Tag Archives: Van Dyke Parks

Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm

Leave a comment

In November 1987, “Warner Bros” label released “Get Rhythm”, the eleventh Ry Cooder album. It was recorded in 1987, at “Ocean Way Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Ry Cooder.

Personnel:

  • Ry Cooder – vocals, guitar, arrangements
  • Van Dyke Parks – keyboards
  • Flaco Jiménez – accordion
  • Steve Douglas – saxophone
  • Jorge Calderón – bass guitar
  • Buell Neidlinger – acoustic bass
  • Jim Keltner – drums
  • Miguel Cruz – percussion
  • Bobby King, Terry Evans, Arnold McCuller, Willie Greene, Jr. – backing vocals
  • Larry Blackmon – backing vocals
  • Harry Dean Stanton – backing vocals
  • Ed Cherney – recording
  • Steven M. Martin – art direction
  • Kalan Brunink – black velvet painting

Track listing:

  1. Get Rhythm – Johnny Cash
  2. Low Commotion – Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner
  3. Going Back to Okinawa – Ry Cooder
  4. Thirteen Question Method – Chuck Berry
  5. Women Will Rule the World – Raymond Quevedo
  6. All Shook Up – Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell
  7. I Can Tell by the Way You Smell – Walter Davis
  8. Across the Borderline – Ry Cooder, Jim Dickinson, John Hiatt
  9. Let’s Have a Ball – Allen Bunn

Natalie Merchant: Motherland

Leave a comment

On November 13, 2001, “Elektra” label released “Motherland”, the third Natalie Merchant album. It was recorded July – September 2001, at “Allaire Studios”, “Sunset Sound” and “Clinton Studios”, and was produced by T-Bone Burnett and Natalie Merchant.

Personnel:

  • Natalie Merchant – vocal, piano, Rhodes piano
  • Erik Della Penna – electric guitar, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, oud, banjo, lap steel guitar, bouzouki
  • Greg Leisz – acoustic and electric guitar, 12 string guitar, banjo, mandolin
  • Elizabeth Steen – Hammond organ, mellotron, Wurlitzer piano, piano
  • Gabriel Gordon – vocal, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Keefus Ciancia – piano, Hammond organ, keyboard
  • Patrick Warren – Chamberlin, pump organ
  • Guy Klucevsek – accordion
  • Van Dyke Parks – accordion
  • Mike Elizondo – acoustic bass
  • Bob Glaub – bass guitar
  • Jeremy McCoy – bass guitar
  • Graham Maby – bass guitar
  • Matt Chamberlain – drums, percussion
  • Carla Azar – drums 
  • Katie Goldberg – vocal
  • Mavis Staples – vocals
  • Kate Daley – Vivian girl’s voice
  • Kelly Daley – Vivian girl’s voice
  • Stephen Barber – arranger, conductor
  • David Ralicke – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone
  • Philip Myers – French horn
  • Sandra Church – alto flute
  • David Krakauer – clarinet
  • Mitchell Estrin – bass clarinet
  • Tony Kadleck – trumpet
  • Chris Tedesco – trumpet
  • Sandra Park – violin, string contractor
  • Krystof Kuznik – violin
  • Bruno Eicher – violin
  • Ann S. Kim – violin
  • Lisa E. Kim – violin
  • Karen Marx – violin
  • Robert T. Shaw – violin
  • Fiona Simon – violin
  • Soo Hyun Kwon – violin
  • Jung Sun Yoo – violin
  • Sharon Yamada – violin
  • Laura Seaton – violin
  • Nick Cords – viola
  • Vivek Kamath – viola
  • Karen Dreyfus – viola
  • Elizabeth Dyson – cello
  • Sarah Seiver – cello
  • Alan Stepansky – cello

Track listing:

All tracks by Natalie Merchant.

  1. This House Is on Fire
  2. Motherland
  3. Saint Judas
  4. Put the Law on You
  5. Build a Levee
  6. Golden Boy
  7. Henry Darger
  8. The Worst Thing – Spanish lyrics by Daniel de la Calle 
  9. Tell Yourself
  10. Just Can’t Last
  11. Not in This Life
  12. I’m Not Gonna Beg

Arlo Guthrie: Washington County

Leave a comment

In October 1970, “Reprise” label released “Washington County”, the third Arlo Guthrie studio album. It was recorded in August 1970, and was produced by Lenny Waronker and John Pilla.

Personnel:

  • Arlo Guthrie – vocals, banjo, guitar, piano, autoharp, harp
  • Ry Cooder – bottleneck guitar
  • John Pilla – guitar, autoharp, harmony vocals
  • Clarence White – electric guitar
  • Doug Dillard – banjo
  • Hoyt Axton – vocals, bass
  • Chris Ethridge – bass guitar
  • Gary Walters – bass guitar
  • Richie Hayward – drums
  • Barry Feldman – executive producer
  • Van Dyke Parks – co-producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Arlo Guthrie, except where noted.

  1. Introduction
  2. Fencepost Blues
  3. Gabriel’s Mother’s Hiway Ballad #16 Blues
  4. Washington County
  5. Valley to Pray – Doc Coutson, John Pilla, Arlo Guthrie
  6. Lay Down Little Doggies – Woody Guthrie
  7. I Could Be Singing
  8. If You Would Just Drop By
  9. Percy’s Song – Bob Dylan
  10. I Want to Be Around

Hal Blaine

1 Comment

On March 11, 2019, Harold Simon Belsky aka Hal Blaine died aged 90. He was musician (drums) regarded to be one of the most recorded studio drummers in the history of the modern music. He had more than 35,000 recording sessions in various music genres including big number of film and TV soundtracks. He worked with Shelley Fabares, The Crystals, Jan & Dean, The Beach Boys, Dean Martin, Lorne Greene, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, The Byrds, Sonny & Cher, Barry McGuire, Petula Clark, Nancy Sinatra, The Mamas & the Papas, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Rivers, The Supremes, The Association, Simon & Garfunkel, Tommy Roe, The 5th Dimension, Henry Mancini, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, The Partridge Family, The Raiders, Barbra Streisand, John Denver, Captain & Tennille, Diana Ross, Sam Cooke, Van Dyke Parks, John Lennon, Lulu, Dennis Wilson, Paul Simon, Richard Harris, Glen Campbell, Emitt Rhodes, Art Garfunkel, Juice Newton, Michael Nesmith, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, J.J. Cale, José Feliciano, Bobby Darin, Rosanne Cash, Cass Elliot, Rodney Crowell, Dion DiMucci, Paul Anka, Barry Mann, Emmylou Harris, Jackie Lomax, Elkie Brooks, Helen Reddy, John Philips, Thelma Houston and Leonard Cohen. As leader Blaine released five albums.

Ringo Starr: Y Not

Leave a comment

On January 12, 2010, “Hip-O” and “UMe” labels released “Y Not”, the 16th Ringo Starr album. It was recorded in 2009, and was produced by Bruce Sugar and Ringo Starr.

Personnel:

  • Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) – lead and backing vocals, drums, keyboards, piano, acoustic guitar, percussion
  • Steve Dudas – guitar
  • David A. Stewart – guitar
  • Billy Squier – guitar
  • Keith Allison – guitar, backing vocals
  • Joe Walsh – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Benmont Tench – Hammond organ, piano
  • Bruce Sugar – keyboards, engineer
  • Michael Bradford – bass guitar
  • Don Was – bass guitar, upright bass
  • Paul McCartney – bass guitar, additional vocals
  • Edgar Winter – horns, tenor and alto saxophones, backing vocals
  • Ann Marie Calhoun – violin
  • Tina Sugandh – tabla and chanting
  • Joss Stone – lead vocals
  • Ben Harper – backing vocals
  • Richard Marx – backing vocals
  • Cindy Gomez – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Fill in the Blanks – Richard Starkey, Joe Walsh
  2. Peace Dream – Richard Starkey, Gary Wright, Gary Nicholson
  3. The Other Side of Liverpool – Richard Starkey, Dave Stewart
  4. Walk With You – Richard Starkey, Van Dyke Parks
  5. Time – Richard Starkey, Dave Stewart
  6. Everyone Wins – Richard Starkey, Johnny Warman
  7. Mystery in the Night – Richard Starkey, Richard Marx
  8. Can’t Do It Wrong – Richard Starkey, Gary Burr
  9. Y Not – Richard Starkey, Glen Ballard
  10. Who’s Your Daddy – Richard Starkey, Joss Stone

Thomas Tedesco

Leave a comment

On November 10, 1997, Thomas J. Tedesco died aged 67. He was a musician (guitar), part of the loose collective of Los Angeles area’s session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. As he played on hundreds studio recordings, “Guitar Player” magazine described him as “the most recorded guitarist in music history”. He recorded with the Beach Boys, Chet Baker, the Mamas & the Papas, the Everly Brothers, the Association, Bobby Darrin, Barbra Streisand, Jan and Dean, the 5th Dimension, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Zappa, Ricky Nelson, Cher, Neil Diamond, Van Dyke Parks, Michael Franks, Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Richard Harris, Peggy Lee, Johnny Rivers, Al Kooper, Michael Nesmith, Paul Anka, Don Ellis, Minnie Riperton, Maria Muldaur, Leon Russell, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, J.J. Cale, Quincy Jones, Stephen Bishop, Kenny Loggins, Jack Nitzsche, Sarah Vaughan, Lalo Schifrin, Randy Newman, Hugh Masakela, and Joan Baez. Tedesco performed on soundtracks including The French Connection, Jaws, The Godfather, Field of Dreams, and The Deer Hunter. As a leader he released ten albums.

Jay Migliori

Leave a comment

On September 2, 2001, Jay Migliori died aged 70. He was a musician (saxophone), a founding member of Supersax, a Charlie Parker tribute band. Some artists he performed and recorded with include Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, The Beach Boys, Frank Zappa, Frank Sinatra, Maynard Ferguson, The 5th Dimension, Cannonball Adderley, Nat Adderley, Gene Ammons, Paul Anka, David Axelrod, Hoyt Axton, The Byrds, Captain & Tennille, Harry Chapin, Leonard Cohen, Albert Collins, Dick Dale, Neil Diamond, Woody Herman, Tito Puente, The Manhattan Transfer, Harry Nilsson, Van Dyke Parks, Esther Phillips, Helen Reddy, The Righteous Brothers, The Tubes, Loudon Wainwright III, Joe Williams, Brian Wilson, and Neil Young. As a leader, Migliori released three albums.

Richie Hayward

Leave a comment

On August 12, 2010, Richard “Richie” Hayward died aged 64. He was a musician (drums), best known as the drummer of Little Feat. Hayward recorded and performed with many artists including Paul Rodgers, The Doobie Brothers, Bob Dylan, Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Arlo Guthrie, Al Kooper, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Seger, Carly Simon, Nancy Sinatra, Stephen Stills, Tom Waits, John Cale, Warren Zevon, Warren HaynesJoan Armatrading, Delaney Bramlett, Kim Carnes, Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, James Cotton,  Jonny Lang, Barbra Streisand, Eric Lynn, Nils Lofgren, Taj Mahal, Coco Montoya, Robert Palmer, Van Dyke Parks, Robert Plant, Helen Watson, and Jimmy Herring.

Beau Brummels: Triangle

Leave a comment

In July 1967, “Warner Bros” label released “Triangle”, the fourth Beau Brummels studio album. It was recorded in 1967 and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Ron Elliott – vocals, guitar, arrangements
  • Ron Meagher – vocals, bass, guitar
  • Sal Valentino – vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Van Dyke Parks– harpsichord, keyboards
  • James Burton– guitar
  • Donnie Lanier – guitar
  • Gene Garf – accordion
  • Carol Kaye– bass
  • Jim Gordon– drums
  • Dick Hyde– trombone
  • David Duke – French horn
  • George Hyde – French horn
  • Gale Robinson – French horn
  • The Blossoms– backing vocals
  • Lou Klass – violin
  • Shari Zippert – violin
  • Jesse Ehrlich – cello
  • Raymond Kelley– cello

Track listing:

  1. Are You Happy – Bob Durand, Ron Elliot
  2. Only Dreaming Now – Ron Elliot, Sal Valentino
  3. Painter of Women – Bob Durand, Ron Elliot
  4. The Keeper of Time – Bob Durand, Ron Elliot
  5. It Won’t Get Better – Ron Elliot, Sal Valentino
  6. Nine Pound Hammer – Merle Travis
  7. Magic Hollow – Ron Elliot, Sal Valentino
  8. And I’ve Seen Her – Bob Durand, Ron Elliot
  9. Triangle – Ron Elliot, Sal Valentino
  10. The Wolf of Velvet Fortune – Ron Elliot, Sal Valentino
  11. Old Kentucky Home – Randy Newman

Carly Simon: Another Passenger

Leave a comment

On June 5, 1976, “Elektra” label released “Another Passenger”, the seventh Carly Simon album. It was recorded in 1976, at “Sunset Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ted Templeman.

Personnel:

  • Carly Simon – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, celesta, acoustic and electric piano
  • Jeff Baxter– electric, slide and steel guitar
  • Andrew Gold– electric guitar
  • Patrick Simmons– electric guitar
  • James Taylor– guitars, backing vocals
  • Tom Johnston– acoustic guitar
  • Paul Barrere– electric and slide guitars
  • Laurindo Almeida – guitar
  • Stephen Bruton– electric guitar
  • Lowell George– slide guitar
  • John– electric rhythm guitar
  • Glenn Frey– guitar
  • Michael McDonald– acoustic piano, keyboards, electric piano, backing vocals
  • Bill Payne– keyboards, organ
  • Van Dyke Parks– acoustic and electric pianos, accordion, marimba, arrangements
  • Mark T. Jordan – acoustic piano
  • Nick DeCaro – accordion
  • Fred Tackett– mandocellos
  • Tiran Porter– bass
  • Klaus Voormann – acoustic and electric basses
  • Kenny Gradney – bass
  • Bob Glaub– bass
  • John Hartman– drums
  • Keith Knudsen– drums
  • Richie Hayward– drums, backing vocals
  • Jim Keltner– drums
  • Rick Jaeger – drums
  • Andy Newmark– drums
  • Victor Feldman– percussion, marimba
  • Milt Holland– percussion, congas
  • Robert Greenidge– steel drums
  • Andrew Love– saxophone solo
  • Bud Shank – flute
  • David Campbell– string arrangements, viola, woodwind arrangements
  • Novi Novog– viola
  • Kirby Johnson – string arrangements
  • Ellen Kearney – backing vocals
  • Leah Kunkel – backing vocals
  • Linda Ronstadt– backing vocals
  • The Doobie Brothers– backing vocals
  • Jackson Browne– backing vocals
  • Libby Titus– backing vocals
  • Lucy Simon– backing vocals
  • Alex Taylor– backing vocals
  • Donn Landee – engineer
  • Glen Christiensen – art direction
  • Anne Gardner – design
  • Mary Ellen Mark – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Carly Simon, except where noted.

  1. Half a Chance – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
  2. It Keeps You Runnin’ – Michael McDonald
  3. Fairweather Father
  4. Cow Town
  5. He Likes to Roll
  6. In Times When My Head
  7. One Love Stand – Paul Barrere, Bill Payne, Kenny Gradney
  8. Riverboat Gambler – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
  9. Darkness ‘Til Dawn – Carly Simon, Jacob Brackman
  10. Dishonest Modesty – Carly Simon, Zach Wiesner
  11. Libby
  12. Be With Me – Carly Simon, Zach Wiesner