Tag Archives: Vernon Bullock

New Birth: Ain’t No Big Thing, But It’s Growing

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On July 17, 1971, “RCA” label released “Ain’t No Big Thing, But It’s Growing”, the second New Birth studio album. It was recorded in 1971, at “RCA’s Mid-America Center” in Chicago, and was produced by Harvey Fugua.

Personnel:

  • Vernon Bullock
  • Harvey Fugua
  • Tony Churchill
  • James Baker
  • Robin Russell
  • Austin Lander
  • Robert “Lurch” Jackson
  • Leroy Taylor
  • Charlie Hearndon
  • Bruce Marshall
  • Nathaniel “Nebs” Neblett

Track listing:

  1. O-O-H Child – Stan Vincent
  2. Make It with You – David Gates
  3. Never Can Say Goodbye – Clifton Davis
  4. How Good It Feels – Harvey Fuqua
  5. It’s Impossible – Armando Manzanero, Sid Wayne
  6. Honeybee – Harvey Fuqua, Ann Bogan, Edwenna Edwards, Robert Earl Walker
  7. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
  8. Oh What a Feeling – Harvey Fuqua
  9. Let It Be – Gilbert Becaud, Mann Curtis

The 5th Dimension: Love’s Lines, Angles And Rhymes

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On February 1, 1971, “Bell” label released “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes”, the sixth 5th Dimension (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1970, at “Wally Heider” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bones Howe.

Personnel:

  • Marilyn McCoo – lead and backing vocals
  • Florence LaRue – lead and backing vocals
  • Billy Davis Jr. – lead and backing vocals
  • Lamonte McLemore – backing vocals
  • Ron Townson – backing vocals
  • Dennis Budimir, Fred Tackett, Mike Deasy, Michael Anthony – guitar
  • Jimmy Rowles – piano
  • Larry Knechtel, Gary Illingworth – keyboards
  • Joe Osborn, Max Bennett – bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Jack Arnold, Larry Bunker, Victor Feldman – percussion
  • Jim Horn, Tom Scott, Pete Christlieb, Lanny Morgan – saxophone
  • Bud Brisbois, Chuck Findley, Oliver Mitchell, Ray Triscari – trumpet
  • Lew McCreary, Bob Edmondson – trombone
  • Catherine Gothoffer – harp
  • The Sid Sharp String Section – strings

Track listing:

  1. Time and Love – Laura Nyro
  2. Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes – Dorothea Joyce
  3. What Does It Take – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  4. Guess Who – Jesse Belvin, JoAnne Belvin
  5. Viva Tirado – Gerald Wilson, Norman Gimbel
  6. Light Sings – Gary William Friedman, Will Holt
  7. The Rainmaker – Bill Martin, Harry Nilsson
  8. He’s a Runner – Laura Nyro
  9. The Singer – Elliott Willensky, Lamonte McLemore
  10. Every Night – Paul McCartney n

The Supremes & The Four Tops: Dynamite

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In December 1971, “Motown” label released “Dynamite”, the third and last album between Supremes (The) and Four Tops (The). It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Johnny Bristol, Joe Hinton, Bobby Taylor and Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • The Supremes – Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong – vocals 
  • The Four Tops – Levi Stubbs, Duke Fakir, Obie Benson, Lawrence Payton – vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • David Van DePitte, Gene Page, H.B. Barnum, Robert White – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Warren Linn – illustration
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphics

Track listing:

  1. It’s Impossible – Armando Manzanero, Sid Wayne
  2. The Bigger You Love (The Harder You Fall) – Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  3. Hello Stranger – Barbara Lewis
  4. Love the One You’re With – Stephen Stills
  5. Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. Melodie – Deke Richards, Jerry Marcellino, Mel Larson
  7. If – David Gates
  8. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  9. Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream – Aretha Franklin, Ted White
  10. Do You Love Me Just a Little, Honey – Gladys Knight, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock

New Birth: The New Birth

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On November 1, 1970, “RCA” label released “The New Birth”, the debut New Birth album. It was recorded in 1970, at “RCA’s Mid America Recording Center” in Chicago, and was produced by Harvey Fugua.

Personnel:

  • Alan Frye – vocal
  • The Mint Juleps – female singers
  • The New Sound – male singers
  • The Nite Liters – backing band
  • Harvey Fugua – arrangements, conductor
  • Vernon Bullock – arrangements, conductor
  • John Janus – recording
  • David Cheppa – lacquer cut
  • John Sposato – painting
  • Mary Goodman – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. What’ll Do – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua, Robert Wilson
  2. UNH Song – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua
  3. All the Way – Sammy Cahn, James Van Huesen
  4. It’s All in the Game – Charles Dawes, Carl Sigman
  5. Pretty Words Don’t Mean a Thing (Lie to Me) – Harvey Fugua, Kenny Hawkins, The Nite Liters
  6. Do the Funky Chicken – Rufus Thomas
  7. Brand New Lover – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua
  8. You Don’t Have to Be Alone – Vernon Bullock, Harvey Fugua
  9. One way Bus – Tex Bristow, Harvey Fugua, Harold Sparks
  10. It’s You or No One – Sammy Cahn, Jule Style

Mavis Staples: Only For The Lonely

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On October 12, 1970, “Volt” label released “Only for the Lonely”, the second Mavis Staples studio album. It was recorded in 1970, at “Stax Recording Company”, “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio”, “A&R Recording Studio” and was produced by Don Davis.

Personnel:

  • Mavis Staples – lead vocals
  • Steve Cropper – guitar
  • Eddie Hinton – guitar
  • Ray Monette – guitar
  • Vernon Bullock – guitar, keyboards
  • Marvell Thomas – piano
  • Isaac Hayes – organ
  • Rudy Robinson – keyboards
  • Barry Beckett – keyboards
  • David Hood – bass
  • Tony Newton – bass
  • Donald “Duck” Dunn – bass
  • Roger Hawkins – drums
  • Al Jackson, Jr. – drums
  • George McGregor – drums
  • Eli Fountain – percussion, saxophone
  • Horace Ott – strings arrangements
  • Ron Capone – engineer
  • Don Davis – engineer
  • Marlin Greene – engineer
  • Don Hahn – engineer
  • Paul Richmond – mastering
  • David Krieger – art direction
  • Joel Brodsky – photography
  • Herb Kole – art supervisor

Track listing:

  1. I Have Learned to Live Without You – David Jordan, Don Davis, J. J. Barnes
  2. How Many Times – George Soule, Oscar Franck, Terry Woodford
  3. Endlessly – Brook Benton, Clyde Otis
  4. You’re the Fool – Sharon McMahan
  5. Since I Fell for You – Buddy Johnson
  6. What Happened to the Real Me – Helga Penzabene
  7. Since You Became a Part of My Life – Bobby Eaton, Fred Bridges, Richard Knight
  8. It Makes Me Wanna Cry – Don Davis, Homer Banks
  9. Don’t Change Me Now – Darryl Carter, Fred Briggs, Sam Ballard

Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell: United

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On August 29, 1967, “Tamla” label released “United”, album by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (the first of three collaborative albums). It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Hal Davis and Berry Gordy, Jr.,

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals
  • Tammi Terrell – lead and backing vocals
  • Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, The Originals, The Andantes, The Spinners – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  2. You Got What It Takes – Berry Gordy, Jr., Gwen Gordy, Tyran Carlo
  3. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  4. Somethin’ Stupid – C. Carson Parks
  5. Your Precious Love – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. Hold Me Oh My Darling – Harvey Fuqua
  7. Two Can Have a Party – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Thomas Kemp
  8. Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl – Harvey Fuqua, Etta James, Brook Benton
  9. If This World Were Mine – Marvin Gaye
  10. Sad Wedding – Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers
  11. Give a Little Love – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Clyde Wilson
  12. Oh How I’d Miss You – Hal Davis, Frank Wilson, Vance Wilson

Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell: You’re All I Need

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In August 1968, “Tamla” label released “You’re All I Need”, the second Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell studio album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, and was produced by Robert Gordy, Harvey Fugua, Johnny Bristol and Ashford & Simpson.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals
  • Tammi Terrell – lead and backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Nicholas Ashford – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Spinners – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  2. Keep on Lovin’ Me Honey – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  3. You’re All I Need to Get By – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. Baby Don’t Cha Worry – Johnny Bristol, Jackie Beavers
  5. You Ain’t Livin’ Till You’re Lovin’ – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson)
  6. Give In, You Just Can’t Win – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  7. When Love Comes Knocking at My Heart – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Gladys Knight, Vernon Bullock
  8. Come on and See Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  9. I Can’t Help but Love You – Robert Gordy, Thomas Kemp, Marvin Gaye
  10. That’s How It Is (Since You’ve Been Gone) – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  11. I’ll Never Stop Loving You Baby – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Beatrice Verdi
  12. Memory Chest – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol

The New Birth: Coming Together

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On March 24, 1972, “RCA” label released “Coming Together”, the third New Birth (The) studio album. It was recorded 1970 – 1971, and was produced by Harvey Fugua.

Personnel:

  • Bert De Coteaux – arrangements, conductor 
  • Harvey Fuqua – arrangements, conductor 
  • Vernon Bullock – arrangements, conductor
  • Jim Crotty – engineer
  • Acy Lehman – art direction
  • Frank Mulvey – design
  • George Adams – photography
  • Vince Aletti – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Two Kinds of People (I Am) – Vernon Bullock
  2. Oh Baby, I Love the Way – Harvey Fugua
  3. Yesterday I Heard the Rain – Armando Manzanero, Gene Lees
  4. African City – Ann Bogan, Harvey Fugua, Leslie Wilson, Melvin Wilson
  5. I Don’t Want to Do Wrong – Bibba Knight, Gladys Knight, Johnny Bristol, Katherine Schaffner, William Guest
  6. Don’t Knock My Love – Brad Shapiro, Wilson Pickett
  7. If I Can’t have You – Brook Benton, Etta James, Harvey Fugua
  8. All the Way – Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Hausen
  9. Unh Song – Harvey Fugua, Vernon Bullock
  10. Come Back into My Life – Vernon Bullock

The Isley Brothers: Soul on the Rocks

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On January 24, 1967, “Tamla” label released “Soul on the Rocks”, the fifth studio album by Isley Brothers (The). It was recorded in 1966, at “Studio A”, Hitsville, Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson and Ivy Jo Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Ronald Isley – vocals
  • Rudolph Isley – vocals
  • O’Kelly Isley Jr. – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Got to have You Back – Ivy Jo Hunter, Leon ware, Stephen Bowden
  2. That’s the Way Love Is – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  3. Whispers (Getting’ Louder) – David Scott, Barbara Acklin
  4. Tell Me It’s Just a Rumor baby – Harvey Fugua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  5. One Too Many Heartaches – Ivy Jo Hunter
  6. It’s Out of the Question – William “Smokey” Robinson, Berry Gordy
  7. Why When Love Is Gone – Ivy Jo Hunter
  8. Save Me from This Misery – Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene, Stephen Bowden
  9. Little Miss Sweetness – William “Smokey” Robinson
  10. Good Things – Robert Bruce, Leroy Kirkland
  11. Catching Up on Time – Clarence Paul, Leon Ware, Morris Broadnax
  12. Behind a Painted Smile – Ivy Jo Hunter, Beatrice Verdi

Gladys Knight & the Pips: Everybody Needs Love

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In September 1967, “Soul Imprint” label released “Everybody Needs Love”, the debut Gladys Knight & the Pips album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Norman  Whitfield, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Gladys Knight – lead vocals
  • Merald “Bubba” Knight, William Guest, Edward Patten – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers: instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Everybody Needs Love – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr.
  2. I’ll Be Standing By – Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford
  3. Since I’ve Lost You – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  5. You Don’t Love Me No More – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Roger Penzabene
  6. Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone – Norman Whitfield, Sylvia Moy, Cornelius Grant
  7. Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me – Barrett Strong, Roger Penzabene, Cornelius Grant
  8. He’s My Kind of Fella – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  9. Yes, I’m Ready – Barbara Mason
  10. My Bed of Thorns – William “Smokey” Robinson
  11. Do You Love Me Just a Little, Honey – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock, Gladys Knight
  12. Just Walk in My Shoes – Helen Lewis Mastor, Kay Lewis Miller