45 RPMs 77: Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem

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Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem 

45 RPM

    

    

On the 16th of February in 1971, Aretha Franklin recorded a cover of the beautiful song, Spanish Harlem and it was released on July 9th of that same year. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song was originally recorded by Ben E. King in 1960.     

 

Where King's version is languid and dreamy, Franklin's is faster, upbeat, bouncy and happy. The piano, played by Franklin herself, is absolutely beautiful, the reason I love her cover of the song. The backing vocals by The Sweethearts of Soul and Carolyn Franklin are gorgeous. An occasional keyboard riff by Donny Hathaway is a nice touch. The production by Arif Mardin is faultless.    

        

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Spanish Harlem, written by Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector - 3:30

Side 2:

B - Lean On Me, written by J. Cobb*, Van McCoy - 4:20

Companies, etc.

    Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Recorded At – Criteria Recording Studios
    Lacquer Cut At – Atlantic Studios
    Pressed By – Plastic Products
    Published By – Progressive (3)
    Published By – Trio (8)
    Published By – Van McCoy

 Credits:

 

      Arranged By [Strings Arr. By] – Arif Mardin
    Lacquer Cut By – DK*
    Producer [Prod. By] – Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd

    Piano, Vocals: Aretha Franklin
    Arranger, Producer: Arif Mardin
    Drums: Bernard Purdie
    Backing  Vocals: Carolyn Franklin
    Bass  Guitar: Chuck Rainey
    Guitar: Cornell Dupree
    Electric  Piano: Donny Hathaway
    Backing  Vocals: Erma Franklin
    Producer: Jerry Wexler
    Backing  Vocals: The Sweethearts of Soul
    Producer: Tom Dowd
    Writer: Jerry Leiber
    Writer: Phil Spector

 

Notes:

"PL" plant code printed in label matrices denotes Plastic Products pressing.

Recorded at Atlantic South-Criteria Studios, Miami, Fla.

[A]: Pub., Progressive-Trio, BMI
[B]: Pub., Van McCoy, B M I

Mfg. By Atlantic Recording Corp., 1841 Broadway, New York, N.Y.

Runouts are etched, "X" in runouts indicates a lacquer blank from Transco was used.

Barcode and Other Identifiers        

         

   Rights Society: BMI
    Pressing Plant ID (On labels): PL
    Matrix / Runout (A-side label): A-21311-PL
    Matrix / Runout (B-side label): A-21423-PL
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 1): A - 21311 - 9 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 1): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 2): A - 21311 -10 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 2): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 3): A-21311-3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 3): A-21423-3 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 4): A - 21311 - 10 AT/DK X
    Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 4): A - 21423 - 3 AT/DK X

Aretha Franklin – Spanish Harlem
Label:    Atlantic – 45-2817
Format:    Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, PL - Plastic Products Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Soul

        

        

        

        

Viewfinder links:       

         

Aretha Franklin        

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller         

Arif Mardin       

Phil Spector                    

The Sweethearts of Soul        
     
YouTube links:      

        
Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem        

Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem                 

      
        
         

        

        

Styrous® ~ Friday, February 16, 2024       

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20,000 vinyl LPs 340: Bette Midler ~ The Devine Ms. M

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Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 

Today is the birthday of The Devine Ms. M, Bette Midler who was born December 1, 1945, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Midler released her debut album, The Divine Miss M, on Atlantic Records in December, 1972, which reached Billboard's Top 10 and became a million-selling Platinum-certified album, earning Midler the 1973 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. It featured three hit singles one of which was Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy; it became Midler's first No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit. Bugle Boy became a successful rock cover of the classic swing tune originally introduced and popularized in 1941 by the Andrews Sisters, to whom Midler has repeatedly referred as her idols and inspiration.       

         

Bette Midler, released in 1973 on the Atlantic Records label, was the follow up to Divine Miss. Produced by Arif Mardin and Barry Manilow, The album includes Midler's interpretations of the Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael song, Skylark, the Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill song Surabaya Johnny from Happy End, a three-act musical comedy by Kurt Weill, Elisabeth Hauptmann, and Bertolt Brecht which first opened in Berlin at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm on September 2, 1929, I Shall Be Released by Bob Dylan, In the Mood by Glenn Miller as well as a Phil Spector medley.     

Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP front cover

cover illustration by Richard Amsel

cover design by Loring Eutemey 

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP back cover

back cover photo by Richard Amsel

cover design by Loring Eutemey 

photo of album back cover by Styrous®

Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP back cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®  

 

 

Most of the songs on the album are ballads, Skylark, the 1962 torch song, Drinking Again written by Johnny Mercer and Doris Tauber, and my favorite song on the album, Surabaya Johnny by Kurt Weill.        

 

 

 Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP back cover detail

detail photo by Styrous® 

 

 

 

Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP back cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®  

 

 

Then, just for yuks, there's the silly little ditty, Optimistic Voices from The Wizard of Oz which is sung when The Gang awakens from the poison the Wicked Witch of the West has sprinkled in a poppy field . . . 

 

 

The Wizard Of Oz
 

 

. . .  which mixes very nicely into Lullaby Of Broadway written by Harry Warren with lyrics by Al Dubin, published in 1935. The lyrics salute the nightlife of Broadway and its denizens, who "don't sleep tight until the dawn."         

  

   Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP back cover detail

detail photo by Styrous® 

 

 

Another great medley is Uptown, originally recorded by the Crystals in 1962, which blends quite nicely into Da Doo Ron Ron written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector.            

 

 

  Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP back cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®  

 

The Bette Midler album included a 21" by 29" fold-out poster that featured the illustration on the cover by Richard Amsel.         

21" by 29" fold-out poster

illustration by Richard Amsel

photo by Styrous®

 21" by 29" fold-out poster detail

illustration by Richard Amsel

detail photo by Styrous®

 

 

One of the albums that was promoted on the record sleeve was the first album by Bette Midler, The Divine Miss M.   

 

 

Atlantic Records vinyl LP sleeve 

 promotional albums 

Bette Midler, The Divine Miss M

 photo by Styrous®

 

 

 

Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP, side 1

photo by Styrous®

 

 

Bette Midler ~ Bette Midler

 vinyl LP labels, side 1 & 2

photos by Styrous®

 

   

Tracklist:
       
Side 1:

        

A1 - Skylark, written by Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer - 3:02

A2 - Drinking Again, written by Doris Tauber, Johnny Mercer - 2:46

A3 - Breaking Up Somebody's Home, Arranged By [Horns] – Arif Mardin, written by Denise LaSalle - 3:47

A4 - Surabaya Johnny, written by Bertolt Brecht, Herbert Hartig, Kurt Weill - 4:52

A5 - I Shall Be Released, written by Bob Dylan - 4:55

       
Side 2:
       

B1a - Optimistic Voices, written by E. Y. Harburg*, Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart, Leo Feist -
    
B1b - Lullaby Of Broadway, written by Al Dubin, Harry Warren (2)
    

B2 - In The Mood, Arranged By [Horns] – Arif Mardin, Lyrics By [Additional] – Bette Midler, Lyrics By [Additional], Arranged By [Vocals] – Barry Manilow, written by Andy Razaf, Joe Garland - 2:37

B3a - Uptown, written by Mann And Weil - 3:22

B3b - Da Doo Run Run, written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector
    
B4 - Twisted, written by Wardell Gray - 2:23

B5 - Higher And Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me), written by Carl W. Smith*, Gary Lee Jackson*, Raynard Miner - 4:08

       
Companies, etc.
       
    Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Copyright (c) – Atlantic Recording Corporation
    Recorded At – Atlantic Studios
    Recorded At – A&R Studios
    Recorded At – Kaye-Smith Studios
       
Credits:
       
    Backing Vocals – Ann S. Clark, Charlotte Crosley*, Gale Kantor*, Merle Miller, Myrna Smith, Robin Grean, Sharon Redd, Shirley Brewer, Sylvia Shemwell, Tasha Thomas
    Bass – Chuck Rainey, Milt Hinton, Stu Woods, Will Lee, Bill Salter*
    Concertmaster – Gene Orloff
    Cover – Richard Amsel
    Design – Loring Eutemey
    Drums – Bernard Purdie, Grady Tate, Rick Morotta*, Steven Gadd*
    Drums, Percussion – Luther Rix
    Guitar – Cornell Dupree, David Spinozza, Frank Vento, Hugh McCracken
    Keyboards – Don Grolnick, Ken Ascher, Pat Rebillot
    Mastered By – Dennis King, George Piros
    Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
    Photography By [Back Cover] – Lee Gurst
    Producer, Percussion, Piano, Arranged By, Conductor, Backing Vocals – Barry Manilow
    Producer, Percussion, Remix – Arif Mardin
    Recorded By – Buzz Richmond, Elliott Sheiner*, Gene Paul, Jimmy Douglass, Robert Warner (2), Scott Schreckengost
    Recorded By, Remix – Lew Hahn
    Synthesizer – Kenneth Bichel*
       
Notes:
       
Issued with fold-out poster featuring the cover artwork.

Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, NY.
Additional recording at A&R Studios, New York, NY, Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, NY, & Kaye Smith Studios, Seattle, Washington.

There are several versions of this album with varying label typeface and matrix suffix. This has the MS suffix on the labels matrix. This version also has the 1973+ Rockefeller Plaza address in the rim text and on the back cover. There are several other pressings with the pre-1973 1843 Broadway address on the label rim text, but all have the Rockefeller Plaza address on the back cover.

Although "PR" is etched in the run-outs on this version, the single 1⅛" press ring is inconsistent with this being a Presswell pressing.

B3a. Thomas McKinney credited in error as songwriter on both sleeve and label, correct songwriters are Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil. Later issues of this release would correct the error.

       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
       
    Matrix / Runout (Side A label): ST-A-732989-MS
    Matrix / Runout (Side B label): ST-A-732990-MS
    Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, etched): ST-A 732989-C PR (upside down)
    Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, etched): ST-A-732990 C PR (upside down)

 

Bette Midler ‎– Bette Midler
Label: Atlantic ‎– SD 7270
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, MS Suffix
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: Pop
Style: Vocal

         

Viewfinder links:        

        

Andrews Sisters                

Bertold Brecht     

Hoagy Carmichael         

the Crystals               

Bob Dylan          

Loring Eutemey          

Elisabeth Hauptmann        

Barry Manilow        

Arif Mardin         

Johnny Mercer        

Bette Midler         

Phil Spector       

Doris Tauber          

Harry Warren          

Kurt Weill       

        

Net links:        

        

Andrews Sisters website               

Poetry Foundation ~ Bertold Brecht     

Hoagy Carmichael website         

the Crystals ~ Da Do Ron Ron          

Bob Dylan website                   

Loring Eutemey        

Kurt Weill foundtion ~ Elisabeth Hauptmann        

Barry Manilow website        

RollingStone ~ Arif Mardin        

Songwriters Hall of Fame ~ Johnny Mercer       

Bette Midler website        

Phil Spector website       

Doris Tauber         

Kurt Weill foundtion ~ Kurt Weill             

        

YouTube links:        

        

Skylark        

Drinking Again        

Breaking Up Somebody's Home      

Surabaya Johnny       

I Shall Be Released         

Optimistic Voices/Lullaby Of Broadway                

In The Mood        

UpTown/Da Doo Run Run        

Twisted      

Higher And Higher (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me)        

          

        

         

        

        

        

Styrous® ~ Friday, December 1, 2023       
       

 

 

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Record Producers Extraordinaire

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Behind every great musician/group is a Record Producer who had a vision and the expertise to make the sound of that musician or group unique.           

 

For rock, it was Les Paul, John Hammond, Sam Phillips, Jimmy Iovine, Jeff Lynne, Trevor Horn, Jimmy Miller, Roy Thomas Baker, Sam Phillips, Brian Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Daniel Lanois, Paul A. Rothchild, George Martin for the The Beatles and Jim Steinman for Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler (now THAT'S diversity for you).   

 

In country/western it was Owen Bradley, Paul Cohen, Billy Sherrill, Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson, Bill Porter and Don Law.    

 

For easy listening it was Jimmy Webb, Jackie Gleason, Billy Vaughn, Arif Mardin, Mantovani, Mitch Miller and Al De Lory for Glen Campbell and Capitol Records.    

 

For jazz it was David Axelrod, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Teo Macero, Tom Dowd, Norman Granz, Bob Thiele, Cannonball Adderley and Sonny Lester.    

 

For the Motown/soul sound it was Phil Spector, George Clinton, Jerry Wexler, William "Mickey" Stevenson, Berry Gordy and Norman Whitfield for The Temptations.             

 

For Electronic music it was Dieter Moebius, Vangelis for Chrisma, Edgar Froese for Tangerine Dream, and Conny Plank for Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft, Cluster, Guru Guru, Kraan, Neu!, Eurythmics, Ultravox and Kraftwerk.        

For punk no one topped Steve Albini. He produced the albums for his bands, Big Black, Rapeman, Flour, and is a member of Shellac. He produced albums for Nirvana, Pixies, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, and former Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, as well.

 

I'm not sure WHERE Brian Eno belongs! He's produced sound ranging from film soundtracks to ambient To experimental for John Cale, Jon Hassell and Laraaji, to new wave for Talking Heads, Ultravox and Devo, and everything in between.            

     

     

      

     

Viewfinder links:

      

Cannonball Adderley           

Chet Atkins       

David Axelrod        

all things Beatles       

Owen Bradley      

John Cale        

Glen Campbell      

George Clinton         

Al De Lory        

Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (DAF)

Devo        

Tom Dowd        

Duke Ellington      

Brian Eno        

Eurythmics           

Jackie Gleason          

Berry Gordy, Jr.     

Norman Granz      

Trevor Horn       

Quincy Jones           

Kitaro        

Kraftwerk    

Jeff Lynne       

Teo Macero          

Mantovani              

Arif Mardin      

George Martin           

Meat Loaf       

Mitch Miller         

Les Paul         

Conny Plank        

Todd Rundgren        

Klaus Schulze            

Billy Sherrill        

Stamatis Spanoudakis          

Phil Spector        

Jim Steinman        

Talking Heads          

Tangerine Dream       

The Temptations        

Bob Thiele         

Isao Tomita          

Bonnie Tyler         

Ultravox         

Vangelis        

Billy Vaughn         

Jimmy Webb         

Jerry Wexler         

Norman Whitfield      

Brian Wilson        

Otis Williams         

     

Net links:

     

     

     

Music Needs You ~ 7 Distinct Types of Record Producers     

Recording Connection ~ What Does a Music Producer Do?   

     

     

     

A tip of my hat to all of them!

     

     

     

Styrous® ~ Monday, June 21, 2021   

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45 RPMs 51: Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

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 Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record in sleeve

photo by Styrous®

Sixty years ago today, on October 27, 1960, Spanish Harlem by American singer and pianist, Ben E. King was recorded at the Bell Sound Studios in New York City. The song was King's first hit away from The Drifters. It was originally released as the B-side to First Taste of Love.      

Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous® 

 

I remember hearing it for the first time. It is such a beautiful little song with its slow and gentle, syncopated and sensual beat with the marimba accompaniment; how could you NOT remember hearing it? The arrangement is by Stan Applebaum; in addition to the marimba there was Spanish guitar, drum-beats, soprano saxophone, strings, and a male chorus. It peaked at number 15 for rhythm and blues and number 10 in pop music. It was ranked number 358 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. King's version was not a hit in the United Kingdom. The song was re-released in 1987, after Stand By Me made number one.     

 

 

 Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record

photo by Styrous®
 

Spanish Harlem was written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.        

Cliff Richard released a version in 1962. He also recorded a German version, titled Das ist die Frage aller Fragen, with lyrics by Carl Ulrich Blecher, that was a #1 hit in Germany and Austria in 1963, and a #1 hit in Switzerland in 1965.                 

 

 

Ben E. King ~ Spanish Harlem

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous® 

The song was covered by The Drifters and Aretha Franklin in 1971. The Drifter's version is a little faster while the Franklin version is way faster and a bit jazzier (links to all below).    

 

Spanish Harlem lyrics

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal
Then look down in my soul
And starts a fire there
And then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon

I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden

I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden

La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La la la, la la la, la la la la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jerry Leiber / Phil Spector

 Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love

45 RPM record in sleeve

photo by Styrous®

 

The "B" side on this record, Taste of Love, actually started out as the "A" side with Spanish Harlem on the "B" side. By the time this record was issued, the switch had been made.     

 

 

Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous®    

     

First Taste of Love was written by Doc Pomus, who wrote songs for many blues and rock singers, and Phil Spector, record producer, musician, and songwriter who developed the Wall of Sound, a music production formula he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll.       

Ben E. King ~ First Taste of Love

45 RPM record label

photo by Styrous®   

     

      

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A     Ain't Got No Home, written by Clarence Henry*

Side 2:

B     First Taste Of Love, written by Pomus*, Spector* - 2:17

Companies, etc.

    Record Company – Argo Record Corp.
    Published By – Arc Music (2)

Credits:

    Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra] – Stan Applebaum
    Engineer [Uncredited] – Phil Ramone
    Producer – Leiber & Stoller

        

Notes:

Both sides recorded at Bell Sound Studios, New York City on October 27, 1960 

Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Side A): 60C5161
    Matrix / Runout (Side B): 60C5162 II

    Rights Society: BMI       

Ben E. King ‎– Spanish Harlem / First Taste Of Love
Label: ATCO Records ‎– 45-6185
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: Dec 1960
Genre: Pop
Style: Vocal

       

       

      

  

Viewfinder links:       

         

The Drifters          

Ben E. King         
Doc Pomus         

Phil Spector      
     
Net links:       

         

50srockin ~ Bell Sound Studios N.Y.C                 

     
YouTube links:      
        

The Drifters ~ Spanish Harlem         

Aretha Franklin ~ Spanish Harlem         

Ben E. King ~      

        First Tast of Love        

        Spanish Harlem        

       Spanish Harlem (Original 1960 version in MONO recorded by Phil Spector)    

Cliff Richard ~ Das Ist Frage Aller Fragen        
        
              

      

Styrous® ~ Monday, September 7, 2020        

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