Tag Archives: Smokey Robinson

Sonny & Cher: Look at Us

Leave a comment

On August 2, 1965. “Atco” label released “Look at Us”, the debut Sonny & Cher studio album. It was recorded in 1965, and was produced by Sonny Bono.

Personnel:

  • Cher – co-lead vocals
  • Sonny Bono – co-lead vocals
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Steve Mann – guitar
  • Monte Dunn – guitar
  • Donald Peake – guitar
  • Harold Battiste – piano
  • Don Randi – piano
  • Lyle Ritz – bass guitar
  • Cliff Hills – bass guitar
  • Frank Capp – drums
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Gene Estes – percussion
  • Brian Stone – percussion
  • Michel Rubini – harpsichord
  • Harold Battiste Jr. – arrangements
  • Stan Ross – engineer
  • Haig Adishian – design
  • Robert W. Young – photography

Track listing:

  1. I Got You Babe – Sonny Bono
  2. Unchained Melody – Hy Zaret, Alex North
  3. Then He Kissed Me – Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry
  4. Sing C’est la Vie – Sonny Bono, Charles Green, Brian Stone
  5. It’s Gonna Rain – Sonny Bono
  6. 500 Miles – Hedy West
  7. Just You – Sonny Bono
  8. The Letter – Don Harris, Dewey Terry
  9. Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë
  10. You Don’t Love Me – Bo Diddley, Willie Cobba
  11. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
  12. Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love – Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry

Jeff Beck and Johnny Deep: 18

Leave a comment

On July 15, 2022, “Rhino” label released “18”, album Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp. It was recorded 2019 – 2022, and was produced by Jeff Beck and Johnny Deep.

Personnel:

  • Jeff Beck – lead guitar, acoustic and rhythm guitar, bass, drums
  • Johnny Depp – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and rhythm guitar, baritone guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion
  • Robert Adam Stevenson – keyboards, piano, strings
  • Tommy Henriksen – keyboards, strings
  • Ben Thomas – keyboards
  • James Pearson – keyboards
  • Jason Rebello – piano
  • Rhonda Smith – bass
  • Pino Palladino – bass
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello
  • Olivia Safe – vocals
  • Sandra Beck – album cover
  • Barry Grint – mastering
  • Shon Hartman – product manager
  • Mike Engstrom – project manager
  • Allison Boron, Hugh Gilmour, Jason Etzy, Kent Liu, Kevin Gore, Lisa Gilnes, Matthew Taoatao, Paul Bromby, Rachel Gutek, Sheryl Farber, Susanne Savage – project manager assistants
  • Colin Newman – project manager supervisor

Track listing:

  1. Midnight Walker – Davy Spillane
  2. Death and Resurrection Show – Jaz Coleman, Geordie Walker, Martin Glover, Andy Gill
  3. Time – Dennis Wilson, Karen Lamm
  4. Sad Motherfucker Parade – Jeff Beck, Johnny Deep
  5. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
  6. This Is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr – Johnny Deep, Tommy Henriksen
  7. Caroline No – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
  8. Ooo Baby, Baby – Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson
  9. What’s Going On – Renaldo Benson, Marvin Gaye, Al Cleveland
  10. Venus in Furs – Lou Reed
  11. Let It Be Me – Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë, Manny Curtis
  12. Stars – Janis Ian
  13. Isolation – John Lennon

The Miracles: Renaissance

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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