Tag Archives: Richard Polak

Billy Preston: Encouraging Words

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On September 11, 1970, “Apple” label released “Encouraging Words”, the fifth Billy Preston studio album. It was recorded February – December 1969 – April 1970, at “trident Studios” and “Olympic Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by George Harrison and Billy Preston.

Personnel:

  • Billy Preston – lead and backing vocals, organ, piano, electric piano, harmonica, backing vocals
  • George Harrison – electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Eric Clapton – electric guitar
  • Delaney Bramlett – electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Klaus Voormann – bass guitar
  • Carl Radle – bass guitar
  • Jim Gordon – drums
  • Ringo Starr – drums
  • Bobby Keys – saxophones
  • Jim Price – trumpet, trombone, horn arrangements
  • The Edwin Hawkins Singers – backing vocals
  • Members of the Temptations’ tour band – electric guitar, bass guitar, drums
  • Members of Sam & Dave’s tour band – bass guitar, drums
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:                                                                                                            

All tracks by Billy Preston, except where noted.

  1. Right Now
  2. Little Girl
  3. Use What You Got
  4. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
  5. Let the Music Play – Billy Preston, Joe Greene, Jesse Kirkland
  6. The Same Thing Again – Billy Preston, James Herndon
  7. I’ve Got a Feeling – John Lennon and Paul McCartney
  8. Sing One for the Lord – George Harrison, Billy Preston
  9. When You Are Mine
  10. I Don’t Want You to Pretend
  11. Encouraging Words
  12. All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
  13. You’ve Been Acting Strange – Ronnie Lee Williams

Quintemssence: Same

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In June 1970, “Island” label released the self-titled, second Quintessence studio album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by John Barham.

Personnel:

  • Allan Mostert – lead guitar
  • Maha Dev – rhythm guitar
  • Shiva Shankar Jones – vocals, keyboards
  • Raja Ram – flute
  • Sambhu Babaji – bass guitar
  • Jake Milton – drums
  • John Barham – arrangements, musical director
  • Gopala – paintings
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Gauranga
  2. Sea of Immortality
  3. High on Mt. Kailash (Excerpt from Opera) – lyrics by Stanley Barr
  4. Burning Bush (live)
  5. Shiva’s Chant
  6. Prisms – conception John Barham
  7. Twilight Zones – lyrics by Stanley Barr
  8. Maha Mantra
  9. Only Love
  10. St. Pancras (live)
  11. Infinitum – conception John Barham

Mott the Hopple: Brian Capers

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In November 1971, “Island” label released “Brain Capers”, the fourth Mott the Hopple studio album. It was recorded August – September 1971, at “Island Studios” in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens.

Personnel:

  • Ian Hunter – vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Mick Ralphs – lead guitar
  • Pete Watts – vocals, bass
  • Dale “Buffin” Griffin – vocals, drums
  • Verden Allen – vocals, keyboards
  • Jim Price – trumpet 
  • Guy Stevens – piano
  • Andy Johns – engineer
  • Zal Schreiber – mastering
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Death May Be Your Santa Claus – Ian Hunter, Verden Allen
  2. Your Own Backyard – Dion DiMucci, Tony Fasce
  3. Darkness, Darkness – Jesse Colin Young
  4. The Journey – Ian Hunter
  5. Sweet Angeline – Ian Hunter
  6. Second Love – Verden Allen
  7. The Moon Upstairs – Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs
  8. The Wheel of the Quivering Meat Conception – Ian Hunter, Guy Stevens

Back Street Crawler: The Band Plays On

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In October 1975, “Atlantic” label released “The Band Plays On”, the debut Back Street Crawler album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Ridge Farm” and “Sawmills”, and was produced by Paul Kossoff, Terry Wilson-Slesser, Terry Wilson, Tony Braunagel and Mike Montgomery.

Personnel:

  • Paul Kossoff- guitar
  • Terry Wilson-Slesser- vocals
  • Terry Wilson – guitar, bass guitar
  • Mike Montgomery – vocals, keyboards
  • Tony Braunagel- drums
  • Pete Van – baritone saxophone
  • Eddie Quansah – trumpet
  • George Lee – flutes, soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Rod Thear – engineer
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:

Aii tracks by Mike Montgomery; except where noted.

  1. Hoo Doo Woman – Paul Kossoff, Terry Wilson-Slesser, Terry Wilson, Tony Braunagel, Mike Montgomery
  2. New York, New York
  3. Stealing My Way – Mike Montgomery, Paul Kossoff
  4. Survivor
  5. It’s a Long Way Down to the Top
  6. All The Girls Are Crazy
  7. Jason Blue
  8. Train Song – Terry Wilson, Tony Braunagel
  9. Rock & Roll Junkie
  10. The Band Plays On – Terry Wilson

Traffic: The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys

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In November 1971, “Island” label released “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”, the fifth Traffic studio album. It was recorded in 1971, at “Island Studios” in London, and was produced by Steve Winwood. In 1996, the album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Steve Winwood– lead vocals, guitar, piano, organ
  • Jim Capaldi– lead and backing vocals, percussion
  • Chris Wood– saxophone, flute
  • Ric Grech– bass, violin
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Rebop Kwaku Baah– percussion
  • Mike Kellie– drums
  • Brian Humphries – engineer
  • Tony Wright– cover art
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Hidden Treasure – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi
  2. The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi
  3. Light Up or Leave Me Alone – Jim Capaldi
  4. Rock & Roll Stew – Ric Grech, Jim Gordon
  5. Many a Mile to Freedom – Steve Winwood, Anna Capaldi
  6. Rainmaker – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi

Mott The Hoople: Brain Capers

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In November 1971, “Island” label released “Brain Capers”, the fourth Mott the Hoople album. It was recorded August – September 1971, at “island Studios” in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens.

Personnel:

  • Ian Hunter– vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Mick Ralphs– vocals, guitar
  • Verden Allen– vocals, keyboards
  • Pete Watts– vocals, bass
  • Dale “Buffin” Griffin – vocals, drums
  • Guy Stevens– piano
  • Jim Price– trumpet
  • Andy Johns– engineer
  • Zal Schreiber – mastering
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Death May Be Your Santa Claus – Ian Hunter, Verden Allen
  2. Your Own Backyard – Dion DiMucci
  3. Darkness, Darkness – Jesse Colin Young
  4. The Journey – Ian Hunter
  5. Sweet Angeline – Ian Hunter
  6. Second Love – Verden Allen
  7. The Moon Upstairs – Ian Hunter, Mick Ralphs
  8. The Wheel of the Quivering Meat Conception – Ian Hunter, Guy Stevens

Traffic: Same

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In October 1968, “Island” label released the self-titled, second Traffic studio album. It was recorded January – May 1968, at “Olympic Studios” in London, “Record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Jimmy Miller.

Personnel:

  • Dave Mason– lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, Hammond organ
  • Steve Winwood – lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, bass, Hammond organ, piano, harpsichord
  • Chris Wood– tenor and soprano saxophone, flute, Coke tin, sleigh bells
  • Jim Capaldi– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Terry Brown, Eddie Kramer, Glyn Johns, Brian Humphries – engineer
  • Richard Polak, Gered Mankowitz– photography

Track listing:

  1. You Can All Join In – Dave Mason
  2. Pearly Queen – Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood
  3. Don’t Be Sad – Dave Mason
  4. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring – Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood
  5. Feelin’ Alright? – Dave Mason
  6. Vagabond Virgin – Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason
  7. Forty Thousand Headmen – Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood
  8. Cryin’ to Be Heard – Dave Mason
  9. No Time to Live – Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood
  10. Means to an End – Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood

Traffic: John Barleycorn Must Die

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In July 1970, “Island” label released “John Barleycorn Must Die”, the fourth Traffic studio album. It was recorded February – April 1970, at “Island Studios”, “Olympic Studios” in London, and was produced by Chris Blackwell, Steve Winwood and Guy Stevens.

Personnel:

  • Steve Winwood – vocals, organ, piano, bass, percussion, bass guitar, electric piano, acoustic guitar
  • Chris Wood – sax, flute, electric sax, percussion, organ
  • Jim Capaldi – vocals, drums, percussion, tambourine
  • Andy Johns, Brian Humphries – engineer
  • Mike Sida – design
  • Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Glad – Steve Winwood
  2. Freedom Rider – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi
  3. Empty Pages – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi
  4. Stranger to Himself – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi
  5. John Barleycorn (Must Die) – traditional, arr. Steve Winwood
  6. Every Mother’s Son – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi

Traffic: Last Exit

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In May 1969, “Island” label released “Last Exit”, the third Traffic album. The first half of the album consists of studio recordings, recorded in 1968, at “Morgan Studios” in London, the second half was recorded live on March 14, 1968 at the “Fillmore West”, and was produced by Jimmy Miller.

Personnel:

  • Steve Winwood – lead vocals, organ, piano, bass, guitar
  • Dave Mason– lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Wood– flute, saxophone, organ
  • Jim Capaldi– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Guy Stevens, Mike Sida – art direction
  • Francine Winham, Raymond Ross, Richard Polak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Just for You – Dave Mason
  2. Shanghai Noodle Factory – Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, Jimmy Miller, Larry Fallon
  3. Something’s Got a Hold of My Toe – Stevie Winwood, Dave Mason, Jimmy Miller
  4. Withering Tree – Stevie Winwood, Jim Capaldi
  5. Medicated Goo – Stevie Winwood, Jimmy Miller
  6. Feelin’ Good (live at Fillmore West) – Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
  7. Blind Man (live at Fillmore West) – Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott