In October 1977, “Columbia” label released “Introducing Sparks”, the seventh Sparks album. It was recorded in 1977, at “Larrabee Sound” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Jimmy Lenner, Terry Powell, Ron Mael and Russell Mael.
Personnel:
Russell Mael – lead and backing vocals
Ron Mael – keyboards, arrangements
Alan Broadbent, Ben Benay, David Foster, Ed Greene, David Paich, Mike Porcaro, Reinie Press, Lee Ritenour, Thom Rotella – musicians
Tom Bahler, Al Capps, Stan Farber, Jim Haas, Ron Hicklin, Mark Piscitelli, Nick Uhrig – backing vocals
Lenny Roberts – engineer
Betsy Banghart, Randy Tominaga – engineer assistant
On July 24, 2001, “Columbia” label released “Three Chord Opera”, the twenty-fifth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded 2000 – 2001, at “Arch Angel Studios” in Los Angeles, “Sony Pictures Studios” in Culver City, California, and was produced by Peter Asher and Alan Lindgren.
Personnel:
Neil Diamond – lead vocals
Hadley Hockensmith – acoustic and electric guitar, 12-string guitar
On December 13, 1988, “Columbia” label released “The Best Years of Our Lives”, the eighteenth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “Chartmaker Studios”, “Lion Share Recording Studios”, “Village Recorders”, “Ocean Way Recording” in Los Angeles, “A&M Studios” in Hollywood, “Omnisound Recording Studios” in Nashville, “Seacost Sound” in Victoria, British Columbia, and was produced by David Foster.
Personnel:
Neil Diamond – lead vocals
Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin, Renée Geyer, Richard Page – backing vocals
Richard Bennett – acoustic guitar
Dean Parks – acoustic and electric guitar
Michael Landau, Steve Lukather – electric guitar
Michael Boddicker, Robbie Buchanan, David Foster, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren, Michael Omartian, David Paich – keyboards
Mike Brignardello, Reinie Press – bass guitar
Tris Imboden, Paul Leim, Carlos Vega – drums
Rick Bowen, Rhett Lawrence, Kevin Maloney – synthesizer programming
Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Dan Higgins, Bill Reichenbach Jr., Larry Williams – horns
David Foster, Jerry Hey – horn arrangements
Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements
David Foster – arranger
Jeffrey Woodruff – engineer
Jesse Kanner, Ray Pyle, Dave Reitzas – engineer assistant
Humberto Gatica – mixing
Mauricio Guerrero, Laura Livingston – mixing assistant
George Marino – mastering
David Kirschner – art direction, design
Beverley Lazor-Bahr – additional design
Matthew Rolston – photography
Sam Cole, Chris Earthy – production coordination
Ned Brown, Barry Cardinale, Larry E. Williams, Alison Zanetos – production assistant
Track listing:
All tracks by Neil Diamond, except where noted.
The Best Years of Our Lives
Hard Times for Lovers
This Time – Neil Diamond, David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock
Everything’s Gonna Be Fine – Neil Diamond, Weldon Dean Parks
Hooked on the Memory of You
Take Care of Me – Neil Diamond, David Foster
Baby Can I Hold You – Tracy Chapman
Carmelita’s Eyes – Neil Diamond, David Foster
Courtin’ Disaster – Neil Diamond, David Foster
If I Couldn’t See You Again
Long Hard Climb – Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren
In April 1975, “A&M” label released “Diamonds & Rust”, the seventeenth Joan Baez album. It was recorded in January 1975, and was produced by Larry Carlton, David Kershenbaum and Joan Baez.
Personnel:
Joan Baez – vocals, acoustic guitar, synthesizers, arrangements
Joni Mitchell– vocal improvisation
Larry Carlton– acoustic and electric guitar, arranger
Dean Parks– electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Red Rhodes– pedal steel guitar
Rick Lo Tempio – electric guitar
Larry Knechtel– piano
Joe Sample– electric piano, Hammond organ
Hampton Hawes– piano
David Paich– piano, electric harpsichord
Malcolm Cecil– synthesizers
Wilton Felder– bass
Reinie Press – bass
Max Bennett– bass
Jim Gordon– drums
John Guerin– drums
Jim Horn– saxophone
Tom Scott– flute, saxophone, arranger
Ollie Mitchell – trumpet
Buck Monari – trumpet
Rick Riggieri – engineer
Henry Lewy – engineer
Ellis Sorkin – engineer assistant
Bob Cato – design
Track listing:
Diamonds & Rust – Joan Baez
Fountain of Sorrow – Jackson Browne
Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer – Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright
Children and All That Jazz – Joan Baez
Simple Twist of Fate – Bob Dylan
Blue Sky – Dickey Betts
Hello in There – John Prine
Jesse – Janis Ian
Winds of the Old Days – Joan Baez
Dida – Joan Baez – duet with Joni Mitchell
Medley: I Dream of Jeannie – Stephen Foster / Danny Boy – Frederick Weatherly
On October 14, 1975, “Columbia” label released “Breakaway”, the second Art Garfunkel solo studio album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Richard Perry, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and Phil Ramone. The album was certified Platinum in the US by “RIAA”.
Personnel:
Art Garfunkel – vocals
Toni Tennille– vocals
Jay Clayton – vocal
Graham Nash– vocals
David Crosby– vocals
Paul Simon– vocals, guitar
Stephen Bishop– vocals, guitar
Andrew Gold– vocals, guitar
Steve Cropper– guitar
Pete Carr– guitar
Lon & Derrek VanEaton – guitar
Louie Shelton– guitar
Barry Beckett– piano
Bruce Johnston– piano
John Barlow Jarvis– piano
Larry Knechtel– keyboards
Nicky Hopkins– keyboards
Bill Payne– keyboards
Max Bennett– bass
Reinie Press – bass
Joe Osborn– bass
David Hood– bass
Klaus Voormann– bass
Leland Sklar– bass
Denny Seiwell– drums
Rick Shlosser– drums
Jim Keltner– drums
John Guerin– drums
Roger Hawkins– drums
Russ Kunkel– drums
Joe Clayton – percussion
David Katz – violin, orchestra contractor
New World Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra
Del Newman – conductor
Helena Kallianiotes– cover model
Track listing:
I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) – Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright
Rag Doll – Steve Eaton
Break Away – Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle
Disney Girls – Bruce Johnston
Waters of March – Antônio Carlos Jobim
My Little Town – Paul Simon
I Only Have Eyes for You – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
Looking for the Right One – Stephen Bishop
99 Miles from L.A. – Albert Hammond, Hal David
The Same Old Tears on a New Background – Stephen Bishop
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