Tag Archives: The Pointer Sisters

Taj Mahal: Like Never Before

On October 31, 1991, “Private Music” label released “Like Never Before”, the 17th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in 1991, at “Studio 4 Recording”, “Paramount Recording Studios”, “Studio 55”, “Orca Studios”, “Platinum Island Studios”, “Criteria Recording Studios”,  and was produced by Skip Drinkwater.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica
  • Hiram Bullock – guitar
  • David Lindley – guitar, lap steel guitar
  • Mark Tyler – guitar
  • Paul Barrere – guitar
  • Jerry Williams – guitar, backing vocals
  • Eric Bazilian – acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin
  • Sonny Rhodes – lap steel guitar
  • Dr. John – piano
  • Mark Goodman – electric piano, synthesizer
  • Donald Robinson – keyboards
  • Mark Jordan – piano, organ, synthesizer
  • Jim Salomone – synthesizer
  • Rob Hyman – organ, accordion
  • Jerry Cohen – organ
  • Doug Grisby – bass
  • Tony Jones – bass
  • Andy Kravitz – drums, percussion, castanets, tambourin
  • Bill Summers – congas, percussion triangle, batas, guiro, percussion
  • David Johnson – percussion, bells
  • Phil Nicolo – cymbals, programming, engineer, mixing
  • Richard Feldman – programming
  • Rudy Costa – soprano saxophone
  • Ron Kerber – alto saxophone
  • Haywood Henry – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • “Jammin” Jay Davidson – tenor and baritone saxophone, horn arrangements
  • Claire Daly – tenor saxophone
  • Ed Kalney, Gary McKeen – trumpet
  • Jeff Lego – trombone
  • Art Baron – trombone
  • Howard Johnson – tuba, cornet, horn arrangements
  • Daryl Hall, John Oates, Sheryl Crow, Porter Carroll, Augie Johanson, Greg Maha, Louis Patton, Reggie Ellis, Willie Green, Rob Hyman – backing vocals
  • The Pointer Sisters (Anna, June, Ruth) – backing vocals
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff – turntables
  • Myric “Freeze” Guillory – washboard
  • Joe Nicolo – engineer, mixing
  • Bruce Weeden, John Moyer, Michael Schlesinger – additional engineering
  • Brandon Harris, Doug DeAngelis, Steve McLoughlin, Christopher Thomas, Lou Catanzaro, Mark Schulz, Chris Furman, Kurt BuJack, Scott Blockland – engineer assistant
  • Skip Drinkwater – mixing
  • Greg Fulginiti – mastering
  • Andy Van Dette, Ray Legnini, Scott Hall – digital editing
  • Andy Bauer, Mark Goodman – guitars technician
  • Larry Vigon – art direction, design
  • Brian Jackson – design
  • Chris Callis – photography
  • Brooke Drinkwater, Robert L. Stephenson – production coordinator
  • Jamie Cohen – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Call Us – Richard Feldman, Taj Mahal
  2. River of Love – Jimmy Scott, Porter Carroll, Richard Feldman
  3. Scattered – Mark Jordan, Patrick Dollahan, Richard Feldman, Taj Mahal
  4. Ev’ry Wind (In the River) – Richard Feldman, Taj Mahal
  5. Blues with a Feeling – Walter Jacobs
  6. Squat That Rabbit – Joe Nicolo, Taj Mahal
  7. Take All the Time You Need – Jerry Williams
  8. Love Up – John Martyn
  9. Cakewalk into Town – Taj Mahal
  10. Big Legged Mommas Are Back in Style – Taj Mahal
  11. Take a Giant Step – Gerry Goffin, Carole King

David Williams

On March 6, 2009, David Williams died aged 58. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar), vocalist, song writer and music producer, known as a prominent and most in demand session guitarist. He worked with The Dells, The Temptations, Madonna, Michael Jackson,  Chanson, The Pointer Sisters, Peter Allen, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Julio Iglesias, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Michael McDonald, Melissa Manchester, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, Shalamar, Go West, ABC, Boz Scaggs, Karen Carpenter, Mariah Carey, Julian Lennon, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Johnny Mathis, Del Shannon, Chaka Khan, Paul Hardcastle, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Diana Ross, the Crusaders, Andraé Crouch, Eddie Murphy, Herbie Hancock, Peter Cetera, Whitney Houston and Monkey Business. As leader he released two albums.

Alice Cooper: Muscle of Love

On November 20, 1973, “Warner Bros” label released “Muscle of Love”, the seventh and final Alice Cooper band studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Sunset Sound” in Hollywood, “Record Plant” in New York, “The Cooper Mansion” in Greenwich, Connecticut, and was produced by Jack Richardson and Jack Douglas.

Personnel:

  • Alice Cooper – vocals
  • Glen Buxton – lead guitar
  • Michael Bruce – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Dennis Dunaway – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Neal Smith – drums, backing vocals
  • Mick Mashbir – guitar
  • Dick Wagner – guitar
  • Bob Dolin – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Paul Prestopino – banjo
  • Dave Libert, Dolly, Stu Daye, Dennis Ferrante, Joe Gannon, The Big Cheese, Liza Minnelli, Labelle, Ronnie Spector, The Pointer Sisters – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Big Apple Dreamin’ (Hippo) – Alice Cooper, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith
  2. Never Been Sold Before – Alice Cooper, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith
  3. Head Hearted Alice – Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce
  4. Crazy Little Child – Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce
  5. Working Up a Sweat – Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce
  6. Muscle of Love – Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce
  7. Man With the Golden Gun – Alice Cooper, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith
  8. Teenage lament ’74 – Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce
  9. Woman Machine – Alice Cooper, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith

The Pointer Sisters: Steppin’

In May 1975, “ABC/Blue Thumb” label released “Steppin’”, the third Pointer Sisters studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by David Rubinson & Friends, Inc..

Personnel:

  • Anita Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, June Pointer– vocals
  • Chris Michie – guitar
  • Wah Wah Watson– guitar
  • Tom Salisbury – piano
  • Paul Jackson– bass
  • Eugene Santini – bass
  • Gaylord Birch– drums, percussion
  • Bill Summers– percussion
  • Herbie Hancock– clavinet
  • Jim Rothermel – clavinet
  • Stevie Wonder– electric piano
  • Tom Salisbury – arrangements
  • Allyn Ferguson – arrangements
  • Fred Catero – recording
  • Jeremy Zatkin – recording
  • George Horn, Phil Brown – mastering
  • Fred Catero, David Rubinson – re-mix
  • Ken Welch, Mitzie Welch – treatment

Track listing:

  1. How Long (Betcha’ Got a Chick on the Side) – Anita Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, David Rubinson
  2. Sleeping Alone – Stevie Wonder
  3. Easy Days – Isaac Hayes, Anita Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, June Pointer
  4. Chainey Do – Willie McTell, Taj Mahal
  5. I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But the Blues – A Medley in Tribute to Duke Ellington” (I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But the Blues / Rocks in My Bed / Creole Love Song / Satin Doll / I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) / Mood Indigo) – Duke Ellington, Don George/ Ellington / Ellington, Bruce Good / Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn / Ellington, Paul Francis Webster / Ellington, Irving Mills, Barney Bigard
  6. Save the Bones for Henry Jones – Danny Barker, Vernon Lee
  7. Wanting Things – Hal David, Burt Bacharach
  8. Going Down Slowly – Allen Toussaint

The Pointer Sisters: Same

In May 1973, “Blue Thumb” label released the self-titled, debut Pointer Sisters (The) album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by David Rubinson & Friends, Inc.

Personnel:

  • Anita Pointer, Ruth Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, June Pointer– vocals
  • Willie Fulton– electric guitar
  • Tom Salisbury– piano
  • Norman Landsberg– piano
  • Ron McClure– acoustic and electric bass
  • Ed Marshall– drums Rod Ellicott – bass
  • Gaylord Birch – drums
  • The Hoodoo Rhythm Devils – backing band
  • David Rubinson & Friends, Inc. – mixing
  • Fred Catero, Jeremy Zatkin– recording, mixing
  • George Horne – mastering
  • B. Greene– portraiture, design
  • Norman Landsberg – associate producer

Track listing:

  1. Yes We Can Can – Allen Toussaint
  2. Cloudburst – Leroy Kirkland, Jimmy Harris
  3. Jada – Pointer Sisters, Bruce Good, Jeff Cohen
  4. River Boulevard – Barbara Mauritz
  5. Old Songs – John Shine, Bruce Good
  6. That’s How I Feel – Wilton Felder
  7. Sugar – Pointer Sisters
  8. Pains and Tears – Norman Landsberg
  9. Naked Foot – Neal Tate
  10. Wang Dang Doodle – Willie Dixon

Rose Royce: Car Wash

rose-royce-car-wash

On September 13, 1976, “MCA” label released “Car Wash”, the debut Rose Royce album. It was film score to the 1976 movie “Car Wash” and was produced by Norman Whitfield.  The “Car Wash” soundtrack won a 1977 “Grammy Award” for “Best Score Soundtrack Album”.

Personnel:

  • Gwen “Rose” Dickey – vocals
  • Richard Pryor– dialogue on “Richard Pryor Dialogue”
  • The Pointer Sisters– vocals
  • Melvin “Wah-Wah Watson” Ragin– guitar
  • Kenji Brown – guitar
  • Victor Nix – keyboards
  • Mark Davis, Ben Wilber – keyboards
  • Lequeint “Duke” Jobe – bass
  • Henry Garner – drums
  • Terry Santiel – congas
  • Michael Moore – saxophone
  • Kenny Copeland, Freddie Dunn – trumpet
  • Paul Riser– orchestra direction
  • Norman Whitfield– recording
  • Baker Bigsby, Cal Harris, Leanard Jackson – recording
  • Clay McMurray – recording, album coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Car Wash – Norman Whitfield
  2. 6 O’Clock DJ (Let’s Rock) – Norman Whitfield
  3. I Wanna Get Next to You – Norman Whitfield
  4. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is – Norman Whitfield
  5. Zig Zag – Rose Royse
  6. You’re on My Mind – Lequeint Jobe, Henry Garner
  7. Mid Day DJ Theme – Norman Whitfield
  8. Born to Love You – Rose Royce
  9. Daddy Rich – Norman Whitfield
  10. Richard PryorDialogue – Norman Whitfield
  11. You Gotta Believe – Norman Whitfield
  12. I’m Going Down – Norman Whitfield
  13. Yo Yo – Rose Royce
  14. Sunrise – Norman Whitfield
  15. Righteous Rhythm – Norman Whitfield
  16. Water – Norman Whitfield
  17. Crying – Norman Whitfield
  18. Doin’ What Comes Naturally – Norman Whitfield
  19. Keep on Keepin’ On – Norman Whitfield

Chicago: VII

Chicago_-_Chicago_VII

On March 11, 1974, “Columbia” label released “Chicago VII”, the sixth Chicago studio album. It was recorded August – December 1973, at  “Caribou Ranch” in Nederland, and was produced by James William Guercio.

Personnel:

  • Peter Cetera – lead and backing vocals, bass, guitar
  • Terry Kath – lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, bells,
  • Robert Lamm – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards, Fender Rhodes,  clavinet, Mellotron, ARP synthesizer, Mini Moog
  • Danny Seraphine– drums, percussion, hi-hat, bass drum
  • Lee Loughnane– trumpet, flugelhorn, lead and  backing vocals
  • James Pankow– trombone, percussion, timbales, backing vocals
  • Walter Parazaider– flute , soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
  • James Pankow, Robert Lamm – brass arrangements
  • Laudir de Oliveira– percussion, congas
  • David Wolinski– ARP synthesizer, acoustic piano, Mellotron and Fender Rhodes
  • James William Guercio– acoustic guitar, bass, guitar
  • Jimmie Haskell– strings
  • Wayne Tarnowski – acoustic piano
  • Guille Garcia – congas, percussion
  • Bobbi Roen, Camelia Ortiz, Diane Nini, Hank Steiger, Julie Nini – background party noises
  • Al Jardine, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, The Pointer Sisters– backing vocals
  • Ross Salomone – drums
  • John Berg and Nick Fasciano – cover photography
  • Urve Kuusik – photography

 Track listing:

  1. Prelude to Aire – Danny Seraphine
  2. Aire – Danny Seraphine, Walter Parazaider, James Pankow
  3. Devil’s Sweet – Danny Seraphine, Walter Parazaider
  4. Italian from New York – Robert Lamm
  5. Hanky Panky – Robert Lamm
  6. Life Saver – Robert Lamm
  7. Happy Man – Peter Cetera
  8. (I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long – James Pankow
  9. Mongonucleosis – James Pankow
  10. Songs of the Evergreens – Terry Kath
  11. Byblos – Terry Kath
  12. Wishing You Were Here – Peter Cetera
  13. Call on Me – Lee Loughnane
  14. Woman Don’t Want to Love Me – Robert Lamm
  15. Skinny Boy – Robert Lamm

 

The Bottom Line

Bottom Line Club

On February 12, 1974, “The Bottom Line” club opened in New York City. Owned by Allan Pepper and Stanley Snadowsky, during the 70’s and 80’s, the club was a major space for small-scale music performances. The club stoped working in 2004. Some of the artists who performed in the club were Miles Davis, Gato Barbieri, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Mose Allison, Muddy Waters, Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, Ray Barretto, Peter Gabriel, Al Kooper, Tom Waits, Melvin Van Peebles, Neil Sedaka, Billy Joel, Suzi Quatro, Patti Smith, Flo & Eddie, Toots and the Maytals, Cheech & Chong, Tower of Power, Tim Hardin, Roger McGuinn, JJ Cale, The Meters, Greg Kihn Band, Ry Cooder,Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Sam & Dave, Asım Can Gündüz, The Ronettes, John Cale, Gong, Peter Bardens, The Violent Femmes, Eric Clapton, Carl Perkins, Linda Ronstadt,The Police, Richard Marx, Prince, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Van Morrison, The Stone Poneys, Chuck Mangione, Emmylou Harris, Clinn Rippy, Neil Young, Barry Manilow, Laura Nyro, Loudon Wainwright III, New York Dolls, Lyle Lovett, The Electric Flag, Pat Martino, Todd Rundgren, Graham Parker, Grayson Hugh, Stan Ridgway, Horslips, Dire Straits,Chris Hillman, Hawkwind, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Tracy Nelson, The Pointer Sisters, Betty Carter, Ravi Shankar, Ramones and Michael Hedges.