Tag Archives: Stephen Kupka

Was (Not Was): Boo!

On April 8, 2008, “Rykodisc” label released “Boo!”, the fifth Was (Not Was) studio album. It was recorded in 2007, at “Henson Recording Studios”, “Cello Studios” and “Ocean Way Recording” in Hollywood, “Record Plant” and “Chomsky Ranch” in Los Angeles, “Karma Farm” in Manhattan Beach, California, and was produced by David Was and Don Was.

Personnel:

  • David Was – vocals, keyboards, flute, harmonica, illustration
  • Don Was – vocals, keyboards, bass, percussion, programming, engineer, mixing, graphic design
  • Sweet Pea Atkinson – lead vocals
  • Sir Harry Bowens – lead vocals
  • Donald Ray Mitchell – lead vocals
  • Kris Kristofferson – special guest vocals
  • Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
  • Luis Resto – keyboards
  • Booker T. Jones – Hammond B3 organ
  • Randy Jacobs – guitars
  • Wayne Kramer – guitars
  • Val McCallum – guitars
  • Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar
  • Tim Drummond – bass
  • Marcus Miller – bass
  • Curt Bisquera – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Lenny Castro – percussion
  • Stephen Kupka – baritone saxophone
  • Dave McMurray – saxophones, horn arrangements
  • Rayse Biggs – trumpet
  • Lee Thornton – trumpet
  • David Campbell – string arrangements
  • Sally Dworsky – backing vocals
  • Portia Griffin – backing vocals
  • Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
  • Myrna Smith – backing vocals
  • Rik Pekkonen – engineer, mixing
  • Krish Sharma – engineer, mixing
  • Dan Bosworth – engineer assistant
  • Kevin Mills – engineer assistant
  • Louie Teran – mastering
  • Jamie Hoyt-Vitale – package design
  • Ron Meckler – graphic design
  • Ellen Stone – band photography
  • Jamie Muhoberac – club photography
  • Ruby Marchand – A&R

Track listing:

All tracks by David Was and Don Was, except where noted.

  1. Semi-Interesting Week
  2. It’s a Miracle
  3. Your Luck Won’t Last
  4. From the Head to the Heart
  5. Big Black Hole
  6. Needletooth
  7. Forget Everything
  8. Crazy Water
  9. Mr. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore – Bob Dylan, David Was, Don Was
  10. Green Pills in the Dresser

Gov’t Mule: The Deep End, Volume 2

On October 8, 2002, “ATO” label released “The Deep End, Volume 2”, the fifth Gov’t Mule studio album. It was recorded 2001 – 2002, at “The Theater 99”, “River Sound” and “Chung King Studios” in New York, “In the Pocket Studio” in Forestville, California, and was produced by Michael Barbiero, Warren Haynes, Les Claypool, John Cutler and Stefani Scamardo.

Personnel:

  • Warren Haynes — vocals, guitar, mixing
  • Matt Abts — drums
  • James Hetfield — vocals
  • John Scofield — guitar
  • Gary Lucas — guitar
  • David Grisman — mandolin 
  • Pete Sears — piano
  • Rob Barraco — piano
  • John Medeski — organ, Wurlitzer
  • Chuck Leavell — organ, keyboards
  • Danny Louis — organ, Wurlitzer
  • Johnny Neel — organ
  • Art Neville — organ
  • Bernie Worrell — organ
  • Les Claypool – bass, mixing
  • Jack Casady – bass
  • Alphonso Johnson – bass
  • Phil Lesh – bass
  • Tony Levin – bass
  • Meshell Ndegeocello – bass
  • Jason Newsted – bass
  • George Porter Jr. – bass
  • Rocco Prestia – bass
  • Dave Schools – bass
  • Chris Squire – bass
  • Chris Wood – bass
  • Ron Rigler — engineer
  • Ray Martin — engineer
  • John Cutler — engineer, mixing
  • Michael Barbiero — engineer, mixing
  • Raeanne Zschokke — engineer assistant
  • Jason Andrews — engineer assistant
  • Phil Burnett — engineer assistant
  • Halsey Quemere — engineer assistant
  • Steve Fallone — editing
  • Greg Calbi — mastering
  • Stefani Scamardo — executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Warren Haynes, except where noted.

  1. Trying Not to Fall – Warren Haynes, Danny Louis
  2. Time to Confess
  3. Greasy Granny’s Gopher Gravy, Pt. 1 – Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, Les Claypool
  4. Greasy Granny’s Gopher Gravy, Pt. 2 – Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, Les Claypool
  5. What Is Hip? – Stephen Kupka, Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi
  6. World of Confusion – Warren Haynes, Gary Lucas
  7. Hammer and Nails – David Hess, Aaron Schroeder
  8. Slow Happy Boys
  9. Sun Dance
  10. Lay of the Sunflower – Warren Haynes, Johnny Neel
  11. Catfish Blues – traditional
  12. Babylon Turnpike – Warren Haynes, Johnny Neel

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

Carlos Santana: Havana Moon

On April 1, 1983, “CBS” label released “Havana Moon”, the fifth Carlos Santana album. It was recorded in 1982, at “The Automatt” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett.

Personnel:

  • Carlos Santana– guitar, percussion, backing vocals
  • Roberto Moreno – vocals
  • Willie Nelson– vocals
  • Greg Walker – vocals
  • Candelario Lopez – vocals
  • Jose Santana – vocals, violin
  • Chris Solberg – vocals, keyboards, guitar
  • Jimmie Vaughan– guitar
  • Booker T. Jones– keyboards, backing vocals
  • Richard Baker – keyboards
  • Barry Beckett– keyboards
  • Alan Pasqua– vocals, keyboards
  • Flaco Jiménez– accordion
  • Kim Wilson– harmonica, backing vocals
  • Keith Ferguson– bass
  • Luis Gonsalez – bass
  • David Hood– bass
  • David Margen – bass, percussion
  • Fran Christina – drums
  • Armando Peraza– vocals, percussion, bongos
  • Graham Lear– percussion, drums
  • Raul Rékow – percussion, conga, backing vocals
  • Alex Ligertwood– vocals, percussion
  • Orestes Vilató– flute, percussion, timbales, backing vocals
  • Jose Salcedo – trombone, trumpet
  • Oscar Chavez– trombone, trumpet
  • Mic Gillette– trumpet, horn
  • Lanette Stevens – horn
  • Stephen Kupka– horn
  • Marc Russo– horn
  • Tramaine Hawkins– horn
  • Emilio Castillo– horn, backing vocals
  • Greg Adams– horn, strings
  • Gabriel Arias – violin
  • Francisco Coronado – violin
  • Raymundo Coronado – violin
  • Cherline Hall – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Watch Your Step – Phil Belmonte, Bobby Parker
  2. Lightnin’ – Booker T. Jones, Carlos Santana
  3. Who Do You Love? – Ellas McDaniel
  4. Mudbone – Carlos Santana
  5. One with You – Booker T. Jones
  6. Ecuador – Carlos Santana
  7. Tales of Kilimanjaro – Alan Pasqua, Armando Peraza, Raul Rekow, Carlos Santana
  8. Havana Moon – Chuck Berry
  9. Daughter of the Night – Hasse Huss, Mikael Rickfors
  10. They All Went to Mexico – Greg Brown
  11. Vereda Tropical – Gonzalo Curiel

Tower of Power: Urban Renewal

urban_renewal

In January 1975, “Warner Bros” label released “Urban Renewal”, the fifth Tower of Power album. It was recorded in 1974, at “Record Plant” in Sausalito in California, and was produced by Emilio Castillo.

Personnel:

  • Lenny Williams: lead vocals
  • Bruce Conte: guitars, backing vocals
  • Chester Thompson: keyboards, organ, acoustic piano, clavinet, backing vocals, bass pedals
  • Francis “Rocco” Prestia: bass guitar
  • David Bartlett: drums
  • David Garibaldi: drums
  • Carter Collins: congas, percussion
  • Greg Adams: trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Emilio Castillo: tenor saxophone, backing vocals
  • Mic Gillette: trumpet, trombone, backing vocals
  • Stephen Kupka: baritone saxophone
  • Lenny Pickett: clarinet, bass clarinet, alto flute, baritone, tenor & soprano saxophones
  • Bootche Anderson: vocals
  • Marilyn Scott: vocals
  • Pepper Watkins: vocals
  • Greg Adams, Chester Thompson – arrangements
  • Alan Chinowsky, Tom Flye – engineer
  • Lee Herschberg – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Only So Much Oil in the Ground – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  2. Come Back, Baby – Bruce Conte, Lenny Williams
  3. It’s Not the Crime – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  4. I Won’t Leave Unless You Want Me To – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Greg Adams
  5. Maybe It’ll Rub Off – Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo, Chester Thompson
  6. (To Say the Least) You’re the Most – Johnny “Guitar” Watson
  7. Willing to Learn – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  8. Give Me the Proof – David Bartlett
  9. It Can Never Be the Same – Bruce Conte, Stephen “Doc” Kupka, Emilio Castillo
  10. I Believe in Myself – Emilio Castillo, Stephen “Doc” Kupka
  11. Walkin’ Up Hip Street – Chester Thompson