On July 22, 2024, John Mayall died aged 90. He was musician (keyboards, harmonica, guitar), singer, songwriter and producer. In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its members some of the most famous blues and blues rock musicians, including Sammy Prosser, Davey Graham, John Gilbey, Ricky Brown, Pete Burford, Sam Stone, Brian Myall, Keith Robertson, Bernie Watson, John McVie, Peter Ward, Martin Hart, Roger Dean, Hughie Flint, Eric Clapton, John Weider, John Slaughter, Geoff Krivit, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Aynsley Dunbar, Micky Waller, Mick Fleetwood, Terry Edmonds, Keef Hartley, Chris Mercer, Rip Kant, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Paul Williams, Keith Tillman, Henry Lowther, Andy Fraser, Tony Reeves and Jon Hiseman. John Mayall was referred to as the “Godfather of the British Blues”, and the “Pioneer of the British Blues”, with career that spanned nearly seven decades, remaining an active musician until his death. He released seventy albums (studio and live).
Tag Archives: Paul Williams
Elvis Presley: Elvis
On July 16, 1973, “RCA” label released “Elvis”, the eighteenth Elvis Presley studio album. It was recorded in March 1971 and March 1972, at “RCA” in Hollywood, “RCA Studio B” in Nashville, and was produced by Felton Jarvis.
Personnel:
- Elvis Presley – lead vocals, piano
- James Burton – lead guitar
- Joe Esposito – guitar, percussion
- John Wilkinson – rhythm guitar
- Chip Young – rhythm guitar
- Charlie Hodge – rhythm guitar
- Glen D. Hardin – piano, string arrangements
- David Briggs – piano
- Charlie McCoy – harmonica
- Emory Gordy Jr. – bass
- Norbert Putnam – bass
- Jerry Scheff – bass
- Kenneth A. Buttrey – drums
- Jerry Carrigan – drums
- Ron Tutt – drums
- J. D. Sumner – vocals
- The Sweet Inspirations – backing vocals
- The Nashville Edition – backing vocals
- Joe Babcock – backing vocals
- Dolores Edgin – backing vocals
- Ginger Holladay – backing vocals
- The Imperials Quartet – backing vocals
- Millie Kirkham – backing vocals
- June Page – backing vocals
- Temple Riser – backing vocals
- Hurshel Wiginton – backing vocals
- Mary Holliday – backing vocals
- Kathy Westmoreland – backing vocals
- Joe Guercio – conductor
Track listing:
- Fool – James Last, Carl Sigman
- Where Do I Go from Here – Paul Williams
- Love Me, Love the Life I Lead – Roger Greenaway, Tony Macaulay
- It’s Still Here – Ivory Joe Hunter
- It’s Impossible – Armando Manzanero, Sid Wayne
- (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me – Gordon Lightfoot
- Padre – Jacques Larue, Paul Francis Webster, Alain Romans
- I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen – Thomas Paine Westendorf
- I’ll Be True – Ivory Joe Hunter
- Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – Bob Dylan
Carpenters: A Song For You
On June 13, 1972, “A&M” label released “A Song for You”, the fourth Carpenters studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “A&M” in Hollywood, and was produced by Jack Daugherty Productions.
Personnel:
- Karen Carpenter – lead and backing vocals, drums
- Richard Carpenter – lead and backing vocals, piano, Wurlitzer electronic piano, Hammond organ, celesta, orchestration, remastering
- Tony Peluso – lead guitar
- Louie Shelton – guitar
- Red Rhodes – steel guitar
- Buddy Emmons – pedal steel guitar
- Joe Osborn – bass guitar
- Hal Blaine – drums
- Gary Coleman – percussion
- Bob Messenger – tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute
- Earl Dumler – oboe, English horn
- Tim Weisberg – bass flute
- Norm Herzberg – bassoon
- Bernie Grundman – remastering
Track listing:
- A Song for You – Leon Russell
- Top of the World – John Bettis, Richard Carpenter
- Hurting Each Other – Gary Geld, Peter Udell
- It’s Going to Take Some Time – Carole King, Toni Stern
- Goodbye to Love – John Bettis, Richard Carpenter
- Intermission – Richard Carpenter
- Bless the Beasts and Children – Perry Botkin Jr., Harry DeVorzon
- Flat Baroque – Richard Carpenter
- Piano Picker – Randy Edelman
- I Won’t Last a Day Without You – Roger Nichols, Paul Williams
- Crystal Lullaby – John Bettis, Richard Carpenter
- Road Ode – Gary Sims, Dan Woodhams
- A Song for You (reprise) – Leon Russell
The Temptations: Temptin’ Temptations
On November 1, 1965, “Gordy” label released “The Temptin’ Temptations”, the third Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1964 – 1965, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, William “Mickey” Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter.
Personnel:
- David Ruffin – vocals (baritone, tenor, falsetto)
- Eddie Kendricks – vocals (tenor, falsetto)
- Paul Williams – vocals (baritone)
- Melvin Franklin – vocals (bass)
- Otis Williams – vocals (tenor, baritone)
- The Andantes – additional backing vocals
- Jimmy Ruffin – additional backing vocals
- Smokey Robinson – executive producer
Track listing:
- Since I Lost My Baby – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore
- The Girl’s Alright with Me – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr., Eddie Kendricks
- Just Another Lonely Night – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
- My Baby – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers
- You’ve Got to Earn It – Smokey Robinson, Cornelius Grant
- Everybody Needs Love – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
- Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
- Don’t Look Back – Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White
- I Gotta Know Now – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
- Born to Love You – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
- I’ll Be in Trouble – Smokey Robinson
- You’re the One I Need – Smokey Robinson
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Will the Circle be Unbroken
In November 1972, “United Artists” label released “Will the Circle be Unbroken”, the seventh Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (The) album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by William McEuen.
Pertsonnel:
- Jimmy Martin – lead vocal, guitar
- John McEuen – banjo, mandolin
- Randy Scruggs – autoharp, guitar, background vocals
- Jim Ibbotson – guitar, drums, snare, background vocals
- Roy Acuff – lead vocal
- Merle Travis – lead and background vocals
- Vassar Clements – fiddle
- Les Thompson – mandolin, background vocals
- Jimmie Fadden – harmonica
- Roy “Junior” Huskey – bass
- Elis Padget – bass
- Jeff Hanna – washboard, background vocals
- Gary Scruggs, Ray Martin, Timmy Martin, Betty Travis, Fred Cross, Gloria Belle, Louise Scruggs, Steve Scruggs, Chet Flippo, Martha Flippo, Larry Murray, Mike Carr, Alice McEuen – background vocals
- Mother Maybelle Carter – lead vocal, guitar
- Doc Watson – guitar, background vocals
- Pete “Oswald” Kirby – dobro
- Norman Blake – dobro
- Earl Scruggs – banjo
- Rex Collier, Rick Horton – recording
- Dino Lappas – engineer
- Garry Mullen – mixing
- Arnie Acosta, Douglas Sax – mastering
- William E. McEuen – art direction, design, photography
- Kittyhawk Graphics – graphics
- Dean O. Torrence – graphics, design
- Jack Hurst – liner notes
- Chet Flippo – liner notes
- Alice McEuen – producer assistant
Track listing:
- Grand Ole Opry Song – Hylo Brown
- Keep on the Sunny Side – A.P. Carter, Gary Garett
- Nashville Blues – Earl Scruggs
- You Are My Flower – A.P. Carter
- The Precious Jewel – Roy Acuff
- Dark as a Dungeon – Merle Travis
- Tennessee Stud – Jimmie Driftwood
- Black Mountain Rag – traditional
- Wreck on the Highway – Dorsey Dixon
- The End of the World – Fred Rose
- I Saw the Light – Hank Williams
- Sunny Side of the Mountain – Byron Gregory, Harry McAuliffe
- Nine-Pound Hammer – Merle Travis
- Losin’ You (Might Be the Best Thing Yet) – Edria A. Humphrey, Jimmy Martin
- Honky Tonkin’ – Hank Williams
- You Don’t Know My Mind – Jimmie Skinner
- My Walkin’ Shoes – Jimmy Martin, Paul Williams
- Lonesome Fiddle Blues – Vassar Clements
- Cannonball Rag – Merle Travis
- Avalanche – Millie Clements
- Flint Hill Special – Earl Scruggs
- Togary Mountain – Walter McEuen
- Earl’s Breakdown – Earl Scruggs
- Orange Blossom Special – Ervin T. Rouse
- Wabash Cannonball – A.P. Carter
- Lost Highway – Leon Payne
- Doc Watson & Merle Travis First Meeting (Dialogue)
- Way Downtown – traditional, Doc Watson
- Down Yonder – arr. Doc Watson
- Pins and Needles (In My Heart) – Floyd Jenkins
- Honky Tonk Blues – Hank Williams
- Sailin’ on to Hawaii – Beecher Kirby
- I’m Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes – A.P. Carter
- I am a Pilgrim – traditional
- Wildwood Flower – A.P. Carter
- Soldier’s Joy – John McEuen, Earl Scruggs
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken – A.P. Carter
- Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
Mel Tormé: Tormé: A New Album
In June 1977, “Gryphone Records” label released “Tormé: A New Album”, the 15th Mel Tormé album. It was recorded in June 1977, in London.
Personnel:
- Mel Tormé – vocals, arranger
- Phil Woods – alto saxophone
- Gordon Beck – keyboards
- Barry Miles – piano
- Vic Juris – guitar
- Brian Hodges – electric bass
- Terry Silverlight – drums
- Christopher Gunning – arranger, conductor
Track listing:
- All in Love Is Fair – Stevie Wonder
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
- New York State of Mind – Billy Joel
- Stars – Janis Ian
- Send in the Clowns – Stephen Sondheim
- Ordinary Fool – Paul Williams
- Medley
- (Ah, the Apple Trees) When the World Was Young -M. Philippe Gerard, Angela Vannier, Johnny Mercer
- Yesterday When I was Young – Charles Aznavour, Herbert Kretzmer
- Bye Bye Blackbird – Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of…
On May 2, 2002, “Good Records” label released “The Beginning Stages of…”, the debut Polyphonic Spree album. It was recorded in October 2000, at “Dallas Sound Lab” and was produced by David Eaton, Ariana Morgenstern and Tim DeLaughter.
Personnel:
- Tim DeLaughter – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Joe Butcher-Sho-Bud – pedal steel, Moog Rogue, Korg N-5, egg shaker
- Ryan Fitzgerald – vocals, guitar
- Even Hisey – keyboards
- Mark McKeever – vocals, keyboards, piano, Moog synthesizer, trumpet
- Carlos Jackson – Farfisa organ, bells, tambourine, vocals
- Jessie Hester – vocals, piano, keyboards
- Rick Nelson – viola, violin, upright bass, cello
- Mark Pirro – bass
- Jeff Bouck – vocals, percussion, car tailpipes, tablas, timpani, gong
- Bryan Wakeland – drums, percussion
- Mike Melendi – percussion
- Audrey Easley – flute, piccolo
- Chris Curiel – trumpet
- Logan Keese – trumpet, flugelhorn
- James Reimer – trombone
- Andrew Tinker – French horn
- Toby Halbrooks – theremin, synthesizer
- Todd Berridge – viola
- Maria Jeffers – cello
- Ricky Rasura – classical harp
- Jessica Berridge – vocals
- Austen Brown – vocals
- Erik Courson – vocals
- Julie Doyle – vocals
- Ray Ivy – vocals
- Jennifer Jobe – vocals
- Jessica Jordan – vocals
- Jennie Kelley – vocals
- Stephen Kirkham – vocals
- John Lamonica – vocals
- Chris Penn – vocals
- Kelly Repka – vocals
- Christy Stewart – vocals
- Michael Turner – vocals
- David Eaton – engineer
- Andy Baker – recording
- Paul Williams – mixing
- George Geurin – mastering
- Heather Davis – art direction
- Danny Ford – cover photography
- Craig Paulson – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Tim DeLaughter.
- Section 1 (Have a Day/Celebratory)
- Section 2 (It’s the Sun)
- Section 3 (Days Like This Keep Me Warm)
- Section 4 (La La)
- Section 5 (Middle of the Day)
- Section 6 (Hanging Around the Day Part 1)
- Section 7 (Hanging Around the Day Part 2)
- Section 8 (Soldier Girl)
- Section 9 (Light and Day/Reach for the Sun)
- Section 10 (A Long Day)
Paul Williams
On March 1, 2019, Paul Nigel Vincent Yarlett aka Paul Williams died aged 78. He was musician (bass, keyboards, harmonica, percussion), singer and songwriter, worked with Zoot Money, Aynsley Dunbar, Juicy Lucy, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Allam Holdsworth, Micky Moody, John Mayall and Blue Thunder, but was best known as member of Tempest.
The Temptations: In a Mellow Mood
On November 27, 1967, “Motown” label released “The Temptations in a Mellow Mood”, the sixth Temptations studio album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, and was produced by Frank Wilson and Jeffrey Bowen.
Personnel:
- David Ruffin– vocals
- Eddie Kendricks– vocals
- Paul Williams– vocals
- Melvin Franklin– vocals
- Otis Williams– vocals
- B. Barnum– arrangements
- Oliver Nelson– arrangements
- Don Costa– arrangements
- Frank Wilson– executive producer
Track listing:
- Hello Young Lovers – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
- A Taste of Honey – Ric Marlow, Bobby Scott
- For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
- Somewhere – Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
- Ol’ Man River – Hammerstein, Jerome Kern
- I’m Ready for Love – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
- Try to Remember – Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt
- Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) – Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
- What Now My Love? – Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë, Carl Sigman
- That’s Life – Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon
- With These Hands – Benny Davis, Abner Silver
- The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh
Billy Paul
On April 24, 2016, Paul Williams aka Billy Paul died aged 81. He was singer and song writer, associated with the Philadelphia soul sound, best known for his 1972 “Grammy Awarded” #1 single, “Me and Mrs. Jones”, and the albums “360 Degrees of Billy Paul” (1972) and “War of Gods” (1973).
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