On March 28, 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto died aged 71. He was musician (piano, keyboards, synthesizers), singer, composer, record producer and artist, who first came to prominence as member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but was best known for his eclectic solo career, straddled experimentalism, electronic, pop and movie music. His work influenced a number of various electronic music genres. He collaborated with big number of musicians, including David Sylvian, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, Thomas Dolby, Adrian Belew, Robin Scott, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Arto Lindsay, Youssou N’Dor, Jill Jones, Robert Wyatt, Brian Wilson and Robbie Robertson. Sakamoto was an “Oscar” winner for “Best Original Score”, for the soundtrack of Bernardo Bertolucci’s movie “The Last Emperor”. As leader, he released 23 albums.
Tag Archives: Thomas Dolby
Steve Hackett: To Watch the Storms
On June 9, 2003, “Camino Records” label released “To Watch the Storms”, the 16th Steve Hackett studio album. It was recorded in 2003, and was produced by Steve Hackett.
Personnel:
- Steve Hackett – vocals, guitar
- Roger King – keyboards
- Terry Gregory – vocals, basses
- Gary O’Toole – vocals, drums
- Rob Townsend – brass, woodwind
- John Hackett – flute
- Ian McDonald – saxophone
- Sarah Wilson – cello
- Howard Gott – violin
- Jeanne Downs – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Steve Hackett except where noted.
- Strutton Ground
- Circus of Becoming
- The Devil Is an Englishman – Thomas Dolby
- Frozen Statues – Steve Hackett, Roger King
- Mechanical Bride
- Wind, Sand and Stars
- Brand New – Steve Hackett, Roger King
- This World – Steve Hackett, Kim Poor
- Rebecca
- The Silk Road – Steve Hackett, Roger King
- Come Away
- The Moon Under Water
- Serpentine Song
Foreigner: 4
On July 2, 1981, “Atlantic” label released “4”, the fourth Foreigner studio album. It was recorded December 1980 – April 1981, at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange and Mick Jones.
Personnel:
- Lou Gramm– lead vocals, percussion
- Mick Jones– guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- Rick Wills– bass guitar, backing vocals
- Dennis Elliott– drums, backing vocals
- Hugh McCracken– slide guitar
- Thomas Dolby– main synthesizers
- Larry Fast– sequential synthesizer
- Bob Mayo– keyboard textures
- Michael Fonfara– keyboard textures
- Mark Rivera– saxophone, backing vocals
- Junior Walker– saxophone solo
- Ian Lloyd– backing vocals
- Robert John “Mutt” Lange– backing vocals
- Dave Wittman – recording, engineer
- Tony Platt– recording, engineer
- Brad Samuelsohn – second engineer
- Edwin Hobgood – assistant engineer
- Michel Sauvage – assistant engineer
- Bob Defrin – art direction
- Hipgnosis – design
Track listing:
- Night Life – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
- Juke Box Hero – Lou Gramm, Mick Jones
- Break It Up – Mick Jones
- Waiting for a Girl Like You – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
- Luanne – Lou Gramm, Mick Jones
- Urgent – Mick Jones
- I’m Gonna Win – Mick Jones
- Woman in Black – Mick Jones
- Girl on the Moon – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
- Don’t Let Go – Mick Jones, Lou Gramm
Matthew Seligman
On April 17, 2020, Matthew Seligman died aged 64. He was musician (bass), member of The Soft Boys, Thompson Twins, Bruce Woolley & The Camera Club and The Dolphin Brothers, recorded and performed with Thomas Dolby, David Bowie, Robyn Hitchcock, Kimberley Rew, Alex Chilton, The Waterboys, Peter Murphy, Transvision Vamp, Morrissey, Stereo MC’s, Sam Brown, Tori Amos, Stereo MC’s and Sinéad O’Connor.
Prefab Sprout: Steve McQueen
In June 1985, “Kitchenware” label released “Steve McQueen”, the second Prefab Sprout studio album. It was recorded 1984 – 1985, at “Nomis Studios” in London, and was produced by Thomas Dolby. Due to legal conflict with the estate of American actor Steve McQueen, the album was released in US by the name “The Wheels Good”.
Personnel:
- Paddy McAloon – vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Wendy Smith – keyboards, backing vocals
- Martin McAloon – bass
- Neil Conti– drums, percussion
- Mark Lockhart – saxophone
- Matt Barry, Brian Evans, Tim Hunt, Dana, Andy Scarth, Chris Sheldon, Kathy Smith, Sven Taits – engineer
- Thomas Dolby – mixing
- Mike Shipley – mixing
- Phil Thornally – mixing
- East Orange – design
- John Warwick – hand – coloring, photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Paddy McAloon.
- Faron Young
- Bonny
- Appetite
- When Love Breaks Down
- Goodbye Lucille #1
- Hallelujah
- Moving the River
- Horsin’ Around
- Desire As
- Blueberry Pies
- When the Angels
Thomas Dolby: Aliens Ate My Buick
In April 1988, “EMI” label released “Aliens Ate My Buick”, the third Thomas Dolby studio album. It was recorded in 1988, and was produced by Thomas Dolby.
Personnel:
- Thomas Dolby – vocals, keyboards
- Larry Treadwell – guitar
- Mike Kapitan – synthesizer
- Terry Jackson – bass
- David Owens – drums
- Arno Lucas – congas, timbales
- Laura Creamer – vocals, percussion
- Bill Watrous– trombone
- Bill Bottrell – engineer
- Daryl Koutnik – engineer assistant
- Mike Tacci – engineer assistant
- Leslie Burke – front cover photography
- Dennis Keeley – back cover photography
- Kathleen Beller – front cover model
Track listing:
All tracks by Thomas Dolby except where noted
- The Key to Her Ferrari
- Airhead – Thomas Dolby, Grant Morris
- Hot Sauce – George Clinton
- Pulp Culture
- My Brain Is Like a Sieve
- The Ability to Swing – Thomas Dolby, Matthew Seligman
- Budapest by Blimp
Thomas Dolby: The Golden Age of Wireless
In March 1982, “Venice in Peril” label released “The Golden Age of Wireless” the debut Thomas Dolby album. It was recorded in 1981, and was produced by Thomas Dolby and Tim Friese-Greene.
Personnel:
- Thomas Dolby – lead and backing vocals, monk voice, drum programs, wave computer, synthesizer, piano, kalimba
- Daniel Miller– synthesizer
- Andy Partridge– harmonica, percussion
- Kevin Armstrong– guitar, backing vocals
- Dave Birch – guitar, monk voice
- Matthew Seligman– Moog bass
- Mark Heyward Chaplin – bass guitar
- Justin Hildreth – drums
- Bosco – percussion
- Simon House– violin
- Tim Kerr – violin
- Simon Lloyd – leadline brass, flute
- Bruce Woolley – monk voice, backing vocals
- James Allen – backing vocals
- Les Chappel – backing vocals
- Judy Evans – backing vocals
- Lesley Fairbairn – backing vocals
- Mutt Lange– backing vocals
- Miriam Stockley – backing vocals
- Akiko Yano– backing vocals
- Lene Lovich– backing vocals
- John Marsh – shipping forecast
- Guido Orlando – Chilean translations, distress, grace
- Magnus Pyke– voiceover
Track listing:
All tracks by Thomas Dolby, except where noted.
- Flying North
- Commercial Breakup – Thomas Dolby, Tim Kerr
- Weightless
- Europa and the Pirate Twins
- Windpower
- The Wreck of The Fairchild
- Airwaves
- Radio Silence
- Cloudburst at Shingle Street
Thomas Dolby: The Flat Earth
In February 1984, “EMI” label released “The Flat Earth”, the second Thomas Dolby album. It was recorded 1982 – 1983, and was produced by Thomas Dolby.
Personnel:
- Thomas Dolby -vocals, piano, effects
- Kevin Armstrong- guitar, trumpet, backing vocals
- Robyn Hitchcock- spoken vocals
- Louise Ulfstedt -vocals
- Matthew Seligman- bass
- Clif Brigden -percussion, electronic drums
- Peter Thoms- trombone
- Matthew Salt – tins, thundersheet
- Adele Bertei- backing vocals
- Lesley Fairbairn – backing vocals
- Lionel Richie- backing vocals
- Bruce Woolley- backing vocals
- Dan Lacksman – engineer
- Mike Shipley, Alan Douglas – mixing
- Wally Traugott – mastering .
Track listing:
All tracks by Thomas Dolby, except where noted.
- Dissidents – Thomas Dolby, Kevin Armstrong,Matthew Seligman
- The Flat Earth
- Screen Kiss
- White City
- Mulu the Rain Forest
- I Scare Myself – Dan Hicks
- Hyperactive!
Joni Mitchell: Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm
On March 23, 1988, “Geffen” label released “Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm”, the 13th Joni Mitchell album. It was recorded 1986 – 1987, and was produced by Joni Mitchell and Larry Klein.
Personnel:
- Joni Mitchell – vocals, guitar, keyboards, drum programming
- Michael Landau– guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Stevens- lead guitar
- Steven Lindsey – organ
- Larry Klein- bass, keyboards, congas, programming, backing vocals
- Manu Katché- drums, percussion, talking drum, snare drum, backing vocals
- Wayne Shorter- saxophones
- Thomas Dolby- marimba
- Peter Gabriel– vocals
- Willie Nelson- vocals
- Iron Eyes Cody– vocals
- Billy Idol– vocals
- Tom Petty– vocals
- Benjamin Orr- backing vocals
- Don Henley- backing vocals
- Wendy Melvoin- backing vocals
- Lisa Coleman- backing vocals
- Julie Last – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by Joni Mitchell, except where noted.
- My Secret Place
- Number One
- Lakota – Joni Mitchell and Larry Klein
- The Tea Leaf Prophecy – (Lay Down Your Arms) – Joni Mitchell and Larry Klein
- Dancin’ Clown
- Cool Water – Joni Mitchell and Bob Nolan
- The Beat of Black Wings
- Snakes and Ladders – Joni Mitchell and Larry Klein
- The Reoccurring Dream – Joni Mitchell and Larry Klein
- A Bird That Whistles (Corrina, Corrina) – traditional
Prefab Sprout: From Langley Park To Memphis
On March 14, 1988, “Kitchenware” label released “From Langley Park to Memphis” the third Prefab Sprout studio album. It was recorded in 1987, and was produced by Thomas Dolby, Jon Kelly, Paddy McAloon and Andy Richards.
Personnel:
- Paddy McAloon– vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, piano, harmonica, bass guitar
- Wendy Smith – vocals, guitars, keyboards, piano, tambourine
- Martin McAloon – bass guitar
- Neil Conti– drums, percussion
- Pete Townshend – guitar
- Stevie Wonder – harmonica
- Thomas Dolby, Gary Moberley, Andy Richards – keyboards
- Gloria Augustus, Rose Banks, Ricky Barber, Andraé Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Vonciele Faggette, Von Foggett, Richard Hollywood, Jean Johnson, Verdine Johnson, Sabrina Johnstom, Geary Lanier, Janet Mims, Bert Noriega, Alfie Silas – backing vocals
- Lenny Castro, Louis Jardim, Wendy Smith – percussion
- John Altman, Robin Smith – arranger, conductor
- Mike Ross, John Timperly – string engineer
- Mike Shipley – mixing
- David Leonard, Richard Moakes, Tony Phillips – engineer, mixing
- Michael J. Ade, Michael Brauer, Cliff Brigden, Geoff Bruckner, Dave Conors, Gonzales Espinoza, Tim Hunt, Peter Jones, Jon Kelly, Karl Lever, Steve Lyon, Mark O’Donoughue, Gary Olazabal, Mickey Sweeney, Steve Van Day, Terence Wilson – engineer
- George Marino – mastering
- Stephen Male – design
- Nick Knight – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Paddy McAloon
- The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll
- Cars and Girls
- I Remember That
- Enchanted
- Nightingales
- Hey Manhattan!
- Knock On Wood
- The Golden Calf
- Nancy (Let Your Hair Down For Me)
- The Venus of the Soup Kitchen
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