Tag Archives: Ray Lucas

Roberta Flack: First Take

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On June 20, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “First Take”, the debut Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded in February 1969, at “Atlantic” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “First Take” at number 451 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
  • Bucky Pizzarelli – guitars
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Ray Lucas – drums, percussion
  • Seldon Powell, Frank Wess – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Benny Powell – trombone
  • Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff – violin
  • Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Theodore Israel – viola
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
  • William S. Fischer – horn and string arrangements, string conducting
  • William Arlt – recording
  • Bob Liftin – remix
  • Stanislaw Zagorski – design
  • Ken Heinen – photography

Track listing:

  1. Compared to What – Gene McDaniels
  2. Angelitos Negros – Andrés Eloy Blanco, Manuel Álvarez Maciste
  3. Our Ages or Our Hearts – Robert Ayers, Donny Hathaway
  4. I Told Jesus – traditional, arranged by Roberta Flack
  5. Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye – Leonard Cohen
  6. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
  7. Tryin’ Times – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
  8. Ballad of the Sad Young Men – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf

Donny Hathaway: Extension Of A Man

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On June 18, 1973, “Atco” label released “Extension of a Man”, the fourth and final Donny Hathaway studio album. It was recorded October – November 1972, at “A&R”, “Bell Sound”, “Regent Sound” and “Atlantic” in New York City, “Universal” in Chicago, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Donny Hathaway – lead vocals, Fender Rhodes electric piano, all pianos, Hammond organ, keyboards, bass, arrangements
  • Cornell Dupree – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – banjo, guitar
  • Willie Weeks, Russ Savakus, Stanley Clarke, Gordon Edwards – bass
  •  Grady Tate, Fred White, Rick Marotta, Ray Lucas – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Julien Barber, Noel DaCosta, Sanford Allen, Theodore Israel – violin
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Kermit Moore – cello
  • Gloria Agostini – harp 
  • David Newman – saxophone
  • Marvin Stamm, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Dominick Gravine, Garnett Brown, Paul Faulise, Wayne Andre, Tony Studd, Garnett Brown – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Don Butterfield – tuba
  • Phil Bodner – clarinet, alto saxophone
  • Seldon Powell – clarinet, reeds, tenor saxophone
  • Vincent Abato – clarinet
  • Romeo Penque, William Slapin – reeds
  • Jim Buffington, Julius Watkins, Tony Miranda – French horn
  • Henry Schuman – oboe
  • Myrna Summers & The Interdenominational Singers – choir 
  • Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, Jimmy Douglass, Mario “Big M” Medious, Richard Wells, William “Mac” McCollum – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Donny Hathaway, except where noted.

  1. I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)
  2. Someday We’ll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway, Edward Howard
  3. Flying Easy
  4. Valdez in the Country
  5. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know – Al Kooper
  6. Come Little Children
  7. Love, Love, Love – J.R. Bailey, Ken Williams
  8. The Slums
  9. Magdalena – Danny O’Keefe
  10. I Know It’s You – Leon Ware
  11. Lord Help Me – Joe Greene, Billy Preston

Junior Mance: I Believe To My Soul

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In February 1968, “Atlantic” label released “I Believe to My Soul”, the twelve Junior Mance album. It was recorded in September 1966 – August 1967, in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn.

Personnel:

  • Junior Mance – piano
  • David Newman, Frank Wess – tenor saxophone
  • Hubert Laws – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Bobby Capers, Haywood Henry – baritone saxophone
  • Melvin Lastie, Joe Newman, Jimmy Owens – trumpet
  • Bob Cunningham, Richard Davis – bass
  • Jimmy Tyrell – electric bass
  • Alan Dawson, Ray Lucas, Freddie Waits – drums
  • Ray Barretto – congas
  • Sylvia Shemwell – vocals
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements
  • Gene Orloff – strings conductor
  • Bruce Tergesen – engineer
  • Phil Lehle – engineer
  • Rob Grenell – mastering
  • Marvin Israel – front cover design
  • Lee Friedlander – photography
  • Ray Spaulding – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Junior Mance, except where noted.

  1. I Believe to My Soul – Ray Charles
  2. A Time and a Place – Jimmy Heath
  3. Sweet Georgia Brown – Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey
  4. Golden Spur
  5. Don’t Worry ‘Bout It
  6. Home on the Range – traditional
  7. Sweets for My Sweet – Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
  8. My Romance – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart

Stanley Turrentine: Easy Walker

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In February 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Easy Walker”, the 17th Stanley Turrentine album. It was recorded in July 1966 and July 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff and Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Stanley Turrentine – tenor saxophone
  • McCoy Tyner – piano, electric piano
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass
  • Gene Taylor – bass
  • Mickey Roker – drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • Billy Cobham – drums

Track listing:

  1. Meat Wave – Hank Johnson
  2. They All Say I’m the Biggest Fool – Buddy Johnson
  3. Yours Is My Heart Alone – Franz Lehár
  4. Easy Walker – Billy Taylor
  5. What the World Needs Now – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz

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

Aretha Franklin: Spirit in the Dark

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On August 24, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Spirit in the Dark”, the seventeenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded May – October 1969, March 1970, and was produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, piano
  • Dave Crawford– organ
  • Buzz Feiten– guitar
  • Jimmy Johnson– guitar
  • Jimmy O’Rourke – guitar
  • Charlie Freeman – guitar
  • Duane Allman– guitar
  • Cornell Dupree– guitar
  • Eddie Hinton– guitar
  • Tommy McClure – bass guitar
  • Harold “Hog” Cowart – bass guitar
  • David Hood– bass guitar
  • Sammy Creason– drums
  • Ron Ziegler – drums
  • Roger Hawkins– drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • Jim Dickinson– additional keyboards
  • Michael Utley– additional keyboards
  • Barry Beckett– additional keyboards
  • The Sweet Inspirations– backing vocals
  • Wylene Ivy – backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Almeda Lattimore – backing vocals
  • Pat Lewis– backing vocals
  • Evelyn Green – backing vocals
  • Brenda Bryant – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Play That Song – Ahmet Ertegün, Betty Nelson
  2. The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday’s Kiss) – Rick Darnell, Roy Hawkins
  3. Pullin’ – Carolyn Franklin, Jimmy Radcliffe
  4. You and Me – Aretha Franklin
  5. Honest I Do – Jimmy Reed, Ewart Abner
  6. Spirit in the Dark – Aretha Franklin
  7. When the Battle Is Over- Jessie Hill,  John
  8. One Way Ticket – Jessie Hill,  John
  9. Try Matty’s – Aretha Franklin
  10. That’s All I Want from You – Fritz Rotter
  11. Oh No Not My Baby – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  12. Why I Sing the Blues – B. King, Dave Clark

Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted And Black

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ArethaFranklinYoung,Gifted&Black

On January 24, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Young, Gifted and Black”, the nineteenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded August 1970 – February 1971, and was produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler. In 1972, the album won Aretha Franklin “Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance”. In 2003, the TV network “VH1” ranked it the 76th greatest album of all time.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic piano, celesta, electric piano
  • Don Arnone – acoustic guitar
  • Cornell Dupree- guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar
  • Donny Hathaway- organ, electric piano
  • Billy Preston- organ
  • Eric Gale- bass
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Robert Popwell- bass, percussion
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
  • Al Jackson, Jr.- drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • The Memphis Horns- horn section
  • Andrew Love (of the Memphis Horns) – tenor saxophone
  • Neal Rosengarden – trumpet, vibraphone
  • Wayne Jackson (of the Memphis Horns) – trumpet
  • Hubert Laws- flute
  • Tom Dowd- horn arrangements
  • Pat Smith – backing vocals
  • Ronald Bright – backing vocals
  • R. Bailey – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Franklin- backing vocals
  • Erma Franklin- backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Ann S. Clark – backing vocals
  • The Sweet Inspirations- backing vocals
  • Sammy Turner – backing vocals
  • Stanislaw Zagorski – cover design
  • David Nathan – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby) – Jim Doris
  2. Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin
  3. Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
  4. Young, Gifted and Black – Weldon Irvine, Nina Simone
  5. All the King’s Horses – Aretha Franklin
  6. A Brand New Me – Theresa Bell, Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble
  7. April Fools – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  8. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
  9. First Snow in Kokomo – Aretha Franklin
  10. The Long and Winding Road – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  11. Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  12. Border Song (Holy Moses) – Bernie Taupin, Elton John