Tag Archives: UK

Gerry Rafferty: City To City

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City to city

On January 20, 1978, “United Artists” released “City to City”, the second Gerry Rafferty studio album. It was recorded in 1977,at the “ Chipping  Norton Recording Studios”, and was produced by Hugh Murphy. The album featured the song  “Baker Street”, which reached  5 million plays on British radio, and became Rafferty’s best known song. “City to City” was certified Platinum the US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Gerry Rafferty– lead and backing vocals, piano, acoustic guitar
  • Tommy Eyre– piano, electric piano, grand piano, Moog synthesizer, organ, keyboards, brass arrangements
  • Jerry Donahue– lead, rhythm and electric guitar
  • Hugh Burns– acoustic, rhythm and electric guitar
  • Nigel Jenkins, Andy Fairweather-Low– rhythm and electric guitar
  • Micky Moody– acoustic guitar
  • Brian Cole– steel guitar, dobro
  • Graham Preskett– fiddle, mandolin, synthesizer, string machine, strings, bass, arrangements
  • Paul Jones– harmonica
  • Hugh Murphy – tambourine
  • Willy Ray – accordion
  • Mo Foster– bass, backing vocals
  • Henry Spinetti– drums
  • Glen LeFleur- drums, percussion, tambourine
  • Raphael Ravenscroft– saxophone
  • Roger Brown, Vivian McAuliff, John McBurnie, Rab Noakes, Barbara Dickson, Joanna Carlin – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Gerry Rafferty.

  1. The Ark
  2. Baker Street
  3. Right Down the Line
  4. City to City
  5. Stealin’ Time
  6. Mattie’s Rag
  7. Whatever’s Written In Your Heart
  8. Home and Dry
  9. Island
  10. Waiting for the Day

 

Led Zeppelin: II

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Led_Zeppelin_-_Led_Zeppelin_II

On October 22, 1969, “Atlantic” label released “Led Zeppelin II”, the second Led Zeppelin studio album. It was recorded January – August 1969, at several locations in the United Kingdom and North America, and was produced by Jimmy Page. In 1989,  “Spin”  magazine ranked the album at number 5 on its list of “The 25 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2000, “Q” magazine ranked “Led Zeppelin II” at number 37 on its list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”; in 2003, Rolling Stone” magazine the album at number 75 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time “Led Zeppelin II” was the band’s first album to reach number one in the UK and the US. “Led Zeppelin II” was ranked 4 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 9 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 4 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 12× Platinum in the US by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica
  • Jimmy Page – acoustic and electric guitars, theremin, backing vocals
  • John Paul Jones– bass guitar, organ
  • John Bonham– drums, timpani
  • Eddie Kramer – director of engineering,
  • George Chkiantz, Chris Huston, Andy Johns – engineer
  • Robert Ludwig – mastering
  • David Juniper – artwork
  • Peter Grant – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Whole Lotta Love – John Bonham, Willie Dixon, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  2. What Is and What Should Never Be – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  3. The Lemon Song – John Bonham, Chester Burnett, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  4. Thank You – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  5. Heartbreaker – John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  6. Living Loving Maid – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  7. Ramble On – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  8. Moby Dick – John Bonham, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page
  9. Bring It On Home – Willie Dixon

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin III

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Led_Zeppelin III

On October 5, 1970, “Atlantic” label released “Led Zeppelin III”, the third Led Zeppelin studio album. It was composed at a cottage in Wells, known as “Bron-Yr-Aur”, and was recorded  December 1969; January – August 1970, at “Rolling Stones Mobile Studio”, in Headley Grange, Hampshire; “Island Studios”, “Olympic Studios” in London,  and was produced by Jimmy Page.  The album was certified Platinum in Argentina by “CAPIF”; 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in UK by “BPI, and 6 x Platinum in the US by “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica
  • Jimmy Page– acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, banjo, dulcimer, bass, backing vocals
  • John Paul Jones– bass guitar, Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer, mandolin, double bass, string arrangements
  • John Bonham– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Zacron – cover art, design

Track listing:

  1. Immigrant Song – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  2. Friends – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  3. Celebration Day – John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
  4. Since I’ve Been Loving You – John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
  5. Out in the Tiles – Jimmy page, Robert Plant, John Bonham
  6. Gallows Pole – traditional, arr. by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
  7. Tangerine – Jimmy Page
  8. That’s the Way – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  9. Bron-Y-Stomp – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
  10. Hats Off to (Roy) Harper – traditional, arr. by Charles Obscure

Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here

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Wish You Were Here

On September 12, 1975, “Harvest” label released “Wish You Were Here”, the ninth Pink Floyd studio album. It was recorded January–July 1975, at the “Abbey Road Studios” in London and was produced by David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Nick Mason. The album features composition “Shine on you crazy diamond”, a tribute to Syd Barrett, who left the band seven years earlier due to a mental illness. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 211 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified 7 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 2 x Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”; 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Diamond in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 2 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 6 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • David Gilmour– vocals, guitars, lap steel guitar, EMS Synth AKS, keyboards, tape effects
  • Richard Wright– keyboards, VCS3, clavinet, backing vocals
  • Roger Waters– vocals, bass guitar, guitar, VCS3, tape effects
  • Nick Mason– drums, percussion, tape effects
  • Dick Parry– saxophone
  • Roy Harper– vocals
  • Venetta Fieldsand Carlena Williams – backing vocals

Track listing

All lyrics by Roger Waters, music as noted.

  1. Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts I – V) – David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Roger Waters
  2. Welcome to the Machine – Roger Waters
  3. Have a Cigar – Roger Waters
  4. Wish You Were Here – Roger Waters, David Gilmour
  5. Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts VI – IX) – David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Roger Waters

Led Zeppelin: In Through The Out Door

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Led_Zeppelin_-_In_Through_the_Out_Door

On August 15, 1979, label “Swan Song” released “In Through the Out Door”, the eighth Led Zeppelin studio album .  It was recorded November – December 1978 at ABBA’s “Polar Studios” in Stockholm, and was produced by Jimmy Page.This was band’s final album with completely new material and the last one released before the death of the drummer John Bonham in 1980.  “In Through the Out Door” was certified 2 x Platinum in Australia by the “ARIA”; Platinum in UK by the “BPI” and 6 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Robert Plant– lead vocals
  • Jimmy Page– electric and acoustic guitars, Gizmotron
  • John Paul Jones– bass guitar,  mandolin,  keyboards,  synthesizer, piano
  • John Bonham– drums
  • Hipgnosis – covert art

Track listing:

  1. In the Evening – John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
  2. South Bound Saurez – John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
  3. Fool in the Rain – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones
  4. Hot dog – Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
  5. Carouselambra – John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, jimmy Page
  6. All My Love – John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
  7. I’m Gonna Crawl – John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant

Plastic Ono Band: Give Peace A Chance

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GPAC

On June 1, 1969, in room 1742, in “Queen Elizabeth Hotel”, in Montreal, Canada,  John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded the song “Give Peace A Chance”. The song was written by Lennon and recorded by André Perry, using a simple setup of four microphones and a four-track tape recorder. Lennon played acoustic guitar, accompanied by Tommy Smothers from the “Smothers Brothers”, also on acoustic guitar. The recording session was attended by number of journalists and celebrities, including Petula Clark, Timothy Leary, Rabbi Abraham Feinberg, Joseph Schwartz, Rosemary Woodruff Leary, Dick Gregory, Allen Ginsberg, Murray the K and Derek Taylor. The song was released as a single by “Plastic Ono Band” on July 4, 1969 (UK), on “Apple” label. “Give peace a chance” became an anthem of the American anti-war movement during the 70’s.

The Rolling Stones: Paint It, Black

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Paint it black

On May 13, 1966, The Rolling Stones released the song “Paint It Black”.This is the first single from the US version of their fourth album “Aftermath”. The song lyrics were written by Mick Jagger and the music was written by Keith Richards. The song was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. The 7” record was released in UK on “Decca” label, with the song “Long long while” as a record B side and in US was released on May 7, 1966, on “London” label, with the song “Stupid girl” as a record B side. In 2004 “Paint it black” was ranked number 176 on the “Rolling Stone” magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest songs of all time”.

The Rolling Stones: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

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Satisfaction

On May 12, 1965, in the RCA Studios, Hollywood, The Rolling Stones recorded the song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. The song is considered to be one of greatest rock songs ever recorded. In 2004, “Rolling Stone” magazine positioned  “Satisfaction” on the second place on its list of “The 500 greatest songs of all time”. The 7” record in US was released on June 6, 1965, on “London” label, with the song “The under assistant west coast promotion man” as a record B side. In UK the 7” records was released on August 20, 1965 on “Decca” label, with the song “The Spider and the fly” as a record B side.

Daevid Allen

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On March 13, 2015, Christopher David Allen aka Daevid Allen died aged 77. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, one of the most important figures of the progressive and avant-garde rock, Born in Australia, moved in UK in 1961, he was founding member of “Soft Machine” (1966) and in 1967, in France he formed the legendary band “Gong”.

U2: The Joshua Tree

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The_Joshua_Tree

On March 9, 1987, “Island” label released “The Joshua Tree”, the fifth U2 studio album . It was recorded January 1986 – January 1987, at “STS Studios”, “Danesmoate House”, “Windmill Lane Studios”, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. In 1988, “The Joshua Tree” won “Grammy Awards”  for  “Album of the Year” and “Best Rock Performance” by a “Duo or Group with Vocal”.  It is U2 best sold album with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide.  In 1995, the album was certified 10× Platinum in US by “RIAA”, and  album subsequently received the “Diamond” certificate. In Canada it was certified Diamond by “Canadian Recording Industry Association”, In UK it was certified 8 x Platinum by “BPI”, with an additional silver certification for the 20th anniversary edition. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 27 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bono– lead vocals, harmonica, guitars
  • The Edge– guitars, piano, backing vocals
  • Adam Clayton– bass guitar
  • Larry Mullen, Jr.– drums, percussion
  • Brian Eno– keyboards, DX7 programming, backing vocals
  • Daniel Lanois– tambourine, Omnichord, additional guitar, backing vocals
  • The Armin Family – strings
  • The Arklow Silver Band – brass

Track listing:

All lyrics by Bono, all music by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen.

  1. Where the Streets Have No Name
  2. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
  3. With or Without You
  4. Bullet the Blue Sky
  5. Running to Stand Still
  6. Red Hill Mining Town
  7. In God’s Country
  8. Trip Through Your Wires
  9. One Tree Hill
  10. Exit
  11. Mothers of the Disappeared