Tag Archives: Spanish Harlem

Laura Nyro: Gonna Take A Miracle

On November 17, 1971, “Columbia” label released “Gonna Take a Miracle”, the fifth Laura Nyro studio album. It was recorded May – June 1971, at “Sigma Sound” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

Personnel:

  • Laura Nyro – vocals, piano
  • Nona Hendryx, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash – vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Lenny Pakula – organ
  • Ronnie Baker – bass
  • Jim Helmer – drums
  • Vincent Montana Jr. – percussion
  • Larry Washington – bongos
  • Nydia “Liberty” Mata – congas
  • Bobby Martin, Lenny Pakula, Thom Bell – string and horn arrangements
  • Tim Geelan – engineer
  • Gary Burden – art direction, design
  • Stephen Paley – front cover photography

Track listing:

  1. I Met Him on a Sunday – Doris Jackson, Addie Harris McPherson, Beverly Lee, Shirley Alston Reeves
  2. The Bells – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Iris Gordy, Elgie Stover
  3. Monkey Time/Dancing in the Street – Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  4. Désiree – L.Z. Cooper, Danny Johnson
  5. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me – Smokey Robinson
  6. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
  7. Jimmy Mack – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  8. The Wind – Devora Brown, Bob Edwards, Nolan Strong
  9. Nowhere to Run – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  10. It’s Gonna Take a Miracle – Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, Lou Stallman

Ben E. King: Spanish Harlem

On May 1, 1961, “Atco” label released “Spanish Harlem”, the debut Ben E. King album. It was recorded 1960 – 1961, and was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Personnel:

  • Ben E. King – vocals
  • Al Caiola – guitar
  • George Barnes – guitar
  • Ernest Hayes – piano
  • George Duvivier – double bass
  • Gary Chester – drums
  • Ray Barretto – percussion
  • Charlie Margulis – trumpet
  • Urbie Green – trombone
  • Stan Applebaum – arrangements
  • Allen Vogel, Loring Eutemey – artwork

Track listing:

  1. Amor – Gabriel Ruíz, Sunny Skylar, Ricardo López Méndez
  2. Sway – Norman Gimbel, Gabriel Ruíz
  3. Come Closer to Me – Al Stewart, Osvaldo Farrés
  4. Perfidia – Alberto Dominguez, Milton Leeds
  5. Granada – Agustín Lara, Dorothy Dodd
  6. Sweet and Gentle – George Thorn, Otilio del Portal, Martin Ledyard
  7. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps – Joe Davis, Osvaldo Farrés
  8. Frenesí – Alberto Dominguez, Leonard Whitcup
  9. Souvenir of Mexico – Mort Shuman, Doc Pomus
  10. Bésame Mucho – Sunny Skylar, Consuelo Velázquez
  11. Love Me, Love Me – Ben E. King
  12. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector

The Mama’s and the Papa’s: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

In March 1966, “Dunhill” label released “If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears”, the debut Mamas & the Papas album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, and was produce by Lou Adler. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 127 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Denny Doherty– vocals
  • Cass Elliot– vocals
  • John Phillips– vocals, guitar
  • Michelle Phillips– vocals
  • F. Sloan– guitars, additional vocals
  • Larry Knechtel- keyboards
  • Joe Osborn– bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine– drums
  • Bud Shank– flute
  • Peter Pilafian – electric violin
  • Bones Howe– engineer
  • Guy Webster – photography

Track listing:

  1. Monday, Monday – John Phillips
  2. Straight Shooter – John Phillips
  3. Got a Feelin’ – John Phillips, Denny Doherty
  4. I Call Your Name – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Do You Wanna Dance – Bobby Freeman
  6. Go Where You Wanna Go – John Phillips
  7. California Dreamin’ – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  8. Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
  9. Somebody Groovy – John Phillips
  10. Hey Girl – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
  11. You Baby – Steve Barri,  F. Sloan
  12. The ‘In’ Crowd – Billy Page