Tag Archives: Smokey Robinson

The Miracles: Renaissance

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On April 18, 1973, “Tamla” label released “Renaissance”, album by The Miracles. It was recorded in 1972, and was produced by Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren, Marvin Gaye, Frank Wilson, Clay McMurray, Leonard Caston, Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson.

Personnel:

  • Billy Griffin – lead vocals
  • Ronnie White – baritone backing vocals
  • Pete Moore – bass backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – tenor backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • Smokey Robinson – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. What is a Heart Good For – Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
  2. If You’re Ever in the Neighborhood – Don Fenceton, Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  3. I Wanna Be with You – Willie Hutch
  4. Wigs and Lashes – Larry Mizell
  5.  Don’t Let It End (‘Til You Let It Begin) – Christine Yarian, Freddie Perren
  6. I Love You Secretly – Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover, Marvin Gaye
  7. I Don’t Need No Reason – Leon Ware, Pam Sawyer
  8. Nowhere To Go – Clay McMurray, Dennis Jackson, Gary Fears
  9. I Didn’t Realize the Show Was Over – Richard Hutch, Willie Hutch

The J. Geils Band: Same

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On November 16, 1970, “Atlantic” label released the self-title, debut J. Geils Band (The) album. It was recorded in August 1970, at “A&R Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Dave Crawford and Brad Shapiro.

Personnel:

  • Peter Wolf – lead vocals
  • J. Geils – guitar
  • Seth Justman – piano, organ
  • Magic Dick – harmonica
  • Danny Klein – bass
  • Stephen Jo Bladd – drums, backing vocals
  • Jay Messina, Geoffrey Haslam – engineer
  • Lloyd Ziff – design
  • Stephen Paley – photography
  • Fred Lewis – special assistance

Track listing:

  1. Wait – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
  2. Ice Breaker (For the Big M) – J. Geils
  3. Cruisin’ for Love – Juke Joint Jimmy (Juke Joint Jimmy is a pseudonym used by The J. Geils Band for group compositions
  4. Hard Drivin’ Man – Peter Wolf, J. Geils
  5. Serves You Right to Suffer – John Lee Hooker
  6. Homework – Otis Rush, Al Perkins, Dave Clark
  7. First I Look at the Purse – Robert Rogers, Smokey Robinson
  8. What You Hurry – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
  9. On Borrowed Time – Peter Wolf, Set Justman
  10. Pack Fair and Square – Big Walter Price
  11. Sho-Cone – Albert Collins

Marvin Gaye: Moods of Marvin Gaye

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On May 23, 1966, “Tamla” label released “Moods of Marvin Gaye”, the seventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, at “Hitsville” in Detroit, US, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Clarence Paul and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Miracles – backing vocals
  • The Spinners – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I’ll Be Doggone – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarpin
  2. Little Darling (I Need You) – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  3. Take This Heart of Mine – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
  4. Hey Diddle Diddle – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fugua, Marvin Gaye
  5. One More Heartache – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin, Ronald White
  6. Ain’t That Peculiar – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
  7. Night Life – Walt Breeland, Paul Buskrik, Willie Nelson
  8. You’ve Been a Long Time Coming – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  9. Your Unchanging Love – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  10. You’re the One for Me – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. I Worry ‘Bout You – Norman Mapp
  12. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer

The Zombies: Same

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In January 1965, “Parrot” label released the self-titled, debut Zombies (The) album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Rod Argent and Ken Jones.

Personnel:

  • Colin Blunstone – lead and backing vocals, tambourine
  • Paul Atkinson – electric guitar
  • Rod Argent – lead and backing vocals, electric piano, organ
  • Chris White – bass, backing vocals
  • Hugh Grundy – drums

Track listing:

  1. She’s Not There – Rod Argent
  2. Summertime – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward
  3. It’s Alright With Me – Rod Argent
  4. You’ve Really Got a Hold Me / Bring It On Home to Me – Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke
  5. Sometimes – Rod Argent
  6. Woman – Rod Argent
  7. Tell Her No – Rod Argent
  8. I Don’t Want to Know – Chris White
  9. Work ’n’ Play – Ken Jones
  10. Can’t Nobody Love You – Phillips Mitchell
  11. What More Can I Do – Chris White
  12. I Got My Mojo Working – Preston Foster, McKinley Morganfield

Rick James

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On August 6, 2004, James Ambrose Johnson Jr. aka Rick James died aged 56. He was a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, known as “The King of Punk-Funk”. He was a member of few bands, before starting a successful recording career after signing with Motown’s “Gordy Records”. James released twelve studio albums, plus one released posthumously in 2007. As a songwriter and producer, he worked with Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Teena Marie, The Mary Jane Girls, and Eddie Murphy.

John Waite: Mask of Smiles

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On July 26, 1985, “EMI” label released “Mask of Smiles”, the third John Waite studio album. It was recorded 1984 – 1985, at “Clinton Recording Studio” in New York, and was produced by John Waite and Stephen Galfas.

Personnel:

  • John Waite – lead vocals, arranger, engineer, mixing
  • Melanie X. – backing vocals
  • “Bingo” – guitar, backing vocals
  • Ritchie Fliegler – 12-string guitar
  • John McCurry– lead guitar
  • Johnny Thunders– guitar
  • Chuck Kentis – electric piano
  • Tom Mandel– keyboards, synthesizers
  • Donnie Nossov – bass, backing vocals
  • Carmine Rojas, Joey Vasta – bass
  • Frankie LaRocka, Alan Childs – drums, percussion
  • Lenny Pickett– tenor saxophone
  • Borneo Horns (Steve Elson, Stan Harrison) – horns
  • Stephen Galfas -arranger, engineer, mixing
  • Gene Curtis, Chris Isca – assistant engineer
  • John Luongo – remix
  • George Marino– mastering
  • Henry Marquez – art direction
  • Mick Haggerty – design
  • Noriski Yokosuka – photography

 Track listing:

  1. Every Step of the Way – John Waite, Ivan Král
  2. Laydown – John Waite
  3. Welcome to Paradise – John Waite
  4. Lust for Life – John Waite, John McCurry
  5. Ain’t That Peculiar – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, Ronald White
  6. Just Like Lovers – John Waite, Tom Mandel
  7. The Choice – John Waite
  8. You’re the One – John Waite, Chuck Kentis
  9. No Brakes – John Waite

Aretha Franklin: Runnin’ Out of Fools

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On November 16, 1964, “Columbia” label released “Runnin’ Out of Fools”, the sixth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Clyde Otis.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocal
  • Belford C. Hendricks – arrangements, conductor
  • Dee Dee Warwick – backing vocals

Track listing::

  1. Mockingbird – Charlie Foxx, Inez Foxx
  2. How Glad I Am – Jimmy Williams, Larry Harrison
  3. Walk On By – Hal David, Burt Bacharach
  4. Every Little Bit Hurts – Ed Cobb
  5. The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss) – Rudy Clark
  6. You’ll Lose a Good Thing – Barbara Lynn Ozen
  7. I Can’t Wait Until I See My Baby’s Face – Chip Taylor, Norman Meade
  8. It’s Just a Matter of Time – Belford Hendricks, Clyde Otis, Brook Benton
  9. Runnin’ Out of Fools – Kay Rogers, Richard Ahlert
  10. My Guy – Smokey Robinson
  11. Two Sides of Love – Roy Alfred
  12. One Room Paradise – John Leslie McFarland

Aretha Franklin: Soul 69

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On January 17, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “Soul ’69”, the fourteen Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded April 17–18 and September 24, 1968, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano
  • Kenny Burrell– guitar
  • Jimmy Johnson– guitar
  • Junior Mance– piano
  • Spooner Oldham– organ
  • Joe Zawinul– organ, piano, Fender Rhodes
  • Ron Carter– bass guitar
  • Jerry Jemmott– bass guitar
  • Tommy Cogbill– bass guitar
  • Bruno Carr – drums
  • Roger Hawkins– drums
  • Grady Tate– drums
  • Jack Jennings – vibraphone
  • Louie Goicdecha, Manuel Gonzales – percussion
  • David Newman– tenor saxophone, flute
  • King Curtis, Seldon Powell– tenor saxophone
  • George Dorsey, Frank Wess– alto saxophone
  • Pepper Adams– baritone saxophone
  • Joe Newman, Bernie Glow, Richard Williams, Snook Young,  Ernie Royal– trumpet
  • Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Benny Powell, Thomas Mitchell – trombone
  • Evelyn Greene, Wyline Ivy – backing vocals
  • Arif Mardin – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Ramblin’ – Big Maybelle
  2. Today I Sing the Blues – Curtis Reginald Lewis
  3. River’s Invitation – Percy Mayfield
  4. Pitiful – Rosie Marie McCoy, Charlie Singleton
  5. Crazy He Calls Me – Bob Russell, Carl Sigman
  6. Bring It On Home to Me – Sam Cooke
  7. Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin
  8. If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody – Rudy Clark
  9. Gentle on My Mind – John Hartford
  10. So Long – Russ Morgan, Remus Harris, Irving Melsher
  11. I’ll Never Be Free – Bennie Benjamin, George David Weiss
  12. Elusive Butterfly – Bob Lind

The Mamas & The Papas: Deliver

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On February  2, 1967, “Dunhill” label released “The Mamas & The Papas Deliver”, the third Mamas & the Papas album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Lou Adler.

Personnel:

  • Denny Doherty- vocals
  • Cass Elliot- vocals
  • John Phillips- vocals, guitar
  • Michelle Phillips- vocals
  • “Doctor” Eric Hord – guitar
  • F. Sloan- guitar
  • Larry Knechtel- keyboards
  • Joe Osborn- bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine- drums, percussion
  • Gary Coleman – percussion, bells, marimba
  • Jim Horn- flute, saxophone

Track listing:

All tracks by John Phillips except where noted.

  1. Dedicated to the One I Love – Ralph Bass, Lowman Pauling
  2. My Girl – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  3. Creeque Alley – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  4. Sing for Your Supper – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  5. Twist and Shout – Phil Medley, Bert Russell
  6. Free Advice – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  7. Look Through My Window
  8. Boys and Girls Together
  9. String Man – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  10. Frustration
  11. Did You Ever Want to Cry
  12. John’s Music Box

Paul Rodgers: The Royal Sessions

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On February 4, 2014, “429 Records” label released “The Royal Sessions”, the twelve Paul Rodgers solo album. It was recorded in 2013, at “Royal Studios” in Memphis, and was produced by Perry A. Margouleff.

Personnel:

  • Paul Rodgers– vocals
  • Michael Toles– guitar
  • Perry Margouleff– guitar, mixing
  • Lester Snell– piano
  • Charles Hodges– Hammond B3
  • Archie Turner– Wurlitzer
  • Leroy Hodges– bass
  • Lannie McMillan– tenor saxophone
  • Gary Topper– tenor saxophone
  • James L. Spake– baritone sax
  • Marc Franklin– trumpet
  • Royal Horns– horn
  • Roy Brewer – violin
  • Susanna Perry-Gilmore, Jessie Munson– violin
  • Beth Luscombe– viola
  • Michael Barar– viola
  • Wesley Hovanec– electric bongos, engineer assistant, videography
  • Jonathan Kirkscey– cello
  • Mark Wallace – cello
  • The Royal Singers– strings
  • William Wittman– engineer, mixing
  • James Robertson, Steve Potts, Daniel Bean– engineer assistant
  • Ryan Smith– mastering

Track listing:

  1. I Thank You – Isaac Hayes, David Porter
  2. Down Don’t Bother Me – Albert King
  3. I Can’t Stand the Rain – Don Bryant, Bernard Miller, Ann Peebles
  4. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
  5. That’s How Strong My Love Is – Roosevelt Jamison
  6. Walk On By – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  7. Any Ole Way – Steve Cropper, Otis Redding
  8. It’s Growing – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson
  9. Born Under a Bad Sign – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
  10. I’ve Got Dreams to Remember – Otis Redding