Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark - Organisation (1980)

“Organisation” is an album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1980.

As with all OMD’s early sleeve art, it was created by Peter Saville Associates and features a photograph by Richard Nutt of the cloud-covered peak of Marsco, in the Red Cuillin hills, overlooking Glen Sligachan on the Isle of Skye with Allt Dearg Mòr in the foreground.

The album’s title refers to the band Organisation, a precursor to Kraftwerk. The album is notable for its melancholy tone.

The band said that at the time they had been heavily influenced by Joy Division; this can be traced through Organisation’s use of jarring drum sounds and moody songs.

“VCL XI” is a good example of this sound. Also notable is OMD’s move away from pure Gary Numan-Kraftwerk-ian pop, embracing a grander sound, an increasing use of acoustic instruments, and sound collages.

“Enola Gay” was the only single released from the album. It could be perhaps perceived as deceiving, as it had little in common with the style of the rest of the album, even though its subject matter is poetically grim. It bears much in common with the sound of the group’s debut album. Andy McCluskey is noted as saying it was written at the time of most of the debut was written. “Motion and Heart” was also considered for a single release, but was dropped.

Side A
1.  Enola Gay  (3:33)
2.  2nd Thought  (4:15)
3.  VCL XI  (3:50)
4.  Motion and Heart  (3:16)
5.  Statues  (4:30)

Side B
1.  The Misunderstanding  (4:55)
2.  The More I See You  (4:11)
3.  Promise  (4:51)
4.  Stanlow  (6:30)

Artist:  Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark
Title:  Organisation
Release:  1980
Format:  LP
Label:  Dindisc Records
Catalog#  202971

LaToya Jackson - Heart Don´t Lie (1984)

"Heart Don’t Lie” is the third album released by singer La Toya Jackson. It is her most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album to date.
The album was produced by Amir Bayyan, brother of Khalis Bayyan and Robert Bell of Kool & the Gang, who was hired after Joe Jackson, La Toya’s father and then-manager, heard his tapes. Jackson recorded the album sporadically over a six-month period.

Despite a very mild public response to her first two albums, Jackson showed no signs of giving up, moving to Private I and recording this album of youthful, highly danceable material.
Whereas most of the instrumentation on the earlier albums was live and authentic, drum programming and  overdubs entered the picture in a big way here but not to the total exclusion of the real thing. The title track, which became the most successful entry, is the most gimmicky.

The album features a plethora of musical guests, including Shalamar’s Howard Hewett and reggae-pop group Musical Youth on the title track, musicians from Kool & the Gang on several tracks throughout the album, and collaborations with her siblings, including Marlon, Janet, and Tito, who co-produced the track “Frustration”.

More believable and alluring are the sprightly, soulful “Bet’cha Gonna Need My Lovin'” and “Think Twice,” the latter featuring a surprisingly colorful trumpet solo.
Amir Bayyan’s production gets a bit repetitive on occasion, resulting in a few sound-alike tunes, and Jackson’s presence isn’t as distinguishable as on previous output.


Side A
A1.  Think Twice  (4:36)
A2.  Heart Don’t Lie  (4:34)
A3.  Bet’cha Gonna Need My Lovin’  (4:26)
A4.  Private Joy  (4:45)

Side B
B1.  Hot Potato  (4:41)
B2.  I Like Everything You’re Doin’  (4:33)
B3.  Frustration  (4:45)
B4.  Without You  (4:05)

Artist:  LaToya Jackson
Title:  Heart Don´t Lie
Release:  1984
Format:  LP
Label:  Private Records
Catalog#  540085Hot Potato  (4:39)

Gary Numan - Telekon (1980)

Telekon” is the fourth studio album, and second album under his own name, by the British musician Gary Numan. “Telekon is also the third and final studio release of what Numan retrospectively termed the “Machine” section of his career, following “Replicas” and “The Pleasure Principle”.

“Telekon” would also turn out to be the last true classic Numan album, as monetary problems and an unfocused attempt to try different musical forms (as well as a short-lived retirement) would steer him away from his original vision.


Although “Telekon” was indeed a strong album, it could have been even stronger if it included the U.K. Top Ten singles “I Die: You Die” and “We Are Glass” (both were recorded during the Telekon sessions).

Numan experimented with funk for the first time in his career (“Remind Me to Smile”), but there were still plenty of chilling synth excursions to keep the Numan faithful satisfied “This Wreckage,” “The Aircrash Bureau,” “I’m an Agent,” and “I Dream of Wires” are all choice cuts.


Side A
A1.  This Wreckage  (5:26)
A2.  The Aircrash Bureau  (5:41)
A3.  Telekon  (4:29)
A4.  Remind Me to Smile  (4:03)
A5.  Sleep by Windows  (4:58)

Side B
B1.  I’m an Agen  (4:19)
B2.  I Dream of Wires  (5:10)
B3.  Remember I Was Vapour  (5:11)
B4.  Please Push No More  (5:39)
B5.  The Joy Circuit  (5:12)

Artist:  Gary Numan
Title:  Telekon
Release:  1980
Format:  LP
Label:  Beggars Banquet Records
Catalog#  660078

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Pendulum (1970)

“Pendulum” is the sixth studio album by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released by Liberty Records on December 7, 1970, their second album release of that year. A single from the album, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"/"Hey Tonight", was released in January 1971.

“Pendulum” is their only album to not contain any cover songs; all tracks were written by John Fogerty. It was the last album the band did with Tom Fogerty, who would leave the band to start a solo career. It was also the last album to feature John Fogerty as the record's sole producer.

The most sonically adventurous CCR album, “Pendulum” is noted for its widespread use of horns and keyboards, in contrast to the group's previous albums, which were dominated by guitar. Among several lesser-known Fogerty songs ("Pagan Baby", "Sailor's Lament", "It's Just a Thought", "Born to Move") were two top-ten hits, "Hey Tonight" and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?". Both songs reached number eight in 1971. It also contains their only avant-garde venture, "Rude Awakening #2".

Like most CCR albums, the songs on Pendulum were rehearsed at "the Factory" (as in Cosmo's Factory) in Berkeley, California and were recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. Producing the album was John Fogerty.

The album took about a month to complete, a long time for the band. The reason for this was Fogerty's insistence on the horn section (which he played himself), the keyboards, and backing vocals. The first take of a song was performed by all four members with John going in later for the vocal and additional instrument overdubs.




Side A
A1.  Pagan Baby  (6:25) 
A2.  Sailor's Lament  (3:47) 
A3.  Chameleon  (3:05) 
A4.  Have You Ever Seen The Rain  (2:39) 
A5.  (Wish I Could) Hideaway  (3:53) 

Side B
B1.  Born To Move  (5:39) 
B2.  Hey Tonight  (2:43) 
B3.  It's Just A Thought  (3:45) 
B4.  Molina  (2:41) 
B5.  Rude Awakening Number Two  (6:19) 

Credits
John Fogerty - vocals, lead guitar, horn section, keyboards, producer, arranger
Tom Fogerty - rhythm guitar
Doug Clifford - drums, percussion
Stu Cook - bass
Ed Caraeff - photography, cover design
Russ Gary - engineer, mixing
Kevin L. Gary - engineer, mastering
Steve Hoffman - engineer, mastering
Richard Edlund - cover design
Wayne Kimbell - cover design, photography
Baron Wolman - photography
Joel Selvin - liner notes
Arranged By, Producer - John Fogerty
Design [Album Design] - Richard Edlund, Wayne Kimbell
Performer(s) - Doug Clifford, John Fogerty, Stu Cook, Tom Fogerty
Photography By - Ed Caraeff
Photography By [Photo] - Baron Wolman
Written-By - J. C. Fogerty

Notes
Released:  December 7, 1970
Recorded: November 1970 at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, California
Genre:  Roots Rock, Swamp Rock, Country Rock
Label:   Liberty Records
Catalog#  5C 062-92153

© 1970

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Henry Mancini, His Piano, Orchestra & Chorus - Mancini Country (1970)

Enrico Nicola "Henry" Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an Italian-American composer, conductor and arranger, who is best remembered for his film and television scores.

Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and twenty Grammy Awards, plus a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.

“Mancini Country” album, recorded in 1970 was somewhat unique for Mancini in that is was a big departure from his jazz oriented roots. The results are really really good and this "Easy listening" type album stands the test of time quite well. Could Mancini do "Country?" The answer is yes- and if your taste in country runs to the refined and laid back you will be pleased and perhaps pleasantly surprised.

No matter, this is country music that has many layers and textures that please the palate much like the grain in a fine piece of wood. Simple, yet the music here has a haunting quality that will make you want to hear it again, and yet again. A good value and a little known gem from 1970. Mancini could do country, and did it well.

 

Side A

A1. Let It Be Me  (3:00) 
A2. Last Date  (2:52) 
A3. Almost Persuaded  (2:47) 
A4. Take Me To Your World  (3:07) 
A5. Release Me  (2:58) 
A6. You Don't Know Me  (3:17) 

 

Side B

B1. Phone Call To The Past  (2:57) 
B2. I Can't Stop Loving You  (2:28) 
B3. Make The World Go Away  (3:02) 
B4. Stand By Your Man  (3:15) 
B5. The End Of The World  (3:10)

 

Credits

Arranged By – Mr. Mancini
Drums – Jerry Carrigan
Electric Bass – Harold Bradley
Electric Guitar – Grady Martin, Pete Wade
Engineer – Mickey Crofford
Fiddle [Bass] – Norbert Putnam
French Horn – Vince DeRosa
Harmonica – Tommy Morgan
Organ – Beegie Cruser*
Piano, Soloist – Henry Mancini
Producer – Joe Reisman
Rhythm Guitar – Jerry Shook, James Capps, Ray Edenton
Steel Guitar – Lloyd Green
Violin – Buddy Spicher

 

Companies etc

Copyright (c) – RCA Records
Recorded At – RCA Victor Studios, Nashville
Recorded At – RCA Victor Studios, Hollywood

 

Notes

Genre: Folk, World & Country, Easy Listening
Label: RCA Victor Records
Catalog#  LSP 4307

(P) 1970

 

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