene Ammons album. It was recorded October – November 1972, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Ozzie Cadena.

Personnel:

  • Gene Ammons – tenor saxophone
  • Ernie Hayes – organ
  • Hank Jones – electric piano
  • Sonny Phillips – piano, organ
  • Joe Beck, Maynard Parker – guitar
  • Ron Carter – bass, electric bass
  • Billy Cobham, Idris Muhammad, Mickey Roker – drums
  • Ed Bogas – arranger
  • Unidentified strings
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Lady Sings the Blues – Billie Holiday, Herbie Nichols
  2. God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog, Jr.
  3. Strange Fruit – Abel Meeropol
  4. Fine and Mellow – Billie Holiday
  5. Play Me – Neil Diamond
  6. Ben – Don Black, Walter Scharf
  7. The Shack Out Back – Gene Ammons

Neil Diamond: Tap Root Manuscript

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On October 15, 1970, “Uni” label released “Tap Root Manuscript”, the sixth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Tom Catalano and Neil Diamond.

Personnel:

  • Neil Diamond – vocals, keyboards, guitar, steel guitar, ukulele
  • Al Casey, David Bennett Cohen, Neil LeVang, Don Peake, Louis Shelton – guitar
  • Red Rhodes – steel guitar
  • Artie Butler, Larry Knechtel, Larry Muhoberac, Marty Paich, Don Randi – keyboards
  • Randy Cierley, Joe Osborn, Ray Pohlman – bass
  • Hal Blaine, Larry Bunker, Sandra Crouch, Earl Palmer – drums
  • Gary Coleman, Gene Estes, Emil Richards, Lee Shamburger – percussion
  • Joe Estren, Andrea Kostelas, Ronnie Lang, Don Menza, Jay Migliori, Tom Scott – saxophone
  • Shirley Marcus, George Poole, Henry Sigismonti – woodwinds
  • Harry Betts, Roger Bobo, Bud Brisbois, Roy Caton, Paul Hubinon, Dick Hyde, Oliver Mitchell, George Roberts, Tony Terran – horns
  • Jim Arkatov, Israel Baker, Benjamin Barrett, Paul Bergstrom, Harry Bluestone, David Burk, Assa Drori, Jesse Ehrlich, James Getzoff, Lee Holdridge, Armand Kaproff, Jan R. Kelley, Ray Kelley, Lou Klaes, Erno Neufeld, Harvey Newmark, Gareth Nuttycombe, Nathaniel Rosen, Nathan Ross, Henry Roth, Myron Sandler, Joseph Saxon, Sidney Sharp, Jack Shulman, Paul Shure – strings
  • Nancy Adams, Sherrill Atwood, Billie Barnum, H.B. Barnum Jr., Mabel Bishop, George Bledsoe, Fred Burton, Merry Clayton, Marjorie Cranford, Oma Drake, Sean Engerman, Joe Greene, Alexander Hale, Christopher Hale, Graynston Hale, Molly Halloran, Gwen Johnson, Lou Johnson, Stacey Johnson, Clydie King, Jessie Kirkland, Bill Lee, Sherlie Matthews, Evelyn Meyer, Dwayne Moody, Matthews Muhoberac, Ekundayo Paris, Kevin Parker, Aubrey Porter, Dean Porter, Ricky Porter, Douglas Schwartz, Jean Sewell, Ed Wallace, Phillip Whigham, John Woodson, Donald Wyatt – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond, except where noted.

  1. Cracklin’ Rosie
  2. Free Life
  3. Coldwater Morning
  4. Done Too Soon
  5. He Ain’t Heavy, He Is My Brother – Bob Russell, Bobby Scott
  6. Childsong
  7. I Am the Lion
  8. Madrigal
  9. Soolaimon
  10. Missa
  11. African Suite
  12. Childsong (reprise)

The Vogues: Five O’ Clock World

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In January 1966, “Co & Ce” label released “Five O’ Clock World”, the second album Vogues (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1965, at “Getaway Recordings Inc.” in Pitsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Dick Glasser and James Stroud.

Personnel:

  • Bill Burkette – lead baritone
  • Don Miller – baritone
  • Hugh Geyer – first tenor
  • Chuck Blasko – second tenor
  • Louis Lombardi – engineer
  • Bob Hoylman – design
  • Jack Mahoney Photo Associates – cover photography
  • Herbert S. Cohen – liner notes, executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Five O’ Clock World – Allen Reynolds
  2. Goodnight My Love – George Motola, John Matascalo
  3. Sunday and Me – Neil Diamond
  4. Everyone’s Gone to the Moon – Jonathan King
  5. Let’s Hang On – Sandy Linzer, Denny Randell, Bib Crewe
  6. A Thousand Miles Away – James Sheppard, William H. Miller
  7. One More Sunrise – Peter Mosser, Noel Sherman
  8. Over and Over Again – Ben Weisman, Al Weisman
  9. Make the World Go Away – Hank Cochran
  10. Run Baby Run – Joe Melson, Don Gant
  11. My Troubles Are Not at the End – Curtis Williams
  12. Humpty Dumpty – Herbert Cohen, E. Rostelli

Neil Diamond: Three Chord Opera

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On July 24, 2001, “Columbia” label released “Three Chord Opera”, the twenty-fifth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded 2000 – 2001, at “Arch Angel Studios” in Los Angeles, “Sony Pictures Studios” in Culver City, California, and was produced by Peter Asher and Alan Lindgren.

Personnel:

  • Neil Diamond – lead vocals
  • Hadley Hockensmith – acoustic and electric guitar, 12-string guitar
  • Doug Rhone – acoustic and electric guitar, tiple 
  • Michael Thompson – electric guitar
  • Jaydee Manes – pedal steel guitar
  • Alan Lindgren – piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, drums, percussion, programming, arrangements, conductor
  • Tom Hensley – piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Dominic Ordinaire – accordion
  • Reinie Press – bass
  • Chuck Domanico – bass
  • Ron Tutt – drums
  • Russ Kunkel – drums
  • Peter Asher – percussion, autoharp, backing vocals, programming
  • Vince Charles – percussion, tambourine, steel drums, congas, marimba
  • Everette Harp – tenor saxophone
  • Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone
  • Norbert Satchel – tenor saxophone
  • Larry Klimas – tenor saxophone
  • Don Markese – baritone saxophone, clarinet
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Daniel Fornero – trumpet
  • Ralf Rickert – trumpet
  • Greg Adams – trumpet, horn arrangements
  • Adolfo Acosta – trumpet
  • Michael Bogart – trumpet, trombone
  • Assa Drori – concertmaster, violin
  • Evan Wilson – violin
  • Shari Zippert – violin
  • Susie Katayama – cello
  • Linda Press – harmony vocals
  • Colin Mitchell – backing vocals
  • Wendy Worth – backing vocals
  • Alvin Chea – backing vocals
  • Craig Copeland – backing vocals
  • Randy Crenshaw – backing vocals
  • Robert Joyce – backing vocals
  • Luana Jackman – chorus master, vocal contractor
  • Marc Mann – backing vocals, programming, sequencing
  • Jeff Turzo – additional programming
  • Bernie Becker – recording, mixing, mastering
  • Colin Mitchell – recording assistant
  • Alan Mason – mixing assistant
  • Gabrielle Raumberger – art direction
  • Samantha Ahdoot – design
  • Rocky Schenck – photography
  • Ivy Skoff – production coordination
  • Sam Cole – album coordination

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond.

  1. I Haven’t Played This Song in Years
  2. Don’t Look Down
  3. I Believe in Happy Endings
  4. At the Movies
  5. Midnight Dream
  6. You Are the Best Part of Me
  7. Baby Let’s Drive
  8. My Special Someone
  9. A Mission of Love
  10. Elijah’s Song
  11. Leave a Little Room for God
  12. Turn Down the Lights

Elvis Presley: From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

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On October 14, 1969, “RCA Victor” label released “From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis”, the eleventh studio and the second live Elvis Presley album. It was released as a double album: the first album, titled In “Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada”, contains the live recordings of Presley’s hits recorded at the International Hotel in Winchester, Nevada; the second album, titled “Back in Memphis”, contains entirely new material recorded at “American Sound Studio” in Memphis. The live album was produced by Felton Jarvis, and the studio album was produced by Chips Moman.

Personnel:

Elvis in Person at the International Hotel

  • Elvis Presley – lead and overdubbed backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Bobby Morris and his Orchestra – orchestra
  • James Burton – lead guitar
  • John Wilkinson − rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Hodge − acoustic rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Larry Muhoberac − keyboards
  • Jerry Scheff – bass
  • Ronnie Tutt − drums
  • Millie Kirkham − backing vocals
  • The Imperials − backing vocals
  • The Sweet Inspirations − backing vocals

Back in Memphis

  • Elvis Presley − vocals, guitar, piano
  • Reggie Young − electric guitar
  • Bobby Wood − piano
  • Bobby Emmons − organ
  • Ed Kollis − harmonica
  • Tommy Cogbill, Mike Leech – bass
  • Gene Chrisman – drums
  • Andrew Love, Jackie Thomas, Glen Spreen, J.P. Luper − saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson, Dick Steff, R. F. Taylor − trumpet
  • Ed Logan, Jack Hale, Gerald Richardson − trombone
  • Tony Cason, Joe D’Gerolamo − French horn
  • Glen Spreen − strings and horn arrangements
  • Joe Babcock, Dolores Edgin, Mary Greene, Charlie Hodge, Ginger Holladay, Mary Holladay, Millie Kirkham, Ronnie Milsap, Sonja Montgomery, June Page, Susan Pilkington, Sandy Posey, Donna Thatcher, Hurschel Wiginton − backing vocals

Track listing:

Elvis in Person at the International Hotel

  1. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
  2. Johnny B. Good – Chuck Berry
  3. All Shook Up – Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley
  4. Are You Lonesome Tonight – Lou Handman, Roy Turk
  5. Hound Dog – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
  6. I Can’t Stop Loving You – Don Gibson
  7. My Babe – Willie Dixon
  8. Mystery Train/Tiger Man – Junior Parker, Sam Phillips, Joe Hill Louis, Sam Burns
  9. Words – Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb
  10. In the Ghetto – Mac Davis
  11. Suspicious Minds – Mark James
  12. Can’t Help Falling in Love – George Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore

Back in Memphis

  1. Inherit the Wind – Eddie Rabbitt
  2. This Is the Story – Chris Arnold, David Martin, Geoff Morrow
  3. Stranger in My Own Home Town – Percy Mayfield
  4. A little Bit of Green – Chris Arnold, David Martin, Geoff Morrow
  5. And the Grass Won’t Pay You No Mind – Neil Diamond
  6. Do You Know Who I Am? – Bobby Russell
  7. From a Jack to a King – Ned Miller
  8. The Fair’s Moving On – Guy Fletcher, Doug Flett
  9. You’ll Think of Me – Mort Shuman
  10. Without Love (There Is Nothing) – Danny Small

Neil Diamond: Serenade

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On September 27, 1974, “Columbia” label released “Serenade”, the ninth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded in 1974, and was produced by Tom Catalano.

Personnel:

  • Neil Diamond – vocals
  • Richard Bennett – guitar
  • Alan Lindgren, David Paich – keyboards
  • Emory Gordy, Jr. – bass guitar
  • Dennis St. John – drums
  • Jimmie Haskell – arranger, conductor

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond.

  1. I’ve Been This Way Before
  2. Rosemary’s Wine
  3. Lady Magdelene
  4. The Last Picasso
  5. Longfellow Serenade
  6. Yes I Will
  7. Reggae Strut
  8. The Gift of Song

Michael Lang

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On August 5, 2022, Michael Anthony Lang died aged 80. He was musician (piano, keyboards, organ, synthesizer) and composer, recorded more than 2500 film scores, and worked with some of the biggest names of modern music such as Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Vince Gill, Milt Jackson, Lee Konitz, Diana Krall, Arturo Sandoval, Josh Groban, Frank Zappa, Lee Ritenour, Oliver Nelson, Bud Shank, Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand, Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Peggy Lee, Vanessa Williams, Jose Feliciano, Bette Midler, Russell Watson, Michael Bolton, Don Ellis, Robbie Williams, Paul Anka, Sarah Vaughan, Amy Grant, Willie Nelson, Natalie Cole, Dusty Springfield, Melissa Manchester, Neil Diamond, Shelly Manne and Stan Kenton.  

Neil Diamond: Beautiful Noise

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On June 11, 1976, “Columbia” label released “Beautiful Noise”, the tenth Neil Diamond album. It was recorded 1975 – 1976, at “Shangri La Studio”, “Kendun Recorders” and “Village Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Robbie Robertson.

Personnel:

  • Neil Diamond – vocals, acoustic and rhythm guitar, dobro
  • Robbie Robertson – guitar
  • Richard Bennett – guitar 
  • Jesse Ed Davis – guitar
  • Larry Knechtel – piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Alan Lindgren – piano, synthesizer
  • David Paich – Fender Rhodes, piano
  • Garth Hudson – Hammond organ, Lowrey organ
  • James Newton Howard – ARP, synthesizer
  • Dr. John – Hammond organ
  • Bob James – piano, arrangement, Fender Rhodes
  • Tommy Morgan – harmonica
  • Bob Boucher – bass guitar, ARP
  • Dennis St. John – drums, percussion
  • Jim Keltner – drums
  • Russ Kunkel – drums
  • Jim Gordon – drums, congas, harmony vocals
  • Joe Lala – percussion, tambourine, congas
  • Bob Findley – trumpet
  • Jerome Richardson – flute, clarinet
  • Linda Press – backing vocals
  • Nick DeCaro – arrangements, accordion

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond, except where noted.

  1. Beautiful Noise
  2. Stargazer
  3. Lady Oh
  4. Don’t Think…Feel
  5. Surviving the Life
  6. If You Know What I Mean
  7. Street Life
  8. Home Is a Wounded Heart
  9. Jungletime
  10. Signs
  11. Dry Your Eyes – Neil Diamond, Robbie Robertson

Neil Diamond: Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show

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On April 4, 1969, “Uni” label released “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show”, the fourth Neil Diamond album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Tom Catalano, Chips Moman, Tommy Cogbill and Neil Diamond.

Personnel:

  • Neil Diamond – vocal
  • Gene Brownell – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond.

  1. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
  2. Dig In
  3. River Runs, Newgrown Plums
  4. Juliet
  5. Long Gone
  6. And the Grass Won’t Paid No Mind
  7. Glory Road
  8. Deep in the Morning
  9. If I Never Knew Your Name
  10. Memphis Streets
  11. You’re So Sweet, Horseflies Keep Hangin’ Round Your Face
  12. Hurtin’ You Don’t Come Easy