On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).
Tag Archives: Norman Whitfield
The Soulful Strings: Groovin’ with the Soulful Strings
In October 1967, “Cadet” label released “Groovin’ with the Soulful Strings”, the second Soulful Strings (The) album. It was recorded June – July 1967, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.
Personnel:
- Richard Evans – musical arrangements, direction
- Sol Bobrov – viola
- David Chausow – viola
- Arthur Ahlman – violin
- Harold Kupper – violin
- Karl B. Fruh – cello
- Emil Mittermann – cello
- Theodore Ratzer – cello
- Charles Stepney – organ, vibraphone
- Lenny Druss – saxophone, flute
- Vernice Green – saxophone, flute
- Ronald Steele – guitar, sitar
- Phil Upchurch – guitar
- Cleveland Eaton – bass
- Louis Satterfield – bass
- Philip R. Thomas – bongos, congas
- Morris Jennings – drums
Track listing:
- Burning Spear – Richard Evans
- All Blues – Miles Davis
- What Now My Love – Carl Sigman, Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë
- Within You Without You – George Harrison
- Our Day Will Come – Bob Hilliard, Mort Garson
- Soul Prelude – J.S. Bach
- Groovin’ – Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati
- Alfie – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
- Comin’ Home Baby – Ben Tucker, Bob Dorough
- (I Know) I’m Losing You – Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant
Rose Royce: Strikes Again
In August 1978, “Warner Bros” label released “Strikes Again”, the third Rose Royce album. It was recorded in 1978, at “Sound Factory West”, “One Step Up Recording Studio”, “Westlake Studios”, “Fort Knox Recording Studio”, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.
Personnel:
- Gwen Dickey – lead vocals
- Kenji Brown – lead vocals, guitar
- Cornelius Grant – guitar
- Melvin “Wah Wah” Watson – guitar
- Mark Davis – keyboards
- Michael Nash – keyboards
- Walter Downing – organ
- Lequeint “Duke” Jobe – vocals, bass
- Mark Kenoly – bass
- Henry Garner – vocals, drums
- Jimi Valdezm – drums
- Jack Ashford – percussion
- Terral Santiel – congas
- Michael Moore – saxophone
- Kenny Copeland – lead vocals, trumpet
- Freddie Dunn – trumpet
- Gene Page – orchestration
- Norman Whitfield – arranger, engineer
- Steve Smith – engineer
- Leanard Jackson – recording
- Steve Smith – recording
- Pamela Clare – cover illustration
- Eleven Twenty-Four Design, A.S. – art direction, design
- Andy Engel – lettering
- Bobby Holland, Jeffrey Mayer, Rainbow Photography- photography
- Bill Whitfield – album coordinator
Track listing:
All tracks by Norman Whitfield, except where noted.
- Get Up off Your Fat
- Do It, Do It
- I’m in Love (And I Love the Feeling)
- First Come, First Serve
- Love Don’t Live Here Anymore – Miles Gregory
- Angel in the Sky – Billie Calvin
- Help – Robert Daniels
- Let Me Be the First To Know – Miles Gregory
- That’s What’s Wrong with Me
The Young Rascals: Collections
On January 9, 1967, “Atlantic” label released “Collections”, the second Young Rascals (The) album. It was recorded May – December 1966, and was produced by Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Gene Cornish, and Dino Danelli.
Personnel:
- Gene Cornish – vocals, guitar, bass
- Felix Cavaliere – vocals, organ, piano
- Eddie Brigati – vocals, percussion
- Dino Danelli – drums
Track listing:
- What Is the Reason – Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati
- Since I Fell for You – Buddy Johnson
- (I’ve Been) Lonely Too Long – Felix Cavaliere
- No Love to Give – Gene Cornish
- Mickey’s Monkey – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland / Turn On Your Love Light – Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott
- Come On Up – Felix Cavaliere
- Too Many Fish in the Sea – Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield
- More – Riz Ortolani, Nino Oliviero, Norman Newell, Marcello Ciorciolini
- Nineteen Fifty-Six – Gene Cornish
- Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati
- Land of a Thousand Dances – Chris Kenner
Dee Dee Bridgewater: Memphis…Yes, I’m Ready
On September 15, 2017, “Okeh” label released “Memphis… Yes, I’m Ready”, the 19th Dee Dee Bridgewater album. It was recorded in September 2016, at “Royal Studios” in Memphis, TN, and was produced by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tulani Bridgewater Kowalski, Kirk Whalum and Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell.
Personnel:
- Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocals, linear notes
- Kirk Whalum– tenor and baritone saxophone
- Lannie McMillan, Kirk Smothers – tenor saxophone
- Marc Franklin – trumpet
- Kameron Whalum – trombone
- John Stoddart– keyboards, vocal arrangements
- Charles Hodges– Hammond organ
- Garry Goin – guitar
- Jackie Clark – bass
- James Sexton – drums
- Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell– cymbals, electric bongos, tambourine
- Sharisse Norman, Candise Rayborn-Marshall, Kevin Whalum – backing vocals
- Stax Music Academy– backing vocals
- Ted Jensen– engineer
- Tulani Bridgewater Kowalski – art direction, cover art, photography
- Thomas Brodin – design
- John Stoddart – associate producer
Track listing:
- Yes, I’m Ready – Barbara Mason
- Giving Up – Van McCoy
- I Can’t Get Next to You – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Going Down Slow – Louis Jimmy Oden
- Why (Am I Treated So Bad) – Roebuck Staples
- B-A-B-Y – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
- The Thrill Is Gone – Rick Ravon Darnell, Roy Hawkins
- The Sweeter He Is – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
- I Can’t Stand the Rain – Donald Maurice Bryant, Bernard Miller, Ann Peebles
- Don’t Be Cruel – Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley
- Hound Dog – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
- Try a Little Tenderness – James Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry Woods
- Take My Hand, Precious Lord – Thomas A. Dorsey, Sobie Frank Frazier, Jeff Majors
Phil Collins: Going Back
On September 13, 2010, “Atlantic” label released “Going Back”, the eighth solo Phil Collins studio album. It was recorded 2009 – 2010, at Phil Collins studio in Geneva, and was produced by Phil Collins.
Personnel:
- Phil Collins– lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, keyboards, bass, glockenspiel, acoustic and electric piano, harp, handclaps, footstomps, guitar, organ, fingersnaps, mixing
- Ray Monette– guitar, wah-wah guitar
- Ronnie Caryl– acoustic guitar
- Eddie Willis– guitar
- Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
- Jason Rebello– vibraphone, acoustic and electric piano
- John Aram – trombone, handclaps , fingersnaps, horn arrangements and transcriptions
- Guy Barker– trumpet
- Tom Rees-Roberts – trumpet
- Phil Todd – baritone saxophone, flute, piccolo
- Graeme Blevins – tenor saxophone
- Celeste-Marie Roy – bassoon
- Steve Jones – handclaps, fingersnaps
- Nicholas and Matthew Collins – handclaps, fingersnaps, footstomps, backing vocals
- Scott Stroman – string arrangements and transcriptions, conductor
- Menhuin Academy – strings
- Connie Jackson-Comegys – backing vocals
- Lynne Fiddmont-Linsey – backing vocals
- Yvan Bing – engineer
- Thoraya Binzagar, Thierry Chaunay – engineer assistant
- Yvan Bing – mixing
- Kevin Reeves – mastering
- Mike Hosey – artwork
Track listing:
- Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr.
- (Love Is Like a) Heatwave – Holland-Dozier-Holland
- Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
- Some of Your Lovin’ – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
- In My Lonely Room – Holland-Dozier-Holland
- Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me for a Little While) – Holland-Dozier-Holland
- Blame It on the Sun – Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright
- Papa Was a Rolling Stone – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer – Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright
- Standing in the Shadows of Love – Holland-Dozier-Holland
- Do I Love You – Peter Anders, Phil Spector, Vincent Poncia Jr.
- Jimmy Mack – Holland-Dozier-Holland
- Something About You – Holland-Dozier-Holland
- Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone – Holland-Dozier-Holland
- Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
- Going to a Go-Go – Warren Moore, William Robinson, Jr., Robert Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
- Talkin’ About My Baby – Curtis Mayfield
- Going Back – Goffin, King
Marvin Gaye: That’s the Way Love Is
On January 8, 1970, “Tamla” label released “That’s the Way Love Is”, the tenth Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.
Personnel:
- Marvin Gaye- lead vocals
- The Funk Brothers- instrumentation
- The Andantes, The Originals- backing vocals
Track listing:
- Gonna Give Her All The Love I’ve Got – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Yesterday – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Groovin’ – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
- I Wish It Would Rain – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- That’s The Way Love Is – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- How Can I Forget? – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Abraham, Martin & John – Dick Holler
- Gonna Keep On Tryin’ Till I Win Your Love – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- No Time for Tears – Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield
- Cloud Nine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Don’t You Miss Me A Little Bit, Baby? – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- So Long – Eddie Holland, Dean Taylor, Norman Whitfield
Savoy Brown: Street Corner Talking
In September 1971, “Parrot” label released “Street Corner Talking”, the seventh Savoy Brown studio album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Olympic Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Neil Slaven.
Personnel:
- Dave Walker– vocals
- Kim Simmonds– vocals, lead guitar, harmonica
- Paul Raymond– vocals, keyboards, guitar
- Andy Silvester– bass guitar
- Dave Bidwell – drums
- George Chkiantz– engineer
- Rod Thear – engineer assistant
- David Anstey – illustrations
Track listing:
- Tell Mama – Paul Raymond, Kim Simmonds
- I Can’t Get Next To You – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Let It Rock – Paul Raymond, Kim Simmonds
- Time Does Tell – Kim Simmonds
- Street Corner Talking – Kim Simmonds
- All I Can Do – Billy Davis, Gwen Gordy Fuqua, Berry Gordy, Jr.
- Wang Dang Doodle – Willie Dixon
Gladys Knight & the Pips: Everybody Needs Love
In September 1967, “Soul Imprint” label released “Everybody Needs Love”, the debut Gladys Knight & the Pips album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol and Smokey Robinson.
Personnel:
- Gladys Knight – lead vocals
- Merald “Bubba” Knight, William Guest, Edward Patten – backing vocals
- The Funk Brothers: instrumentation
Track listing:
- Everybody Needs Love – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr.
- I’ll Be Standing By – Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford
- Since I’ve Lost You – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- You Don’t Love Me No More – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Roger Penzabene
- Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone – Norman Whitfield, Sylvia Moy, Cornelius Grant
- Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me – Barrett Strong, Roger Penzabene, Cornelius Grant
- He’s My Kind of Fella – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
- Yes, I’m Ready – Barbara Mason
- My Bed of Thorns – William “Smokey” Robinson
- Do You Love Me Just a Little, Honey – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock, Gladys Knight
- Just Walk in My Shoes – Helen Lewis Mastor, Kay Lewis Miller
Chi-Lites: Give It Away
In August 1969, “Brunswick” label released “Give It Away”, the debut Chi-Lites album. It was recorded in 1969, and was produced by Carl Davis, Eugene Record and Gerald Sims.
Personnel:
- Eugene Record, Marshall Thompson, Robert “Squirrel” Lester, Creadel “Red” Jones– vocals
- Sonny Sanders – arrangements
- Willie Henderson– director
Track listing:
- Give It Away – Eugene Record, Carl Davis
- Let Me Be the Man My Daddy Was – Eugene Record, Barbara Acklin
- My Whole World Ended – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Pamela Joan Sawyer, Jimmy Roach
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
- What Do I Wish For – Eugene Record, Carl Davis
- That’s My Baby for You – Eugene Record, Carl Davis
- I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – Kenneth Gamble, Jerry Ross, Jerry Williams
- You’re No Longer Part of My Heart – Eugene Record
- 24 Hours of Sadness – Eugene Record, Carl Davis
- To Change My Love – Eugene Record
- The Twelfth of Never – Jerry Livingston, Paul Francis Webster
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