Tag Archives: Philadelphia

Spinners: New and Improved

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In December 1974, “Atlantic” label released “New and Improved”, the fifth Spinners album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Dionne Warwick– vocals
  • Tony Bell, Bobby Eli, Don Murray – guitar
  • Thom Bell– keyboards
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
  • Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
  • Joe DeAngelis, Milt Phibbs, Danny Davis – French horn
  • Freddie Joiner, Bobby Moore, Richie Genevese, Ed Cascarella – trombone
  • Don Renaldo – strings
  • Walter Pfeil – harp
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Sitting on Top of the World – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
  2. Smile, We Have Each Other – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  3. Then Came You – Sherman Marshall, Phillip Pugh
  4. There’s No One Like You – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes
  5. Living a Little, Laughing a Little – Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  6. Sadie – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
  7. Lazy Susan – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  8. I’ve Got to Make It on My Own – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes

Blue Magic: The Magic of the Blue

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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

Steve Miller Band: The Joker

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In October 1973, “Capitol” label released “The Joker”, the eighth Steve Miller Band album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Steve Miller. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Steve Miller– vocals, guitar, harmonica
  • “Sneaky” Pete Kleinow– pedal steel guitar
  • Dick Thompson – organ, clavinet
  • Gerald Johnson – vocals, bass guitar
  • Lonnie Turner – bass guitar
  • John King – drums
  • John Van Hamersveld, Norman Seeff– design
  • Norman Seeff – photography

Track listing:

  1. Sugar Babe – Steve Miller
  2. Mary Lou – Obie Jessie, Sam Ling
  3. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma – Steve Miller
  4. Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ but Trash – Chuck Calhoun
  5. The Joker – Steve Miller, Eddie Curtis, Ahmet Ertegün
  6. The Lovin’ Cup – Steve Miller
  7. Come On in My Kitchen ( recorded live at the Tower Theater, Philadelphia) – Robert Johnson
  8. Evil (live) – Steve Miller
  9. Something to Believe In – Steve Miller

Blue Magic: Thirteen Blue Magic Lane

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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

Spinners: Pick Of The Litter

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In August 1975, “Atlantic” label released “Pick of the Litter”, the sixth Spinners studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Tony Bell, Bobby Eli, Don Murray – guitars
  • Thom Bell– keyboards
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • MFSB– strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Honest I Do – Sherman Marshall, Philip Pugh, Thom Bell
  2. I Don’t Want to Lose You – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  3. Love or Leave – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  4. Sweet Love of Mine – Vinnie Barrett, Bobby Eli
  5. All That Glitters Ain’t Gold – Philip Terry, Theodore Life, Talmadge Conway
  6. You Made a Promise to Me – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  7. Games People Play – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
  8. Just as Long as We Have Love – Vinnie Barrett, Bruce Hawes

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: I Miss You

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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

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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

Magazine: The Correct Use Of Soap

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In May 1980, “Virgin” label released “The Correct Use of Soap”, the third Magazine album. It was recorded in 1980, and Martin Hannett.

Personnel:

  • Howard Devoto– vocals
  • John McGeoch– guitar
  • Dave Formula– keyboards
  • Barry Adamson– bass guitar
  • John Doyle– drums
  • Laura Teresa – additional backing vocals
  • Raphael Ravenscroft – saxophone
  • Malcolm Garrett(Aesthetic Images) – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Barry Adamson, Howard Devoto, John Doyle, Dave Formula and John McGeoch, except where noted.

  1. Because You’re Frightened
  2. Model Worker
  3. I’m a Party
  4. You Never Knew Me
  5. Philadelphia
  6. I Want to Burn Again
  7. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sylvester Stewart
  8. Sweetheart Contract
  9. Stuck
  10. A Song from Under the Floorboards

O’Jays: Survival

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In April 1975, “Philadelphia International Records” label released “Survival”, the tenth O’Jays studio. It was recorded in1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble anLeon Huff.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Levert – lead vocal
  • Walter Lee Williams – vocals
  • William Powell – vocals
  • Bobby Massey – vocals
  • Bill Isles – vocals
  • MFSB – instrumentation
  • Bobby Martyn – arrangements
  • Joe Tarsia – engineer
  • Jose Gerson – artwork
  • Ed Lee – design
  • Don Hunstein – photography

Track listing:

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

  1. Give the People What They Want
  2. Let Me Make Love to You – Bunny Sigler, Allan Felder
  3. Survival
  4. Where Did We Go Wrong
  5. Rich Get Richer
  6. How Time Flies
  7. What Am I Waiting For – Sigler, Ron Tyson
  8. Never Break Us Up – Leon Huff

Spinners: Same

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In April 1973, “Atlantic” label released the third, self-titled Spinners album. It was recorded 1972-1973, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, Bobby Eli– guitar
  • Thom Bell– piano
  • Ronnie Baker– bass
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • Vince Montana– vibes, marimbas
  • Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
  • Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
  • Joe DeAnglis, Robert Martin – French horn
  • Freddie Joiner, Bobby Moore, Richie Genevese, Eddie Keskarella – trombone
  • Don Renaldo – strings
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Yvette Benton – backing vocals
  • Thom Bell– arranger, conductor
  • Joe Tarsia– recording, re-mix engineer
  • Loring Eutemey – design
  • Merrill A. Roberts, Jr. – photography

Track listing:

  1. Just Can’t Get You Out of My Mind – Vinnie Barrett
  2. Just You and Me Baby – Yvette Davis
  3. Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You – Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellman, Victor Drayton, Reginald Turner
  4. I Could Never (Repay Your Love) – Bruce Hawes
  5. I’ll Be Around – Thom Bell, Phil Hurtt
  6. One of a Kind (Love Affair) – Joseph B. Jefferson
  7. We Belong Together – Yvette Davis
  8. Ghetto Child – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  9. How Could I Let You Get Away – Yvette Davis
  10. Could It Be I’m Falling in Love – Melvin and Mervin Steals