Tag Archives: Sacramento

Thee Oh Sees: Mutilator Defeated at Last

On May 2015, “Castle Face” label released “Mutilator Defeated at Last”, the sixteenth Thee Oh Sees studio album (the tenth to be released under the name, Thee Oh Sees). It was recorded in 2015, at “The Dock” in Sacramento.

Personnel:

  • John Dwyer – lead vocals, guitars, synths, mellotron
  • Chris Woodhouse – synth, mellotron, percussion
  • Tim Hellman – bass guitar
  • Nick Murray – drums
  • Brigid Dawson – backing vocals
  • Chris Woodhouse – recording, mixing
  • Tetsunori Tawaraya – artwork
  • Doctor Matthew Jones – layout
  • John Dwyer – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Dwyer, Chris Woodhouse, Tim Hellman, Nick Murray and Brigid Dawson.

  1. Web
  2. Withered Hand
  3. Poor Queen
  4. Turned Out Light
  5. Lupine Ossuary
  6. Sticky Hulks
  7. Holy Smoke
  8. Rogue Planet
  9. Palace Doctor

Tower of Power: Step Up

On March 20, 2020, “Mack Avenue Records” label released “Step Up”, the 22nd Tower of Power album. It was recorded over the course of the 2010s, at “Blue Moon” in Los Angeles, “Track Shack” in Sacramento, and was produced by Joe Vannelli and Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Emilio Castillo – lead and backing vocals, tenor saxophone
  • Roger Smith – lead vocals, keyboards, Hammond B3 organ
  • Jerry Cortez – guitars, electric sitar, backing vocals
  • Marcus Scott – lead and backing vocals
  • Ray Greene – lead and backing vocals, trombone
  • Joe Vannelli – keyboards, auxiliary percussion, vibes, marimba
  • Tom E. Politzer – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Stephen “Doc” Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Chuck Hansen – bass saxophone
  • Adolfo Acosta – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Sal Cracchiolo – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Francis Rocco Prestia – bass guitar
  • David Garibaldi – drums
  • Leah Meux – backing vocals
  • Tiwana Porter – backing vocals
  • Melanie Jackson – backing vocals
  • Dave Eskridge – horn and string arrangements

Track listing:

  1. East Bay, All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  2. Step Up – Emilio Castillo, Roger Smith
  3. The Story of You and I – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  4. Who Would Have Thought – Stephen Kupka, Nick Lane, Lamont Van Hook
  5. Addicted to You – Emilio Castillo, Sydney Justin
  6. Look in My Eyes – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Kevin Henry Whalum
  7. You da One – Francis Rocco Prestia, Thomas William Schuman, Sennie Rudolph Martin
  8. Sleeping with You Baby – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka
  9. If It’s Tea Give Me Coffee – Stephen Kupka, William Ross
  10. Beyond My Wildest Dreams – Bruce Conte
  11. Any Excuse Will Do – Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Lenny Pickett
  12. If You Wanna Be a Winner – Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez
  13. Let’s Celebrate Our Love – Emilio Castillo, Mark Dolin
  14. East Bay! Oaktown All the Way! – David Garibaldi, Francis Rocco Prestia, Roger Smith, Jerry Cortez

Cake: Comfort Eagle

On July 24, 2001, “Columbia” label released “Comfort Eagle”, the fourth Cake studio album. It was recorded in 2001, at “Paradise Studios” in Sacramento, “Hyde Street Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by John McCrea, Vince DiFiore, Xan McCurdy, Gabriel Nelson, Todd Roper and Tyler Pope.

Personnel:

  • John McCrea– vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, bass, drum programming, percussion
  • Vince DiFiore– trumpet, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Xan McCurdy– electric guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • Gabriel Nelson – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Todd Roper – drums, percussion, Moog synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Tyler Pope – keyboard, electric guitar
  • Kirt Shearer – mixing
  • David Cole – mixing
  • Craig Long – mixing
  • Gabriel Shepard – mixing
  • Don C. Taylor – mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by John McCrea, unless where noted.

  1. Opera Singer – John McCrea, Mark Kornweibel
  2. Meanwhile, Rick James…
  3. Shadow Stabbing – John McCrea, George Kane
  4. Short Skirt/Long Jacket
  5. Commissioning a Symphony in C
  6. Arco Arena
  7. Comfort Eagle
  8. Long Line of Cars
  9. Love You Madly
  10. Pretty Pink Ribbon
  11. World of Two

Cake: Showroom Of Compassion

Showroom - Compassion

On January 11, 2011, “Upbeat” label released “Showroom of Compassion”, the sixth Cake studio album, and the first one to be independently released. The album was recorded in 2009 and 2010, at the “Upbeat Studio” in Sacramento, and was produced by John McCrea, Vincent DiFiore, Xan McCurdy, Gabriel Nelson and Paulo Baldi.

Personnel:

  • John McCrea – lead vocals, piano, keyboards
  • Vincent DiFiore – trumpet, euphonium, keyboards
  • Xan McCurdy – acoustic and electric guitar, synthesizer
  • Gabriel Nelson – bass guitar, electric guitar, organ
  • Paulo Baldi – drums
  • Tom Monson – drums
  • Aaron Redfield – drums
  • Pete McNeal – drums
  • Greg Brown – electric guitar
  • Charlie Wallace – pedal steel

Track listing:

  1. Federal Funding – John McCrea, Xan McCurdy, Gabriel Nelson
  2. Long Time – John McCrea, Vincent DiFiore
  3. Got to Move – John McCrea
  4. What’s Now Is Now – Gaudio, Holmes
  5. Mustache Man – John McCrea, Xan McCurdy, Gabriel Nelson
  6. Teenage Pregnancy – John McCrea
  7. Sick of You – John McCrea, Xan McCurdy
  8. Easy to Crash – John McCrea
  9. Bound Away – John McCrea, Gabriel Nelson
  10. The Winter – John McCrea, Vincent DiFiore
  11. Italian Guy – John McCrea