Tag Archives: Reginald “Sonny” Burke

Smokey Robinson: Being With You

On February 17, 1981, “Motown” label released “Being with You”, the ninth Smokey Robinson album. It was recorded November – January 1981, at “Studio Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, “Motown Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by George Tobin, Mike Piccirillo and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead and backing vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards, arrangements
  • Ronnie Rancifer – keyboards
  • Bill Cuomo – keyboards
  • Mike Piccirillo – synthesizers, organ, guitars, additional keyboards, percussion, steel drums, associate producer
  • Scott Edwards – bass
  • Robert “Pops” Popwell – bass
  • Ed Greene – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Scotty Harris – drums
  • Howard Lee Wolen – percussion
  • Mark Wolfson – percussion
  • Joel Peskin – saxophones
  • Harry Kim – trumpet
  • David Strout – trombone
  • George Tobin – arrangements
  • Ivory Davis – backing vocals
  • Patricia Henley – backing vocals
  • Robert John – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Julia Waters Tillman – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals
  • Michael Lizzio – engineer, mixing
  • Howard Lee Wolen, Mark Wolfson – engineer
  • Richie Griffin, Ginny Pallante – engineer assistant
  • George Tobin – mixing
  • John Lemay – mastering
  • Johnny Lee – art direction
  • Ginny Livingston – design
  • Gary Heery – photography
  • Lisa Marie – production coordinator
  • Randy Dunlap, Barbara Ramsey – project manager

Track listing:

All tracks by Smokey Robinson, except where noted.

  1. Being With You
  2. Food For Thought
  3. If You Wanna Make Love (Come ‘Round Here)
  4. Who’s Sad – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  5. Can’t Fight Love – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  6. You Are Forever
  7. As You Do – Peter Kingsbery
  8. I Hear The Children Singing – Forest Hairston

Smokey Robinson: Smokey’s Family Robinson

On February 10, 1976, “Tamla” label released “Smokey’s Family Robinson”, the fourth Smokey Robinson studio album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals, rhythm arrangements, engineer
  • Marvin Tarplin – guitar
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards, rhythm arrangements
  • Scott Edwards – bass guitar
  • Wayne Tweed – bass guitar
  • Joseph A. Brown, Jr. – drums
  • James “Alibe” Sledge – percussion
  • Michael Jacobsen – electric cello, saxophone
  • Fred Smith – horns, horn arrangements
  • Ivory Stone Davis – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Dennis – backing vocals
  • Patricia Henley – backing vocals
  • Melba Joyce – backing vocals
  • Guy Costa – engineer
  • Frank Mulvey – art direction
  • Gribbit! – graphics
  • Sam Emerson – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Smokey Robinson, except where noted.

  1. When You Came
  2. Get Out of Town – Smokey Robinson, Rose Ella Jones
  3. Do Like I Do – Smokey Robinson, Rose Ella Jones
  4. Open – Smokey Robinson, Marv Tarplin, Pamela Moffett
  5. So in Love
  6. Like Nobody Can
  7. Castles Made of Sand

Natalie Cole: Thankful

On November 16, 1977, “Capitol” label released “Thankful”, the fourth Natalie Cole album. It was recorded August – November 1977, at “ABC Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy.

Personnel:

  • Natalie Cole – lead vocals
  • Criss Johnson – guitar
  • Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Lee Ritenour – guitar
  • Linda Williams – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Marvin Yancy – acoustic piano, organ, clavinet
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – organ
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizers
  • Larry Ball – bass guitar
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Donnell Hagan – drums
  • Paul Humphrey – drums
  • Teddy Sparks – drums
  • Alan Estes – percussion
  • Chuck Jackson – handclaps
  • Hal Brooks – handclaps
  • Gene Barge – alto saxophone, arrangements
  • Richard Evans – arrangements
  • The Colettes – backing vocals
  • The “N” Sisters – backing vocals
  • Anita Anderson – backing vocals
  • Yasmine “Sissy” Peoples – backing vocals
  • Barney Perkins – engineer, mixing, mastering
  • Zollie Johnson, Lester Smith – engineer assistant
  • Barney Per – mixing
  • Dean Rod – assistant
  • John Golden – mastering
  • Roy Kohara – art direction
  • Craig Nelson – illustration
  • Gene Barge – co-producer
  • Larkin Arnold – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy, except where noted.

  1. Lovers – Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancy, Natalie Cole
  2. Our Love
  3. La Costa – Natalie Cole. Linda Williams
  4. There Ain’t Nothing Stronger Than Love
  5. Be Thankful
  6. Just Can’t Stay Away
  7. Annie Mae – Natalie Cole
  8. Keeping a Light – Natalie Cole

The Temptations: Power

On April 18, 1980, “Gordy” label released “Power”, the 24th Temptations (The) album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Golden Sound”, “Group IV Audio Inc”, “Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios”, “Jennifudy Studios”, and was produced by Angelo Bond, Berry Gordy, Teddy Randazzo and William Weatherspoon.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards – vocal
  • Melvin Franklin – vocal
  • Glenn Leonard – vocal
  • Richard Street – vocal
  • Otis Williams – vocal
  • Paul M. Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Tim May – guitar
  • Melvin “Wah Wah” Ragin – guitar
  • Anthony Travaglini – guitar
  • David T. Walker – guitar
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards
  • Eric Butler – keyboards
  • Earl Van Dyke – keyboards
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards
  • Eric Butler – keyboards
  • “Ready” Freddie Washington – bass guitar
  • Nathan Watts – bass guitar
  • Quentin Dennard – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • John Arnold – percussion
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – percussion
  • Gary Coleman – percussion
  • Gene Page – horn and string arrangements
  • Paul Riser – horn and string arrangements
  • McKinley Jackson – rhythm arrangements
  • Teddy Randazzo – arrangements
  • Barney Perkins – recording, mixing
  • Bob Robitaille – recording, mixing
  • Steve Williams – recording
  • Guy Costa – recording
  • Lawrence T. Horn – recording
  • Tony Autore – recording assistant
  • Bobby Brooks – recording assistant
  • Dave Mancini – recording assistant
  • Greg Orloff – recording assistant
  • Berry Gordy – mixing, executive producer
  • Paul Ring – mixing assistant
  • Mike Diehl – cover, design, illustration
  • Ginny Livingston – art direction
  • Ron Slenzak – photography
  • Ronald Wakefield – photography
  • Suzee Wendy Ikeda – project management

Track listing:

  1. Power – Angelo Bond, Berry Gordy, Jean Mayer
  2. Struck by Lightning Twice – Angelo Bond, Ronald Weatherspoon, William Weatherspoon
  3. Isn’t the Night Fantastic – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams
  4. How Can I Resist Your Love – Angelo Bond, William Weatherspoon
  5. Shadow of Your Love – Teddy Randazzo, Tony Travaglini
  6. Can’t You See Sweet Thing – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams
  7. Go for It – Angelo Bond, Ronald Weatherspoon, William Weatherspoon
  8. I’m Coming Home – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams