Tag Archives: Theodore Israel

Aretha Franklin: Laughing on the Outside

On August 12, 1963, “Columbia” label released “Laughing on the Outside”, the fourth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in April – June 1963, at “Columbia Recording Studios” in New York and Hollywood, and was produced by Robert Mersey.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – vocals
  • Robert Mersey – arrangements, conductor
  • Don Arnome, Tommy Tedesco, Billy Strange – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Dave Grusin, Andrew Acker, Leon Russell – piano
  • C. Bosler, Ray Pohlman, Melvin Pollan – bass guitar
  • Hindel Butts, Hal Blaine – drums
  • Plas Johnson – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
  • Robert Ascher – trombone
  • Bernard Eichenbaum, Julius Schacter, Leo Kahn, Berl Senofsky, Felix Gigol, Max Pollikoff, George Ockner, John Rublowsky, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig, George Poole, Irving Lipschultz, Irving Weinper, Darrel Terwilliger – violin
  • R. Dickler, Theodore Israel, Jacob Glick – viola
  • Jesse Erlich, Anthony Twardowsky, Joseph Tekula – cello

Track listing:

  1. Skylark – Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael
  2. For All We Know – Sam M. Lewis, J. Fred Coots
  3. Make Someone Happy – Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
  4. I Wonder (Where Are You Tonight) – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  5. Solitude – Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange, Irving Mills
  6. Laughing on the Outside – Bernie Wayne, Ben Raleigh
  7. Say It Isn’t So – Irving Berlin
  8. Until The Real Thing Comes Along – Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, L. E. Freeman
  9. If Ever I Would Leave You – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  10. Where Are You? – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  11. Mr. Ugly – Norman Mapp
  12. I Wanna Be Around – Johnny Mercer, Sadie Vimmerstedt

Patti Austin: Havana Candy

On October 26, 1977, “CTI” label released “Havana Candy”, the second Patti Austin studio album. It was recorded in Austin 1977, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen.

Personnel:

  • Patti Austin – lead and backing vocals
  • Dave Grusin – acoustic and electric piano, slide whistle, synthesizers, arrangements, conductor
  • Richard Tee – acoustic piano
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – electric guitar
  • Steve Khan – electric guitar
  • Will Lee – electric bass
  • Francisco Centeno – electric bass
  • Anthony Jackson – electric bass
  • Frank Gravis – electric bass
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion, congas
  • Gerry Niewood – alto saxophone
  • Lou Marini – tenor saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
  • Alan Rubin – trumpet
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Valentin – flute, timbales
  • Seymour Barab, Gene Bianco, David Davis, Peter Dimitriades, Regis Iandiorio, Theodore Israel, Jesse Levy, Charles Libove, Guy Lumia, Elliot Magaziner, Joe Malin, Richard Maximoff, Elliot Rosoff, Paul Winter – string section
  • Lani Groves, Gwen Guthrie, Ullanda McCullough, Ken Williams – backing vocals
  • Larry Rosen – recording, mixing
  • Michael Frondelli – engineer assistant
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Sib Chalawick – design
  • Alen MacWeeney – photography
  • Donna Putney – production coordinator
  • Tony Martell – executive producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Patti Austin, except where noted.

  1. That’s Enough for Me – Patti Austin, Dave Grusin
  2. Little Baby
  3. I Just Want to Know
  4. Havana Candy
  5. Golden Oldies
  6. I Need Somebody
  7. We’re in Love
  8. Lost in the Stars – Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill

Bob James: Touchdown

On July 20, 1978, “Tappan Zee” label released “Touchdown”, the sixth Bob James album. It was recorded in 1978, at “CBS Studios”, “Sound Mixers” and “A&R Recording” in New York, and was produced by Bob James.

Personnel:

  • Bob James – acoustic piano, Yamaha electric grand piano, Fender Rhodes, Oberheim Polyphonic synthesizer, arrangements, conductor
  • Eric Gale – electric guitar
  • Hiram Bullock – vocals, electric guitar
  • Earl Klugh – acoustic guitar
  • Richard Resnicoff – rhythm acoustic guita
  • Gary King – electric bass
  • Ron Carter – acoustic bass, piccolo bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Mongo Santamaria – percussion
  • Phil Bodner – alto saxophone, flute, oboe
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone solo
  • Harvey Estrin – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
  • George Marge – tenor saxophone, English horn, flute, oboe, recorder
  • Howard Johnson – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Mike Lawrence – trumpet
  • Ron Tooley – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Bargeron – trombone
  • Alan Raph – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • David Nadien – concertmaster
  • Harry Cykman, Lewis Eley, Max Ellen, Louis Gabowitz, Diana Halprin, Harold Kohon, Harry Lookofsky, John Pintavalle, Matthew Raimondi, Herbert Sorkin, Richard Sortomme – violin
  • Jean Dane, Theodore Israel, Sue Pray and Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Jonathan Abramowitz, Seymour Barab, Richard Locker, Charles McCracken – cello
  • Joe Jorgensen – engineer, associate producer
  • Tim Bomba – engineer assistant
  • Ted Bronson – engineer assistant
  • Lou Jannone – engineer assistant
  • Harold Tarowsky – engineer assistant
  • Vlado Meller – mastering
  • Paula Scher – art direction, design
  • Buddy Endress – photography
  • Jay Chattaway – associate producer
  • Marion Orr – production coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Bob James.

  1. Angela (Theme from Taxi)
  2. Touchdown
  3. I Want to Thank You (Very Much)
  4. Sun Runner
  5. Caribbean Nights

George Benson: Good King Bad

In June 1976, “CTI” label released “Good King Bad”, the thirteenth George Benson studio album. It was recorded July – October – December 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – vocals, guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Don Grolnick – clavinet
  • Bobby Lyle – keyboards
  • Roland Hanna – keyboards
  • Ronnie Foster – keyboards
  • Gary King – bass, rhythm arrangements
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Dennis Davis – drums
  • Sue Evans – percussion
  • David Friedman – vibraphone
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Frank Vicari – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone 
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Fred Wesley – trombone
  • Joe Farrell – flute
  • Romeo Penque – flute
  • David Tofani – flute
  • David Matthews – arrangements
  • Bob James – conductor
  • Max Ellen – violin
  • Paul Gershman – violin
  • Harry Glickman – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Harold Kohon – violin
  • David Nadien – violin
  • John Pintavalle – violin
  • Max Pollikoff – violin
  • Harold Coletta – viola
  • Theodore Israel – viola
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • Alan Shulman – cello
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Rene Schumacher – design
  • Pete Turner – cover and liner photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Theme from Good King Bad – David Matthews
  2. One Rock Don’t Make No Boulder – David Matthews
  3. Em – Philip Namanworth
  4. Cast Your Fate to the Wind – Vince Guaraldi
  5. Siberian Workout – David Matthews
  6. Shell of a Man – Eugene McDaniels

Roberta Flack: First Take

On June 20, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “First Take”, the debut Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded in February 1969, at “Atlantic” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “First Take” at number 451 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack – vocals, piano
  • Bucky Pizzarelli – guitars
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Ray Lucas – drums, percussion
  • Seldon Powell, Frank Wess – saxophone
  • Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Benny Powell – trombone
  • Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff – violin
  • Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke, Theodore Israel – viola
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
  • William S. Fischer – horn and string arrangements, string conducting
  • William Arlt – recording
  • Bob Liftin – remix
  • Stanislaw Zagorski – design
  • Ken Heinen – photography

Track listing:

  1. Compared to What – Gene McDaniels
  2. Angelitos Negros – Andrés Eloy Blanco, Manuel Álvarez Maciste
  3. Our Ages or Our Hearts – Robert Ayers, Donny Hathaway
  4. I Told Jesus – traditional, arranged by Roberta Flack
  5. Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye – Leonard Cohen
  6. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Ewan MacColl
  7. Tryin’ Times – Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson
  8. Ballad of the Sad Young Men – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf

Donny Hathaway: Extension Of A Man

On June 18, 1973, “Atco” label released “Extension of a Man”, the fourth and final Donny Hathaway studio album. It was recorded October – November 1972, at “A&R”, “Bell Sound”, “Regent Sound” and “Atlantic” in New York City, “Universal” in Chicago, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Donny Hathaway – lead vocals, Fender Rhodes electric piano, all pianos, Hammond organ, keyboards, bass, arrangements
  • Cornell Dupree – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – banjo, guitar
  • Willie Weeks, Russ Savakus, Stanley Clarke, Gordon Edwards – bass
  •  Grady Tate, Fred White, Rick Marotta, Ray Lucas – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, Julien Barber, Noel DaCosta, Sanford Allen, Theodore Israel – violin
  • Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Kermit Moore – cello
  • Gloria Agostini – harp 
  • David Newman – saxophone
  • Marvin Stamm, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Dominick Gravine, Garnett Brown, Paul Faulise, Wayne Andre, Tony Studd, Garnett Brown – trombone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Don Butterfield – tuba
  • Phil Bodner – clarinet, alto saxophone
  • Seldon Powell – clarinet, reeds, tenor saxophone
  • Vincent Abato – clarinet
  • Romeo Penque, William Slapin – reeds
  • Jim Buffington, Julius Watkins, Tony Miranda – French horn
  • Henry Schuman – oboe
  • Myrna Summers & The Interdenominational Singers – choir 
  • Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, Jimmy Douglass, Mario “Big M” Medious, Richard Wells, William “Mac” McCollum – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Donny Hathaway, except where noted.

  1. I Love the Lord; He Heard My Cry (Parts I & II)
  2. Someday We’ll All Be Free – Donny Hathaway, Edward Howard
  3. Flying Easy
  4. Valdez in the Country
  5. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know – Al Kooper
  6. Come Little Children
  7. Love, Love, Love – J.R. Bailey, Ken Williams
  8. The Slums
  9. Magdalena – Danny O’Keefe
  10. I Know It’s You – Leon Ware
  11. Lord Help Me – Joe Greene, Billy Preston

Wynton Marsalis: Hot House Flowers

On December 18, 1984, “Columbia” label released “Hot House Flowers”, the third Wynton Marsalis album. It was recorded in May 1984, at “RCA Studio A” in New York City, and was produced by George Butler and Steven Epstein. The album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Jazz Instrumental Performance Soloist” in 1985.

Personnel:

  • Wynton Marsalis – trumpet
  • Branford Marsalis – soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Kent Jordan – alto flute
  • Paul McCandless – oboe, English horn
  • Andrew Schwartz – bassoon
  • Peter Gordon – French horn
  • Tony Price – tuba
  • Kenny Kirkland – piano
  • Ron Carter – double bass
  • Jeff “Tain” Watts – drums
  • Charles Libove (concertmaster), Ingrid Arden, Peter Dimitriades, Gayle Dixon, Guillermo Figueroa, Winterton Garvey, Harry Glickman, Regis Iandiorio, Ray Kunicki, Patmore Lewis, Diane Monroe, Louann Montesi – violin
  • Al Brown, Theodore Israel, Mitsue Takayama, Harry Zaratzian – viola
  • Seymour Barab, Richard Locker, Alvin McCall, Frederick Zlotkin – cello
  • Bob Freedman – arranger, orchestrator, conductor

Track listing:

  1. Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish
  2. Lazy Afternoon – Jerome Moross, John Latouche
  3. For All We Know – John Frederick Coots, Sam M. Lewis
  4. When You Wish upon a Star – Ned Washington, Leigh Harline
  5. Django – John Lewis
  6. Melancholia – Duke Ellington
  7. Hot House Flowers – Wynton Marsalis
  8. I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You) – Al J. Neiburg, Doc Daugherty, Ellis Reynolds