Richard "Groove" Holmes - Six Million Dollar Man (1975) [vinyl]

One of Groove Holmes' best albums of the 70s -- thanks to some electric blacksploitation arrangements from the great Oliver Nelson! The format's a bit tighter here than on some of Holmes' Groove Merchant albums from the earlier part of the decade -- an approach that's almost like soundtrack scoring at times, but which allows Groove to stretch out a bit more on the solos, and take things way past the already-funky head arrangements penned by Nelson. Mike Wofford's also on the record, throwing in some great electric piano and Arp in underneath Holmes' own funky Hammond -- and other players include Tom Scott, David T Walker, and Oscar Brashear -- who all contribute nicely to the record. Titles include "Disc-o-Mite", "Salsa de Alma", "Dumpy Mama", "Mama's Groove", "125th & 7th Ave", and "Six Million Dollar Man", the theme from the TV show!  © Dusty Groove, Inc. 

Flying Dutchman, BDL1-1146, 1975
Recorded in 1975 

Musicians:
Richard "Groove" Holmes - Organ
Oscar Brashear, Charles Findley, Bobby Bryant - Trumpet (#A2,B1)
Garnett Brown, Maurice Spears, Lloyd Ulyate - Trombone (#A2,B1)
Tom Scott - Tenor Saxophone, Flute (#A2), Arranger, Conductor (#B2)
Bud Shank, Jerome Richardson, Jack Nimitz, Gene Cipriano - Woodwinds (#A2,B1)
Mike Wofford - Piano, Electric Piano, ARP Synthesizer
David T. Walker - Electric Guitar
Chuck Rainey - Electric Bass (#A1,A2,A4,B2-B4)
Chuck Domanico - Electric Bass (#A3,B1)
Jimmy Gordon - Drums (#1,A2,A4,B2-B4)
Shelly Manne - Drums (#B1)
Mailto Correa - Percussion
Larry Bunker - Percussion (A3,B1)
Oliver Nelson - Arranger, Conductor (#A1-B1,B3,B4)

Tracks:
A1. Disc-O-Mite {Oliver Nelson, Richard "Groove" Holmes} (5:21)
A2. Salsa De Alma {Richard "Groove" Holmes} (5:19)
A3. Once Is Not Enough {Henry Mancini, Larry Kusik} (3:26)
A4. Dumpy Mama {Oliver Nelson} (4:46)
B1. "Six Million Dollar Man" Theme {Oliver Nelson} (4:55)
B2. Double Scale {Tom Scott} (4:12)
B3. 125th St. and 7th Ave. {Oliver Nelson} (3:40)
B4. Mama's Groove {Richard "Groove" Holmes} (7:06) 

Total Time: 39:45 

Credits:
Producer - Bob Thiele
Engineer - Eddie Brackett
Remix Engineer - Bob Simpson
Art Direction – Acy Lehman, Dick Smith
Photography - David B. Hecht
Liner Notes - Nat Hentoff

Link

Double Scale

Stanley Turrentine - Pieces Of Dreams (1974) [vinyl>re-rip]

“Pieces of Dreams” is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, his first recorded for the Fantasy label after associations with Blue Note Records and CTI. The title track is certainly the tenorist’s standout on this LP, a classic for its time composed by Michel LeGrand, when jazz was entering a commercial period to counteract the onslaught of Rock/Pop. Turrentine's tenor is combined with various electric keyboards, guitarists, a few background vocalists, and strings, which are all arranged by Gene Page, who with Billy Page pen a couple of compositions. In many ways this album is very enjoyable despite its smooth jazz sound. Stanley still showcases his ability to handle his horn magnificently within some brilliantly arranged modern tunes. Certainly worth re-investigating! 

Fantasy Records, F-9465, 1974
Recorded 30th & 31st May, 1974 at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California 

Musicians:
Stanley Turrentine - Tenor Saxophone
Gene Page, John Miller, Sonny Burke - Keyboards
David T. Walker, Dean Parks, Ray Parker, Jr. - Guitar
Ron Brown - Bass
Ed Greene - Drums
Ed Moore - Drums (#A1)
Gary Coleman - Percussion
Joe Clayton - Congas
Carolyn Willis, Edna Wright, Myrna Matthews - Backing Vocals
Arranger, Conductor - Gene Page 

Tracks:
A1. Pieces Of Dreams {Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel LeGrand} (4:36)
A2. I Know It's You {Leon Ware} (4:08)
A3. Deep In Love {Billy Page, Gene Page {Arr.}, Johannes Brahms} (4:27)
B1. Midnight And You {Billy Page, Gene Page} (4:00)
B2. Evil {Stevie Wonder} (4:36)
B3. Blanket On The Beach {Billy Page, Gene Page} (6:23)
B4. I'm In Love {Bobby Womack} (4:02) 

Credits:
Producer - Billy Page, Gene Page, Stanley Turrentine
Executive Producer - Ron Granger
Production Coordinator - Olivia Page
Recording Engineer - Jim Stern
Additional Recording and Remix Engineer - Stan Ross
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Art Direction, Liner Photography - Tony Lane
Cover Art - Jaymie Putnam

Randy Crawford - Now We May Begin (1980)

The Crusaders produced this '80 album, one of the better Randy Crawford sets. The song "Last Night At Danceland" was a hit, while the album cut "One Day I'll Fly Away" got widespread radio airplay and did well in the international market. Crawford's quivering delivery and eclectic nature has made it difficult for record companies to target and market her material; this was one of the few times she penetrated the urban contemporary and R&B markets. ~ by Ron Wynn, AMG. 

Warner Brothers Records, 7599-23421-2, 1991
Recorded at Hollywood Sound Recorders, Los Angeles, CA;
Wizard Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California 

Musicians:
Randy Crawford - Vocals
Joe Sample - Keyboards, Arranger [Strings]
Oscar Brashear - Trumpet (#3)
Dean Parks, Roland Bautista, Tim May - Guitar
David T. Walker - Guitar (#2)
Wilton Felder - Bass, Tenor Saxophone (#7)
Abraham Laboriel - Bass
Stix Hooper, Mike Baird - Drums
Eddie Brown, Paulinho Da Costa - Percussion
Gwen Owens, Julia Tillman, Maxine Willard, Melvin Franklin - Backing Vocals 

Tracks:
1. Last Night At Danceland {Joe Sample, Will Jennings} (4:57)
2. Tender Falls The Rain {Randy Crawford} (4:11)
3. My Heart Is Not As Young As It Used To Be {Joe Sample, Will Jennings} (3:54)
4. Now We May Begin {Joe Sample} (4:56)
5. Blue Flame {Joe Sample, Will Jennings} (6:28)
6. One Day I'll Fly Away {Joe Sample, Will Jennings} (5:02)
7. Same Old Story (Same Old Song] {Joe Sample, Will Jennings} (4:08)
8. When Your Life Was Low {Joe Sample, Will Jennings} (3:20) 

Total Time: 36:59 

Credits:
Producer - Stix Hooper, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder [Crusaders Records Productions Inc.]
Engineer - Jeremy Smith
Engineer [Assistant] - Bill Koepnick, Hill Brin Swimmer
Mixing - Howard Siegel, Rick Ruggieri, Bob Margouleff
Mastering - Bernie Grundman
Production Coordinator - Pamela Hope Lobue
Special Equipment Coordinator - Michael Lovelady
Photography - Norman Seeff
Art Direction - Richard Seireeni 

One Day I'll Fly Away

Gene Harris - Astral Signal (1974)

A well sought out jazz-funk title from blue note. Although most of this album is Gene on his piano, this album brings out Gene's talent with the ARP and Minimoog Synthesizers. One listen to his cover of sly stone's "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" and you'll become a definite believer! Boy, does this cut blaze a trail of hard driving synth funk! The MiniMoog bass line is all over this one, as Gene fills the top off with some squealy ARP Odyssey/Pro soloist overlays. A killer funk ride classic. Then there's "Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong", a buttery smooth, slow grinding funk love jam that will get your juices flowing on the dance floor! The Moog bass kicks up and down, and side to side, while the high synth notes make love to the listeners ear. Great synth playing all around from gene and good background vocals from the session players, too. Also check out the eerie, spacey prelude at the start of the album, it's a sonic statement! ~ fonkay, RYM.

Blue Note, BN-LA313-G, 1974

Blue Note/EMI, TOCJ-50511, 2012

Recorded 13^th August, 1974 At The Village Recorder, Los Angeles, California

Personnel:

Gene Harris - Keyboards, Vocals (#B2), Arranger (#7)

Keg Johnson - Trombone, Background Vocals

George Bohanon - Trombone

Oscar Brashear - Trumpet

Sidney Muldrow - French Horn

Ernie Watts - Reeds

Jerry Peters - Keyboards, Background Vocals

John Rowin - Guitar

David T. Walker - Guitar

Chuck Rainey - Electric Bass

Harvey Mason - Drums, Arranger (#11)

Jim Shifflett - Unknown Instrument

Vocalists:

Annesther

Julia (Tillman) Waters

Luther Waters

Lynn Mack

Maxine (Johnson) Waters

Oren Waters

Trisha Chamberlain

Tracks:

01. Prelude {Gene Harris} (1:41)

02. Summer [The First Time] {Bobby Goldsboro} (3:21)

03. Rebato Summer {Jerry Peters} (0:35)

04. I Remember Summer {Jerry Peters} (2:03)

05. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey {Sylvester Stewart} (3:44)

06. Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong {Jerry Peters} (3:10)

07. My Roots {Arr. Gene Harris, J.K. Abernathy} (4:20)

08. Green River {John Fogerty} (3:05)

09. Beginnings {Robert Lamm} (5:54)

10. Feeling You, Feeling Me Too! {Alex Brown, Monk Higgins} (1:59)

11. Higga-Boom {Arr. Harvey Mason, Jerry Peters, Harvey Mason} (6:00)

12. Love Talkin' {Jerry Peters} (4:49)

Credits:

Producer, Recording, Mixing, Mastering Engineer - Jim Shifflett

Producer - Jerry Peters, Keg Johnson

Executive-Producer - George Butler

Recording Engineer - Gilmar Fortis

Mastering Engineer - Bill Lazerus

Production Assistance - Harvey Mason, John Rowin, Charlotte Politte

Art Direction, Cover Illustration - Bob Cato

Photography - Kenny Dorr

This album is a magical balance between psychedelic laid back california inspired acid jazz sounds scapes and the greasy soul of a mid-century (last century) juke joint. A pastiche of professional music with heart and creativity. No other album on blue note or by Harris sounds like this. A fine artistic statement by Harris who seemed to be at his peak in the mid-70s. ~ freqazoidiac, RYM.

Total Time: 40:41