Tag Archives: Thom Bell

Spinners: Pick Of The Litter

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In August 1975, “Atlantic” label released “Pick of the Litter”, the sixth Spinners studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Tony Bell, Bobby Eli, Don Murray – guitars
  • Thom Bell– keyboards
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • MFSB– strings, horns
  • Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Honest I Do – Sherman Marshall, Philip Pugh, Thom Bell
  2. I Don’t Want to Lose You – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  3. Love or Leave – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  4. Sweet Love of Mine – Vinnie Barrett, Bobby Eli
  5. All That Glitters Ain’t Gold – Philip Terry, Theodore Life, Talmadge Conway
  6. You Made a Promise to Me – Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson
  7. Games People Play – Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons
  8. Just as Long as We Have Love – Vinnie Barrett, Bruce Hawes

O’Jays: Back Stabbers

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In August 1972, “Philadelphia International” label released “Back Stabbers”, the seventh O’Jays studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Bunny Sigler.In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 318 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, Bill Isles.– vocals
  • Dennis Harris – guitar
  • Bobby Eli– guitar
  • Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Bunny Sigler– guitar, keyboards, piano
  • Lenny Pakula – keyboards
  • Norman Harris– arranger, guitar
  • Ronnie Baker– bass
  • Lenny Pakula – keyboards
  • Leon Huff– keyboards, piano
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Larry Washington – bongos, percussion
  • Vincent Montana, Jr.– percussion, vibraphone
  • Don Renaldo – conductor, horn, strings
  • Thom Bell – arrangements, strings
  • Bobby Martin– arrangements
  • Joe Tarsia– engineer
  • Tony Sellari – art direction
  • Tony Martell – executive producer
  • Adam Block – director

Track listing:

  1. When the World’s at Peace – Kenneth Gamble, Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurtt
  2. Back Stabbers – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
  3. Who Am I – Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurtt
  4. (They Call Me) Mr. Lucky – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff,
  5. Time to Get Down – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
  6. 992 Arguments – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
  7. Listen to the Clock on the Wall – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Kenneth Gamble
  8. Shiftless, Shady, Jealous Kind of People – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Kenneth Gamble
  9. Sunshine – Bunny Sigler, Phil Hurtt
  10. Love Train – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff

Spinners: Same

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In April 1973, “Atlantic” label released the third, self-titled Spinners album. It was recorded 1972-1973, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Roland Chambers, Norman Harris, Bobby Eli– guitar
  • Thom Bell– piano
  • Ronnie Baker– bass
  • Earl Young– drums
  • Larry Washington – congas, bongos
  • Vince Montana– vibes, marimbas
  • Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
  • Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
  • Joe DeAnglis, Robert Martin – French horn
  • Freddie Joiner, Bobby Moore, Richie Genevese, Eddie Keskarella – trombone
  • Don Renaldo – strings
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Yvette Benton – backing vocals
  • Thom Bell– arranger, conductor
  • Joe Tarsia– recording, re-mix engineer
  • Loring Eutemey – design
  • Merrill A. Roberts, Jr. – photography

Track listing:

  1. Just Can’t Get You Out of My Mind – Vinnie Barrett
  2. Just You and Me Baby – Yvette Davis
  3. Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You – Jerry Akines, Johnny Bellman, Victor Drayton, Reginald Turner
  4. I Could Never (Repay Your Love) – Bruce Hawes
  5. I’ll Be Around – Thom Bell, Phil Hurtt
  6. One of a Kind (Love Affair) – Joseph B. Jefferson
  7. We Belong Together – Yvette Davis
  8. Ghetto Child – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
  9. How Could I Let You Get Away – Yvette Davis
  10. Could It Be I’m Falling in Love – Melvin and Mervin Steals

Spinners: Mighty Love

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In March 1974, “Atlantic” label released “Mighty Love”, the fourth Spinners studio album. It was recorded 1973-1974, at “Sigma Sound Studios” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was produced by Thom Bell.

Personnel:

  • Billy Henderson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne, Henry Fambrough, Pervis Jackson– vocals
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson, Evette Benton – backing vocals
  • MFSB– instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson, and Bruce Hawes, except where noted.

  1. Since I Been Gone
  2. Ain’t No Price on Happiness
  3. I’m Glad You Walked into My Life
  4. I’m Coming Home- Thom Bell, Linda Creed
  5. He’ll Never Love You Like I Do
  6. Love Has Gone Away
  7. Love Don’t Love Nobody – Charles Simmons, Joseph B. Jefferson
  8. Mighty Love

David Byrne: Look Into the Eyeball

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Into the Eyball_

On May 8, 2001, “Virgin” label released “Look into the Eyeball”, the fifth David Byrne album. It was recorded at “The Cutting Room Studio” and “Sound on Sound Studio” in New York, and was produced by Michael Mangini.

Personnel:

  • David Byrne– vocals, guitar, keyboards, Mellotron,  timpani
  • Nrü (a.k.a. Rubén Isaac Albarrán Ortega)– vocals
  • Thom Bell– Rhodes
  • John Vercesi – Rhodes
  • Greg Cohen– upright bass
  • Ken Lewis– bass, keyboards
  • Bradley Jones – bass, baby bass
  • Paul Frazier – bass guitar
  • Shawn Pelton– drums, percussion
  • Paulo Braga – percussion
  • Vinicius Cantuaria– percussion
  • Mauro Refosco– percussion
  • Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophone
  • Rodd Kadleck – trumpet
  • Jim Hayes – trumpet
  • Birch Johnson– trombone
  • Michael Davis– trombone
  • Robert Funk – trombone
  • Herb Besson – trombone
  • Virgil Blackwell – clarinet
  • Larry Etkin – flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Shelley Woodworth – English horn
  • Bob Carlisle – French horn
  • Stewart Rose – French horn
  • Judy Leclair – bassoon
  • Arlen Fast – bassoon
  • Karen Griffin – piccolo
  • Sharon Yamada – violin
  • Kristina Mosso – violin
  • Maxim Moston – violin
  • Bruno Eicher – violin
  • Dan Reed – violin
  • Suzanne Ornstein – violin
  • Sandra Park – violin
  • Rajnhidur Pejursdottir – violin
  • Lisa Kim – violin
  • Laura Seaton – violin
  • Fiona Simon – violin
  • Vivek Kamath – viola
  • Nick Cords – viola
  • Susan Pray – viola
  • Dawn Hannay – viola
  • Robert Rinehart – viola
  • Eileen Moon – cello
  • Sarah Seiver – cello
  • Tara Chambers – cello
  • Alan Stepanksy – cello
  • Vivian Cherry – backing vocals
  • Kysia Bostic – backing vocals
  • Imani Coppola– backing vocals
  • Marlon Saunders– backing vocals
  • Ken Lewis – engineer, mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Doyle Partners – artwork
  • Danny Clinch – photography
  • Stephen Doyle – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by David Byrne.

  1. B. Jesus
  2. The Revolution
  3. The Great Intoxication
  4. Like Humans Do
  5. Broken Things
  6. The Accident
  7. Desconocido Soy
  8. Neighborhood
  9. Smile
  10. The Moment of Conception
  11. Walk on Water
  12. Everyone’s in Love with You

Todd Rundgren: A Wizard, A True Star

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Wizard

On March 2, 1973, “Bearsville” label released “A Wizard, a True Star”, the fourth Todd Rundgren album. It was recorded in 1972 – 1973, at “Secret Sound Studio” in New York, and was produced by Todd Rundgren.

Personnel:

  • Todd Rundgren– vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Rick Derringer– guitar
  • Mark “Moogy” Klingman– keyboards
  • Ralph Schuckett– keyboards
  • Jean-Yves “M. Frog” Labat –synthesizer
  • John Siegler –bass guitar, cello
  • John Siomos– drums
  • Michael Brecker– saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– horn
  • Barry Rogers– trombone
  • David Sanborn– saxophone
  • Arthur Wood – cover painting

Track listing:

All tracks by Todd Rundgren except where noted.

  1. International Feel
  2. Never Never Land – Betty Comden,Adolph Green , Jule Styne
  3. Tic Tic Tic It Wears Off
  4. You Need Your Head
  5. Rock and Roll Pussy
  6. Dogfight Giggle
  7. You Don’t Have to Camp Around
  8. Flamingo
  9. Zen Archer
  10. Just Another Onionhead / Da da Dali
  11. When the Shit Hits the Fan/Sunset Blvd.
  12. Le Feel Internacionale
  13. Sometimes I Don’t Know What to Feel
  14. Does Anybody Love You?
  15. Medley
    • I’m So Proud – Curtis Mayfield
    • Ooh Baby Baby – Smokey Robinson, Warren “Pete” Moore
    • La La Means I Love You – William Hart, Thom Bell
    • Cool Jerk – Donald Storball
  16. Hungry for Love
  17. I Don’t Want to Tie You Down
  18. Is It My Name?
  19. Just One Victory

Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted And Black

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ArethaFranklinYoung,Gifted&Black

On January 24, 1972, “Atlantic” label released “Young, Gifted and Black”, the nineteenth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded August 1970 – February 1971, and was produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin and Jerry Wexler. In 1972, the album won Aretha Franklin “Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance”. In 2003, the TV network “VH1” ranked it the 76th greatest album of all time.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, acoustic piano, celesta, electric piano
  • Don Arnone – acoustic guitar
  • Cornell Dupree- guitar
  • Hugh McCracken- guitar
  • Donny Hathaway- organ, electric piano
  • Billy Preston- organ
  • Eric Gale- bass
  • Chuck Rainey- bass
  • Robert Popwell- bass, percussion
  • Bernard “Pretty” Purdie- drums
  • Al Jackson, Jr.- drums
  • Ray Lucas – drums
  • The Memphis Horns- horn section
  • Andrew Love (of the Memphis Horns) – tenor saxophone
  • Neal Rosengarden – trumpet, vibraphone
  • Wayne Jackson (of the Memphis Horns) – trumpet
  • Hubert Laws- flute
  • Tom Dowd- horn arrangements
  • Pat Smith – backing vocals
  • Ronald Bright – backing vocals
  • R. Bailey – backing vocals
  • Carolyn Franklin- backing vocals
  • Erma Franklin- backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Ann S. Clark – backing vocals
  • The Sweet Inspirations- backing vocals
  • Sammy Turner – backing vocals
  • Stanislaw Zagorski – cover design
  • David Nathan – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby) – Jim Doris
  2. Day Dreaming – Aretha Franklin
  3. Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
  4. Young, Gifted and Black – Weldon Irvine, Nina Simone
  5. All the King’s Horses – Aretha Franklin
  6. A Brand New Me – Theresa Bell, Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble
  7. April Fools – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  8. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long – Jerry Butler, Otis Redding
  9. First Snow in Kokomo – Aretha Franklin
  10. The Long and Winding Road – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  11. Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  12. Border Song (Holy Moses) – Bernie Taupin, Elton John