Ambrose Slade - Beginnings (1969)

Side one

1.  Genesis - 3:16

       Dave Hill, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Don Powell 

2.  Everybody's Next One - 2:45

       John Kay, Gabriel Mekler 

3. Knocking Nails into My House - 2:24

      Jeff Lynne 

4.  Roach Daddy - 3:03

       Hill, Holder, Lea, Powell 

5.  Ain't Got No Heart - 2:37

       Frank Zappa 

6.  Pity the Mother - 3:57

       Holder, Lea  

Side two

1.  Mad Dog Cole - 2:42

       Hill, Holder, Lea, Powell 

2.  Fly Me High - 2:56

       Justin Hayward 

3.  If This World Were Mine - 3:16

       Marvin Gaye 

4   Martha My Dear - 2:19

       John Lennon, Paul McCartney  

5.  Born to Be Wild - 3:24

       Mars, Bonfire 

6.  Journey to the Centre of Your Mind - 2:46

       Ted Nugent, Steve Farmer  

Ambrose Slade

• Noddy Holder – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer
• Dave Hill – lead guitar, producer
• Jim Lea – bass, violin, producer
• Don Powell – drums, producer

Additional personnel

• Roger Wake – producer, engineer
• Richard Stirlin – photographer
• Linda Glover – artwork

Notes

Released: 9 May 1969 

Genre:  Rock 

Length: 35:30 

Producer(s):  Ambrose Slade, Roger Wake

Label - Fontana Records 

Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head (1999)

Tracklist

A1.  High Flyin' Baby - 3:32

        Piano – Jim Dickinson

A2.  City Lights - 4:33

        Piano – Jim Dickinson

A3.  Have You Seen My Baby? - 2:52

        Piano – Jim Dickinson

        Written-By – Randy Newman

A4.  Yesterday's Numbers - 3:58 

B1.  Teenage Head - 2:53 

B2.  32-20 - 2:04

       Arranged By – Michael Wilhelm

        Lyrics By [New Lyrics] – Roy A. Loney

        Written-By – Robert Johnson

B3.  Evil Hearted Ada - 3:19

        Written-By – Roy A. Loney

B4.  Doctor Boogie - 2:32 

B5.  Whisky Woman - 5:02 

Companies, etc.

• Distributed By – Buddah Records
• Lacquer Cut At – Bell Sound Studios
• Pressed By – Sonic Recording Products, Inc.
• Published By – Kama Rippa
• Published By – Loney Tunes Music
• Published By – January Music

Credits

• Design [Album ] – Jordan, Hujar, Robinson, Loney
• Engineer, Remix [Re-mix Engineer] – Alan Corbeth
• Performer [The Flame-ettes] – Jean-Charles Costa, Karin Berg, R. Meltzer
• Performer [The Flamin Groovies Are] – Cyril Jordan, Danny Mihm, George Alexander, Roy A. Loney, Tim Lynch
• Photography By [Cover And Liner] – Peter Hujar
• Producer – Richard Robinson
• Written-By – Jordan (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B4, B5), Loney(tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B4, B5)

Engineer: Alan Corbeth (Courtesy Bell Sound Studio, N.Y.C.)
with the Assistance of Danny, Frank, and Randy

Dedicated to:
Lenny Kaye, John Zacherle, Lisa Robinson, The Mad Peck, Ed Ward, Doctor Ross, Loose Gravel, Jean-Charles Costa, Cab Covay, R. Meltzer, Bobby Abrams, Lonesome Rhodes, Andy Zwerling, Roni Hoffman, Karin Berg, Ron Weisner, Neil Scott, (who appears through the courtesy of Portrait Records) Soozin and Joel, Ed McCormack, Dave Marsh, The Fab Nears, Anne-Marie Micklo, Bruce O. Bishop, Danny Fields, Neil the Man Moran, Randy Newman, Steve Fisher, Stephan Goldman, Fred Henriques, Andrew Lauder, Lon Chaney, Tod Browning, The Iguanas, Danny Goldberg, Linwood Lane and Linda, Coastin Zazoo, D. Clifford Bedford, Lillian Roxon, Kim Fowley, The Wandering Seatons.

Notes

Released: Mar 1971 

Genre:  Rock, Blues 

Style:  Rock & Roll, Blues Rock 

Length:  55:45

Label - Kama Sutra Records

Ravi Shankar - The Sounds of India (1966)

Tracklist

1.  An Introduction to Indian Music - 4:13 
2.  Dádrá - 10:30
3.  Máru-Bihág - 11:44
4.  Bhimpalási - 12:13
5.  Sindhi-Bhairavi - 15:00

Personnel

• Ravi Shankar – sitar
• Chatur Lal – tabla
• N.C. Mullick – tambura

Companies, etc.

• Record Company – The Gramophone Company Of India (Private) Limited – 33EIX. 5015

Notes

Released:  1966

Vinyl LP, Album, Reissue, Mono, Pitman pressing

Genre: Folk, World, & Country

Style: Indian Classical, Hindustani

Length: 53:40

Label - Columbia Records

Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark - The Remix Collection [2CD] (2006)

CD 1

1.  Electricity   (Hannett,Cargo Studios Version) - 3:35

2.  Electricity  (Dindisc 1980 Version) - 3:43

3.  Messages  (Single Version) - 4:47

4.  Enola Gay  (Album Version) - 3:31

5.  Souvenir  (Extended Version) - 4:16

6.  Joan Of Arc  (Album Version) - 3:48

7.  Maid Of Orleans  (Album Version) - 4:12

8.  Telegraph  (New Extended Remix) - 4:43

9.  Tesla Girls  (12'' Version) - 4:35

10.  Never Turn Away  (Extended Version) - 6:29

11.  Locomotion  (12'' Version) - 5:18

12.  Talking Loud And Clear  (12'' Version) - 6:12

13.  So In Love  (American Dance Mix) - 5:40

14.  Secret  (12'' Version) - 6:12

15.  Secret  (New 12'' Remix) - 5:56

16.  If You Leave  [Extended Version] - 6:05

CD 2

1.  Forever Live And Die  (12'' Version) - 5:52

2.  Shame  (Extended Re-Recorded Version) - 6:57

3.  Dreaming  (Extended Version) - 6:20

4.  Dreaming  (Club Mix) - 7:14

5.  Genetic Engineering  (New Extended Version) - 5:14

6.  We Love You  (12'' Version) - 6:14

7.  La Femme Accident  (Extended Version) - 6:16

8.  Sailing On The Seven Seas  (Larrabee Mix) - 3:55

9.  Pandora's Box  (Diesel Fingers 12'' Mix) - 6:10

10.  Call My Name  (12'' Version) - 5:25

11.  Then You Turn Away  (Infinite Repeat Mix) - 4:25

12.  Everyday  (Invisible Man Mix) - 5:57

13.  Dream Of Me  (Interstellar Mix) - 6:21

14.  Stand Above Me  (Single Version) - 3:33

Notes

Released: 2006

Format: 2xCD, Unofficial Release

Genre:  Electronic

Style:  New Wave, Synth-pop

Runtime: 2:39:06

Label - Virgin Records

Boogie Box High - Outrageous (1989)

Side A

A1.  Nervous - 4:05

        Written-By – David Austin

A2.  Jive Talkin' - 4:04

          Co-producer – Chris Porter

          Written-By – Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb & Maurice Gibb

A3.  Golden Soul - 4:14

        Written-By – T. Harris 

A4.  Revenge - 3:48

          Written-By – Andros Georgiou, Lloyd Phillips, Paul Phillips, T. Morris

A5.  Are You Just Using Me? - 4:15

         Featuring – T. Roy Morris

           Written-By – David Austin, R. Phillips 

Side B

B1.  Soul Boy - 4:24

        Written-By – H. Hoskyns

B2.  Gave It All Away - 3:57

        Written-By – David Austin

B3.  Lover - 3:35

         Co-producer, Featuring, Written-By – David Austin

B4.  Sweat - 4:51

         Written-By – Andros Georgiou, Lloyd Phillips, Paul Phillips, T. Morris

Companies, etc.

• Manufactured By – Capitol Records, Inc.
• Mastered At – The Town House
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – SBK Records
• Copyright © – SBK Records
• Published By – EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
• Published By – Harris Hoskyns Music
• Published By – Gibb Brothers Music
• Published By – Hardback Ltd.

Credits

• Arranged By, Producer, Mastered By – Andros Georgiou
• Cover – Andy Earl
• Design [Sleeve] – Andros Georgiou, Simon Halfon
• Engineer – Ian Cooper
• Management – Lippman Kahane Entertainment

Notes

Released: 1989 

Genre:  Electronic 

Style:  Synth-pop 

Length:  37:38

Label - SBK Records

DAF - Hitz Blitz (1989)

Tracklist

1.  The Gun ("Powder Keg Mix") - 8:22

2.  Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi Part 2 - 5:28

3.  Pure Joy - 4:47

4.  Brothers - 3:37

5.  Absolute Bodycontrol - 5:18

6.  Sex Up - 3:15

7.  Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi Part 1 - 2:25

8.  1st Step To Heaven Medley - 8:07

9.  Opium Mix - 2:10

10.  Crazy Crazy - 3:08

11.  Blond Hair Dark Brown Hair - 3:10

12.  1st Step To Heaven Mix - 5:46

13.  The Gun ("Bang Bang Mix") - 8:23

Companies, etc.

• Glass Mastered At – Specialty Records Corporation

Credits

• Producer – DAF
• Remix – Joseph Watt (tracks: 1, 8)

Notes

Released: 1989

Genre: Electronic

Style: EBM, Industrial, Synth-pop

Length:  1:04:54

Label - JCI Records

Carolyn Franklin - Baby Dynamite! (1969)

Tracklist

A1.  Reality - 2:38

A2.  It’s True I’m Gonna Miss You - 4:10

A3.  What Cha’ Gonna Do - 2:35

A4.  I Don’t Want to Lose You - 2:20

A5.  Boxer - 2:35

B1.  I Can’t Love Without You - 2:27

B2.  What Now My Love - 4:05

B3.  Alone - 2:23

B4.  There I Go (Se pe te c’e’ soltanto quell ‘uomo) - 2:31

B5.  On a Back Street - 2:34

B6.  More Than Ever Before - 2:06

Companies, etc.

• Copyright © – RCA Records
• Recorded At – RCA's Studio B
• Mastered At – RCA Studios, New York
• Pressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis
• Record Company – Radio Corporation Of America

Credits

• Arranged By, Conductor – Horace Ott
• Engineer [Recording] – Ray Hall
• Liner Notes – C.L. Franklin
• Producer – Buzz Willis

Notes

Released: 1969

Genre: Funk / Soul

Style: Soul, Funk

Length: 31:03

Label - RCA Victor

The Group - I Hear I See I Learn (1984)

Tracklist

1.  America - 3:45

2.  She's 19 - 3:14

3.  Iron Chains - 4:25

4.  Private Future - 4:19

       Engineer [Recording] – Chris Goreham

       Percussion – Dean Garcia

5.  Talk to Myself - 3:28

        Engineer [Recording] – Chris Goreham

        Percussion – Dean Garcia

6.  Victims of Circumstance - 4:42

        Vocals – Eddi Reader

7.  Turn of the Century - 3:32

8.  Republic - 4:12

        Engineer [Recording] – Bryan "Chuck" New

        Keyboards – Ben Barson

Credits

• Bass, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals – Jon Astrop
• Design [Sleeve Design] – Jon Astrop, ZombArt
• Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Julie Fletcher
• Guitar, Vocals – Ian Martin
• Painting [Cover Painting] – Caroline Smith
• Photography By – Harry Metcalfe
• Producer – The Group
• Producer, Engineer – Nigel Green (tracks: A1 to B4)
• Written-By – I. Martin, J. Astrop, Mrs. J. Fletcher

Notes

Release: 1984

Genre:  ElectronicRock, New Wave

Length:  31:05

Label - Jive Records

Oliver Sain - Main Man (1972)

posted by het muziek archief

Killer heavy funk jazz album with some great tunes as “On the Hill” & “St. Louis Breakdown“.

Sain works a more varied groove here than the uptempo funk he’s most well known for, but there’s no shortage of gritty, greasy St Louis goodness oozing from these tracks with his warm, soulful sax adding a touch of polish to the proceedings! And don’t get us wrong, the funk is well represented too, giving you a killer set that hits all the stops!

Oliver Sain (1932 – 2003) was a bandleader extraordinaire and brought his crew to play at highest levels while still retaining an honest feeling. 

Most songs on this first album of his group come as instrumentals with the occasional commanding shout by the master himself and you will for sure recognize a few fairly popular melodies and indeed, there are adaptions of classics like “Georgia” and the “Harlem Nocturne” played with an enormous dedication which of course goes for all the performances here. Oliver Sain and his band do not just play down their tunes, they live out each note with the fire burning within their hearts.

Especially the expressive saxophone playing will leave you as a listener floored. Eruptive lines that could come straight from the vaults of the great late John Coltrane meet a rather relaxed and laid back funk sound, can you dig it? There is steam heat and sheer love pouring from these well executed compositions and adaptions.

It’s all good and groovy here.

Tracks

A1.  Soul Serenade - 5:45

A2.  Comin Down Soul - 3:13

A3.  On The Hill - 5:15

A4.  Harlem Nocturn - 3:28

B1.  20-75 - 3:04

B2.  Scratch My Back - 2:30

B3.  Georgia - 5:45

B4.  St. Louis Breakdown - 2:40

B5.  Mr. King & Mr. Jordan - 3:33

Companies, etc.

• Distributed By – Nashboro Record Co.
• Recorded At – Archway Sound Studio, St. Louis
• Published By – Sign Of Aries
• Published By – Kilynn Pub. Co.
• Published By – Vee-Ve Pub. Co.
• Published By – Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.
• Published By – Jec Publishing Co.
• Published By – Albireco Music
• Published By – Excellorec
• Published By – Pier International
• Lacquer Cut At – Woodland Studios

Credits

• Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Charles Hayes
• Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Organ, Vibraphone, Arranged By, Engineer [Recording] – Oliver Sain
• Bass – Paul Jackson
• Design Concept, Art Direction, Photography By – Aesthetics, Inc.
• Drums – Sammy Harris
• Guitar – Earl Wright
• Guitar, Arranged By, Engineer [Recording] – Phil West
• Lacquer Cut By – TS
• Liner Notes – Eddie O'Jay
• Photography By – Jimmy Moore
• Trumpet – Bob Elliot

Notes

Released: 1972 

Genre: Jazz Funk / Soul-Jazz 

Length: 35:20

Label:  Abet Records 

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The Supremes - Floy Joy (1972)

Floy Joy is the twenty-fifth studio album released by The Supremes on the Motown label. 

This was the only Supremes album solely produced and arranged by Smokey Robinson and included the U.S. top 20 hit, "Floy Joy" and the U.S. top 40 hit, "Automatically Sunshine", both of which were top 10 hits in the U.K. 

The "Floy Joy" single was the Supremes' final Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching as high as #9 in the UK. 

Its follow-ups, "Automatically Sunshine" and "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" were not as successful, with "Automatically Sunshine" peaking at 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, 21 on the Top Soul Singles and being the group's final Top 10 hit in the U.K. (#10, the fifth in little over two years for the post-Ross line-up), and "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" peaking at 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 21 on the Top Soul Singles, and missing the UK Charts altogether.

An interesting but erratic set, co-written and produced by the prolific Smokey Robinson, then undergoing a transition phase in his career (he was getting ready to exit the Miracles). 

As usual, the highlights were the singles, particularly "Automatically Sunshine" and the bouncy title track. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough promotional push to maintain the group's viability, and thus a commercial decline reigned unchecked until the group disbanded in 1977.

Side one

Superscripts denote lead singers for each track: (a) Jean Terrell, (b) Mary Wilson, (c) Cindy Birdsong.

1. "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love" (Smokey Robinson)^a
2. "Floy Joy" (Robinson)^{a, b}
3. "A Heart Like Mine" (Robinson, Ronald White)^b
4. "Over and Over" (Robinson)^a
5. "Precious Little Things" (Robinson, Marvin Tarplin, Pam Moffett)^a

Side two

1. "Now the Bitter, Now the Sweet" (Robinson, Cecil Franklin)^a,b,c
2. "Automatically Sunshine" (Robinson)^{a, b}
3. "The Wisdom of Time" (Robinson, Moffett, Clifford Burston)^{a, c}
4. "Oh Be My Love" (Robinson, Warren Moore)^a

Personnel

Jean Terrell, Mary Wilson, & Cindy Birdsong - lead vocals and background vocals

• The Andantes (Louvain Demps, Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow) - additional background vocals
• William "Smokey" Robinson - producer
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers:
  • Jack Ashford, Jack Brokensha, & Eddie "Bongo" Brown - percussion
  • Dennis Coffey, Robert White, Eddie Willis, & Marvin Tarplin - guitars
  • Johnny Griffith & Earl Van Dyke - piano, keyboards
  • James Jamerson - bass
  • Zachary Slater & Andrew Smith - drums
• Berry Gordy - executive producer
• Paul Riser - arranger
• Jim Britt - photography

Notes

Released: May 1972

Recorded: 1971–1972

Genre:  Pop, soul

Length: 29:33

Producer:  Smokey Robinson

Label:  Motown Records

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Clash - This Is Dub Clash (2000)

The Clash were an English rock band that formed in London in 1976 and were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they used elements of reggae, dub, funk, ska, and rockabilly, and they contributed to the post-punk and new wave movements that followed punk. 

For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Strummer, lead guitarist and vocalist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon. 

This Bootleg,  a great collection of dub material from The Clash, who explored this genre very deeply from 1980 onwards with Mikey Dread, who as Bill Price put it, added "Genuine Jamaican dub" to the Clash's music.

This album collects material from Sandinista! and Super Black Market Clash

along with a few songs no longer in print.

The songs are all remixes of other songs that you will be familiar with.

- The Magnificent Dance - The Magnificent Seven

- Justice Tonight / Kick It Over - Armagideon Time

- Robber Dub - Bankrobber

- The Cool Out - The Call Up

- One More Dub - One More Time

- Version Pardner - Junco Partner

- Mustapha Dance - Rock The Casbah

- Silicone On Sapphire - Washington Bullets

- Return To Brixton - The Guns Of Brixton

Tracklist

1.  The Magnificent Dance

2.  Justice Tonight / Kick It Over

3.  Robber Dub

4.  The Cool Out

5.  One More Dub

6.  Version Pardner

7.  Mustapha Dance

8.  Silicone On Sappohire

9.  Return To Brixton (SW2 Dub)

Credits

• Bass – Paul Simonon
• Guitar – Mick Jones
• Organ – Micky Gallagher
• Rhythm Guitar – Joe Strummer
• Vocals – Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon

Notes

Released: 2000

Genre:  Punk Reggae, Dub

Length: 47:22

Label:  Pirate Radio Numero Uno bootleg

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Depeche Mode - 101 (2CD) (1989)

101 is a live album and documentary film by English electronic music band Depeche Mode, released on 13 March 1989 by Mute Records. 

It chronicles the final leg of the band's Music for the Masses Tour and the final show on 18 June 1988 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

As an event, Depeche Mode's huge (attendance around 60,000) Los Angeles Rose Bowl concert in 1988 remains legendary; no single artist show had totally sold out the venue since eight years beforehand, while the film documentary done by Dylan-filmer D.A. Pennebaker based around the show clearly demonstrated fans' intense commitment to a near-decade-old band most mainstream critics continued to stupidly portray as a flash-in-the-pan synth pop effort. 

This start-to-final-encore record of the concert showcases a band perfectly able to carry its music from studio to stage as well as any other combo worth its salt should be able to do. 

Understandably focused on Music for the Masses material, the album shows Depeche experimenting with alternate arrangements at various points for live performance; big numbers like "Never Let Me Down Again," "Stripped," and "Blasphemous Rumors" pack even more of a wallop here. 

Slower numbers and more than a couple of ballads help to vary the hit-packed set, including a fine "Somebody" and "The Things You Said" combination sung by Martin Gore. 

"Pleasure Little Treasure," on record an okay B-side, becomes a monster rocker live, the type of unexpected surprise one could expect from a solid band no matter what the music. 

With a triumphant set of closing numbers, including magnificent takes on "Never Let Me Down Again," "Master and Servant," and the set-ending "Everything Counts," with what sounds like the entire audience singing the chorus well after the song has finally ended, 101 does far better at its task than most might have guessed.

Side A

1. "Pimpf" – 0:58
2. "Behind the Wheel" – 5:55
3. "Strangelove" – 4:49
4. "Something to Do" – 3:54
5. "Blasphemous Rumours" – 5:09

Side B

1. "Stripped" – 6:45
2. "Somebody" – 4:34
3. "The Things You Said" – 4:21
4. "Black Celebration" – 4:54

Side C

1. "Shake the Disease" – 5:10
2. "Pleasure Little Treasure" – 4:38
3. "People Are People" – 4:59
4. "A Question of Time" – 4:12

Side D

1. "Never Let Me Down Again" – 6:40
2. "Master and Servant" – 4:30
3. "Just Can't Get Enough" – 4:01
4. "Everything Counts" – 6:31

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of 101.

• Randy Ezratty – recording
• Mark Shane – recording assistance
• John Harris – recording assistance
• Billy Yodelman – recording assistance
• Alan Moulder – engineering
• Depeche Mode – production
• Anton Corbijn – cover
• Paul West – cover

Companies, etc.

• Marketed By – Indisc Benelux
• Distributed By – Indisc Benelux
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Mute Records Ltd.
• Copyright © – Mute Records Ltd.
• Mixed At – Swanyard Studios
• Made By – Europe Optical Disc

Credits

• Engineer – Alan Moulder
• Producer – Depeche Mode
• Recorded By – Randy Ezratty
• Recorded By [Assistant] – Billy Yodelman, John Harris, Mark Shane
• Written-By – M.L. Gore (tracks: 1-1 to 2-9, 2-11)

Notes

Released: 13 March 1989 

Recorded: 18 June 1988 Venue Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California) 

Length: 117:00 

Producer: Frazer Pennebaker 

Label:  Mute Records

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Rupert Holmes - Partners In Crime (1979)

Partners in Crime is the fifth studio album by British-American singer-songwriter and musician Rupert Holmes, released on August 5, 1979. 

The album was Holmes's most commercially successful record and includes all three of Holmes's solo top 40 hits: "Him", "Answering Machine", and "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)". 

"Escape" was the top Billboard hit of December 1979 and January 1980; it was the only single to hold the number-one position in both years and in different decades. 

Although "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" was released as a single on Infinity Records, "Him" was released on MCA Records; the Infinity catalog had been absorbed by MCA at the time the latter single was released. 

The album itself reached number 33 on the Billboard 200. 

Before the release of this successful 1979 album, Holmes released four albums that failed to capture him at his best. 

Shortly before this, Holmes made his mark as songwriter. He penned the kitschy cannibalism tale "Timothy" for the Buoys. From his 1976 effort Singles came "The Last of the Romantics" which was covered to great effect by Engelbert Humperdinck. 

Partners in Crime finds Holmes more focused with pop savvy and a great batch of songs. The effort's biggest hit, the ingratiating "Escape" (The Pina Colada Song)," though skilled, is cutesy enough to make some people's eyes roll. 

Despite the nature of that track, Holmes was also willing to tackle more interesting issues. With the slightly disco-fied title track, he deftly examines the male/female dynamic as business deal. 

Throughout the song, Holmes is having a lot of fun with every salacious detail. "Nearsighted" has him going the power pop route and all but wringing tears out of seeing "slightly out of focus." 

As Partners in Crime goes along, what becomes striking is some of the tracks' subtle use of R&B flourishes. "Him" depicts Holmes as the cuckold and has a beautiful string arrangement, a great hook, and strong, vivid lyrics. 

The album's best ballad, "The People That You Never Get to Love" has Holmes again giving a warm and confident vocal and is poignant rather than weepy. 

Although there are a few waste cuts, on the whole Partners in Crime is a thought-provoking and polished album.

 

Tracklist

1.  Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - 4:36 

2.  Partners in Crime - 5:16 

3.  Nearsighted - 2:52 

4.  Lunch Hour - 4:40 

5.  Drop It - 4:12 

6.  Him - 4:06 

7.  Answering Machine - 3:35 

8.  The People that You Never Get to Love - 3:47 

9.  Get Outta Yourself - 4:45 

10.  In You I Trust - 4:51 

All songs are written and arranged by Rupert Holmes.

Musicians

• Rupert Holmes – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone
• Dean Bailin – guitar
• Frank Gravis – bass
• Leo Adamian – drums (all tracks), double drums (track 1)
• Victoria – percussion
• Peter Gordon – French horn
• Wayne Andre – trombone
• Dave Taylor – bass trombone
• The Gene Orloff Section – strings
• Steve Jordan – double drums (track 1)
• Chrissy Faith – background vocals (track 7)
• Bob Gurland – voiced trumpet (track 9)

Production

• Rupert Holmes – production
• Jim Boyer – production, engineering, mixing
• Eric Bloch – associate engineering
• Ollie Cotton – associate engineering
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Normand Kurtz – executive production

Artwork

• Peter Corriston – art direction, cover concept and design
• Brian Hagiwara – photography

Notes

Released:  August 5, 1979

Recorded:  January–July 1979 Studio Plaza Sound Studios, New York City

Genre:  Soft rock, yacht rock

Length:  42:40

Producer(s):  Rupert Holmes, Jim Boyer

Label:  Infinity / MCA Records

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The Band - Islands (1977)

Islands is the seventh studio album by the Canadian-American rock group the Band. Released in 1977 to mixed reviews, it is the final studio album from the group's original lineup.

Primarily composed of previously unreleased songs from the Band's career (including their 1976 cover of "Georgia on My Mind", which was recorded to aid Jimmy Carter in his presidential bid), Islands was released to fulfill the group's contract with Capitol Records, so that the soundtrack to their film The Last Waltz could be released on Warner Bros. Records. 

In the CD liner notes, Robbie Robertson compares the album to the Who's Odds & Sods. 

John Bauldie in Q called the album "a ragbag of old outtakes and otherwise unplaceable new numbers.

Theoretically, even though the Band had given up touring as of Thanksgiving 1976, they were going to keep making records, and Islands was the first album released in the new era. 

Only it wasn't; it was the album they scraped together to complete their ten-LP contract with Capitol Records and the last new full-length album the original five members ever made. 

The playing, as ever, was impeccable, and the record had its moments, notably a Richard Manuel vocal on the chestnut "Georgia on My Mind" that had been released as a single in 1976 to boost Georgia governor Jimmy Carter's successful run for the presidency. 

But the songwriting quality was mediocre, and the Band had set such a standard for itself in that department that Islands couldn't help suffering enormously in comparison.

Side one

1.  Right as Rain  (Robbie Robertson) - 3:52 

2.  Street Walker  (Robertson, Rick Danko) - 3:16 

3.  Let the Night Fall  (Robertson) - 3:11 

4.  Ain't That a Lot of Love  (Homer Banks, Willia Dean Parker, Levon Helm) - 3:09 

5.  Christmas Must Be Tonight  (Robertson) - 3:38 

Side two

1.  Islands (instrumental)  (Robertson, Garth Hudson, Danko) - 3:54 

2.  The Saga of Pepote Rouge  (Robertson) - 4:14 

3.  Georgia on My Mind  (Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell) - 3:09 

4.  Knockin' Lost John  (Robertson) - 3:50 

5.  Livin' in a Dream  (Robertson) - 2:52 

The Band

• Rick Danko – bass guitar, vocals
• Levon Helm – drums, vocals
• Garth Hudson – organ, synthesizers, saxophones, accordion, piccolo on "Islands"
• Richard Manuel – piano, electric piano, vocals
• Robbie Robertson – guitars, lead vocal on "Knockin' Lost John"

Additional musicians

• Jim Gordon – flute on "Islands"
• Tom Malone – trombone on "Islands"
• John Simon – alto saxophone on "Islands"
• Larry Packer – violin on "Islands"

Production

• Ed Anderson – engineering
• Neil Brody – engineering
• Rob Fraboni – engineering
• Nat Jeffrey – engineering

Notes

Released:  March 15, 1977 

Recorded:  December 1972 – January 1977 Studio Shangri-la Studios; Village Recorders, Los Angeles, California 

Genre:  Rock 

Length:  35:15 

Producer: The Band 

Label : Capitol Records

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Manassas - Manassas (1972)

Manassas is the 1972 debut double album by Manassas, a blues rock group led by American musician Stephen Stills, released April 1972. 

It was a critical comeback for Stills, and continued his commercial success by being certified Gold only a month after being released and peaking at number 4 on the US charts.

The album was recorded at Criteria Studio B late 1971, where Stills used his clout to keep the studio and engineers Ron and Howard Albert available around the clock. 

The band all stayed in a rented house about 30 minutes away from the studio, in Coconut Grove. 

This allowed Stills to record the album around the clock, waking up band members in the early hours of the morning when an idea struck. Stills would also record in mammoth sessions often going on for days, until Chris Hillman and Stills got into a fight, after which they started to record at regular hours. 

Al Perkins and Dallas Taylor had a rule where they would not perform any more than seven takes for a single track, so often Stills would stay in the studio editing after having released the band at 4 or 5 am. 

The band then flew to Stills' house in London in January 1972 to finish recording and mixing the album and to rehearse for an upcoming tour starting in March 1972. It was here that Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones played bass on and co-authored "The Love Gangster" and is reported to have said that he would have left the Stones to join Manassas. 

At one point Stills put in an unbroken 106 hour stint in the studio, and engineer Ron Albert said he had just gotten to bed after a marathon session lasting 84 hours when the phone rang with Stills summoning him back to the studio with the words: "I know you're tired, but there's this idea I've got for this song that I want to get on tape before I forget it..." Another time, working to Stills' manic schedule, the band cut eight tracks in two days with no sleep.

The album was split into four thematic sides. 

Side 1 - The Raven, is a composite of rock and Latin sounds that the group would often perform in full live exactly as recorded. 

Side 2 - The Wilderness mainly centers on country and bluegrass. 

Side 3 - Consider is largely folk and folk-rock, and contains the song "Johnny's Garden", reportedly for the caretaker at Stills' English manor house bought from Ringo Starr. 

This includes Stills at his most experimental including using a Moog Synthesiser on "Move Around". The closing section, titled "Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay", is a rock and blues set.

"What to Do" and "Right Now" are Stills take on the CSNY split and his relationship with Graham Nash.

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Side one – The Raven

1.  Song of Love - 3:28 

2.  Medley - 3:34  

     Rock & Roll Crazies  (Stills, Dallas Taylor)

     Cuban Bluegrass   (Stills, Joe Lala)

3.  Jet Set (Sigh) - 4:25 

4.  Anyway - 4:21 

5.  Both of Us (Bound to Lose) - 3:00  (Stills, Chris Hillman)

Side two – The Wilderness

1.  Fallen Eagle - 2:03 

2.  Jesus Gave Love Away for Free - 2:59 

3.  Colorado - 2:50 

4.  So Begins the Task - 3:57 

5.  Hide It So Deep - 2:44 

6.  Don't Look at My Shadow - 2:30 

Side three – Consider

1.  It Doesn't Matter (original releases of Manassas do not credit Roberts as a co-author) (Stills,            

      Hillman, Rick Roberts) - 2:30 

2.  Johnny's Garden - 2:45 

3.  Bound to Fall (original releases of Manassas do not credit Mastin as a co-author)  (Mike Brewer,    

     Tom  Mastin) - 1:53 

4.  How Far - 2:49 

5.  Move Around - 4:15 

6.  The Love Gangster  (Stills, Bill Wyman) - 2:51 

Side four – Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay

1.  What to Do - 4:44 

2.  Right Now - 2:58 

3.  The Treasure (Take One) - 8:03 

4.  Blues Man   (in tribute: Jimi Hendrix, Al Wilson, Duane Allman) - 4:04 

All tracks are written by Stephen Stills, except where indicated

Manassas

• Stephen Stills - vocals, guitar, bottleneck guitar, piano, organ, electric piano, clavinet, Moog synthesizer
• Chris Hillman - vocals, guitar, mandolin
• Al Perkins - pedal steel guitar, guitar, vocals
• Paul Harris - organ, tack piano, piano, electric piano, clavinet
• Dallas Taylor - drums
• Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels - bass
• Joe Lala - congas, timbales/percussion, vocals

Additional players

• Sydney George - harmonica (on "The Raven" and "The Wilderness")
• Jerry Aiello (on "The Raven" and "The Wilderness") - piano, organ, electric piano, clavinet
• Bill Wyman - bass (on "The Raven" and "The Wilderness")
• Roger Bush - acoustic bass (on "The Raven" and "The Wilderness")
• Byron Berline - fiddle
• Malcolm Cecil - Expanded Series III Moog synthesizer programming

Technical

• The Albert Brothers - engineers
• Stephen Stills, Ira H. Wexler - cover design
• Ira H. Wexler - photography

Special thanks to Bruce Berry & Guillermo Giachetti, Daniel J. Campbell, Michael John Bowen, Michael O'Hara Garcia, Buddy P. Zoloth, Edward Astrin & Ahmet Ertegun

Notes

Released:  April 12, 1972 

Recorded:  Late 1971 Studio Criteria Sound Studios, Miami, Florida 

Genre:  Country rock, folk rock 

Length: 71:57 

Producer(s):  Stephen Stills, Chris Hillman, Dallas Taylor

Label:  Atlantic Records 

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