Tag Archives: Q

Van Der Graaf Generator: The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other

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In February 1970, “Charisma” label released “The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other”, the second Van der Graaf Generator album. It was recorded in December 1969, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by John Anthony. The album was ranked at number 15 in the “Q” and “Mojo” “Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock” list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”

Personnel:

  • Peter Hammill– lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
  • Hugh Banton– Farfisa organ, piano, backing vocals
  • Nic Potter– bass guitar, electric guitar
  • Guy Evans– drums, percussion
  • David Jackson– alto and tenor saxophone, flute, backing vocals
  • Gerry Salisbury –cornet
  • Mike Hurwitz –cello
  • Van der Graaf Generator – arrangements
  • Robin Geoffrey Cable – engineer, recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Peter Hammill..

  1. Darkness
  2. Refugees
  3. White Hammer
  4. Whatever Would Robert Have Said?
  5. Out of My Book
  6. After the Flood

David Bowie: Black Star

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On January 8, 2016, “ISO”, “RCA”, “Columbia”, and “Sony” labels released “Black Star”, the twenty-fifth and final David Bowie studio album. It was recorded in 2015, at “The Magic Shop” and “Human Worldwide Studios”, in New York City, and was produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti.  The album was voted Best album of 2016, in the annual choices by many medias including The A.V. Club, Mojo, Newsweek, Paste, Q, Rolling Stone (Readers Poll), Uncut and The Wire Magazine. “Black Star” became Bowie’s only album to top the “Billboard 200” in the United States, and it remained at the number one position in the UK charts for three weeks. The album was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; in Austria by “IFPI”; in Belgium by “BEA”; in Canada by “Music Canada”; in France by “SNEP”; in Italy by “FIMI”, and in UK by “BPI”.

Personnel:

  • David Bowie– vocals, acoustic guitar, “Fender Guitar”, harmonica, string  arrangements, mixing
  • Ben Monder– guitar
  • Jason Lindner– piano, organ, keyboards
  • Tim Lefebvre– bass
  • Mark Guiliana– drums, percussion
  • James Murphy– percussion
  • Donny McCaslin– flute, saxophone, woodwinds
  • Tony Visconti– strings, engineer, mixing
  • Kevin Killen– engineer
  • Erin Tonkon – backing vocals, engineer assistant
  • Kabir Hermon – engineer assistant
  • Tom Elmhirst– mixing
  • Joe Visciano – mixing assistant
  • Joe LaPorta– mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by David Bowie, except where noted.

  1. Blackstar
  2. Tis a Pity She Was a Whore
  3. Lazarus
  4. Sue (Or in a Season of Crime) – David Bowie, Maria Schneider, Paul Bateman, Bob Bharma
  5. Girl Loves Me
  6. Dollar Days
  7. I Can’t Give Everything Away

Gentle Giant: Octopus

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octopus

On December 1, 1972, “Vertigo” label released “Octopus”, the fourth Gentle Giant album. It was recorded July – August 1972, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Gary Green, Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, Phil Shulman, Ray Shulman and John Weathers. In the Q & Mojo “Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock”, “Octopus” was ranked at number 16 in its list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”. “Prog Magazine” ranked the album at number 65 in its list of “The 100 Greatest Prog Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Gary Green- electric guitars, percussion
  • Kerry Minnear- lead and backing vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, electric piano, Mellotron, Clavinet, harpsichord, regal, vibraphone, cello, percussion
  • Derek Shulman- lead vocals, alto saxophone
  • Phil Shulman – lead and backing vocals, trumpet, tenor saxophone, mellophone
  • Ray Shulman- bass, violin, viola , electric violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • John Weathers- drums, bongos, varispeed cymbal, xylophone
  • Martin Rushent – engineer
  • Cliff Morris – mastering
  • Geoff Young – tape operator
  • John Berg – cover concept, design
  • Fluid Drive – art
  • Charles White III – illustration
  • Kenny Kneitel – design
  • Michael Doret – lettering

Track listing:

All lyrics by Derek Shulman and Phil Shulman, all music by Kerry Minnear and Ray Shulman.

  1. The Advent of Panurge
  2. Raconteur Troubadour
  3. Knots
  4. A Cry for Everyone
  5. The Boys in the Band
  6. Dog’s Life
  7. Think of Me with Kindness
  8. River

The Jam: All Mod Cons

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the_jam_-_all_mod_cons

On November 3, 1978, “Polydor” label released “All Mod Cons”, the third Jam (The) album. It was recorded July – August 1978, at “RAK” and “Eden Studios” in London, and was produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and Chris Parry. In 2000,  “Q”  magazine  ranked “All Mod Cons” at number 50 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”, in 2013, “NME” magazine ranked it at number 219 in its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Paul Weller – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, design
  • Bruce Foxton – vocals, bass, design
  • Rick Buckler – drums, percussion, design
  • Gregg Jackman, Roger Bechirian, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven – soundboard engineer
  • Peter Schierwade, Phil Thornalley – engineer assistant
  • Bill Smith – design
  • Peter “Kodick” Gravelle – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Weller, except where noted.

  1. All Mod Cons
  2. To Be Someone (Didn’t We Have a Nice Time)
  3. Clean
  4. David Watts – Ray Davies
  5. English Rose
  6. In the Crowd
  7. Billy Hunt
  8. It’s Too Bad
  9. Fly
  10. The Place I Love
  11. ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street
  12. Down in the Tube Station at Midnight

PJ Harvey: Stories Fron The City, Stories From The Sea

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On October 23, 2000, “Island” label released “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea”, the fifth PJ Harvey studio album. It was recorded March–April 2000, at “Great Linford Manor” in Milton Keynes, UK, and was produced by Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey and PJ Harvey. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 8 on its list of “The 50 Essential “Women in Rock” Albums”. In 2002, “Q” magazine named “Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea” the “Greatest Album of All-Time by a Female Artist”.In 2006, “Time” magazine choose the album as one of the “100 Best Albums of All Time”. The album was certified Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”, and Platinum in UK by “BPI”.

Personnel:

  • PJ Harvey– vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, piano, djembe, maracas, e-bow,  engineer
  • Mick Harvey– organ, bass, drums, percussion, harmonium, keyboards, accordion, backing vocals
  • Thom Yorke– vocals, keyboards
  • Rob Ellis– drums, piano, tambourine, synthesizer, keyboards, bells, harpsichord, electric piano, vibraphone, backing vocals
  • Victor Van Vugt– engineer, mixing
  • Head – engineer, mixing
  • Howie Weinberg- mastering
  • Rob Crane – design
  • Maria Mochnacz – design, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by PJ Harvey.

  1. Big Exit
  2. Good Fortune
  3. A Place Called Home
  4. One Line
  5. Beautiful Feeling
  6. The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore
  7. This Mess We’re In
  8. You Said Something
  9. Kamikaze
  10. This Is Love
  11. Horses in My Dreams
  12. We Float

 

The Teardrop Explodes: Kilimanjaro

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teardrop_explodes_-_kilimanjaro

On October 10, 1980, “Fontana” label released “Kilimanjaro”, the debut Teardrop Explodes (The) album. It was recorded in 1980, at “Rockfield Studios” in Monmouth, and was produced by Bill Drummond, David Balfe and Alan Winstanley. In 2000  “Q” magazine placed “Kilimanjaro” at number 95 in its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”.

Personnel:

  • Michael Finkler – guitar
  • Alan Gill– guitar
  • David Balfe– piano, organ, synthesizer
  • Julian Cope– vocals, bass guitar
  • Gary Dwyer– drums
  • Hurricane Smith, Ray Martinez – trumpet
  • Hugh Jones– engineer
  • Brian Griffin – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Julian Cope, Gary Dwyer and Michael Finkler, except where noted.

  1. Ha Ha I’m Drowning
  2. Sleeping Gas – Julian Cope, Gary Dwyer, Michael Finkler, Paul Simpson
  3. Treason
  4. Second Head
  5. Reward
  6. Poppies in the Field
  7. Went Crazy – Julian Cope, Michael Finkler
  8. Brave Boys Keep Their Promises
  9. Bouncing Babies
  10. Books – Julian Cope,Ian McCulloch
  11. The Thief of Baghdad
  12. When I Dream

The Verve: Urban Hymns

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On September 29, 1997, “Hut” label released “Urban Hymns” the third Verve studio album. It was recorded October 1996 – May 1997, at “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Richard Ashcroft, Nick Mccabe, Simon Tong , Peter Salisbury, Chris Potter and Youth. In 1998, “Urban Hymns”  won “Best British Album” at the “Brit Awards”. In 2001, “Q” magazine readers ranked the album at number 18 in the vote for the “Greatest Albums of All Time”, and in 2006, its editors voted it the 16th greatest album of all time. The Verve were awarded with the first ever “Q Classic Album” award for this album at the 2007 “Q Awards”. As of 2015, “Urban Hymns” was ranked the 18th best-selling album in UK chart history.  The critical and commercial success of the album won The Verve, two “Brit Awards” in 1998, including “Best British Group”. The album was certified 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; Platinum in Belgium by “BEA”; 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; Platinum in Netherlands by “NVPI”; 5 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; Platinum in Sweden by “GLF”; Platinum iin Switzerland by “IFPI Switzerland”; 10 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”; Platinum in the US by “RIIA”, and 4 x Platinum in Europe by “IFPI”.

Personnel:

  • Richard Ashcroft– vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Nick McCabe– lead guitar
  • Simon Tong– rhythm guitar, keyboards
  • Simon Jones– bass
  • Peter Salisbury– drums
  • Liam Gallagher– backing vocals, claps
  • Mel Wesson –programming
  • Paul Anthony Taylor – programming
  • Will Malone– conductor, string arrangements
  • Chris Potter– recording, engineer, mixing
  • Gareth Ashton – engineer assistant
  • Lorraine Francis – engineer assistant
  • Jan Kybert – engineer assistant
  • Brian Cannon– director, design, sleeve art
  • Martin Catherall – design assistant
  • Matthew Sankey – design assistant
  • Michael Spencer Jones – photography
  • John Horsley – photography
  • Chris Floyd – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Ashcroft, except where noted.

  1. Bitter Sweet Symphony – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Richard Ashcroft
  2. Sonnet
  3. The Rolling People –
  4. The Drugs Don’t Work
  5. Catching the Butterfly – Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Tong, Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury
  6. Neon Wilderness Nick McCabe, Richard Ashcroft, Simon Tong, Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury
  7. Space and Time
  8. Weeping Willow
  9. Lucky Man
  10. One Day
  11. This Time
  12. Velvet Morning
  13. Come On – Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Tong, Simon Jones, Peter Salisbury
  • Come On
  • [silence]
  • Deep Freeze (hidden track)

Gang of Four: Entertainment!

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entertainment

On September 25, 1979, “EMI” label released “Entertainment!” the debut Gang of Four album. It was recorded 1979 at “The Workhouse” in London, and was produced by Andy Gill, Jon King and Rob Warr. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 483 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2005, “Q”  magazine  ranked the track “At Home He’s a Tourist” at number 52 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitar Tracks”.

Personnel:

  • Andy Gill– vocals, guitar, artwork
  • Jon King– vocals, melodica, artwork
  • Dave Allen– vocals, bass guitar
  • Hugo Burnham – vocals, drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Dave Allen, Hugo Burnham, Andy Gill, and Jon King.

  1. Ether
  2. Natural’s Not in It
  3. Not Great Men
  4. Damaged Goods
  5. Return the Gift
  6. Guns Before Butter
  7. I Found That Essence Rare
  8. Glass
  9. Contract
  10. At Home He’s a Tourist
  11. 45
  12. Anthrax

Primal Scream: Screamadelica

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screamadelica

On September 23, 1991, “Creation Records” label released “Screamadelica”, the third Primal Scream studio album. It was recorded 1990 – 1991, and was produced by The Orb, Hypnotone, Andrew Weatherall, Hugo Nicolson and Jimmy Miller. In 1991, “Melody Maker” and “Select” magazines named “Screamadelica” “Album of the Year”; the album won the first “Mercury Music Prize” in 1992; in 2003,  “NME” magazine placed it at no. 23 in its list of the “100 Best Albums Ever”, and in  2006, the magazine placed it at number 15 in its list of the “Greatest British Albums Ever”; in 2000, “Q” magazine placed “Screamadelica” at number 18 on its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums, and in 2001, the magazine placed it at number 81 on its list of the “Top 100 Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bobby Gillespie- lead vocals
  • Andrew Innes- guitar
  • Robert Young- guitar, lead vocals
  • Martin Duffy- keyboards, piano
  • Henry Olsen – bass, guitar solo
  • Phillip “Toby” Tomanov- drums, percussion
  • Denise Johnson – lead vocals
  • Jah Wobble– bass
  • Paul Anthony Taylor – programming
  • Dave Burnham – engineer
  • Jimmy Miller – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, and Robert Young, except “Slip Inside This House” by Roky Erickson and Tommy Hall.

  1. Movin’ On Up
  2. Slip Inside This House
  3. Don’t Fight It, Feel It
  4. Higher Than the Sun
  5. Inner Flight
  6. Come Together
  7. Loaded
  8. Damaged
  9. I’m Coming Down
  10. Higher Than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts)
  11. Shine Like Stars

Neil Young: After The Gold Rush

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after_the_gold_rush

On September 19, 1970, “Reprise” label released “After the Gold Rush”, the third Neil Young studio album. It was recorded 1969 – June 1970, at “Sunset Sound” in Hollywood; “Sound City”; “Van Nuys” in Los Angeles, and “Redwood Studios” in Topanga, California, and was produced by Neil Young, David Briggs and Kendall Pacios. In 1998, “Q”  magazine readers voted “After the Gold Rush” the 89th greatest album of all time. In 2003, Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 71 on its list of the “500 Greatest Album of All Time”. In 2003, “NME” magazine ranked “After the Gold Rush” at number 80 of the list of the “Greatest Albums of All Time. In 1986, the album was certified 2 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”, and 2 x Platinum in UK by the “BPI” in 2004.

Personnel:

  • Neil Young — lead vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, vibes
  • Stephen Stills— vocals
  • Danny Whitten — vocals, guitar
  • Nils Lofgren — vocals, guitar, piano
  • Jack Nitzsche— piano
  • Billy Talbot— bass
  • Greg Reeves — bass
  • Ralph Molina — vocals, drums
  • Bill Peterson — flugelhorn

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Young except where noted.

  1. Tell Me Why
  2. After the Gold Rush
  3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
  4. Southern Man
  5. Till the Morning Comes
  6. Oh, Lonesome Me – Don Gibson
  7. Don’t Let It Bring You Down
  8. Birds
  9. When You Dance I Can Really Love
  10. I Believe in You
  11. Cripple Creek Ferry