Tag Archives: Phil Spector

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

The Hep Stars: We and Our Cadillac

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On September 7, 1965, “Olga Records” label released “We and Our Cadillac”, the debut Hep Stars (The) studio album. It was recorded February – August 1965, in Stockholm, Sweden, and was produced by Gert Palmcrantz and Anders Ericsson.

Personnel:

  • Svenne Hedlund – lead and backing vocals
  • Janne Frisk – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Benny Andersson – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Lennart Hegland – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Christer Petterson – lead and backing vocals, drums
  • Hans Östlund – organ
  • Lennart Fernholm – bass guitar
  • Robert Meyer – photography

Track listing:

  1. Cadillac – Vince Taylor
  2. Be My Baby – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  3. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin – Fred Fisher, William Raskin, Billy Hill
  4. Send Me Some Lovin – John S. Marascalco, Leo Price
  5. Young and Beautiful – Aaron Schroeder, Abner Silver
  6. Rockin’ Love – Carl Mann
  7. No Response – Benny Anderson
  8. I’ll Never Quite Get Over You – Chad Stuart, Jeremy Clyde
  9. Sweet Little Sixteen – Chuck Berry
  10. Oh! Carol – Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield
  11. Then She Kissed Me – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  12. Bald Headed Woman – Shel Talmy

The Beach Boys: 15 Big Ones

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On July 5, 1976, “Brother/Reprise” label released “15 Big Ones”, the 20th Beach Boys (The) studio album. It was recorded December 1969 – May 1976, at “Brother” in Santa Monica, “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Brian Wilson – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano, Moog bass, ARP synthesizer, ARP String Ensemble, bass guitar, harmonica, chimes, bells
  • Carl Wilson – lead and backing vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, Jew’s harp, percussion
  • Dennis Wilson – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion, vibraphone
  • Al Jardine – lead and backing vocals, guitar
  • Mike Love – lead and backing vocals, arranger
  • Thomas J. Tedesco – guitar
  • Ben Benay – guitar
  • Jerry Cole – guitar
  • Bruce Johnston – piano, backing vocals
  • Carl L. Fortina – accordion
  • James D. Hughart – string bass
  • Tim Drummond – bass
  • Ray Pohlman – bass
  • Lyle Ritz – bass
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Dennis Dragon – drums
  • Ricky Fataar – drums, percussion
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Julius Wechter – percussion, bells
  • Roy Wood (credited as “Roy Wood and Wizzard”) – saxophone
  • Mike Altschul – saxophone, clarinet
  • Steve Douglas – saxophone, horns, flute
  • Dennis Dreith – saxophone, clarinet
  • Jay Migliori – saxophone, horns, flute
  • Bobby Shew – trumpet
  • Daryl Dragon – clavinet, vocal arrangements
  • Charles Lloyd – flute
  • Jules Jacobs – clarinet
  • Carol Lee Miller – autoharp
  • Maureen L. West – harp

The Sid Sharp Strings

  • Murray Adler – violin
  • Arnold Belnick – violin
  • Henry Ferber – violin
  • Lou Klass – violin
  • Bernard Kundell – violin
  • William Kurasch – violin
  • James Getzoff – violin
  • Henry L. Roth – violin
  • Sidney Sharp – violin
  • Tibor Zelig – violin
  • William Kurasch – violin
  • James Getzoff – violin
  • Henry L. Roth – violin
  • Sidney Sharp – violin
  • Tibor Zelig – violin
  • Toni Tennille – backing vocals
  • Marilyn Wilson – backing vocals
  • Dean Torrence, Jim Evans – album cover, art direction, logo

Track listing:

  1. Rock and Roll Music – Chuck Berry
  2. It’s Ok – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  3. Hard to Phone Ya – Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Diane Rovell
  4. Chapel of Love – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector
  5. Everyone’s in Love with You – Mike Love
  6. Talk to Me – Joe Seneca – includes an interpolation of the track “Tallahassee Lassie” originally performed by Freddy Cannon
  7. That Same Song – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  8. T M Song – Brian Wilson
  9. Palisades Park – Chuck Berry
  10. Susie Cincinnati – Al Jardine
  11. A Casual Look – Ed Wells
  12. Blueberry Hill – Al Lewis, Larry Stock, Vincent Rose
  13. Back Home – Brain Wilson, Bob Norberg
  14. In the Still of the Night – Fred Parris
  15. Just Once in My Life – Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Phil Spector

Steve Douglas

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On April 19, 1993, Steve Douglas died aged 54. He was musician (saxophone, flute), recorded and performed with Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Phil Spector, The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Duane Eddy, Sammy Hagar, Mink DeVille, The Ramones and Leonard Cohen. As leader, Douglas released eight albums.

Doc Pomus

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On March 14, 1991, Jerome Solon Felder aka Doc Pomus died aged 65. He was singer and songwriter, co-writer (together with Mort Shuman) of big number of hits, many of them became rock and roll standards, including: “A Teenager in Love”, “Save The Last Dance For Me”, “Hushabye”, “This Magic Moment”, “Turn Me Loose”, “Sweets For My Sweet”, “Go, Jimmy, Go”, “Little Sister”, “Can’t Get Used to Losing You”, “Suspicion”, “Surrender” and “His Latest Flame”. He also co-wrote with Phil Spector few successful tracks including “Young Boy Blues”, “Ecstasy”, “First Taste of Love” and “What Am I to Do?” His songs were performed by hundreds of artists including The Beatles, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Bad Company, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Buble, Dolly Parton, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, Emmy Lou Harris, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, Harry Nilsson, John Hiatt, The Beach Boys, B.B. King, Dion, The New York Dolls, Shawn Colvin and Los Lobos. As singer Pomus performed with Milt Jackson, Mickey Baker, and King Curtis. In 1991 he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, in 1992, in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, and in 2012 into the “Blues Hall of Fame”.

Isaac Hayes: To Be Continued…

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In November 1970, “Enterprise” label released “…To Be Continued” is, the fourth Isaac Hayes studio album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Isaac Hayes.

Personnel:

  • Isaac Hayes – vocals, piano, electric piano, bongos, timpani, vibraphone, arranger
  • The Bar-Kays – instrumentation
  • Michael Toles – guitar
  • Ronnie Gordon – keyboards
    • James Alexander – bass guitar
    • Cliff Acred – bass guitar
    • Roy Cunningham – drums
    • Willie Hall – drums
    • Harvey Henderson – saxophone
    • Ben Cauley – trumpet
  • Hot Buttered Soul Unlimited – backing vocals
  • Dale Warren – arrangements
  • Pat Lewis – backing vocal arrangements

The Memphis Horns and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra: instrumentation

  • Richard “Johnny” Davis – trumpet
  • Ernie Bernhardt – trumpet
  • John Davis – trumpet
  • Jackie Thomas – trombone
  • Bill Bell – trombone
  • Edwin Hubbard – flute
  • Jack Fonville – flute
  • James Terry – flute
  • Nick Vergos – English horn, oboe
  • Joe De’Gerolamo – French horn
  • D’Gerolamo – French horn
  • Richard Dolph – French horn
  • Robert Snyder – violin
  • Ann Spurbeck – violin
  • Ed Freudberg – violin
  • Gloria Hendricks – violin
  • Hal Saunders – violin
  • John Wehlan – violin
  • Joan Gilbert – violin
  • Noel Gilbert – violin
  • Nino Ravarino – viola
  • Vincent de Frank – cello
  • William Brown, Henry Bush, Ron Capone – engineer
  • Joe Tarantino – mastering
  • David Krieger – art direction
  • Herb Kole – art supervisor
  • Joel Brodsky – photography

Track listing:

  1. Ike’s Rap I – Isaac Hayes
  2. Our Day Will Come – Bob Hilliard, Mort Garson
  3. The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  4. Medley: Ike’s Mood/You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – Isaac Hayes, Phil Spector, Barry Man, Cynthia Weil
  5. Runnin’ out of Fools – Kay Rodgers, Richard Ahiert

Beach Boys: Beach Boys’ Party!

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On November 8, 1965, “Capitol” label released “Beach Boys’ Party!”, the tenth Beach Boys studio album. It was recorded in September 1965, at “United Western Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Al Jardine – vocals, acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars, ashtray
  • Bruce Johnston – vocals, electric bass
  • Mike Love – vocals
  • Brian Wilson – vocals, bass, piano, bongos
  • Carl Wilson – vocals, acoustic 6 and 12 string guitars, overdubbed bass
  • Dennis Wilson – vocals, bongos, castanet, harmonica
  • Hal Blaine – bongos
  • Ray Avery – bongos
  • Steve Korthof – bongos, tambourine
  • Ron Swallow – tambourine
  • Terry Melcher – tambourine
  • Marilyn Wilson – vocals
  • Billy Hinsche – harmonica
  • Dean Torrence – co-lead vocal

Tack listing:

  1. Hully Gully – Fred Smith, Cliff Goldsmith
  2. I Should Have Known Better – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Tell Me Why – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  4. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow – Carl White, Al Frazier, Sonny Harris, Turner Wilson Jr.
  5. Mountain of Love – Harold Dorman
  6. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  7. Devoted to You – Boudleaux Bryant
  8. Alley Oop – Dallas Frazier
  9. There’s No Other (Like My Baby) – Phil Spector, Leroy Bates
  10. Medley (I Get Around / Little Deuce Coupe) – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian
  11. The Times They Are a-Changin’ – Bob Dylan
  12. Barbara Ann – Fred Fassert

Flamin’ Groovies: Rock Juice

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On Saturday 28, 1993, “National Records” label released “Rock Juice”, the eighth Flamin’ Groovies studio album. It was recorded in 1993 and was produced by Cyril Jordan and Karl Derfler.

Personnel:

  • Cyril Jordan – vocals, guitar, bass
  • George Alexander – vocals, bass

Track listing:

 All tracks by Cyril Jordan except where noted

  1. Way Over My Head
  2. Sealed with a Kiss – Peter Udell, Gary Geld
  3. Hold on Me
  4. Somebody’s Fool
  5. Stay Away
  6. I’m Only What You Want Me to Be
  7. Shakin’
  8. Give It Away
  9. Thanks John
  10. This Could Be the Night – Phil Spector, Harry Nilsson
  11. Ainsley’s Song
  12. Little Girl
  13. When She’s in Town
  14. Flyin’ Saucers Rock & Roll – Ray Scott

 

Jack Nitzsche

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On August 25, 2000, Bernard Alfred Nitzsche aka Jack Nitzsche, died aged 63. He was a songwriter, composer, arranger, record producer, and musician, known for his work with Phil Spector, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Earl Palmer, Leon Russell, Roy Caton, Willy DeVille, Glen Campbell, and Graham Parker. He also worked in film scores, for films such as “Performance”, “The Exorcist” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. Nitzsche released four solo albums and five OSR albums.

Laura Nyro: Walk The Dog And Light The Light

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On August 17, 1993, “Columbia” label released “Walk the Dog and Light the Light”, the ninth Laura Nyro studio album. It was recorded in 1993, in New York City, and was produced by Laura Nyro and Gary Katz.

Personnel:

  • Laura Nyro – lead vocals, harmonies, keyboards, string arrangements
  • Elliott Randall, Michael Landau, Ira Siegal – guitar
  • Freddie Washington, Jerry Jemmott- bass guitar
  • Bernard Purdie- drums
  • Bashiri Johnson, Eric McKain – percussion
  • Juliet Haffner, Sue Pray, Julie Green, Jeanne Le Blanc, Marilyn Wright, Belinda Whitney Barat, Joyce Hammann, Beryl Diamond, Rani Vaz, Laura Seaton, Gene Orloff, Sanford Allen, Mindy Jostyn – strings
  • Lou Marini, Roger Rosenberg, Randy Brecker, Lawrence Feldman – horns
  • Michael Brecker- saxophone solo
  • Lou Marini – flute solo
  • Ellen Uryevick – harp
  • Carlos Franzetti – string arrangements
  • David Frank- horn and flute arrangements, additional production assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Laura Nyro; except where noted.

  1. Oh Yeah Maybe Baby (The Heebie Jeebies) – Hank Hunter, Phil Spector
  2. A Woman of the World
  3. The Descent of Luna Rose
  4. Art of Love
  5. Lite a Flame (The Animal Rights Song)
  6. Louise’s Church
  7. Broken Rainbow
  8. Walk the Dog and Light the Light (Song of the Road)
  9. To a Child
  10. I’m So Proud/Dedicated to the One I Love – Curtis Mayfield, Ralph Bass, Lowman Pauling