Tag Archives: What a Surprise

Orbital: Optical Delusion

On February 17, 2023, “Orbital” label released “Optical Delusion”, the tenth Orbital studio album. It was recorded in 2023, and was produced by Paul Hartnoll, Phil Hartnoll and Andrew Fearn,

Personnel:

  • Paul Hartnoll – performer
  • Phil Hartnoll – performer
  • Mediaeval Baebes – vocals
  • Dina Ipavic – vocals
  • Penelope Isles – vocals
  • The Little Pest – vocals
  • Anna B Savage – vocals
  • Coppe – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Hartnoll, except where noted.

  1. Ringa Ringa (The Old Pandemic Folk Song)
  2. Day One
  3. Are You Alive? – Jack Wolter, Lily Wolter, Paul Hartnoll
  4. You Are the Frequency – Jimmy Day, Lily De Brouwer, Paul Hartnoll
  5. The New Abnormal
  6. Home – Anna B Savage, Paul Hartnoll
  7. Dirty Rat
  8. Requiem for the Pre-Apocalypse
  9. What a Surprise – Jimmy Day, Paul Hartnoll
  10. Moon Princess – Jimmy Day, Miller Y. Coppe, Paul Hartnoll

Pointer Sisters: Black & White

On June 12, 1981, “Planet” label released “Black & White” the eighth Pointer Sisters studio album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Studio 55” in Los Angeles, “Celebration Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Richard Perry.

Personnel:

  • Anita Pointer – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • June Pointer – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Ruth Pointer – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Tim May – guitar
  • James Newton Howard – keyboards, synthesizers
  • John Barnes – keyboards, electric piano, acoustic piano
  • Ed Walsh – synthesizers
  • William Smith – organ
  • Mike Cotten – synthesizers, synthesizer programming
  • David Foster – keyboards, arrangements
  • Greg Phillinganes – electric piano
  • Danny Faragher – organ
  • Nathan Watts – bass
  • Mike Porcaro – bass
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion, congas
  • Trevor Lawrence – tenor saxophone
  • Gabe Veltri – recording
  • Piers Plaskitt – additional recording
  • Tim Dennen – engineer assistant
  • Stuart Furusho – engineer assistant
  • Bobby Gerber – engineer assistant
  • Bill Schnee – remix
  • Larry Emerine – mastering
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Michael Barackman – music coordinator
  • Kosh – art direction, design
  • Aaron Rapoport – photography
  • Trevor Lawrence – associate producer
  • David Foster – production assistant
  • Susan Epstein – production coordinator
  • Michael Solomon – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Sweet Lover Man – Jerry Ragovoy, Len Roberts
  2. Someday We’ll Be Together – Russ Ballard
  3. Take My Heart, Take My Soul – Ken Gold, Mickey Denne
  4. Slow Hand – Michael Clark, John Bettis
  5. We’re Gonna Make It – David Foster, Mike Cotton, Anita Pointer, June Pointer
  6. What a Surprise – Anita Pointer, June Pointer, Trevor Lawrence
  7. Got to Find Love – David Lasley, Willie Wilcox
  8. Fall in Love Again – Patrick Henderson, Wornell Jones
  9. Should I Do It – Layng Martine Jr.