Tag Archives: New York City

Johnny Griffin: The Little Giant

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In December 1959, “Riverside” label released “The Little Giant”, the seventh Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in August 1959, at “Reeves Sound Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet
  • Julian Priester – trombone
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Albert “Tootie” Heath – drums
  • Jack Higgins – engineer
  • Jack Matthews – mastering
  • Paul Bacon – cover
  • Charles Stewart – cover
  • Lawrence N. Shustak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Olive Refractions – Norman Simmons
  2. The Message – Norman Simmons
  3. Lonely One – Babs Gonzales
  4. 63rd Street Theme – Johnny Griffin
  5. Playmates – Saxie Dowell
  6. Venus and the Moon – Norman Simmons

Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers: Hard Drive

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In December 1957, “Bethlehem” label released “Hard Drive”, the ninth Art Blakey with The Jazz Messengers album. It was recorded in October 1957, in New York City, and was produced by Lee Kratf.

Personnel:

  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Junior Mance, Sam Dockery – piano
  • Spanky DeBrest – bass
  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Bill Hardman – trumpet

Track listing:

  1. For Minors Only – Jimmy Heath
  2. Right Down Front – Johnny Griffin
  3. Deo-X – Bill Hardman
  4. Sweet Sakeena – Bill Hardman
  5. For Miles and Miles – Jimmy Heath
  6. Krafty – Johnny Griffin
  7. Late Spring – Leon Mitchell

Thom Bell

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On December 22, 2022, Thomas Randolph Bell died aged79. He was producer, arranger and songwriter, regarded as one of the creators of the Philadelphia soul in the 70’. As songwriter, arranger and producer he worked with Hattie Winston, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners, New York City, Elton John, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Denice Williams, Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Bell, Dionne Warwick, The O’Jays, Dusty Springfield.  and James Ingram. In 2016, Bell was inducted into the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and into the ”Musicians Hall of Fame”.

Ted Curson: Jubilant Power

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In December 1976, “Inner City” label released “Jubilant Power”, the eleventh Ted Curson album. It was recorded in October 1976, the live recordings were made at “Rittenhouse Square” in Philadelphia and the studio recordings were made at “Downtown Sound Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Irv Kratka.

Personnel:

  • Ted Curson – trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet, cowbells
  • Chris Woods – flute, alto saxophone
  • Nick Brignola – baritone saxophone, saxello
  • Andy LaVerne – piano 
  • Jim McNeely – piano
  • David Friesen – bass
  • Steve McCall -drums
  • Bob Merigliano – drums
  • Sam Jacobs – congas

Track listing:

All tracks by Ted Curson.

  1. Reava’s Waltz
  2. Ted’s Tempo
  3. Song of the Lonely
  4. Airi’s Tune
  5. Searchin’ for the Blues
  6. Marjo

Ronnie Foster: Sweet Revival

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In December 1972, “Blue Note” label released “Sweet Revival”, the second Ronnie Foster studio album. It was recorded in December 1972, at “Generation Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Horace Ott.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie Foster – organ
  • David Spinozza, John Tropea – electric guitar
  • Wilbur Bascomb Jr. – electric bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Ernie Hayes – electric piano
  • Garnett Brown – trombone
  • Seldon Powell – tenor saxophone
  • Horace Ott – arranger, conductor

Track listing:

All tracks by Ronnie Foster, except where noted.

  1. Sweet Revival – Joe Sample
  2. Lisa’s Love
  3. Back Stabbers – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  4. Me and Mrs. Jones – Kenny Hamble, Cary Gilbert, Leon Huff
  5. Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
  6. Where Is the Love – Ralph McDonald, William Salter
  7. Some Neck
  8. It’s Just Gotta Be That Way – Wayne Henderson
  9. Superwoman – Stevie Wonder
  10. Inot

Waylon Jennings: Jewels

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In December 1968, “RCA Victor” label released “Jewels”, the tenth Waylon Jennings album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Chet Atkins.

Personnel:

  • Waylon Jennings – vocals, guitar

Track listing:

  1. New York City, RFD – Larry Collins, Alice Joy
  2. Today I Started Loving You Again – Merle Haggard, Bonnie Owens
  3. Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
  4. If You Were Mine to Lose – Mickey Jaco
  5. See You Around (On Your Way Down) – Harlan Howard
  6. Six Strings Away – Waylon Jennings
  7. Yours Love – Harlan Howard
  8. How Much Rain Can One Man Stand – Dallas Frazier
  9. Mental Revenge – Mel Tillis
  10. I’m Doing This for You – Hank Cochran
  11. You Love the Ground I Walk On – Harlan Howard, Don McHan
  12. My Ramona – Merle Haggard

Tim Burges: Ascent of the Ascended

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On November 27, 2020, “Bella Union” label released “Ascent of the Ascended”, the first Tim Burgess EP. It was recorded in 2020, and was produced by Daniel O’Sullivan.

Personnel:

  • Tim Burgess – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Daniel O’Sullivan – acoustic and electric guitar, bass, piano, organ, variophon, backing vocals, arranger
  • Rose Keeler-Schäffeler – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Mark Collins – slide guitar
  • Peter Broderick – piano, violin, drums
  • Thighpaulsandra – synth, recording, mixing
  • Christos Fanaras – bass
  • Charles Hayward – drums
  • Richard Youngs – flute, backing vocals
  • Nik Void – backing vocal, design
  • Bob Mallory – recording, mixing
  • Frank Byng – recording
  • Cat Stevens – photography
  • Ally Dawkins – executive producer

Track listing:

Studio side – recorded at “Snorkel Studios” in London, and “Aerial Studios” in Wrexham, UK.

  1. Ascent of the Ascended – Tim Burgess
  2. Yours. To Be – Tim Burgess
  3. Ascent of the Ascended (reprise) – Tim Burgess

Live side – recorded at “Paste Studios” in New York City

  1. Laurie – Tim Burgess
  2. The Mall – Tim Burgess
  3. The Only One I Know – Tim Burgess, Jon Baker, Jon Brookes, Martin Blunt, Rob Collins
  4. Undertow – Tim Burgess

Nina Simone: Broadway – Blues Ballads

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In November 1964, “Philips” label released “Broadway-Blues-Ballads”, the eleventh Nina Simone album. It was recorded in 1964, in New York City, and was produced by Hal Mooney.

Personnel:

  • Nina Simone – vocals, piano, arranger
  • Bobby Hamilton – drums
  • Lisle Atkinson – percussion
  • Rudy Stevenson – flute
  • Horace Ott – arranger, conductor
  • Hal Mooney – arranger, conductor

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus
  2. Night Song – Lee Adams, Charles Strouse
  3. The Laziest Gal in Town – Cole Porter
  4. Something Wonderful – Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
  5. Don’t Take All Night – Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus
  6. Nobody – Alex Rogers, Bert Williams
  7. I Am Blessed – Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus
  8. Of This I’m Sure – Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus
  9. See-Line Woman – traditional, George Bass, Nina Simone
  10. Our Love (Will See Us Through) – Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus
  11. How Can I? – Bennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus
  12. The Last Rose of Summer – Thomas Moore, Richard Alfred Milliken, Nina Simone

The J. Geils Band: Same

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On November 16, 1970, “Atlantic” label released the self-title, debut J. Geils Band (The) album. It was recorded in August 1970, at “A&R Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Dave Crawford and Brad Shapiro.

Personnel:

  • Peter Wolf – lead vocals
  • J. Geils – guitar
  • Seth Justman – piano, organ
  • Magic Dick – harmonica
  • Danny Klein – bass
  • Stephen Jo Bladd – drums, backing vocals
  • Jay Messina, Geoffrey Haslam – engineer
  • Lloyd Ziff – design
  • Stephen Paley – photography
  • Fred Lewis – special assistance

Track listing:

  1. Wait – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
  2. Ice Breaker (For the Big M) – J. Geils
  3. Cruisin’ for Love – Juke Joint Jimmy (Juke Joint Jimmy is a pseudonym used by The J. Geils Band for group compositions
  4. Hard Drivin’ Man – Peter Wolf, J. Geils
  5. Serves You Right to Suffer – John Lee Hooker
  6. Homework – Otis Rush, Al Perkins, Dave Clark
  7. First I Look at the Purse – Robert Rogers, Smokey Robinson
  8. What You Hurry – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
  9. On Borrowed Time – Peter Wolf, Set Justman
  10. Pack Fair and Square – Big Walter Price
  11. Sho-Cone – Albert Collins

Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M

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On November 7, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “The Divine Miss M”, the debut Bette Midler studio album. It was recorded 1971 – 1972, at “Atlantic Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Ahmet Ertegun, Barry Manilow. Geoffrey Haslam and Joel Dorn. The album was certified Platinum in US and Canada.

Personnel:

  • Bette Midler – lead vocals
  • Dickie Frank – guitar
  • David Spinozza – guitars
  • Don Arnone – guitar
  • Dick Hyman – piano
  • Barry Manilow – piano
  • Pat Rebillot – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass guitar
  • Michael Federal – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • Ted Sommer – drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • Kevin Ellman – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion instruments
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Tender Loving Care (Renelle Broxton, Diedre Tuck, Beverly McKenzie) – backing vocals
  • Gail Kantor – backing vocals
  • Melissa Manchester – backing vocals
  • Merle Miller – backing vocals
  • Gene Orloff – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Selwart Clarke – viola
  • Kermit Moore – cello
  • Thom Bell – horn and string arrangements
  • Barry Manilow – arranger, conductor
  • William S. Fischer – string arrangement
  • Marty Nelson – vocal arranger
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements
  • Lew Hahn – engineer
  • Richard Amsel – illustration
  • Richard Mantel – art direction, design
  • Kenn Duncan – photography
  • Geoffrey Haslam, Lew Hahn, Bob Liftin – remix

Track listing:

  1. Do You Want to Dance – Bobby Freeman
  2. Chapel of Love – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  3. Superstar – Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell
  4. Daytime Hustler – Jeff Kent
  5. Am I Blue – Harry Akst, Grant Clarke
  6. Friends (Session 1) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart
  7. Hello in There – John Prine
  8. Leader of the Pack – George Morton, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
  9. Delta Dawn – Larry Collins, Alex Harvey
  10. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – Don Raye, Hughie Prince
  11. Friends (Session 2) – Mark Klingman, Buzzy Linhart