Tag Archives: Robert Mersey

Aretha Franklin: Laughing on the Outside

On August 12, 1963, “Columbia” label released “Laughing on the Outside”, the fourth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in April – June 1963, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York and Hollywood, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals
  • Robert Mersey – arrangements, conductor
  • Don Arnome, Tommy Tedesco, Billy Strange – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Dave Grusin, Andrew Acker, Leon Russell – piano
  • C. Bosler, Ray Pohlman, Melvin Pollan – bass guitar
  • Hindel Butts, Hal Blaine – drums
  • Plas Johnson – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
  • Robert Ascher – trombone
  • Bernard Eichenbaum, Julius Schacter, Leo Kahn, Berl Senofsky, Felix Gigol, Max Pollikoff, George Ockner, John Rublowsky, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig, George Poole, Irving Lipschultz, Irving Weinper, Darrel Terwilliger – violin
  • R. Dickler, Theodore Israel, Jacob Glick – viola
  • Jesse Erlich, Anthony Twardowsky, Joseph Tekula – cello

Track listing:

  1. Skylark – Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael
  2. For All We Know – Sam M. Lewis, J. Fred Coots
  3. Make Someone Happy – Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
  4. I Wonder (Where Are You Tonight) – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  5. Solitude – Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills
  6. Laughing on the Outside – Bernie Wayne, Ben Raleigh
  7. Say It Isn’t So – Irving Berlin
  8. Until The Real Thing Comes Along – Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L. E. Freeman
  9. If Ever I Would Leave You – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  10. Where Are You? – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  11. Mr. Ugly – Norman Mapp
  12. I Wanna Be Around – Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt

Aretha Franklin: The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin

On August 13, 1962, “Columbia” label released “The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin”, the third  Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded April 27; May 4–5; May 11, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano
  • Robert Mersey – personal supervisor, arrangements, conductor
  • Don Hunstein – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Cry, Baby – Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson, Stella Unger
  2. Try a Little Tenderness – James Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry M. Woods
  3. I Apologize – Al Hoffman, Al Goodhart, Ed Nelson
  4. Without the One You Love – Aretha Franklin
  5. Look for the Silver Lining – Jerome Kern, B.G. DeSylva
  6. I’m Sitting on Top of the World – Ray Henderson, Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young
  7. Just for a Thrill – Lil Hardin Armstrong, Don Raye
  8. God Bless the Child – Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog, Jr.
  9. I’m Wandering – Berry Gordy, Jr., Tyran Carlo
  10. How Deep Is the Ocean – Irving Berlin
  11. I Don’t Know You Anymore – Gary Geld, Peter Udell
  12. Lover Come Back to Me – Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein II

Aretha Franklin: Soul Sister

On June 13, 1966, “Columbia” label released “Soul Sister”, the eighth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Bob Johnston and Clyde Otis.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals
  • Belford C. Hendricks – arrangements, conductor
  • Robert Mersey – arrangements, conductor
  • Henry Parker – photography
  • Peter J. Levinson – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Until You Were Gone – Joy Byers
  2. You Made Me Love You – James V. Monaco, Joseph McCarthy
  3. Follow Your Heart – Van McCoy, Belford Hendricks
  4. Ol’ Man River – Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern
  5. Sweet Bitter Love – Van McCoy
  6. A Mother’s Love – Cliff Owens
  7. Swanee – Irving Caesar, George Gershwin
  8. (No, No) I’m Losing You – Joy Byers
  9. Take a Look – Clyde Otis
  10. Can’t You Just See Me – Belford Hendricks
  11. Cry Like a Baby – Jo Armstead, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson