Tag Archives: Norman Harris

Laura Nyro: Gonna Take A Miracle

Leave a comment

On November 17, 1971, “Columbia” label released “Gonna Take a Miracle”, the fifth Laura Nyro studio album. It was recorded May – June 1971, at “Sigma Sound” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Personnel:

  • Laura Nyro – vocals, piano
  • Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash – vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Ronnie Baker – bass
  • Jim Helmer – drums
  • Vincent Montana Jr. – percussion
  • Larry Washington – bongos
  • Nydia “Liberty” Mata – congas
  • Bobby Martin, Lenny Pakula, Thom Bell – string and horn arrangements
  • Tim Geelan – engineer
  • Gary Burden – art direction, design
  • Stephen Paley – front cover photography

Track listing:

  1. I Met Him on a Sunday – Doris Jackson, Addie Harris McPherson, Beverly Lee, Shirley Alston Reeves
  2. The Bells – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Iris Gordy, Elgie Stover
  3. Monkey Time/Dancing in the Street – Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  4. Désiree – L.Z. Cooper, Danny Johnson
  5. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
  6. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
  7. Jimmy Mack – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  8. The Wind – Devora Brown, Bob Edwards, Nolan Strong
  9. Nowhere to Run – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  10. It’s Gonna Take a Miracle – Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Lou Stallman

The Delfonics: La La Means I Love You

Leave a comment

On May 14, 1968, “Philly Groove Records” label released “La La Means I Love You”, the debut Delfonics (The) album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Stan Watson and Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Wilbert Hart – vocal
  • William Hart – vocal
  • Randy Cain – vocal
  • Norman Harris – guitar
  • Robert DiNardo – guitar
  • Cliff Jackson – piano
  • Ron Baker – bass
  • Vincent Montana Jr, – percussion
  • George Harper – saxophone
  • Anthony Sinagoga, Carter Daviel, Dane Coll, Dave Barnett, Don Renalde, Floyd Snyder, Igor Seyrvec, Joseph Delengllis, Renard Edwards, Ralph Malizia – strings
  • Thom Bell – conductor, arrangements
  • Joe Tarsia – engineer
  • Forlenza Venosa Associates – design

Track listing:

  1. I’m Sorry – Thom Bell, William Hart
  2. Break Your Promise – Thom Bell, William Hart
  3. The Shadow of Your Smile – Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster
  4. Hurt So Bad – Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Hart, Bobby Weinstein
  5. Losing You – Thom Bell, William Hart
  6. Alfie – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  7. La La (Means I Love You) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  8. You’re Gone – Thom Bell, William Hart
  9. The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  10.  Can You Remember – Thom Bell, William Hart
  11. A Lover’s Concerto – Sandy Linzer, Denny Rendell

The Trammps: The Trammps III

Leave a comment

On November 10, 1977, “Atlantic” label released “The Trammps III”, the fifth Trammps (The) album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Norman Harris, Ron Kersey and Ron Baker.

Personnel:

  • Jimmy Ellis – lead vocal
  • Robert Upchurch – vocal
  • Harold Wade – vocal, guitar
  • Stanley Wade – vocal, bass
  • Earl Young – vocal, drums
  • Norman Harris, Bobby Eli, T.J. Tindall – guitar
  • Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey, Bruce Gray, Carlton Kent – keyboards
  • Ron Baker, Sugar Bear Foreman – bass
  • T.G. Conway – synthesizer
  • Don Renaldo and His Strings and Horns

Track listing:

  1. The Nights the Lights Went Out – Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Ron Tyson
  2. Love Per Hour – Leroy Green, Ron Kersey
  3. People of the World, Rise – Bruce Gray, T.G. Conway, Norman Harris
  4. Living the Life – Ron Baker, Ron Tyson
  5. Seasons for Girls – Jerry Akins, Johnny Bellmon, Reginald Turner
  6. Life Ain’t Been Easy – Ron Baker, Ron Tyson
  7. I’m So Glad You Came Along – Ron Baker, Ron Tyson
  8. It Don’t Take Much – Ron Baker, Ron Tyson

The Stylistics: Round 2

Leave a comment

In October 1972, “Avco” label released “Round 2” is the second Stylistics (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Russell Thompkins, Jr. – lead vocals
  • Airrion Love, James Smith, Herb Murrell, James Dunn – backing vocals
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram – additional backing vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Tony Bell, Eli Tartarsky – guitar
  • Thom Bell – piano, harpsichord
  • Joe DeAngelis, Stephanie Fauber, Robert Martin – French horn
  • Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
  • Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
  • George Shaw – flute
  • Vincent Forchetti, Bob Moore, Richard Genevese – trombone
  • Don Renaldo, Tony Sinagoga, Albert Berone, Rudy Malizia, Angelo Pretrella, Romeo Di Stefano, Charles Apollonia, Davis Barnett, Richard Jones, Herschel Wise – strings
  • Mary Gale – harp
  • Fredric Cohen – oboe
  • Ronnie Baker – bass
  • Earl Young – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas
  • Vince Montana – percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, except where noted.

  1. I’m Stone in Love with You – Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Anthony Bell
  2. If You Don’t Watch Out
  3. You and Me
  4. It’s Too Late – Carole King, Toni Stern
  5. Children of the Night
  6. You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  7. Break Up to Make Up – Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Kenneth Gamble
  8. Peek-a-Boo – Gregory Guess, Norman Knox
  9. You’re asd Right as Rain
  10. Pieces

Blue Magic: Same

Leave a comment

In January 1974, “Atco” label released the self-titled, debut Blue Magic album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Norman Harris, Alan Rubens and Steven Bernstein.

Personnel:

  • Vernon Sawyer, Richard Pratt, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, Ted Mills – vocals
  • Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, Ted Cohen, Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Ted Mills, Ron Kersey, Cotton Kent – piano
  • Ronnie Baker, Jimmy Grant, Lee Smith, Jimmy DeJulio – bass
  • Earl Young, Larry James – drums
  • Larry Washington – percussion
  • Vince Montana– vibes
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings and horns accompaniment
  • Norman Harris– arrangements, remix
  • Vince Montana– arrangements
  • Carl Helm – vocal arrangements
  • Joe Tarsia, Kenny Present, Don Murray, Jay Mark, Carl Paruolo – recording
  • Alan Rubens, Steven Bernstein – executive producer
  • Bruce Gable – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Sideshow – Bobby Eli, Vinny Barrett
  2. Look Me Up – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  3. What’s Come Over Me – Ted Mills
  4. Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely – Bobby Eli, Vinny Barrett, John Freeman
  5. Stop to Start – Jimmy Grant, Allan Felder
  6. Welcome to the Club – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  7. Spell – Ted Mills
  8. Answer to My Prayer – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  9. Tear it Down – Ted Mills, Allan Felder

Blue Magic: The Magic of the Blue

Leave a comment

In December 1974, “Atco” label released “The Magic of the Blue”, the second Blue Magic album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Norman Harris and Bobby Eli.

Personnel:

  • Ted Mills – vocals
  • Vernon Sawyer – vocals
  • Richard Pratt – vocals
  • Keith Beaton – vocals
  • Wendell Sawyer – vocals
  • Bobby Eli, Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, Tony Bell – guitar
  • Ted Mills, Ron Kersey, Cotton Kent – piano
  • Rusty Jackmon, Ron Baker, Bob Babbitt– bass
  • Earl Young, Charles Collins, John Nero – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas
  • Vince Montana– vibraphone
  • Life – harmonica solo
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings and horns accompaniment
  • Ted Mills – sound effects
  • Norman Harris, Bobby Eli– arrangement
  • Carl Paruolo, Joe Tarsia, Kenny Present, Don Murray, Jay Mark – recording
  • Ron Kersey, Vince Montana, Jack Faith – arrangements
  • Carl Helm, Phil Hurtt, Bunny Sigler, Barbara Ingram, Evette Benton, Carla Benson, Ted Mills, Wendall Sawyer, Darryl Grant – vocal arrangements
  • Alan Rubens, Steven Bernstein, Bruce Gable – executive producers

Track listing:

  1. Three Ring Circus – Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett
  2. Stringin’ Me Along – Norman Harris, Pat Cooper, Ronnie Tyson
  3. You Don’t Have to Tell Me Goodbye – Norman Harris, Vinnie Barrett, James Hendricks
  4. Never Get Over You – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  5. Talking to Myself – Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett
  6. Let Me Be the One – Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Chuck Brooks
  7. Maybe Just Maybe (We Can Fall in Love Again) – Morris Bailey, Jr., Edward Green
  8. Love Has Found Its Way to Me – Bobby Eli, Allan Waldman
  9. When Ya Coming Home – Ted Mills, Allan Felder
  10. Looking for a Friend – Ted Mills

Blue Magic: Thirteen Blue Magic Lane

Leave a comment

In September 1975, “Atco” label released “Thirteen Blue Magic Lane”, the third Blue Magic album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, and was produced by Norman Harris and Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey.

Personnel:

  • Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, Roland Chambers – guitars
  • Ron Kersey, Cotton Kent, Dexter Wansel, Ted Mills – keyboards
  • Vince Montana– vibraphone
  • Ronald Baker, Michael Foreman, Rusty Jackmon, Larry LaBes – bass
  • Earl Young, Charles Collins – drums
  • Larry Washington, Robert Cupit, Bunny Harris – percussion
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings and Horns – strings and horns accompaniment
  • Norman Harris, Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey– arrangements
  • Richard Rome – arrangements
  • Ted “Wizard” Mills – rhythm arrangements
  • Carl Paruolo, Kenny Present, Jay Mark – engineer
  • Dirk Devlin, Mike Huchinson, James Gallagher – engineer assistant
  • Nimitr Sarikananda, Wayne Wilfong – mastering
  • Alan Rubens, Steven Bernstein, Bruce Gable – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. The Loneliest House on the Block – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  2. Chasing Rainbows – Ted Mills
  3. Born on Halloween – Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Tanya Jones
  4. Haunted (By Your Love) – Ron Tyson, Allan Felder, Bruce Hawes
  5. I Like You – Ted Mills
  6. Magic of the Blue – Ron Kersey, Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  7. We’re on the Right Track – Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  8. Stop and Get a Hold of Yourself – Pat Cooper, Ron Kersey
  9. What’s Come Over Me – Ted Mills

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: I Miss You

Leave a comment

In August 1972, “Philadelphia International” label released “I Miss You”, the debut Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.

Personnel:

  • Harold Melvin, Teddy Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown, Lloyd Parks– vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli– guitar
  • Leon Huff– piano
  • Leonard Pakula – organ
  • Ronnie Baker– bass
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • Vince Montana– vibraphone
  • Sam Reed and his Horns – horns
  • Don Renaldo and his Strings – strings

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, except where noted.

  1. I Miss You
  2. Ebony Woman – Morris Bailey
  3. Yesterday I Had the Blues
  4. If You Don’t Know Me by Now
  5. Be for Real – Leon Huff, Cary Gilbert, Kenneth Gamble
  6. Let Me into Your World – Kenneth Gamble, Norman Harris, Allan Felder
  7. Let It Be You

O’Jays: Back Stabbers

Leave a comment

In August 1972, “Philadelphia International” label released “Back Stabbers”, the seventh O’Jays studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Bunny Sigler.In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 318 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, Bill Isles.– vocals
  • Dennis Harris – guitar
  • Bobby Eli– guitar
  • Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Bunny Sigler– guitar, keyboards, piano
  • Lenny Pakula – keyboards
  • Norman Harris– arranger, guitar
  • Ronnie Baker– bass
  • Lenny Pakula – keyboards
  • Leon Huff– keyboards, piano
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Larry Washington – bongos, percussion
  • Vincent Montana, Jr.– percussion, vibraphone
  • Don Renaldo – conductor, horn, strings
  • Thom Bell – arrangements, strings
  • Bobby Martin– arrangements
  • Joe Tarsia– engineer
  • Tony Sellari – art direction
  • Tony Martell – executive producer
  • Adam Block – director

Track listing:

  1. When the World’s at Peace – Kenneth Gamble, Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurtt
  2. Back Stabbers – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  3. Who Am I – Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurtt
  4. (They Call Me) Mr. Lucky – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff,
  5. Time to Get Down – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
  6. 992 Arguments – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
  7. Listen to the Clock on the Wall – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Kenneth Gamble
  8. Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Kenneth Gamble
  9. Sunshine – Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurtt
  10. Love Train – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff