Harry Chapin – On The Road To Kingdom Come (1976)

On the Road to Kingdom Come is the sixth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, released in 1976. Longer versions of the songs “Corey’s Coming” and “If My Mary Were Here” appeared on Chapin’s 1979 live album Legends of the Lost and Found. “The Mayor Of Candor Lied” was later covered by Welsh singer-songwriter Martyn Joseph.(by wikipedia)

On the Road to Kingdom Come sounded more like a rock album than anything Harry Chapin had done to date. In the hands of sympathetic producer/arranger Stephen Chapin, Harry’s songs are infused with clever and often humorous bits of musical commentary — horns, electric guitars, keyboards, backing vocals, and various sound effects pop up at opportune times throughout — that makes much of the material instantly ingratiating.

While the record failed to capture commercial interest (singer/songwriters were out, disco was in), song for song this is one of his strongest efforts. As a musical storyteller, Chapin has few peers; both the potent tale of a duplicitous potentate on “The Mayor of Candor Lied” and the heartwarming “Corey’s Coming” are masterfully conceived. Harry’s humorous side, which somehow got stifled in the studio, here comes out of the closet for the title track and “Laugh Man,” though both have their barbs. The album also included two of his prettiest songs, “Caroline” (co-written with wife Sandy Chapin) and “If My Mary Were Here.”

A track dedicated to the recently fallen Phil Ochs, “The Parade’s Still Passing By,” is also featured. Compared to some of his earlier work, which was often dry and dour, these songs are vigorous and saturated in sound.

Some might charge that the record’s resemblance to Elton John’s contemporary work renders it lightweight, but Chapin’s wit was sharpening with age and his romantic visions remained keen. For the faithful, getting On the Road to Kingdom Come is a good idea. (by Dave Connolly)

Personnel:
Harry Chapin (guitar, vocals)
Stephen Chapin (keyboards, vocals)
Ron Evanuik (cello)
Howie Fields (drums, percussion)
Doug Walker (guitar, vocals)
John Wallace (bass, vocals)
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Buzz Brauner (recorder)
Bobbye Hall (percussion)
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background vocals:
Carolyn Dennis – Donna Fein – Muffy Hendrix – Sharon Hendrix

Tracklist:
01. On The Road To Kingdom Come 5.26
02. The Parade’s Still Passing By 3.26
03. The Mayor Of Candor Lied 8.27
04. Laugh Man (Chapin) 3.36
05. Corey’s Coming 5.41
06. If My Mary Were Here 3.32
07. Fall In Love With Him 3.54
08. Caroline 3.41
09. Roll Down The River 4.28

All songs was written by Hary Chapin, except “Caroline” wich was written by Harry Chapin + Sandra Chapin

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More Harry Chapin:

France Gall – Live (Au Theatre des Champs Elysées) (1978)

France Gall (born Isabelle Geneviève Marie Anne Gall on 9 October, 1947 in Paris, France – died 7 January 2018) was an influential singer who performed for many decades. She notably represented Luxembourg in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest with “Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son”; that winning song was just one of many that she performed which had been written by Serge Gainsbourg. Her career spanned roughly forty years, primarily in France, but she was best known over the world for the songs she that performed in the 60s, many of them a part of the ye-ye style. She sang in both French and English.

Besides the highly successful “Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son”, she also notably sung “Les Sucettes” and “Baby Pop”. In France, she was perhaps more known for the chanson songs she sang in the late-70s through the mid-80s, many of them written by her husband, Michel Berger, who died in 1992. In 1987, she had some additional international success with her Ella Fitzgerald tribute “Ella, elle l’a”. She still recorded music into the new millennium.

France Gall died on 7 january 2018 at age 70 in a hospital in Paris. (by www.last.fm)

Gall was seduced by Michel Berger’s music when she heard his song “Attends-moi” (“Wait for Me”) one day in 1973. During a later radio broadcast, she asked him for his opinion on songs which her then producer wanted her to record. Although he was disconcerted by the quality of the songs, there would be no question of collaboration.

Only six months later, in 1974, after she sang vocals on the song “Mon fils rira du rock’n’roll” on Berger’s new album, Gall’s publisher asked him, at her behest, to write for her. Gall had already made her mind up that “It will be him and nobody else”. In 1974, “La Déclaration d’amour” was to be the first in a long line of hits which marked a turning point in Gall’s career. Meanwhile, the two artists, whose affinities became more than musical, married on 22 June 1976. Since their marriage, Gall has only sung songs written by Berger.[15] They remained married until his death in 1992.

And here´s a good live-Album from 1978 with songs from Michel Berger … a typical Seventies production a perfect shwo with very good musisians and …  … what a beautiful voice !

Gall died of an infection complicated from cancer at the American Hospital of Paris, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on 7 January 2018 at the age of 70

Michel Berger & France Gall

Personnel:
Mary Lou Benoit (percussion)
France Gall (vocals)
Bonnie Johnson (drums)
Peggy Mitchell (bass)
Patti Quatro (guitar)
Colleen Stewart (piano)
Gail Thompson (saxophone)
Melissa Vardey (keyboards)
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Background vocals:
Florence Bertoux – Lisa Deluxe – Stella Vander
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strings:
Anne Etevenon – Béatrice Crenne – Marie-Rose Dumonteil – Sophie Cuvillier

Tracklist:
01. Musique 4.55
02. Samba Mambo 3.24
03. Si Maman Si 3:05
04- Comment Lui Dire 3.20
05. Ce Soir Je Ne Dors Pas 3.02
06. La Déclaration 3.20
07. Ce Garçon Qui Danse 3.20
08. Je L’aimais 4.48
09. Chanson D’une Terrienne 6.20
10. Chanson Pour Consoler 2.20
11. La Chanson De Maggie 3.00
12. Ça Balance Pas Mal A Paris 2.30
13. Le Meilleur De Soi-même 3.55
14. Mais Aime-la 9.30
15. Présentation Des Musiciennes 5.40
16. Viens Je T’emmène 4.55
17. Quand On Est Enfant 1.47

All Songs written by MIchel Berger

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France Gall (9 October 1947 – 7 January 2018)

 

Trini Lopez – The Rhythm & Blues Album (1965)

Trinidad “Trini” López III (born May 15, 1937) is an American singer, guitarist, and actor. His first album included a version of “If I Had a Hammer”, which earned a Golden Disc for him. Other hits included “Lemon Tree”, “I’m Comin’ Home, Cindy” and “Sally Was a Good Old Girl”. He designed two guitars for the Gibson Guitar Corporation, which are now collectors’ items.

 

Trini Lopez was born in Dallas, Texas, son of Trinidad Lopez II (who was a singer, dancer, actor, and musician in Mexico) and Petra Gonzalez, who moved to Dallas from Mexico. Lopez has four sisters (two are deceased) and a brother, Jesse, who is also a singer. He grew up on Ashland Street in the Little Mexico neighborhood of Dallas[1] and attended grammar school and N. R. Crozier Tech High School. He had to drop out of high school in his senior year because he needed to earn money to help support the family.

Lopez formed his first band in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of 15. In 1958, at the recommendation of Buddy Holly, Trini and his group “The Big Beats” went to producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico. Petty secured a contract for them with Columbia Records, which released the single “Clark’s Expedition”/”Big Boy”, both instrumental. Lopez left the group and made his first solo recording, his own composition “The Right To Rock”, for the Dallas-based Volk Records, and then signed with King Records in 1959, recording more than a dozen singles for that label, none of which charted. In late 1962, after the King contract expired, Lopez followed up on an offer by producer Snuff Garrett to join the post-Holly Crickets as vocalist. After a few weeks of auditions in Los Angeles, that idea did not go through. He landed a steady engagement at the nightclub PJ’s, where his audience grew quickly. He was heard there by Frank Sinatra, who had started his own label, Reprise Records, and who subsequently signed Lopez.

His debut live album, Trini Lopez at PJ’s (R/RS 6093), was released in 1963. The album included a version of “If I Had a Hammer”, which reached number one in 36 countries (no. 3 in the United States), and was a radio favorite for many years. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[4] He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican song “La Bamba” on the album; his recording of the tune was later reissued as a single in 1966. Another live album from PJ’s was recorded later that same year under the title By Popular Demand More Trini Lopez at PJ’s (R/RS 6103) which contains the song “Green Green” which was written by Randy Sparks and Barry McGuire and originally recorded by the New Christy Minstrels earlier that year for their Columbia album Ramblin.

His popularity led the Gibson Guitar Corporation to ask him in 1964 to design a guitar for them. He ended up designing two: the Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semihollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both of these guitars were in production from 1964 until 1971, and are now highly sought-after among collectors.[citation needed] Owners of the guitar include Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.

He scored 13 chart singles through 1968, including “Lemon Tree” (1965), “I’m Comin’ Home, Cindy” (1966), and “Sally Was a Good Old Girl” (1968). On the adult contemporary chart, he racked up 15 hits, including the top-10 singles “Michael” (1964), “Gonna Get Along Without Ya’ Now” (1967), and “The Bramble Bush” (1967). Beyond his success on record, he became one of the country’s top nightclub performers of that era, regularly headlining in Las Vegas. In 1968, he recorded an album in Nashville entitled Welcome to Trini Country (R/RS 6300).

In 1969, NBC aired a Trini Lopez variety special featuring surf guitar group The Ventures, and Nancy Ames as guests. [8] The soundtrack, released as “The Trini Lopez Show” has him singing his hits with The Ventures as his backing band.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Lopez moved into acting, though his film career was not as successful as his music. He continued his musical career with extensive tours of Europe and Latin America during this period; an attempt to break out by releasing a disco album in 1978 proved a flop. Lopez produced a single promoting the Coca-Cola soft drink Fresca in 1967.

In 1993, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.

In 2002, Lopez teamed with Art Greenhaw for Legacy: My Texas Roots. The album used the “Texas Roots Combo” including Lopez, Greenhaw, and Lopez’ brother, Jesse. Said reviewer Steve Leggett of All Music Guide, “The album has an easygoing feel very similar to Lopez’ classic live sets from the 1960s, only it rocks a good deal harder.” Since then, Lopez has done charitable work and received honors such as being inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003.

On May 15, 2008, his 71st birthday, Lopez was inducted into the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.[

Trini was still recording and appearing live in recent years. He took part in a benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and has recently appeared as a guest performer in a number of shows held in Maastricht in the Netherlands with the Dutch violinist and composer André Rieu. Trini Lopez has continued to record, and in 2008, his 63rd album, “Ramblin Man,” was released. “El Immortal” was released in 2010 and in 2011, Trini released his 65th album “Into The Future.”

Lopez’s first film role was in Marriage on the Rocks (1965), in which he made a cameo appearance in a nightclub scene; Lopez’s soundtrack song, “Sinner Man”, became a hit single (no. 54 pop/no. 12 adult contemporary). He was one of The Dirty Dozen (1967), appeared as himself in The Phynx (1970), and starred in Antonio (1973). He made two appearances (playing different characters) on the television program, Adam-12. In 1973, Lopez played the lead role of Antonio Contreras in “Antonio.” In 1977, he played the role of Julio Ramirez in “The Mystery of the Silent Scream” which was part of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series. (by Wikipedia)

Trini’s ninth album and only three years since his first.

Trini’s go-go guitar sound which was part rock n roll, part pop, and all California was still the rage still in 1965. His audience wanted to dance to songs they knew but with a beat that didn’t require them to change their dance moves.

It’s all about the beat.

And here he serves up some solid R&B hits from years, but not distant years, past.

A good idea it was as in the immediate preceding two years Trini had served up similar themed albums all cashing in on his go-go beat … “The Latin Album” (1964), “The Folk Album” and “The Love Album” (both 1965).

The only odd thing is that Trini stays away, largely, from the heavy R&B and plays it safe with the more pop oriented tracks. There is nothing wrong with that but the thought of Trini tackling heavy R&B and pop-i-fying them is perhaps more interesting than tackling R&B material which already leans to pop.

But as it stands this is an album for parties and would sound great as background at a dinner gathering ..one where any number of Screwdriver cocktails have been consumed whilst nibbling on Spicy Cheese Balls or dipping into a Clam or Guacamole Dip. The sit down menu would start off with a Shrimp Cocktail, followed by Zesty Pork Chops and Pork with Sauerkraut Pinwheels, and then for desert a Strawberry Shortcake Baked Alaska or any fruit in gelatin.

Fuck it … that sound’s a lot better than a generic Domino’s pizza.

Of course there is every chance that your guests would be dancing … especially if they had enough Screwdrivers.

The album was apparently “recorded live” … maybe it was but I suspect its was recorded in the studio with added on chatter and claps.

Producer Don Costa “discovered” Trini Lopez but is best known for his work with Frank Sinatra (whose label, “Reprise”, Trini is on).

And …

Not the best Trini but it’s still perfect for parties …. I’m keeping it. (by whatfrankislisteningto.negstar.com)

Personnel:
Trini Lopez (vocals, guitar)
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a bunch of unknown studio musicians

Tracklist:
01. Wee Wee Hours (Berry) 3.08
02. Ooh Poo Pah Doo  (Hill) 2.44
03. Hurtin’ Inside  (Benton/Colacrai/Otis/Randazzo) 2.05
04. Double Trouble (Greenback/Larson/Marcellino) 2.15
05. Watermelon Man  (Hancock/Hendricks) 2.48
06.  Don’t Let Go (Stone) 2.51
07. I Got A Woman  (Charles) 3.20
08. So Fine (Randazzo/Weinstein) 2.25
09. She’s About A Mover (Sahm) 2.26
10. Little Miss Happiness (Greenback/Larson/Marcellino) 2.40
11. Let The Four Winds Blow (Bartholomew/Domino) 2.11
12. Shout (O’Kelly Isley/Ronald Isley/Rudolph Isley) 3.00

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