Jeffrey Osborne ''Room With A View'' 12''

Jeffrey Osborne

''Room With A View'' 12''
( 12'' Disco Single, A&M Records, 1986 )
Catalog # SP-12199

Tracklisting:
Room With A View (Vocal) 7:31

Credits:
Edited By - Latin Rascals, The
Engineer [Mix] - Dave Ogrin
Mixed By - Arthur Baker
Producer - Richard Perry
Written-By - Adrienne Anderson , Eddie Schwartz

Notes:
Some copies were distributed in full color sleeves like the one shown here while others were distributed in standard A&M label sleeves.
Format: Vinyl, 12", Promo, 45 RPM
Country:US
Released:1986

Janis Joplin "Joplin In Concert"

Janis Joplin

"Joplin In Concert"
( 2XLP Columbia Records, 1972 )
Catalog # C2X 31160

Tracklisting:
A1 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - Down On Me 3:05
A2 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - Bye, Bye Baby 4:29
A3 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - All Is Loneliness 5:44
A4 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - Piece Of My Heart 4:19
B1 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - Road Block 2:53
B2 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - Flower In The Sun 3:07
B3 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - Summertime 4:31
B4 - Big Brother & The Holding Company - Ego Rock 8:32
C1 - Full Tilt Boogie Band - Half Moon 4:36
C2 - Full Tilt Boogie Band - Kozmic Blues 6:05
C3 - Full Tilt Boogie Band - Move Over 5:09
D1 - Full Tilt Boogie Band - Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) 8:13
D2 - Full Tilt Boogie Band - Get It While You Can 7:04
D3 - Full Tilt Boogie Band - Ball And Chain 9:15

Personnel & Credits:
Peter Albin - Bass
Peter Alvin - Bass
Sam Andrew - Guitar, Vocals
Richard Bell - Piano
Brad Campbell - Bass
Fred Catero - Engineer
David Diller - Engineer
Dave Gatz - Drums
David Getz - Drums
Nick Gravenites - Performer
James Gurley - Guitar
J. Hall - Composer
Dan Healy - Engineer
Janis Joplin - Guitar, Vocals
Elliot Mazer - Producer
Ken Pearson - Organ, Programming
Clark Pierson - Drums
Bert Russell - Composer
Mortimer Shuman - Composer
Owsley Stanley - Engineer
Willie Mae Thornton - Composer
John Till - Guitar
Traditional - Composer

Notes:
Artwork By [Design] - Bob Cato , Squadra Galileo
Compiled By - Elliott Mazer
Engineer [Re-recording, Editing] - Don Puluse , Larry Keyes , Tim Geelan
Photography - David Gahr

Review:
About half of this two-record set features Janis Joplin with Big Brother & the Holding Company in 1968, performing songs like "Down on Me" and "Piece of My Heart." The rest, recorded in 1970, finds her with her backup group, Full Tilt Boogie, mostly performing songs from I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! Joplin puts herself out on-stage, both in terms of singing until her voice is raw and describing her life to her audiences. Parts of this album are moving, parts are heartbreaking, and the rest is just great rock & roll.
By William Ruhlmann (AMG)

Note:
Ripped from original vinyl Albums
No separate tracks.

By Celo

Chaz Jankel "Looking At You"

Chaz Jankel

"Looking At You"
( LP A&M Records, 1985 )
Catalog # 395 035-1

Tracklisting:
A1 Hard Music 5:40
A2 Tonight's Our Night 4:11
A3 Rhythm In My Life 4:08
A4 Little Eva 5:00
A5 Eastern Light 4:15
B1 Number One 7:18
B2 Tell Me, Tell Me 4:14
B3 Looking At You 5:28
B4 The Boy On The Bridge 4:16
B5 Love Rhythms 4:03

Personnel & Credits:
Philip Bagenal , Producer
Andrew Brown, Viola
Charlie Charles , Percussion, Drums
Jeff Daly, Saxophone
Martin Ditcham, Latin American Rhythm
Geraldo & His Orchestra , Latin American Rhythm
Zeus B Held Programming, Producer
Chas Jankel Guita, Percussion, Keyboards, Programming, Vocals, Producer
Germaine Johnson , Vocals
Caroline LaVelle Strings, Cello
Liz Layton , Violin
Andy Macintosh , Saxophone
Tessa Niles , Vocals
Steve Rance Programming
Johnathan Rees, Violin
Terry Roberts, Vocals
Paul Samuelson Programming
Tim Sanders , Saxophone
Chris Taylor , Latin American Rhythm
Robert Taylor Keyboards, Programming
Peter Van Hooke
Derek Watkins Trumpet, Arranger
Norman Watt-Roy, Guitar (Bass)
Kenny Young, Vocals (bckgr)

By Celo

Grand Funk Railroad Discography

Grand Funk Railroad Discography

Biografia:
I Grand Funk Railroad sono un gruppo hard rock statunitense, per la precisione un terzetto della fine degli anni sessanta e settanta.
Originari di Flint, seconda città del Michigan, il trio inanellò una serie incredibile di successi a cavallo del 1969 e il 1974, vendendo fino a 20 milioni di copie dei loro dischi. Il produttore, Terry Knight, ex d.j. radiofonico di una radio di Detroit, li conobbe ancora molto giovani proprio mentre presentavano un loro demo presso la radio in cui lavorava. Intuendo immediatamente le potenzialità del gruppo, li mise sotto contratto (col tempo i tre poi si resero conto di aver firmato un contratto-capestro) e imbastì per loro una campagna promozionale senza precedenti nella storia del music-business americano ed arrivò a tappezzare la Times Square di New York, un po' il cuore commerciale del mondo, di enormi manifesti con i volti del ragazzi del trio.
La loro produzione è importante poiché rappresentano un rock statunitense in difficoltà in quei tempi di fronte allo strapotere delle band inglesi (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull etc).
I componenti, seppur non eccellendo singolarmente, si rivelarono un ottimo trio ed ebbero in Mark Farner[2] (cantante, chitarrista e autore della maggior parte della loro produzione artistica, insieme a Brewer) il loro leader, soprattutto per la sua voce.
Con il disco We're an American Band, e l'aggiunta ufficiale del quarto elemento alle tastiere, (Craig Frost), la band raggiunge ormai il pieno successo commerciale, ma allo stesso tempo conosce un lento declino d'ispirazione per lasciar posto ad una vena artistica sempre più rivolta agli ascolti. Il loro ultimo album, Good singing good playing, del '76, famoso per l'assolo di Frank Zappa in Out to get you, tra l'altro anche loro produttore, segna la fine di un gruppo ricordato più per rappresentazioni di canzoni di altri autori alle radio dell'epoca (The locomotion o Loneliness), che per i loro meriti effettivi, anche se hanno dato le basi ad altri gruppi rock USA (Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen...) per la scalata contro la corazzata delle band inglesi.
Dopo lo scioglimento della band nel 1976, il gruppo venne riformato una prima volta nel 1981, con modifiche nella sua composizione, per produrre due nuovi album. Dopo altri anni di inattività artistica, la ripresa avvenne nel 1997.
Terry Knight è morto il 1º novembre 2004 all'età di 61 anni. Dopo aver perso i GFR, aveva provato, nel 1971, a rilanciare le sue convinzioni sull'heavy-rock con i Bloodrock, un sestetto texano con cui pubblicherà sei album, ma senza particolari fortune, se non un 40° posto nelle hits con il singolo “D.O.A.”. Fonderà poi una sua etichetta, la Brown Bag Records per cui incisero Mom's Apple Pie, John Hambrick, Wild Cherry e Faith , anch'essi senza riscontro commerciale, che indurranno Terry a lasciare lo stardome e rifugiarsi nella cocaina; sarà poi ucciso nel suo appartamento dal convivente della figlia in Texas, a seguito del suo intervento in difesa della figlia stessa, aggredita dal compagno tossicodipendente . Verrà comunque ricordato nello show-business americano come uno dei più spregiudicati e talentuosi manager, seppure altamente dispotico e controverso. Mark Farner , dopo la tragedia, ebbe a commentare: "Dopo tanti anni avrei voluto dirgli che lo avevo perdonato, che non gli serbavo più rancore per averci derubato tutti i nostri guadagni... purtroppo adesso è tardi".

Discografia:
In studio
1969 - On Time
1969 - Grand Funk
1970 - Closer to Home
1971 - Survival
1971 - E Pluribus Funk
1972 - Phoenix
1973 - We're an American Band
1974 - Shinin' On
1974 - All the Girls in the World Beware!!!
1976 - Born to Die
1976 - Good Singin', Good Playin'
1981 - Grand Funk Lives
1983 - What's Funk?
Live
1970 - Live Album
1975 - Caught in the Act
1997 - Bosnia
2002 - Live: The 1971 Tour

Note:
Informazioni Prese da Wikipedia
Use the ''Translation Tool''
Links in comments.

Not available on the free blog edition

By Celo

Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon ''Soul Survivor''

Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon

''Soul Survivor''
( LP Bell Records, 1970 )
Catalog # SBLL 138

Tracklisting:
A1 (Blame It) On The Pony Express
A2 Love Is Blue (L'Amour Est Bleu)
A3 Gasoline Alley Bred
A4 He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother
A5 Sweet Inspiration
B1 In The Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)
B2 United We Stand
B3 Games People Play
B4 Something
B5 Pride Comes Before A Fall
B6 Never Let Her Go

Credits & Notes:
Producer - Tony Macaulay
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album
Country:UK
Released:1970

Biography:
Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon were a U.S. vocal soul group, prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Originally known simply as The Bandwagon, they were formed in 1967 and featured Artie Fullilove, Billy Bradley, Terry Lewis and lead singer Johnny Johnson (born Johnny Mathis (sic), 20 July 1944, Rochester, New York - d. 1979).
They had their first major UK hit in October 1968 with "Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache", written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, on the Direction label, part of CBS, which reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1969 the group disbanded, and all subsequent releases were billed as Johnny Johnson and His Bandwagon. In effect, the act was basically Johnson plus additional vocalists, who were hired for recording, touring and TV performances. Because they had been so much more successful in Britain and Europe, they based themselves in London, with songwriter Tony Macaulay being primarily responsible for the next stage of their career. They had top ten hits with "Sweet Inspiration" (1970), and "(Blame It) On The Pony Express" (1970).[The latter track was written by Macaulay, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway.
Their recording career continued through the 1970s, with a 1971 LP Soul Survivor, produced by Macaulay, as well as subsequent, less successful singles that year including "Sally Put Your Red Shoes On" and a cover version of the Bob Dylan song, "Mr Tambourine Man", on the Bell label.
They left Bell, for further singles including "Honey Bee" (1972), on Stateside Records, and "Music to My Heart" (1975), on Epic Records, written and produced by Biddu.
Their early hits are still revered as Northern soul classics, as they espoused a more commercial pop-soul style similar in sound to that of early Tamla Motown, as opposed to the more funky progressive style favoured by contemporaries like Sly & the Family Stone and The Isley Brothers.
"Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache" enjoyed a new lease of life in 1980, when covered by Dexys Midnight Runners on the b-side of "Geno", and as an album track in 1981 on a solo album by Bram Tchaikovsky, formerly of the Motors. It was also popular in UK soul clubs, during the early 1980s.
Johnson had not been well for several years, and the pressures of constantly touring during the early 1970s took a heavy toll. He died of cancer in 1979.[2] Their frontman is not to be confused with Chuck Berry's sideman, Johnnie Johnson.

From Wikipedia

By Pier

Free Life "Free Life"

Free Life

"Free Life"
( LP Epic Records, 1978 )
Catalog # JE-35392

Tracklisting:
A1 Smile
A2 Stomp & Shout
A3 It's Lovely Just To Know You
A4 Wish You Were Here
A5 Spirit Of Love
B1 Say You Do
B2 I'll Keep My Light In My Window
B3 Cornerstone
B4 I Confess
B5 Second Coming

Review:
When Earth, Wind & Fire was in its prime in the late 1970s, you could have spent hours talking about all of the artists who were being influenced by the soul/funk superband. Artists who had no connection to EWF were claiming Maurice White & Co. as a major influence, and its influence was impossible to miss on albums by Deniece Williams, the Emotions, Pockets and others who were part of the EWF family. An obscure nine-member soul/funk outfit, Free Life brings a very EWF-influenced sound to this self-titled debut album-and that isn't surprising considering that the LP was co-produced by EWF's Philip Bailey (who also helped with the arranging and wrote or co-wrote several of the songs). Despite Bailey's presence, the little known Free Life isn't a great album-a competent album, but not a great one. Even though EWF-minded tunes like "I Confess" and "Wish You Were Here" are likable enough, it's clear that Bailey was saving his best writing for EWF. This is an LP that simmers without ever burning or exploding.
By Alex Henderson (AMG)

Biography:
Philip Bailey of '70s supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire produced the singing group Free Life, who charted with the Epic single "Wish You Were Here." The Bailey-written ballad peaked at number 91 on the R&B charts in early 1979. The single and the album Free Life had EWF influences. Though there was another single from Free Life, "Stomp and Shout," and a non-LP single, "Dance Fantasy," none charted. Group member Carl Carlwell later became a member of the '90s group 101 North ("So Easy"), who recorded a couple of albums with producer George Duke: 101 North (1987) and Forever Yours (1991) for Capitol. Also, he was the brother of Minneapolis singer Sue Ann Carwell ("Let Me Let You Rock Me").
By Ed Hogan (AMG)

By Celo

Mickey Hart "Planet Drum"

Mickey Hart

"Planet Drum"
( LP Rykodisc Records, 1991 )
Catalog # RLP 10206

Tracklisting:
1 - Udu Chant 3:40
Cowbell - Sikiru Adepoju
Drums, Tabla, Balafon - Zakir Hussain
Drums, Tambourine, Triangle, Vocals - Mickey Hart
Vocals, Chimes, Tamanco, Whistles - Airto Moreira
2 - Island Groove 5:44
Caxixi, Rattles, Cymbal, Voice - Airto Moreira
Djembe, Congas, Shekere, Vocals - Babatunde Olatunji
Drums - Mickey Hart
Dundun, Duggi Tarang - Sikiru Adepoju
Madal, Dholak - Zakir Hussain
3 - Light Over Shadow 3:51
Djembe, Ngoma, Ashiko - Babatunde Olatunji
Drums, Cowbell, Flute, Vocals - Airto Moreira
Vocals - Flora Purim
4 - Dance Of The Hunter's Fire 2:59
Bells - Sikiru Adepoju
Djembe - Babatunde Olatunji
Djembe, Shaker - Airto Moreira
Ghatam - T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram
Shaker - Caryl Ohrbach , Flora Purim
Shekere - Frank Colon
Shekere, Congas - Giovanni Hidalgo
5 - Jewe "You Are The One" 4:06
Vocals - Flora Purim
Vocals, Percussion - Babatunde Olatunji , Bruce Langhorne , Gordy Ryan , Mickey Hart
6 - The Hunt 3:51
Bells, Tabla, Naal - Zakir Hussain
Djembe, Ashiko, Ngoma - Babatunde Olatunji
Drums - Mickey Hart
Dundun - Sikiru Adepoju
Ghatam, Jew's Harp - T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram
Shaker - Airto Moreira
7 - Temple Caves 3:14
Djembe, Congas - Babatunde Olatunji
Gudugudu - Sikiru Adepoju
Percussion, Shaker, Tarang, Duggi, Rain Stick - Mickey Hart
Shaker, Voice, Conch Shell, Gongs - Airto Moreira
Tabla, Taya - Zakir Hussain
8 - The Dancing Sorcerer 2:57
Berimbau - Airto Moreira
Tabla, Madal - Zakir Hussain
9 - Bones 4:10
Balafon, Bones - Mickey Hart
Bata - Giovanni Hidalgo
Dundun, Shaker, Bells - Zakir Hussain
Vocals - Babatunde Olatunji , Flora Purim
10 - Lost River 2:58
Cymbal, Shaker, Wood Blocks, Percussion - Airto Moreira
Djembe, Dundun - Sikiru Adepoju
Drums - Mickey Hart
Duggi Tarang, Conch Shell - Zakir Hussain
Vocals - Babatunde Olatunji , Flora Purim
11 - Evening Samba 4:30
Bells - Mickey Hart , Sikiru Adepoju , Zakir Hussain
Drums, Tambourine, Whistling, Wood Blocks, Cymbals, Bells - Airto Moreira
Ghatam - T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram
Shaker, Bells - Babatunde Olatunji
12 - Iyanu "Surprises" 2:02
Vocals - Flora Purim , Molonga Casquelord
Vocals, Bamboo - Airto Moreira
Vocals, Claps - Babatunde Olatunji
Vocals, Gourds - Mickey Hart
13 - Mysterious Island 5:49
Drums [Udu] - Jeff Sterling
Percussion, Dumbec - Mickey Hart
Percussion, Flute [Nose Flute], Tambourine - Airto Moreira
Wind Chimes, Vocals - Flora Purim

Personnel & Credits:
Co-producer - Airto Moreira , Babatunde Olatunji , Flora Purim , Sikiru Adepoju , T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram , Zakir Hussain
Engineer - Jeff Sterling , Tom Flye
Mastered By - Paul Stubblebine
Producer - Mickey Hart

Review:
A dazzling all-percussion workout with plenty of muscle and deep grooves, it features many of the world musicians from At the Edge, and is loosely tied to Hart's book of the same name.
Bob Tarte (AMG)

By Celo

Yamasuki "Le Monde Fabuleux De Yamasuki's"

Yamasuki

"Le Monde Fabuleux De Yamasuki's"
( LP Biram Records, France, 1971 )
Catalog # 6450 901

Tracklisting:
A1 - Yamasuki 3:00
A2 - Aisere I Love You 2:35
A3 - Kono Samourai 2:25
A4 - Yamamoto Kakapote 2:29
A5 - Okawa 2:34
A6 - Aieaoa 2:37
B1 - Abana Bakana 2:45
B2 - Seyu Sayonara 2:51
B3 - Yama Yama 2:15
B4 - Fudji Yama 2:43
B5 - Yokomo 3:12
B6 - Kashi Kofima 2:55

Personnel & Credits:
Written-By:
Calmedo (tracks: A5)
Daniel Vangarde (tracks: A1 to A4, A6 to B3, B5, B6)
Frank Gérald (tracks: A4)
Jean Kluger (tracks: A1, A6, B2, B5, B6)
Tony Perdone (tracks: B4)

Notes:
Editions Bleu Blanc Rouge
Distribution Société Phonographique Philips

Review:
This album sounds like Serge Gainsbourg conducting the Langley Schools Music Project through a rendition of the Mikado. While such a pairing may sound like a supremely bad idea (especially if there were any cute girls at the Langley School and Gainsbourg just broke up with Jane Birkin), the sound on this album is really diggable. So here's how it went down, a 70s French pop duo creates a song/dance called the Yamasuki that's a mix of the smooth funk/pop elements of the time with Japanese choruses singing the melodies, a Toshiro Mifune screaming along to the freakout bits, and hints of oriental percussion (woodblock anyone?), the kids go crazy for the single, so the duo figures why not make an album? While the kitsch of it all wears thin by the end of its 12 tracks, each song on here deserves at least one good listen. Put this in and watch your friends' expressions at the sheer coolness of "Kono Samouri" with its matched wails of some Tatsuya Nakadai-aping Japanese cat and the funky wa-wa pedal. Odds are their faces will show a mixture of confusion, awe, and a struggle with the urge to dance. Give it a shot, see what you think!
From Amazon.com

By Celo

The Steve Miller Band ”Greatest Hits 1974-78”

The Steve Miller Band

”Greatest Hits 1974-78”
( LP Capitol Records, 1978 )
Catalog # D 133199

Tracklisting:
1 Swingtown (3:29)
2 Jungle Love (3:09)
3 Take The Money And Run (2:52)
4 Rock N’ Me (3:07)
5 Serenade (3:12)
6 True Fine Love (2:40)
7 The Stake (3:59)
8 The Joker (3:37)
9 Fly Like An Eagle (3:04)
10 Threshold (1:06)
11 Jet Airliner (3:35)
12 Dance, Dance, Dance (2:19)
13 Winter Time (3:14)
14 Wild Mountain Honey (4:51)

Credits:
Engineer – Jay Ranellucci, Jim Gaines, Mike Fusaro
Producer – Steve Miller

Notes:
‘D 133199′ is the catalogue number on the spine and back,
and ‘CDP 7 46101 2′ is the catalogue number on the booklet.
No UPC, BMG Music Club version.
Format: LP
Country: US
Released: 1978

Review:
Greatest Hits 1974-1978 collects the majority of Steve Miller's biggest hits -- "The Joker," "Take the Money and Run," "Rock 'n Me," "Fly Like an Eagle," "Jet Airliner," "Jungle Love," "Swingtown" -- and seven album tracks that received a fair amount of airplay on album rock radio. The collection only covers a total of three albums -- The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams -- with the latter two providing the bulk of the material. Because of this, "Living in the USA," one of Miller's biggest hits of the late '60s/early '70s, isn't included, but it isn't missed, since all of his other hits of the '70s are included. The thoroughness of Greatest Hits 1974-1978 makes it an excellent introduction to Miller, and for many casual fans, it also means that they can contain their Steve Miller collection to one disc.
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine (AMG)

By Pier

Bobby Caldwell ”Cat In The Hat”

Bobby Caldwell

”Cat In The Hat”
( LP Clouds Records (T.K. Rec.), 1980 )
Catalog # 8810

Tracklisting:
A1 Coming Down From Love
A2 Wrong Or Right
A3 To Know What You’ve Got
A4 You Promised Me
B1 It’s Over
B2 Open Your Eyes
B3 Mother Of Creation
B4 I Don’t Want To Loose Your Love

Notes:
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1980

Review:
Blue-eyed soul artist Bobby Caldwell’s follow-up to his successful solo debut album which featured the often-covered hit “What You Won’t Do for Love,” Cat in the Hat showcases his sophisticated songwriting and soulful vocals. Though not as commercially successful as his debut, Cat In the Hat is no sophomore slump artistically. In fact, there’s not a bad song in the bunch.
By Tim Griggs (AMG)

By Pier

Bobby Caldwell ”Bobby Caldwell”

Bobby Caldwell

”Bobby Caldwell”
( Also named ”What You Won’t Do For Love” )
( LP Clouds Records (T.K. Rec.), 1978 )
Catalog # CL-8804

Tracklisting:
A1 Special To Me (4:00)
A2 My Flame (3:30)
A3 Love Won’t Wait (4:00)
A4 Can’t Say Goodbye (5:20)
B1 Come To Me (2:52)
B2 What You Won’t Do For Love (4:45)
B3 Kalimba Song (2:00)
B4 Take Me Back To Then (3:30)
B5 Down For The Third Time (3:30)

Credits:
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] – Mike Lewis
Bass – George “Chocolate” Perry , Richie Valesquez
Bass, Keyboards, Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals – Bobby Caldwell
Drums – Ed Greene, Harold Seay , Joe Galdo
Guitar – Alfons Kettner , Steve Mealy
Keyboards – Benny Latimore
Producer – Ann Holloway (tracks: A3, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5),
George “Chocolate” Perry (tracks: A4) , Marsha Radcliffe (tracks: A1, A2)

Notes:
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978

Review:
Bobby Caldwell is one of only a handful of white vocalists (Van Morrison and Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall, to name a couple more) who legitimately transcended the blue-eyed soul tag. Caldwell’s genuine mix of R&B and jazz signatures as well as his bittersweet yet buttery vocal tones conjure up images of a smoothed-out version of Chet Baker. On this, his breakthrough album, the native New Yorker scored a hit with the timeless “What You Won’t Do for Love” and also polished off another near-classic on “My Flame.” While a few of the compositions echo the dying grip of disco and some of Caldwell’s vocal arrangements sound more like a hipper version of Tony Bennett (”Can’t Say Goodbye”), the crooner does possess the pipes to carry the offering. Caldwell even tries his hand at the experimental on the short but sweet instrumental “Kalimba Song.” Time will likely render much of Bobby Caldwell disposable, but at the album’s best, the songs do carry a singular sound and contain the power to place themselves in a time period, which may just be good enough for lovers. The cut “What You Won’t Do for Love” will always stack up, as even hip-hop producers saw fit to sample the horn riff and bass track a number of times (listen to 2Pac’s “Do for Love,” for one).
By M.F. DiBella (AMG)

By Pier

Donald Fagen ”The Nightfly”

Donald Fagen

”The Nightfly”
( LP WEA/Warner Bros. Records, 1982 )
Catalog # 9 23696-1

Tracklisting:
A1 I.G.Y (International Geophysical Year) (6:05)
A2 Green Flower Street (3:40)
A3 Ruby Baby (5:38)
Composed By – Jerry Leiber , Mike Stoller
A4 Maxine (3:50)
B1 New Frontier (6:23)
B2 The Nightfly (5:50)
B3 The Goodbye Look (4:47)
B4 Walk Between Raindrops (2:38)

Personnel & Credits:
Backing Vocals – Daniel Lazerus (tracks: A2) , Frank Floyd (tracks: A1, A2, B2) , Gordon Grody (tracks: A1) , Leslie Miller (tracks: B4),
Starz Vanderlocket (tracks: B1) , Valerie Simpson (tracks: A1, A2, A3, B2, B3) , Zack Sanders (tracks: A1, A2, B2)
Bass – Abraham Laboriel (tracks: B1) , Anthony Jackson (tracks: A1, A3) , Chuck Rainey (tracks: A2),
Marcus Miller (tracks: A4, B2, B3) , Will Lee (tracks: B4)
Drums – Ed Green (tracks: A4, B1) , James Gadson (tracks: A1, A3) , Jeff Porcaro (tracks: A1, A2, A3, B2, B3) , Steve Jordan (tracks: B4)
Euphonium – Dave Bargeron (tracks: A4)
Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker (tracks: A3, A4)
Guitar – Dean Parks (tracks: A2, B3) , Hugh McCracken (tracks: A1, A3, B2) , Larry Carlton (tracks: A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, B3, B4),
Rick Derringer (tracks: A2, B2) , Steve Kahn (tracks: B3)
Harmonica – Hugh McCracken (tracks: B1)
Percussion – Roger Nichols (tracks: A1) , Starz Vanderlocket (tracks: A1, A2, B1, B3)
Piano – Greg Phillinganes (tracks: A1, A2, A3, A4, B3) , Michael Omartian (tracks: A3, B1, B2)
Producer – Gary Katz
Saxophone – Dave Tofani (tracks: A1, A4) , Michael Brecker (tracks: A1, A3, A4) , Ronnie Cuber (tracks: A1, A4)
Synthesizer – Greg Phillinganes (tracks: B3, B4) , Rob Mounsey (tracks: A1, A2, b2)
Trombone – Dave Bargeron (tracks: A1)
Trumpet – Randy Brecker (tracks: A1, A3)

Notes:
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1982

Review:
A portrait of the artist as a young man, The Nightfly is a wonderfully evocative reminiscence of Kennedy-era American life; in the liner notes, Donald Fagen describes the songs as representative of the kinds of fantasies he entertained as an adolescent during the late ’50s/early ’60s, and he conveys the tenor of the times with some of his most personal and least obtuse material to date. Continuing in the smooth pop-jazz mode favored on the final Steely Dan records, The Nightfly is lush and shimmering, produced with cinematic flair by Gary Katz; romanticized but never sentimental, the songs are slices of suburbanite soap opera, tales of space-age hopes (the hit “I.G.Y.”) and Cold War fears (the wonderful “The New Frontier,” a memoir of fallout-shelter love) crafted with impeccable style and sophistication.
By Jason Ankeny (AMG)

By Pier

Working Week “Working Nights”

Working Week

“Working Nights”
( LP Virgin Records, 1985 )
Catalog # V 2343

Tracklisting:
A1 Inner City Blues
A2 Sweet Nothing
A3 Who’s Fooling Who
A4 Thought I’d Never See You Again
B1 Autumn Boy
B2 Solo
B3 Venceremos
B4 No Cure No Pay
C Stella Marina (Main Mix)
D Stella Marina (Full Rap)

Personnel & Credits:
Bass – Chucho Merchan (tracks: A1, A3, A4, B3) , Ernest Mothle (tracks: A2, B1, B2, B4)
Drums – Mark Taylor (2) (tracks: B3) , Nic France (tracks: A1, A3, A4) , Roy Dodds (tracks: A2, B1, B2, B4)
Guitar – Simon Booth
Percussion – Joao Bosco De Oliveira (tracks: A2, B1, B2, B3, B4) , Martin Ditcham (tracks: A1, A3, A4)
Piano – Kim Burton
Producer – Robin Millar
Saxophone – Larry Stabbins
Vocals – Claudia Figueroa (tracks: B3) , Juliet Roberts , Leroy Osbourne (tracks: A2)

Notes:
A Bonus Free 12″ Single with two versions of Stella Marina, included.

Biography:
British jazz-dance outfit Working Week was formed in 1983 by guitarist Simon Booth and saxophonist Larry Stabbins, who previously teamed in Weekend. The duo debuted the following year with “Venceremos (We Will Win),” a tribute to Chilean protest singer Victor Jara featuring vocal contributions from Robert Wyatt and Everything But the Girl’s Tracey Thorn; singer Julie Tippetts assumed the spotlight on the follow-up, “Storm of Light,” with the full-length Working Nights appearing in 1985. Guest singers continued revolving in and out of the Working Week lineup prior to the permanent addition of Juliet Roberts in time for 1986’s Companeros; in the wake of 1987’s Knocking on Your Door, however, Roberts left the group, with another round of guests lending vocal input to Fire in the Mountain two years later. New frontwoman Yvonne Waite was installed for 1991’s Black and Gold.
By Jason Ankeny (AMG)

By Rob

Area Code 615 “Area Code 615″

Area Code 615

“Area Code 615″
( LP Polydor Records, 1969 )
Catalog # Polydor 244002

Tracklisting:
01.Southern Comfort
02.I’ve Been Loving You
03.Hey Jude
04.Nashville 9 – NY 1
05.Lady Madonna
06.Ruby
07.Crazy Arms/Get Back
08.Why Ask Why
09.Lil’ Maggie
10.Classical Gas
11.Just Like a Woman

Review:
This is a legendary record recorded by a legendary group of musicians. Area Code 615 was, as the name implies, the location of Cinderella Studios in Nashville (Madison, to be exact). The session players who recorded there are some of the greatest unsung heroes in popular music: Weldon Myrick (pedal steel), Bobby Thompson (banjo), Buddy Spicher (fiddle), Mac Gayden and Wayne Moss (lead guitar), Charlie McCoy (harp), Ken Buttrey (drums), David Briggs (piano), and Norman Putnam (bass). These players performed miracles on hundreds of records, including those by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, the Beau Brummels, Ian & Sylvia, and countless others. This, their “group” debut, is a timeless excursion into all forms of music. The record contains a lot (for then) of contemporary covers, such as an awe-inspiring version of “Hey Jude” that, in some ways, builds in intensity as much as the Beatles’ version. It’s soul, rock, and country at its finest, and ironically sounds as though it was a possible blueprint for Joe Cocker/Leon Russell’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen project. Aside from the general power and groove, all of the solos are spectacular, especially Charlie McCoy and Mac Gayden’s performances on “Nashville 9 – NY 1.” Gayden is particularly impressive, often sounding like a visiting Eric Clapton in 1969. It’s that good. Buttrey and Putnam, though, are the real stars here, laying down the most solid, knee-deep funk and soul that you will ever hear. Absolutely awesome. Friends, this is one stone gas.
From AMG

By Celo

Area Code 615 “A Trip In The Country”

Area Code 615

“A Trip In The Country”
( LP Polydor Records, 1970 )
Catalog # Polydor 244025

Tracklisting:
01.Scotland
02.Always the Same
03.Stone Fox Chase
04.Russian Red
05.Judy
06.Gray Suit Men
07.Katy Hill
08.Sligo
09.Sausilito
10.Welephant Walk
11.Devil Weed and Me

Review:
On its second album, the Nashville professional musician supergroup Area Code 615 took the opportunity to stretch out and try some really far-out things. While still nominally country, this has more in common with the freewheeling psychedelic rock and sunshine pop of 1970 than what was coming out of Nashville. Given the fuzz tones, light funk vamps, trippy interludes, and random outbursts of heavy guitars, it’s little wonder that Area Code 615 was appealing to hippies, not rednecks, but even among those hippies the group was a cult item; a two-night stint at the Fillmore West did not spur the band’s debut into greater record sales, and A Trip in the Country didn’t even chart. Perhaps that’s because they didn’t cover any obvious material here. Where the first record had three Beatles tunes and numbers by Dylan and Otis Redding, this relies on new songs and a couple of bluegrass and folk songs that sound unrecognizable; Bill Monroe’s “Scotland” has its boundaries blown wide open, and the result is a serious head trip. But perhaps the best-known item here is “Stone Fox Chase,” whose stuttering refrain ¡X performed by harmonica player extraordinaire Charlie McCoy ¡X became the theme song for the BBC’s fantastic music program The Old Grey Whistle Test. That tune also illustrates the nature of this band: It’s a musician’s band, the work of exceptional players whose skills are best appreciated by other players. That doesn’t mean there isn’t some extraordinary playing here, since there is (although the debut is a better place to just hear the band play, since this relies more on the structure than the solo), but only fellow musicians will find this more than a semi-interesting period piece.
From AMG

By Celo

Reuben Howell ”Rings”

Reuben Howell

”Rings”
( LP Motown Records, 1974 )
Catalog # M6-799S1

Tracklisting:
A1 Rings
Written-By – Alex Harvey , Eddie Reeves
A2 I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Written-By – Stevie Wonder, Yvonne Wright
A3 You Know Me
Written-By – Kenny Ascher, Paul Williams
A4 Constant Disappointment
Written-By – Lori Jacobs
A5 I Am What I Am
Written-By – Allen Toussaint
B1 Go Ahead And Have Your Fun
Written-By – Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford
B2 Walkin’ In The Sun
Written-By – Jeff Barry
B3 You Turn Me Around
Written-By – Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil
B4 I’ll Be Your Brother
Written-By – Reuben Howell
B5 I’ll Come And Get You Every Sunday
Written-By – Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford

Credits:
Artwork By [Photography] – Rick Clemente
Bass – Lenny LeBlanc
Drums – Roger Clark
Engineer – David Johnson, Terry Woodford
Engineer [Remix] – Terry Woodford
Guitar – Pete Carr
Keyboards, Guitar, Percussion – Terry Woodford
Producer – Clayton Ivey , Terry Woodford
Saxophone [Baritone] – Ronnie Eades
Saxophone [Tenor], Flute – Harvey Thompson
Trombone – Charles Rose
Trumpet – Harrison Calloway
Vocals [Background] – Barbara Wyrick , Clayton Ivey , Jeanie Greene , Mary Gresham , Terry Woodford

Notes:
Produced and arranged by Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford for Wishbone, Inc.,
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1974

Courtesy of Peter1

Joyce Sims ”Come Into My Life”

Joyce Sims

”Come Into My Life”
( LP Sleeping Bag Records, 1987 )
Catalog # TLX-10

Tracklisting:
X1 Come Into My Life (7:45)
X2 Love Makes A Woman (4:11)
Mixed By – Joyce Sims
Producer – Joyce Sims
Saxophone – Jimmy Castor
X3 It Wasn’t Easy (3:57)
X4 All And All (6:06)
Edited By – Charlie Dee Diaz
Mixed By – Robbie Watson
Y1 Lifetime Love (6:24)
Y2 A Change In You (6:24)
Y3 Walk Away (5:07)
Mixed By – Nelson Diaz
Producer – Joyce Sims
Y4 The All And All (U.K. Remix) (7:05)
Mixed By – Robbie Watson

Credits:
Edited By – Chep Nunez
Mixed By – Mantronik (tracks: X1, X4, Y1, Y2, Y4)
Producer – Mantronik (tracks: X1, X4, Y1, Y2, Y4)

Notes:
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1987

Biography:
An often enticing and enchanting vocalist, Joyce Sims hasn’t emerged as a disco diva with crossover appeal despite making some excellent singles. Born in Rochester, Sims formally studied music in college, learning a number of instruments. An agent introduced her to Ron Resnick of Sleeping Bag Records, who signed her in 1986. Her biggest hit was “Come Into My Life” in 1987, her only Top Ten record. But, both “(You Are) My All and All” and her remake of “Love Makes A Woman” with Jimmy Castor were finely crafted and nicely performed releases. They made the R&B Top 30, but didn’t earn her enough attention to break out beyond the dance market.
By Ron Wynn (AMG)

”Come Into My Life” 12” Mixes here.

By Pier

Joyce Sims ”All About Love”

Joyce Sims

”All About Love”
( LP Sleeping Bag Records, 1989 )
Catalog # TLX-52017

Tracklisting:
A1 Looking For A Love (5:50)
Co-producer – Andy “Panda” Tripoli
Flute – Brian Taylor
A2 Take Caution With My Heart (5:35)
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
Mixed By – Justin Strauss
A3 Natural Woman (3:30)
Backing Vocals – Karen Anderson, Sandra St. Victor
Bass – Greg Smith
A4 Here We Go Again (5:08)
Co-producer – Royal Bayyan
Saxophone – Khalis Bayyan
A5 I Love You More (5:10)
Mixed By – “Little” Louie Vega, Todd Terry
B1 Don’t Let This Feeling Die (5:25)
Mixed By – Andy “Panda” Tripoli
B2 I Surrender (6:13)
Co-producer – Justin Strauss
Keyboards – Eric Kupper
B3 Crazy Love (4:55)
Guitar – Greg Smith
Keyboards – Greg Smith
B4 You Mean The World To Me (4:50)
Co-producer – Jerry Gottus
B5 All About Love (4:16)
Co-producer – Dana “Free-D” Vleck

Credits:
Edited By – Chep Nunez, Mervyn Jordan
Keyboards – Alec Shantzis (tracks: A1, A3, B1, B4),
Mac Quayle (tracks: A1, A5, B1)

Notes:
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1989

More info about Mrs. Sims here.

By Pier

Dhuo ”Overflow”

Dhuo

”Overflow”
( LP CGD Records, Italy, 1984 )
Catalog # INT 20399

Tracklisting:
A1 Walkin’ (Remix) (4:02)
A2 On Video (4:33)
Guitar – Luciano Ninzatti
A3 The Baby Was You (4:43)
Lead Vocals – Sahara
A4 Chinatype (Instrumental) (4:00)
B1 The Overflow (4:16)
Guitar – Luciano Ninzatti
Written-By – Michael Logan
B2 Northern Lights (4:03)
Backing Vocals – Marilù, Massimo Noè, Sahara
Keyboards – Stefano Pulga
B3 Rome By Night (4:50)
B4 Victims Of Circumstance (4:20)

Credits:
Engineer, Mixed By – Marilù, Massimo Noè
Performer, Arranged By – Dhuo
Producer – Matteo Bonsanto
Synthesizer – Piero Cairo
Written-By – B. Bergonzi, M. Logan

Notes:
Engineered & mixed at Baby Studios, Milan, Italy.
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:Italy
Released:1984

Dhuo discography at Discogs.

Courtesy of Oldfield

The Steve Miller Band ”Circle Of Love”

The Steve Miller Band

”Circle Of Love”
( LP Capitol Records, 1981 )
Catalog # ST-12121

Tracklisting:
A1 Heart Like A Wheel (3:55)
A2 Get On Home (3:58)
A3 Baby Wanna Dance (2:11)
A4 Circle Of Love (6:22)
B Macho City (18:32)

Personnel & Credits:
Bass – Gerald Johnson
Drums, Percussion – Gary Mallaber
Engineer – Rick Fisher
Keyboards – Byron Allred
Producer, Guitar, Vocals – Steve Miller

Notes:
Format:Vinyl, LP
Country:US
Released:1981

Review:
Divided in half, with one side of catchy pop tunes and one side devoted to a 16-minute space blues workout called “Macho City,” the design of Circle of Love feels like a throwback to 1971, when people truly paid attention to the flow of an album. In 1981, it was a bit of anachronism, but its old-fashioned feel (and its tedious “Macho City”) are saved by the mini-album of pop/rock that might not have produced any undeniable classics, but includes tuneful, well-crafted numbers that serve as worthy follow-ups to Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams.
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine (AMG)

By Pier