Recordings With Howard Roberts As Sideman, 1960-1969
Rosemary Clooney - Clap Hands! Here Comes Rosie!
1960 - RCA RJL-2713 (RCA Victor LSP-2212), also released on CD Tarragon Records
TARCD1060 in 2000.
Selections: Clap Hands! Here Comes Rosie! (Rose-Macdonald-Meyer),
Give Me The Simple Life (Ruby-Bloom),
Bye Bye Blackbird (Dixon-Henderson),
Aren't Glad You're You (Burke- Van Heusen),
You Got (Bernard),
Too Marvelous For Words (Mercer-Whiting),
Something's Gotta Give (Mercer), Mean To Me (Turk-Ahlert),
Hooray For Love ((Robin-Arlen), Oh, what A Beautiful Mornin' (Hammerstein-Rodgers),
It Could Happen To You (Burke-Van Heusen), Makin. Whoopee! (Kahn-Donaldsen).
Personnel: arranger and conductor - Bob Thompson, vocals - Rosemary Clooney, trumpet - Pete Candoli,
Don Fagerquist, trombone - Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Tommy Shepard, reeds -
Ronnie Lang (
Paul Horn, Buddy Collette, Bud Shank,
Ted Nash, vibes & percussion - Emil Richard, Larry Bunker, piano -
Jimmy Rowles, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell, Joe Mondragon,
drums - Alvin Stoller.
Session: February 18, 23 & 27, 1960, Hollywood.
Comments: Great rhythm playing by H.R. in a big band context.
Peggy Lee - All Aglow Again
1960 - Capitol T 1366
Selections with H.R.: You Don't Know (W. Spriggs).
Personnel: vocal - Peggy Lee, conductor - Jack Marshall,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Joe Mondragon, piano - Joe Harnell, drums - Shelly Manne.
Session: May 25, 1958,
Capitol Tower, 1750 North Vine St., Hollywood.
Comments: This was also released as the B-side to the single Fever.
It's a blues with guitar, piano, bass and drums for accompaniment.
The guitar is prominent and is in a folk-blues style.
June Christy/The Cool School - songs for grown-up children
1960 - Capitol T1398
Selections: Give a Little Whistle (Leigh Harline-Ned Washington),
The Magic Window (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen), Baby's Birthday Party (A. Ronell),
When You Wish Upon a Star (Leigh Harline-Ned Washington),
Baubles, Bangles and Beads (R. Wright-G. Forrest),
Aren't You Glad You Are You (J. Van Heusen-J. Burke),
Kee-Mo Ky Mo (R. Alfred-B. Hilliard), Scarlet Ribbons (E. Danzig-J. Segal),
Looking For a Boy (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin), Small Fry (F. Loesser-H. Carmichael), Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead (H. Arlen-F.Y. Harburg), Swinging On a Star
(J. Van Heusen-J. Burke).
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts (under the pseudonym
Gib Fender), piano - Joe Castro,
bass - Leroy Vinnegar, drums - Larry Bunker.
Comments : A nice album and some good contributions from Gib.
Bobby Darin - Winners
1960 Atco SD 22-167.
Selections with H.R.:
They All Laughed (G. and I. Gershwin),
Hard Hearted Hannah (Yellin-Ager-Bigelow-Bates),
What a Difference A Day Makes (Grever-Adams),
Anything Goes (Porter),
I've Found A New Baby (Palmer-Williams),
Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea (Arlen-Koehler),
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (Ellington-Russell),
Easy Living (Robin-Rainger),
When Day Is Done (Katscher-DeSylva).
Personnel:
vocals - Bobby Darin, piano and arranger - Bobby Scott,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
vibes - Larry Bunker, bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Ronnie Zito,
congas - Carlos Vidal, Jack Costanzo.
Session: Los Angeles, Feb. 1 and 2, 1960.
Comments: There are some nice unisons between the guitar, vibes
and piano modeled after the famous George Shearing sound but all the
solos are taken by the piano. A pretty good record.
Also A Game of Poker, I Got a Woman, Minnie The Moocher,
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Bill Bailey were recorded at these sessions but
were not issued.
Mel Torme - Swingin' On The Moon
1960, Verve 2144.
Selections: Swingin' on the Moon (M. Torme), Moonlight Cocktail (Gannon-Roberts), I Wished On The Moon (Rainger-Parker), Moon Song (Johnston-Coslow),
How High The Moon (Hamilton-Lewis),
Don't Let The Moon Get Away (Burke-Monaco), Blue Moon (Rodger-Hart),
Velvet Moon (Myrow-DeLange),
No Moon At All (Evans-Mann), Moonlight In Vermont (Suessdorf-Blackburn),
Oh You Crazy Moon (Burke-Van Heusen), The Moon Was Yellow (Ahlert-Leslie).
Personnel: Arrangements and orchestra conducted - Russell Garcia,
trombones - Dick Nash, Tommy Pederson, George Roberts, Tommy Shepherd,
french horn - Vince DeRosa, tuba - Red Callender,
alto sax and flute - Bud Shank, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Ralph Pena,
drums - Mel Lewis.
Session: L.A., August 3-5, 1960.
Comments: Excellent album with nice contributions from H.R.
Many thanks to jazz record collector
C.C. Weijman of Utrecht, Netherlands for this.
Swingin' on the Moon also appears on The Mel Torme Collection 1944-1985.
Broadway Right Now! Mel Torme and Margaret Whiting
1960, Verve MG V-2146.
Selections: Fireworks (Styne-Comden-Green), Make Somebody Happy (Styne-Comden-Green),
Tall Hopes (Leigh-Coleman), I Loved You Once In Silence (Lerner-Loewe),
Cry Like The Wind (Styne-Comden-Green), Hey, Look Me Over (Leigh-Coleman),
All You Need Is A Quarter (Styne-Comden-Green),
If Ever I Would Leave You (Lerner-Loewe), Our Language of Love (Monnot-More-Heneker-Norman), From A Prison Cell (Monnot-More-Heneker-Norman),
Whats New At The Zoo (Styne-Comden-Green), Medley: Far Away From Home/
Angelina (Leigh-Coleman).
Personnel: Russ Garcia Orchestra with Howard Roberts on
guitar but no personnel are listed on the album.
Session: L.A., 1960.
Comments: Some distinctive guitar on Cry Like the Wind, What's
New At the Zoo and Angelina. The guitar accompaniment on Angelina
is very nice and distinctively H.R.
Far Away From Home/Angelina also appears on the Mel Torme Collection 1944-1985.
Don Costa - The Sound of the Million Sellers
1960(?) - United Artists Ultra Audio WW 7513.
Selections: Mack the Knife (Weill), Lisbon Antigua (Galhardo-DoVale),
Poor People of Paris (Monnet), Anna (Vatro),
April in Portugal (Ferrao), Francesca (Feller),
Serenata (Anderson), Third Man Theme (Karas),
Delicado (Azevedo), Dansero (Daniels-Hyman), Blue Tango (Anderson),
Never on Sunday (Hadjidakas).
Personnel: Arrangements and orchestra leader - Don Costa, Victor Schoen,
drums - Milton Holland, bass - Morty Corb, Howard Roberts, Joseph Gibbons,
Trefoni Rizzi, percussion - Larry Bunker, Louis Singer,
piano - Samuel Prager, Paul T. Smith,
violin - Josepph Di Fiore, Allan Harshman, Alexander Neiman,
Mischa Russell, Bernard Kundell, Gertrude Schrager, Sol Babitz, Carl Lamagna,
Albert Sadaruff, Ralph Schaeffer, Victor Gottlieb,
Armand Kaproff, Robert Barene, Walter Edelstein, Henry Hull, Benny Gill,
Murray Kleiner, Jesse Ehrlich, Reuben Marcus, Sidney Sharp,
Joseph Quadri, Justin Ditullio, Darrel Terwilliger, Sarah Kreindler,
Nicholas Pisani, Harold Schneier, Louis Kievman, Leonard Atkins, Israel Baker,
guitar - Alton Hendrikckson.
Session: L.A., 1960.
Comments: Intersetingly H.R. is credited on bass. There are
some nice guitar parts but these sound like Al Hendrickson to me.
There may be more than one guitar in places.
Anita O'Day - Waiter Make Mine Blues
1960 - Verve MGV 2145
Selections with H.R.: The Thrill Is Gone (Henderson-Brown).
Personnel : Russ Garcia Orchestra, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Comments : There may be more selections on this where H.R. plays
but the documentation is a little vague. The Thrill Is Gone has a beautiful
guitar solo and this is credited to H.R. Jazz Masters 49, 1995 has some of the cuts
on this album with Angel Eyes credited to Howard Roberts or Barney Kessel
but the album cover says Barney Kessel. The Verve CD Jazz 'Round Midnight
also has Angel Eyes on it.
Devil or Angel - Bobby Vee
1960 - Liberty LRP 3165
Selections: Devil or Angel (B. Carter), Mr. Blue (D. Blackwell),
Just A Dream (J. Clanton-C. Matassa), Since I Met You Baby (Ivory Joe Hunter),
It's All In The Game (Dawes-Sigman), You Send Me (I.C. Cook),
Young Love (C. Joyner-R. Cartley), My Prayer (Boulanger-Kennedy),
Sincerely (A. Freed-H. Fuqua), Gone (S. Rogers), I'm Sorry (Self-Allbritten),
Everyday (Petty-Hardin).
Personnel: vocals - Bobby Vee, guitar - Howard Roberts
and others unknown.
Comments: The album cover contains no information on personnel
but I learned from Bobby Vee (who emailed me) that H.R. had played on this.
In particular he played a nice guitar solo on Devil or Angel which
was Bobby Vee's first hit.
Les Brown and His Band of Renown - Bandland Great Songs of Great Bands
1960 - Columbia CL-1497 and CS-8288.
Selections: Undecided, It's a Wonderful World, Begin the Beguine, Night in Tunisia, So Rare, Woodchopper's Ball, Caravan, A String of Pearls,
April in Paris, And the Angels Sing, Marie,
Got a Date With an Angel.
Personnel: piano - Donn Trenner, saxes - Bill Usselton,
Mathew Utal, Ralph La Polla, Alvin Aaron, trombones -
Clyde Brown, Dick Kennedy, Roy Main, James Hill, trumpets - Clint McMahan,
Jerry Kadovitz, Dick Collins, Frank Huggins, Ray Linn, bass - Donn Trenner,
Jules Bertaux, drums - Bob Neel, guitar - Howard Roberts, percussion -
Hubert Anderson, Frank Flynn, arrangers - James Hill, Bill Holman,
Frank Comstock, Les Brown.
Session: March 11-16 and April 7, 1960, L.A.
Les Brown and His Band of Renown
1960 Columbia 4-41639 45 rpm.
Selections: Madison Hop (Comstock), Madison Time (Bryant).
Personnel: As with Bandland just above.
Session: L.A., March 11-16, 1960.
Comments: No solos but nice big band style comping.
Elvis Presley - Flaming Star
1960 - (originally part of the soundtrack for the movie Flaming Star) - issued in 1995 on RCA Victor.
Selections with H.R.: Black Star (Edwards-Wayne),
Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Lloyd-Weisman-Wise),
Britches (Edwards-Wayne), A Cane and a High Starched Collar (Bennett-Tepper).
Personnel: vocals - Elvis Presley, guitar - Howard Roberts,
Tiny Timbrell, bass - Michael Rubin, drums - Bernie Mattinson,
accordion - James Huskell, piano - Dudley Brooks,
backup vocals - the Jordanaires.
Session: Aug. 8, 1960, Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA.
Comments: Nice acoustic guitar backgrounds.
For Pete's Sake - Pete Candoli Sextet and Octet
1960 - Kapp Records Kl-1230.
Selections with H.R.: 'S Wonderful, Who's Sorry Now, The Skater's Waltz.
Personnel: trumpet - Pete Candoli,
piano - John Williams, flute - Ted Nash, Harry Klee,
vibes - Larry Bunker, guitar - Howard Roberts, drums - Milt Holland,
bass - Red Mitchell.
Session: Oct. 25 and Dec. 10, 1960 in L.A.
Comments: Many thanks to Ed Barr of Valdosta State University for this.
Introspection IV: Weirdos From the Uncommon World of Johnny Gunn with the
Outre Musical Sounds of Don Ralke
1960 Warner Bros. W1372.
Selections: Chicken, Sentry, Night, Chris, Blood, Gunsmog,
Solicitress, Imagine, Voodoo, Pattern, Lasthought.
Personnel: Johnny Gunn reads vignettes written by himself and noted
science fiction writer Frederic Brown backed by music composed by Don Ralke.
The musicians are:
drums - Shelly Manne, sax - Plas Johnson, sax - Buddy Collette,
guitar - Howard Roberts, drums - Milt Raskin, trombone - Ed Kusby,
vibes - Larry Bunker, trmobone - Marshall Cram.
Comments: Interesting stories in the Twilight Zone genre.
Overall a beatnik feel to the whole thing and, to quote the liner notes,
"calculated to make you flip your Id". Nice music and H.R. makes some nice
contributions.
The Cables
196? - RCA Victor 47-7839 (45 rpm)
Selections Moonlight and Roses (Black-Moret-Lemare),
Choo-Choo (Britt).
Personnel : Vocals - The Cables, orchestra arranged and conducted by Dick Reynolds,
guitar solo on Choo-Choo by Howard Roberts.
Session: L.A. ?
Comments: The recording specifically lists H.R. as
playing the solo on Choo-Choo. This tune is done
rockabilly style (by a more traditional sounding vocal group)
and HR plays an excellent solo in that style and so deserves
special mention. The other side also has excellent guitar
on it but it doesn't sound like HR.
Dave Cavanaugh - Hits on Hits
196? - Capitol ST2831 (on tape)
Selections: The World We Knew, Spanish Eyes, For Your Love,
Don't Sleep In The Subway, There Goes My Everything, The Happening,
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You,
Love, Autumn Leaves, Release Me, After You've Gone.
Angel Eyes (M. Dennis-E. Brent).
Personnel : piano - Dave Cavanaugh, Claude Williamson, guitar -
Herb Ellis,
Howard Roberts (alternating), Lou Morel,
drums - Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer (alternating),
percussion - Abe Siegel, Stan Levey (alternating),
bass - Chuck Berghofer.
Comments : Thanks to Stan T. of Brooklyn, New York for this.
Similar in spirit to the Guitars Unlimited albums below. Not a jazz album but
nice music and H.R. is quite prominent.
Guitars Around the World - Alex Stordahl and Orchestra
196? - DECCA DL 74337
Selections: Lady of Spain (Reaves-Evans), Vaya Con Dios (Russell-James-Pepper), Never on Sunday (Hadjidakis), Sayonara (Berlin),
Russian Lullaby (Berlin), Lonesome Road Blues (Maphis),
Brazil (Barroso), Non Dimenticar (Redi-Dobbins-Goldieri),
Greensleeves, April in Portugal (Ferrao-Kennedy), Lovely Hula Hands (Anderson),
Astro Guitar (Stordahl).
Personnel : Howard Roberts, Laurindo Almeida, Allen Reuss,
Joe Maphis, Fred Tavares and no other musicians are named.
Comments : Music featuring the guitar and related instrumnents
such as the bazouki, samisen, balaika, lute, steel guitar, ukelele and mandolins. Each musician is featured on some of the selections. H.R. is featured
on Never on Sunday playing the bazouki with Laurindo Almeida,
on Non Dimenticar playing mandolin with Allen Reuss and on Astro Guitar
playing electric jazz guitar.
Duane Eddy, A Million Dollars Worth of Twang - Volume 2
1960 - Jamie LP 3021 and London HAW 2435 (in U.K.)
Selections with H.R.: Bobbie (Winn-Alperson),
Ring of Fire (Duane Eddy),
The Avenger (Duane Eddy),
Londonderry Air (arranged by Duane Eddy).
Personnel: guitar - Duane Eddy, Howard Roberts, Barney Kessel,
Bill Pitman, sax - Jim Horn, piano - Larry Knechtel,
bass - David Campbell, Red Callender, drums - Jimmy Troxel, Earl Palmer,
vocals - Perry Botkin, Harry van Horn,
Jackie Ward, Gilda Maiken, Jay Meyer, Alicia Adams, Betty Jane Baker,
Peggy Clark, John Drake, Randy Van Horn, Ray Linn, Jay Meyer, Sally Sweetland,
violins - Arnold Belnick, Edward Bergman,
Bobby Bruce, Herman Clebanoff, John DeVoogt, Benny Gill, William Kurasch,
Leonard Malarsky, Gareth Nuttycombe, Wilbert Nuttycombe, Sidney Sharpe,
Darrel Terwilliger.
Session: Bobbie and Ring of Fire were recorded on April 24, 1961 at
United Recorders while two versions of The Avenger and Londonderry Air were
recorded October 19, 1961 at United Recorders in L.A.
Comments: Many thanks to Guy Littler Jones for providing
the discographical details. Bobbie appeared on Jamie LP 3021 and all the selections
appeared on London HAW 2435. H.R. only plays rhythm.
Pete Rugolo and Orchestra - Ten Trumpets And Two Guitars
1961 - Mercury PPS 2016.
Selections: Carnival Of Venice (Rugolo), Hot Lips (Busse-Lang-Davis),
Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White (Louiguy-David), Struttin' With
Some Barbecue (Armstrong-Raye), Trumpets At Large (Rugolo),
Guitarsville (Rugolo), Ciribiribin (Rugolo), Sugar Blues
(Feltcher-Williams), Whispering (Schonberger-Coburn-Rose), Echoes OF
Harlem (Ellington), Ten Trumpets Have I (Rugolo), Two Guitars (Rugolo).
Personnel: trumpets - Frank Beach, Conte Condoli, Pete Condoli, Mannie
Klein, Cappy Lewis, Ollie Mitchell, Uan Rasey, Joe Triscari, Bud
Brisbois, Don Fagerquist, Ray Triscari; guitars - Howard Roberts,
Al Viola; bass- Joe Mondragon; drums - Alvin Stoller, Shelly Manne.
Session: L.A. June 7, 8, and 9, 1961.
Pete Rugolo and Orchestra - Ten Saxophones And Two Basses
1961 - Mercury PPS 2023.
Selections: Skyliner (C. Barnett),
Sophisticated Lady (Ellington-Parish-Mills),
How High The Moon (Hamilton-Lewis), Saxophobia (R. Wiedoeft),
Reed Rapture (S. Kenton), Sometimes I'm Happy (Caesar-Youmans),
Contrasts (J. Dorsey), Medley ... Four Brothers (J.Giuffre) and
Early Autumn (R. Burns-J. Mercer- W. herman), Guy Meets Freddy Meets Billy
(P. Rugolo), 2 Funky Basses (P. Rugolo).
Personnel: saxophones - Skeets Herfurt, Bud Shank, Gus Bivona, Russ Cheever, Bob Cooper, Plas Johnson, Gene Cipriano, Bill Perkins,
Chuck Gentry, Bill Hood, piano - Jimmy Rowles,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass- Red Mitchell, Joe Mondragon, drums - Shelly Manne.
Session: L.A., Nov. 8 and 9, 1961.
Comments: Not much guitar except on 2 Funky Basses.
Frankie Avalon - ...and Now About Mr. Avalon
1961 - ChancellorCHL-5022.
Selections:
The Music Stopped, Our Love Is Here To Stay.
Lotta Livin To Do, I Wish You Love,
Sail A Crooked Ship, It Started All Over Again,
The Lonely Bit, The End Of A Love Affair,
Can't You Just See Yourself, What Is This Thing Called Love,
Opposites Attract, Standing On The Corner.
Personnel:
alto sax - Buddy Collette, percussion - Milt Holland, drums - Roy Harte,
Herman Clebanoff, trombone - Dick Nash; bass - Red Callender, Red Mitchell,
guitar - Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts, drums - Mel Lewis.
Session: Los Angeles.
Comments: Good big band but not much guitar discernible.
Pictures At An Exhibition, Framed In Jazz
Arranged and Conducted by Allyn Ferguson, Featuring Paul Horn
1961 - Ava A-32.
Selections: Promenade, The Gnome, The Old Castle, The Tuileries,
The Oxcart (Bydlo), Ballet Of The Unhatched Chicks,
The Rich And The Poor (Goldenburg And Schmuyle), The Market Place,
The Catacombs, The Old Witch (The Hut Of Baba-Yaga), The Great Gate Of Kiev.
Personnel: trumpets - Jules Chaikin, Ollie Mitchell, Stuart
Williamson, Jack Feierman, John Audino, Lew McCreary,
trombones - Bob Edmondson, Vern Friley, Kenny Shroyer, Bob Knight,
saxophones - Paul Horn, Bud Shank, Bill Perkins, Jack Nimitz, Bill Hood,
guitars - Howard Roberts, John Pisano, Tommy Tedesco,
bass- Don Bagley, drums - Frank Capp.
Session: Hollywood, 1961.
Comments: This was recorded by a rehearsal band which got together "for
the purpose of experimenting with new and different jazz directions". They
collectively decided to record the famous Moussorgsky composition. Great
music but no guitar can really be heard.
Bossa Nova
1961 - Crown Records CST 302.
Selections: (all selections composed by Jim Helms) It Can Never Be,
Noise Of The Night, Turtle Samba, Mischievous Love, At Midnight,
Blue Samba, Skin Of Ivory, Why Do You Linger?
Personnel: arranger and conductor - Jim Helms, guitar - Howard Roberts,
sax and flute - Buddy Collette, bass - Mel Pollan, percussion - Leo Acosta and Darias.
Session: L.A., 1961.
Comments: Lots of Howard Roberts on this album. Excellent guitar.
The Girl From Ipanema, Why Do You Linger, It Can Never Be and
Other Favourites Featuring Buddy Collette
1961 - Crown Records CST 460.
Selections: All the tracks form Bossa Nova (above) plus Girl From
Ipanema and Background For Buddy.
Personnel: arranger and conductor - Jim Helms, guitar - Howard Roberts,
sax and flute - Buddy Collette, bass - Mel Pollan, percussion - Leo Acosta and Darias.
Session: L.A., 1961.
Comments: Nice H.R. solo on Background For Buddy.
Peggy Lee - Blues Cross Country
1961 - Capitol reissued on CD 1999.
Selections with H.R.:
Goin' to Chicago (Count Basie-Jimmy Rushing),
Boston Beans (P. Lee-M. Raskin-B. Schluger), The Grain Belt Blues (P. Lee-M. Raskin-B. Schluger),
Basin Street Blues (S. Williams).
Personnel: arranger and conductor - Quincy Jones,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Dennis Budimir,
trumpet - Jack Sheldon, Al Porcino, Bob fowler, Conrad Gozzo,
trombone - Frank Rosolino, Vern Friley, Lew McCreary, George Roberts,
tenor sax - Plas Johnson, Bill Perkins,
baritone sax - Jack Nimitz,
piano - Jimmy Rowles,
alto sax - Benny Carter, Bill Green, bass - Max Bennett,
drums - Stan Levey,
percussion - Chano Pozo.
Session: L.A., April 15, 1961.
Comments: Nice version of Basin Street Blues with some good
guitar comping. Otherwise not much guitar on this.
The Very Best of Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Gangster of Love
1961 - originals released on King Records (5536, LP857) and
also released as part of a collection on Collectibles Col-CD 2894 in 2004.
Personnel: vocals and guitar - Johnny "Guitar" Watson, guitar -
Howard Roberts, piano - Ernie Freeman, bass - Ted Brinson,
drums - Ed "Sharkey" Hall, strings -
Israel Baker, Elliott Fisher, Harry Hyams, Leonard Malarsky and Sidney Sharp,
producer - Johnny Otis.
Selections with H.R.: Empbraceble You (Gershwin-Gershwin),
Posin' (Chaplin-Chan), Cuttin' In (Watson),
The Nearness of You (Carmichael-Washington).
Session: Los Angeles, July 21, 1961.
Comments: H.R. plays rhythm on these tunes.
Pete Jolly and Friends
1962 - V.S.O.P. #78CD (reissue of recordings originally on Little Bird - Ava 22,
Sweet September - Ava 51 and Hello Jolly - Ava 51.)
Selections: Little Bird (Grove-Jolly-Wolf), Falling In Love With
Love (Rodgers-Hart), Three-Four-Five (Jolly), Alone Together
(Dietz-Schwartz), Sweet September (McGuffie, Philips, Stanley),
The Moment Of truth (Satterwhite-Scott), Blues Two Ways (Grove),
The Grass Is Greener (Smith-Maxwell), The First Of May (Dick Grove),
A Sleepin' Bee (Arlen-Capote), Here's That Rainy Day (Burke-Van Heusen),
No Other Love (Rodgers-Hammerstein), Soft Winds (Goodman), Can't We Be
Friends (Swift-James), I'm Beginning To See The Light (James-Ellington-
Hodges), Oleo (S. Rollins).
Personnel: piano - Pete Jolly, bass - Chuck Berghofer, drums -
Larry Bunker, Nick Martinis, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets
1962 - Liberty LRP-3228/LST-7228, reissued on CD with unreleased tracks EMI CDP-7-96054-2.
Selections: Peggy Sue (Allison-Petty), Bo Diddley (McDaniels),
Someday (When I'm Gone From You) (Lesslie-Glasser),
Well...All Right (Holly-Allison-Petty), I Gotta Know (Williams-Evans),
Lookin' For Love (Orbison-Melson), Sweet Little Sixteen (Berry),
When You're In Love (Allison-Curtis), Lucille (Penniman-Collins),
Girl Of My Best Friend ((Ross-Bobrick), Little Queenie (Berry),
The Girl Can't Help It (Troup), Lonely Weekends (Rich) - take 1,
It's Too Late (Velline) - take 1, Come On Baby (Knox),
Mountain Of Love (Dorman), No One Knows (Hecht-Maresca),
Shanghaied (Tillis-Wilkin), Keep A Knockin' (Penniman),
Lonely Weekends (Rich) - take 2, It's Too Late (Velline) - take 2,
Buddy Holly Medley: What To Do/Crying, Waiting, Hoping/Learning The Game (Holly).
Personnel: guitar and vocals - Bobby Vee, drums - Jerry Allison, guitar - Tommy Allsup,
guitar - Howard Roberts, drums - Earl Palmer, keyboards - Gene Garf, Ernie Freeman.
Session: United Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Comments: H.R. plays rhythm guitar and solos are by Tommy Allsup.
Joni James - After Hours
1962 - MGM E4008.
Selections: All or Nothing At All (Lawrence-Altman),
Somewhere in the Night (Myrow-Gordon), I'll Remember April (Raye-DePaul-Johnston), Misty (Garner-Burke), I've Got a Crush On You (G. & I. Gershwin),
Just One of Those Things (Porter), Almost Lost My Mind (Hunter),
Can't get Out of this Mood (McHugh-Loesser), This Heart of Mine (Warren-Freed),
I Didn't Know What Time it Was (Rodgers-Hart), Do Nothin' Till You Hear
From Me (Ellington-Russell), They Can't Take That Away From Me (G. & I. Gershwin).
Personnel: vocals - Joni James,
piano - Pete Jolly, bass - Ralph Pena, drums -
Shelly Manne, Milt Holland, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Comments: Nice playing. Quite a different guitar tone on this
recording almost acoustic.
Pete and Conte Candoli - There is Nothing Like a Dame
1962 - Warner Bros. W1462.
Selections: There is Nothing Like a Dame (Rodgers-Hammerstein II),
Diane (Rapee-Pollack), Gigi (Lerner-Loewe), Dinah (Lewis-Young-Akst),
Georgia on My Mind (Carmichael-Gorrell), Allouette (traditional),
Candy (David-Whitney-Kramer), Valentine (Christine-Reynolds-Willemetz),
Mary Lou Lyman-Waggner-Robinson), Ida! Sweet as Apple Cider (Munson-Leonard),
Margie (Conrad-Robinson-Davis), Anna (Vatro-Giordano).
Personnel: trumpet - Pete and Conte Candoli,
piano - Jimmy Rowles, John Williams,
bass - Gary Peacock, drums - Shelley Manne, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: March 20 and 22, 1962 in L.A.
Comments: Interesting record with lots of good contributions from H.R.
Many thanks to Ed Barr of Valdosta State University for this.
Kinda Groovy! the piano and the voice of Jimmie Rowles
1962 - Capitol T 1831
Selections: I Can't Resist You, Your Mind Is On Vacation,
Maybe You'll Be There, My One And Only Love, A Porter's Love Song
To A Chambermaid, Me And You, Miss Brown To You, I Wish I Knew,
How Can We Be Wrong, So Far, So Good, When I'm With You, Sugar.
Personnel: piano and vocals - Jimmie Rowles, bass - Max Bennett,
drums - Shelly Manne, Nick Martinis, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: Los Angeles, Oct. 26, 1962.
Comments: Great guitar and piano. Thanks to Steve Herberman for this.
Jonah Jones - Jazz Bonus
1962 - Capitol ST 1773
Selections:
Soft Winds (Royal-Goodman), June Night (Baer-Friend),
The Bells of St. Mary's (Adams-Furber),
Fiddlesticks (Harding-Jones), Lady of Spain (Evans-Reaves),
Jus' Swingin' (Jones-Harding), Brotherhood of Man (Loesser),
Cool Mute (Jones-Harding), Cutty Sark (Berry), Jersey Bounce (Plater-Bradshaw-Wright-Feyne-Johnson), Bab Au Rhum (Gerald-Topper), Hot Toddy (Flanagan-Handler).
Personnel: trumpet - Jonah Jones, organ - Dick Hyman and no others listed.
Session: Los Angeles, 1962.
Comments: Other than Jonah Jones no personnel are listed on this but
the liner notes indicate that there are two guitars and an organ. The guitars
are comping for the most part but there is an unmistakable H.R. solo on
The Bells of St. Mary's. I'm not sure who the other guitar is but a guess is
Al Hendrickson.
Flutes Front & Center - Ray Rasch and the Pipers 10
1962 - Warner Brothers W1454.
Selections: All of Me (Simons-Marks), Sugar Plum Cha Cha (Adapted by Noble Stone), Slow Freight Shuffle (Noble Stone), Heart and Soul (Loesser-Carmichael), Holiday for Strings (D. Rose), Isle of Capri (Kennedy-Grosz),
Pipers Cha Cha (Adapted by Noble Stone), What'll I Do (I. Berlin),
Lindo Pantallettos (Noble Stone), High Tide Boogie (Eldridge-Jirik-Parker),
You Came a Long Way From St. Louis (Russell-Brooks), Tutti Flutie (Noble Stone).
Personnel: organ - Ray Rasch, bass - Rollie Bundock,
drums - Milt Holland, guitar - Howard Roberts,
flute - Ted Nash, Harry Klee, Wilbur Schwarz, Phil Sobel, Johnny Rotella, Julie Kinsler, Nick Dann, Morris Bercov, Ethner Roten, Justin Gordon.
Session: Los Angeles, 1962.
Comments: Playing rhythm only but nicely done.
How the West Was Won - Original Sound Track
1962 - MGM 1SE5.
Selections: Overture (Alfred Newman-Ken Darby), How the West Was Won
(Alfred Newman-Ken Darby), The Bereavement and Fulfillment (Alfred Newman-Ken
Darby)< The River Pirates (Alfred Newman), Home in the Meadow (Sammy Cahn),
Cleve and the Mule (Alfred Newman), Raise a Ruckus (Johnny Marcer-Robert Dolan),
Come Share My Life (Ken Darby), The Marriage Proposal (Greensleeves),
Extr'acte, Cheyennes (A. Newman), He's Linus' Boy (A. Newman),
Climb a Higher Hill (A. Newman), What was Your Name in the States (Johnny Mercer-Robert Dolan), No Goodbye (A. Newman), Finale - How the West Was Won (A.
Newmas- Ken Darby).
Personnnel: The MGM Studio Orchestra conducted by Alfred Newman,
violin - Victor Arno, Israel Baker, George Berris, Joachin Chassman, Joseph Chassman, Harold Dicterow,
Arnold Jurasky, Elliot Fisher, Samuel Freed, Jr., David Frisina, Werner Gebauer, James Getzoff, Mort Herbert,
Otis Igelman, Anatol Kaminsky, Louis Kaufman, Sarah Kreindler, Bernard Kundell, Marvin Limonick,
Alfred Lustgarten, Joy Lyle, Thomas Mancini, Lisa Minghetti, Erno Neufeld, Irma Newman, Irving Prager,
Lou Raderman, Albert Saparoff, Felix Slatkin, Sidney Sharp, Paul Shure, Marshall Sosson, Joseph Stepansky,
Dorothy Wade, Heiman Weinstine,
viola - Alvin Dinkin, Cecil Figelski, Allen Harshman, Victor Majewski,
Reuben Marcus, Alex Neiman, Paul Robyn, Sanford Schonbach,
cello - Naoum Benditsky, Alex Borisoff, Joseph Coppin,
Joseph Di Tullio, Ossip Giskin, Raphael Kramer, Lucien Laporte, Michel Penha, W. Przybyla, Kurt Reher, Nino Rosso,
Emmet Sargeant, Eleanor Slatkin Bass: George Boujie, Mario Camposano, Charles Gonzales, Richard Kelley Sr.,
Peter Mercurio, Keith Mitchell, Meyer Rubin, Arthur Shapiro, Kenneth Winstead,
harmonica - Tommy Morgan,
harp - Catherine Gotthoffer,
guitar - Laurindo Almeida, Robert Bain, Charles Gonzales, Al Henrickson, Allan Reuss, Howard Roberts, Thomas Tedesco,
banjo - John De Soto, Joseph Gibbons, Vito Mumolo, Allan Reuss,
piano - Ralph Collier, Jack Latimer, Arthur Maebe Jr., Paul Mertz, Ray Turner, Robert Van Eps,
flute - Louis Di Tullio, Henry Emerson, Arthur Gleghorn, Luella Howard, Martin Ruderman, Sylvia Ruderman,
oboe - Norman Benno, Arnold Koblentz, William Kosinsky, Gordon Pope,
clarinet - Gus Bivona, Russell Cheever, Don Christlieb, Alex Gershunoff, Don Lodice, Hugo Raimondi, Ethmer Roten,
William Ulyate Bassoon: Don Christlieb, Charles Gould, Ray Nowlin, Robert Swanson,
horn - Jack Cave, Vincent De Rosa,
Vincent De Rubertis, Herman Lebow, Richard Perrisi, Harry Schmidt,
trumpet - Frank Beach, John Clyman, Robert Di Vall,
Carl Fortina, Robert Fowler, Richard Nash, Uan Rasey, Joe Triscari, George Werth, James Zito,
trombone - Albert Anderson, George Boujie, Randall Miller, Richard Nash, Richard Noel, Herb Taylor,
tuba - George Boujie Drums: Frank Carlson, Ralph Collier, Richard Cornell, William Kraft, Bernard Mattinson,
Mel Pedesky, Hal Rees, Howard Roberts, D. V. Seber,
accordion & concertina - Carl Fortina,
the Whiskeyhill Quartet:
(bass - David Wheat, guitar - Cyrus Faryar, banjo - Donald D Guard,
vocalist - Judy Henske) and
the Ken Darby Singers.
Session: L.A.
Comments: Not much guitar except on the Finale and H.R. isn't
discernible as an individual voice. Still the music is good overall and
interestingly H.R. says in reference to this film "Working
on that film was almost a spiritual experience" (Scottsdale-Progress,
March 15, 1990, p. 43-44). So it was a pretty significant event in his
career.
I received the following information from Steve Fay.
Prior to his work on the 1962 "How the West Was Won" movie soundtrack album, Howard played on the original 1960 (recorded in 59) "How the West Was Won" 2-LP set on RCA Victor which inspired the movie. This earlier record was inspired by a series of articles about the settling of the American west that had appeared in LIFE magazine.
Steve provides a bit more information as follows.
About all I can tell you is that on July 23 & 24, 1959, Howard was called to play guitar along with Al Hendrickson. Joe Mondragon was on bass. Depending on the song, there were up to about a half dozen other instrumentalists. Bob Thompson was leader on the ten or more tracks recorded on these two days.
Johnny Western and the Sons of the Pioneers - Have Gun, Will Travel
1962 Columbia 8588.
Selections: Ballad of Paladin, The Searchers,
Cowpoke, Rollin' Dust, Hannah Lee, Streets of Laredo,
The Long Tall Shadow, The Lilies Grow High,
The Cottonwood Tree, Nineteen Men, The Lonely Man, The Last Roundup.
Personnel:
vocals - Johnny Western and the Sons of the Pioneers,
guitars - Johnny bond, Billy Strange, Howard Roberts, Allan Reuss,
bass - Don Duffy, drums - Muddy Berry, percussion - Hubert Anderson,
french horns - George White, Arthur Briegleb, James McGee,
conductor and accordion - Billy Leibert.
Session: Los Angeles, 1962.
Comments: No solos but nice guitar accompaniments.
Out! Jack Sheldon and his quartet
1962 - Capitol ST1851
Selections: The Girl In The Muu Muu (Sheldon-Marshall),
Dandelion (Sheldon), Spanish Dance (E. Granados arr. J. Marshall),
Funky Jones (Sheldon-Marshall), Love For Sale (Porter), Atomic Bom (Sheldon),
What Was Your Name In The States? (Trad. arr. J. Marshall),
Hair Like Sunshine (Sheldon), Sweet and Lovely (Arnheim-Tobias-Lemare),
Romance De Amor (V. Gomez), By Strauss (G. and I. Gershwin),
Conversation (J. Marshall).
Personnel: trumpet and vocals - Jack Sheldon, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Shelly Manne, guitar - Howard Roberts, Jack Marshall,
Bob Bain, Herb Ellis, Billy Strange.
Session: Los Angeles, Nov. 6, 12 and 16, 1962.
Comments: Lots of H.R. on this album. In the spirit of
the V.S.O.P. releases by Jack Sheldon (see below).
Jean Durand - baby ... did you hear?
1962 - Horizon Records WP 1607
Selections with H.R.: Baby Did You Hear? (Lee-Ecton), Hey Andrew!
(White-White), Son (Durand), Crawfish (Durand).
Personnel: arranger and conductor - Richard Markowitz,
vocals - Jean Durand, bass - Mel Pollan,
percussion - Frank Capp, Larry Bunker, guitar - Howard Roberts, Jim Helms,
flute - Buddy Collette.
Session: Los Angeles, 1962.
Comments: An album of folk songs.
Viva Bossa Nova! - Laurindo Almeida & the Bossa Nova All Stars
1962 - Capitol ST-1759
Selections : Naked City Theme (B. May), Lazy River (H. Carmichael-
S. Arodin), Ramblin' Rose (J. Sherman-N. Sherman), Maria (L. Bernstein- S. Sondheim), Petite Fleur (S. Bechet-F. Bonifay), Teach Me Tonight (G. de
Paul-S. Cahn), Lollipops And Roses (T. Velona), Moon River (H. Mancini),
Desafinado (S. Getz-C. Byrd), Mr. Lucky (H. Mancini), One Note Samba(A.
Carlos Jobim-N. Mendonca), Theme From "Route 66" (N. Riddle).
Personnel : trumpet - Don Fagerquist, tenor - Bob Cooper,
flute - Justin Gordon, organ - Jimmy Rowles, guitars - Laurindo
Almeida, Howard Roberts and Al Viola, bass - Max Bennett, percussion -
Shelly Manne, Chico Guerrero, Milt Holland.
Session: L.A. Sept. 1962.
Comments: This record was a best selling record in 1962 reaching number 9 on the top 40 list of albums.
Here is a web-site devoted to the Bossa Nova All-Stars.
Ole! Bossa Nova - Laurindo Almeida & the Bossa Nova All Stars
1962 - Capitol ST-1872
Selections : Recado Bossa Nova (Ferreira),
I Left My Heart In San Francisco (Cory-Cross),
O Barquinho (Little Boat) (Menescal-Boscoli),
What Kind Of Fool Am I? (Bricuse-Newley), Acapulco 1922 (Allen),
Heartaches (Hoffman-Klenner), Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
(Howard), Satin Doll (Ellington), The Alley Cat Song (Bjorn-Harlen),
Meditation (Meditacao) (Jobim-Mendonca), Walk Right In (Darling-Svanoe),
Days Of Wine And Roses (Mancini-Mercer).
Personnel : trumpet - Don Fagerquist, tenor - Bob Cooper,
flute - Justin Gordon, organ - Jimmy Rowles, guitars - Laurindo
Almeida and Howard Roberts, bass - Max Bennett, percussion -
Shelly Manne, Chico Guerrero, Milt Holland.
Session: L.A. Nov., Dec. 1962.
It's A Bossa Nova World - Laurindo Almeida & the Bossa Nova All Stars
1963 - Capitol ST-1946
Selections : Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport (R. Harris), I Will
Follow Him (Chariot) (Stole-Roma-Altman-Gimbel), Sukiyaki (R. Ei-H.
Nakamura), Say Wonderful things (N. Newell-P. Green), Misirlou (Roubanis- Wise-Leeds-Russell), Song Of The Islands (C.E. King), Danke Schoen (Kaem
pfert-Hene-Schwabach), Till Then (Seiler-Marcus-Wood), Lisbon Antigua (
Portela-Galhardo-Do Vale), More (Oliviero-Ortolani-Ciorciolini-Newell),
Rio Bonita (N. Aldeen-P. Nelson), Hava Nagila (Trad. arranged by D.
Gould).
Personnel : trumpet - Don Fagerquist, tenor - Bob Cooper,
flute - Justin Gordon, organ - Jimmy Rowles, guitars - Laurindo
Almeida and Howard Roberts, bass - Max Bennett, percussion -
Shelly Manne, Chico Guerrero, Vic Feldman.
Session : L.A. 1963.
Comments : Nice H.R. solo on Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport!
Acapulco 22 - Laurindo Almeida
1963 - Tower DT5060
Selections : Hava Nagila (trad.),
Acapulco 1922 (D. Alpert), Misirlou (Roubanis-Pina-Wise-Leeds-Russell),
Lisbon Antigua ( Portela-Galhardo-Do Vale),
Desafinado (Jobim-Mendonca),
More (Oliviero-Ortolani-Ciorciolini-Newell),
Till Then (Seiler-Marcus-Wood),
Satin Doll (Ellington), I Left My Heart In San Francisco (Cory-Cross),
What Kind Of Fool Am I (Bricusse-Newley).
Personnel : organ - Jimmy Rowles,
guitars - Laurindo Almeida, Howard Roberts, Al Viola,
tenor sax - Bob Cooper,
bass - Max Bennett,
percussion - Shelly Manne, Milt Holland, Chico Guerrero, Vic Feldman.
Session : L.A. 1962-63.
Comments : Actually a compilation of tunes from the Bossa Nova
All Stars albums.
The Singers Inc. - Bossa Nova!
1963 - Valiant 404 1963.
Selections : Liebestraum (Adapt. Freebairn-Smith-Coe),
You Stepped Out Of A Dream (Brown-Kahn), Volare (Modugno-Migliacci),
Where Or When (Rodgers-Hart), In A Little Spanish Town (Wayne-Young),
Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey (Adapt. Bryant), Ja-Da (Carleton),
I Could Have Danced All Night (Lerner-Loewe), Bye Bye Blues (Hamm-Bennett-Lown-gray), Mam'selle (Goulding-Gordon),
So Rare (Horst-Sharpe), Baubles, Bangles And Beads (Wright-Forrest).
Personnel: vocals - George Tipton, Ian Feebairn-Smith, Perry Botkin Jr.,
James Bryant (The Singers Inc.), Sue Allen, guitar - Howard Roberts,
alto and sax - Don Shelton, bass - Lyle Ritz, percussion - Larry Bunker,
Milt Holland, Jerry Williams, Emil Richards, Chico Guerrero.
Session: Gold Star Recorders, L.A., 1963.
Comments: Excellent recording and nice contributions from H.R., mostly
on nylon string (gut-string) guitar.
Jeannie Hoffman The Folk-Type Swinger
1963 - Capitol
Selections: Sourwood Mountain, Sing Hallelujah, Waltzing Matilda,
The Riddle Song, Lass From The Low Country, Billy Boy,
Jamaica Farewell, Come All Ye Fair And Tender Ladies, Frankie And Johnny,
I Love Little Jimmy, Christopher Robin, Hush Little Baby.
Personnel : vocals and piano - Jeannie Hoffman,
guitar - Howard Roberts, flute and clarinet - George Smith, drums -
Shelly Manne.
Session: L.A. 1963.
Comments: Some nice guitar on this recording.
Many thanks to Mike Kremer
for this. Mike maintains an excellent site on Classic Jazz Guitar .
Toni Lee Scott - Vol. Lonely
1963 - AVA Records A-36
Selections:
It Couldn't Happen To A Nicer Guy (L. Quading), San Francisco (Kahn-Kaper-Jurmann), What Now My Love (Becaud-DeLange-Sigman),
One For My Baby (Arlen-Mercer)/ Goin' To Chicago Blues (Basie-Rushing),
Ten Cents A Dance (Rodgers-Hart), My Heart Stood Still (Rodgers-Hart),
Goody Goody (Mercer-Malneck), Where's The Boy I Saved For A Rainy
Day (Bergerson-Rox), (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (Cory-Cross),
Something Cool (Barnes), (In The ) Wee Small Hours (Of The Morning) (Hillard-Mann).
Personnel : vocals - Toni Lee Scott,
guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Gerald Wiggins, Don Abney,
bass - Wilfred Middlebrooks, Red Callender, drums - Jackie Mills.
Session: Hollywood, June 1963.
Comments: Not a jazz album but some good music and H.R. makes some nice contributions.
Annette Funicello - Annette's Beach party
1963 - Buena Vista #3316.
Selections: Beach Party,
Treat Him Nicely,
Don't Stop Now,
Promise Me Anything,
Secret Surfin' Spot,
Song Of The Island,
California Sun,
The Battle of San Onofre,
Swingin' and Surfin',
Date Night In Hawaii,
Surfin' Luau,
Pineapple Princess.
Personnel:
vocal - Annette Funicello, guitars - Howard Roberts,
Allan Reuss, Tommy Tedesco, bass - Cliff Hils, drums - Ed Sharky Hall,
sax - Jackie Kelso.
Session: July 1963, L.A.
Comments: Some wild, raunchy surfin' guitar on some tunes and a couple of tunes with
big band accompaniment with good guitar.
Jonah Jones - that righteous feelin'
1963 - Capitol T 1839.
Selections:
Yes Indeed! (S. Oliver), Mandy (Berlin), Work Song (Brown-Adderly),
Ramblin' Rose (N. Sherman-J. Sherman), Spanish Harlem (Leiber-Spector),
The Lonesome Road (Shilkret-Austin), The Preacher (Silver),
'Deed I Do (Hirsch-Rose), Memories Are Made of This (Gilkyson-Dehr-Miller),
Jonah's Sermon (Hyman-Jones), Look Up (Hyman), Down by the Riverside (trad.).
Personnel : vocals - The Jubilee Four,
guitar - Bob Bain, Howard Roberts, piano and organ - Dick Hyman,
bass - John Brown, drums - Danny Farrar, percussion - Andre Persiani.
Session: Hollywood, June 1963.
Comments: Mostly comping but a nice Color Him Funky style solo on
Spanish Harlem.
Charles Kynard - Where Its At
1963 - Pacific Jazz PJ-72.
Selections.: I'll Fly Away (trad.) Amazing Grace (trad.),
Motherless Child (trad.) The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow (trad.),
I Want To Be Ready (trad.), Smooth Sailing (Arnett Cobb), I Wonder (Gant-Leveen), Blue Greens and Beans (Waldron), Sport's Lament (Kynard), Where It's At (Kynard).
Personnel: organ - Charles Kynard,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Ray Crawford,
sax - Clifford Scott, drums - Milt Turner, Leroy Henderson,
piano - Ronald Bright.
Session: L.A. 1963.
Comments: H.R. solos on Amazing Grace but also a lot of
excellent comping and filling in throughout. Ray Crawford is credited as the
guitarist on I'll Fly Away but it sure sounds like H.R. Nice
photo of H.R. on the back.
Thanks to Jay Smith for bringing this to my attention.
Hal Blaine and The Young Cougars - Deuces, T's, Roadsters & Drums
1963 - reissued on Sundazed SC 11101.
Selections: Challenger II (Hazelwood), Green Monster (Leib),
Nashville Coupe (Hazelwood), Mr. Eliminator (Blaine-Gates),
Pop the Chute (Hazelwood), Deuces, T's, Roadsters & Drums (Hazelwood-Blaine),
Gear Change (Leib-Wayne), The Phantom Driver (Hazelwood),
Gear Stripper (Gates), Big "T" (Leib), The Traps (Turner),
Drum Brakes (Blaine), Hawaii 1963 (Blaine-Hazelwood),
East Side Story (Blaine-Hazelwood), (Dance with the)Surfin' Band (Blaine),
The Drummer Plays For Me (Hazelwood), Bulldog Drummin' (Blaine-Hazelwwod),
Mutiny On The Bongos (Blaine-Hazelwood), The Dip (Hazelwood),
How Come I Love You So Much (Blaine-Hazelwood), Git It (Blaine-Hazelwood),
Phillzie's Friend (Blaine-Hazelwood).
Personnel: drums - Hal Blaine, Frank Capp, guitar - Glenn Campbell,
Billy Strange, Tommy Tedesco, Bill Pitman, Carol Kaye, Howard Roberts,
bass - Ray Pohlman, James Bond, piano and organ - Russell Bridges,
vocals - Darlene Peete, Gracia Nietzshe, Fanita James,
sax - Steve Kreisman, trombone - Ronald Smith, Marshall Cram, Richard Leith.
Session: December 15, 1962, October 15, 21, 25, April 4 1963, L.A.
Comments: Lots of guitars on this. Nothing discernibly H.R. but lots
of Benson fuzz. Probably playing the Broadcaster on this one.
Sam Cooke - Keep Movin' On
1963-64 released on ABKCO Records in 2001.
Selections: Good News (Cooke), Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day) (Cooke-Prudhomme),
Meet Me At Mary's Place (Cooke), Basin Street Blues (Williams),
Cousin Of Mine (Cooke), Tennessee Waltz (King-Stewart), Falling In Love (Battiste),
When A Boy Falls In Love (Cooke-Levert), Good Times (Cooke), Shake (Cooke),
Yeah Man (Cooke), It's Got The Whole World Shakin' (Cooke),
The Riddle Song (Cooke), I'm Just A Country Boy (Brooks-Barer),
Try A Little Love (Cooke-Alexander), There'll Be No Second Time (White),
Another Saturday Night (Cooke), Sugar Dumpling (Cooke), That's Where It's At (Cooke-Alexander),
You're Nobody 'Till Somebody Loves You (Morgan-Stock-Cavanaugh),
(Somebody) Ease My Troublin' Mind (Cooke), A Change Is Gonna Come (Cooke),
Keep Movin' On (Cooke).
Personnel:
Lenne Allik (executive producer), John Anderson (trumpet), Peter Badie, Jr. (bass),
Israel Baker (Violin), Robert Barene (violin), Harold Battiste (guitar, keyboards, piano, saxophone),
Arnold Belnick (violin), Milt Bernhart (trombone), Harry Betts (trombone),
Lou Blackburn (trombone), Hal Blaine (drums), James E. Bond Bass (Upright)
John Boudreaux (drums, percussion),
Russell Bridges (piano), Robert Bryant (drums), Glen Campbell (guitar),
Frank Capp (percussion), Buddy Clark (bass), Sam Cooke (arranger, main performer, original album producer),
Harper Cosby (bass), Luigi Creatore (original album producer), Leroy Crume (guitar),
James A. Decker (french horn), Frank DeVito (percussion), John DeVoogdt (violin)
Jesse Ehrlich (cello), Sticks Evans (bongos), John Ewing (trombone), Albert Gardner (drums),
Joseph R. Gibbons (trombone), Jewell L. Grant (saxophone), William Green (flute, saxophone)
Eddie Hall (drums) Rene Hall (arranger, conductor, guitar, leader, organ, piano),
Johnny Halliburton (trombone), Jimmie Haskell (arranger, leader),
William Hinshaw (french horn, horn), Joe Hooven (arranger, leader),
Harry Hyams (viola), Plas Johnson (saxophone), William Kurasch (violin),
Harold Land (saxophone), Melvin Lastie (piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet),
Irving Lipschultz (violin), Leonard Malarsky (violin), Vito Mangano (trumpet),
Lincoln Mayorga (piano), James M. McGee (french horn), Alexander Neiman (strings, viola)
Earl Palmer (drums), Jack Pepper (violin), John Pisano (guitar) Ray Pohlman (piano)
Vernon Porter (trombone), Emil Radocchia (percussion), Allan Reuss (guitar),
Howard Roberts (guitar), Emmet Sargeant (cello , violin), Ralph Schaeffer (strings),
Anthony Terran (trumpet), Darrel Terwilliger (violin), Alvin "Red" Tyler (saxophone),
Clifton White (arranger, conductor, guitar, leader, strings), Gerald Wilson (trumpet),
Bobby Womack (guitar), Cecil Womack (guitar), Tibor Zelig (strings, violin).
Session: Various dates in 1963-64 at RCA Studio.
Beach Boys
1963-1964 - Capitol
Selections with H.R.: See Comments below for details.
Session: Los Angeles, 1963-1965.
Comments:
Many thanks to Craig ? for the following information that was based on
"bootlegged session tapes from these tracking sessions,
as well as facsimilies of some of the AFM musician union
contracts". I've included direct quotes from Craig below that provide
extensive information about H.R.'s involvement with the Beach Boys.
The earliest documentation I have of Howard playing on a
Brian Wilson-produced session was for a song called "I Do",
in November of '63. The Beach Boys recorded vocals for that
song, but Brian ended up using the backing track for a group
called The Castells, and it was released by them (Warner Bros.
5421, March 9, 1964). The Beach Boys version was ultimately
included as a bonus track on the "Surfer Girl" / "Shut Down,
Vol. 2" twofer CD (still in print on Capitol).
Howard then played on a few cuts from the Boys'
"Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)" album, released in July 1965:
"Salt Lake City", "California Girls", "Let Him Run Wild",
and possibly the 45 version of "Help Me, Rhonda". Later that year,
he played on a single called "The Little Girl I Once Knew".
All of these cuts are available on the Capitol CD twofer
"Beach Boys Today!" / "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)".
It seems that on "Help Me, Rhonda" (45 version) Howard is playing
either electric rhythm guitar, or ukulele...Billy Strange played
the 12-string electric lead on the basic session, Barney Kessel
was there (probably playing one uke), Glen Campbell reportedly
was on there (either the electric rhythm guitar or the other uke),
nd if Howie's there, he's playing whichever of the two parts Glen
didn't play. This basic track was laid down at Radio Recorders,
and the engineer's initials were "C.L.". Later on there were some
overdubs, and Carl Wilson doubled the Billy Strange part and played
the solo. This was a Number One hit single (the Boys' second).
The tracks for the other songs I mentioned were all done at Western
Recorders with Chuck Britz engineering. On "Salt Lake City", I think
H.R. is playing an electric baritone rhythm guitar, strumming the
chords in the verses and choruses in conjuntion with Carl Wilson's
12-string Rickenbacker. Carol Kaye and Jerry Cole are both playing
6-string bass guitars (the intro riff).
For "California Girls" (a Number Three single on the charts), Howie
is on electric rhythm guitar...you can hear him enter half-way through
the first verse, and the dual 12-strings are Carl and Jerry. On
"Let Him Run Wild" (flip side of the "California Girls" single),
I think Howie is again on a baritone electric. I'm not sure about
"The Little Girl I Once Knew" (Number 20 on the charts), but he might
be playing one of the 12-strings there. I'll let you know once I review
that session tape again (ditto for "Sherri She Needs Me" and "I Do").
On the tape for "Let Him Run Wild", there's quite a bit of dialoge between
Brian and Howie as they work out his guitar part. Carol Kaye is there on
Fender bass, and someone else is strumming an acoustic rhythm guitar
(possibly Barney Kessel). The electric lead is probably Jerry Cole,
definitely doubled by Carl Wilson on 12-string.
One Beach Boys session I forgot about...a "Summer Days" outtake called
"Sherri She Needs Me" ... but it's never been released in that form.
Howard is on that one as well. It's made the rounds on bootlegs.
Blossom dearie - May I Come In?
1964 - Capitol CDP 95449.
Selections: Something Happens To Me (Fisher-Segal),
(I'm) In Love Again (Coleman-Schluger), When Sunny gets Blue (Fisher-Segal),
Quiet Nights (Corcovado) (Jobim-Lees), Don't Wait Too Long (Skylar),
I Wish You Love (Trenet-Beach), Charade (Mancini-Mercer),
May I Come In? (Fisher-Segal), I'm Old Fashioned (Kern-Mercer),
Love Is A Necessary Evil (Fisher-Segal), The Best Is yet To Come (Coleman-Leigh), Put On A Happy Face (Strouse-Adams).
Personnel: arranger and conductor - Jack Marshall, vocals -
Blossom Dearie, trumpet - Jack Sheldon, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Shelly Manne, and others.
Session: Capitol Studios A, L. A., February 13, 14 and 15, 1964.
Comments: No players are listed although trumpet, bass and drums are
identified in the liner notes. In particular, H.R. is not identified,
which is strange because the guitar is the most prominent instrument
on the recording and it is clearly Howard Roberts who makes many good
contributions.
Joanie Sommers with Laurindo Almeida - Softly, The Brazilian Sound
1964 - Warner Brothers W1575
Selections : Meditation (Jobim-Mandonca), Dear Heart (Mancini-Livingston-Evans), Watching the World Go By (Segall-Holt),
Quiet Nights (Jobim-Kaye-Lees), Once (Magenta-Gimbel-Marnay),
Softly As I Leave You (DeVita-Calabrese-Shaper), I Could Have Danced
All Night (Lerner-Loewe), I'll Remember April (Raye-DePaul-Johnson),
You Can't Go Home Again (Ferrerra-Feather), Carnival (Bonfa-Peretti-Creafore-Weiss), Old Guitaron (Almeida-Mercer), That's All (Haymes-Brandt).
Personnel : arranger - Laurindo Almeida,
french horn - Justin Gordon,
guitars - Laurindo Almeida, Al Hendrickson, Tony Rizzi, Al Viola,
Howard Roberts, vibes - Emil Richards and other musicians unlisted.
Comments : Howard Roberts appears in a guitar trio with Rizzi and
Viola. A nice album but H.R. is not discernible.
Peggy Lee - In The Name Of Love
1964 - Capitol T2096.
Selections with H.R.:
In the Name Of Love (Levitt-Rankin), My Sin (DeSylva-Brown-Henderson),
There'll Be Some Changes Made (Overstreet-Higgins-Edwards), After You've Gone
(Creamer-Layton), Theme From "Joy House" (Just Call Me Lovebird)
(Schifrin-Lee), Senza Fine (Paoli-Wilder).
Personnel :
guitars - John Pisano, Bob Bain, Howard Roberts,
drums - Stan Levey, piano - Lou Levy, bass - Chuck Berghofer,
latin percussion - Francisco Aguabella,
woodwinds - Gordon Horn.
Session: L.A. - June 26 and July 6, 1964.
Comments : Some nice guitar on this but nothing where H.R.
really stands out.
David Allen - This is My Lucky Day
1964 - RCA, YKCJ-310 rereleased on CD in 2006 Everest 1224.
Selections: I've Got My Eves on You (Porter),
Penthouse Serenade (Jason-Burton), Love is a Serious Thing (Fischer-Segal),
A Swing for Joey (Allen), What You Got That Gets Me (Robin-Rainger),
Forgetful (Handy-Segal), Where You At (Handy-Segal),
Why Do You Pass Me By (Trenert-Carter-Hess-Misraki),
Sweet and Lovely (Arnheim-Tobias-Lamare), Skylark (Parrish-Carmichael),
New In Town (Brent-Dennis),
Lucky Day (de Sylva-Brown-henderson).
Personnel: vocals - David Allen, alto sax - Bud Shank,
guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Jimmy Rowles, vibes - Victor Feldman,
ibass - Buddy Clark, drums - Frank Capp, arranger and conductor - Bob Florence.
Session: L.A., 1964.
Comments: Some nice solos by H.R.
Gone With The Wave, Modern Sounds Go Surfing - Lalo Schifrin
1964 - Colpix Records 492.
Selections: All composed by Lalo Schifrin.
Gone With the Wave, Laniakea Waltz, A Taste of Bamboo, Halieva Blues,
Taco-Tiquito, Breaks, Aqua Blues, Surf Waltz, Five by Four, Breaks Bossa Nova,
Waimea Bay.
.
Personnel : arrangements and conductor - Lalo Schifrin,
guitars - John Pisano, Bob Bain, Howard Roberts, Laurindo Almeida,
drums - Shelly Manne, piano - Victor Feldman, bass - Joe Mondragon,
percussion - Francisco Aguabella, Milt Holland,
trombone - Frank Rosolino, alto sax and flute - Paul Horn,
tenor sax - Jackie Kelso.
Session: 1964 in L.A.
Comments : This is an "excellent" recording. H.R. is the dominant
player. In fact it could be considered a Howard Roberts album in my view.
The album is the movie soundtrack to the surf movie Gone With the Wave
written, directed and photographed by Phil Wilson.
Jack Sheldon with the Howard Roberts Quartet
1964 - Capitol 5294 (45 rpm)
Selections: Variations on a Theme by Bird (Walter Marks),
When I Dance with the Person I Love (Mark Sandrich-Jay Michaels, Jr.).
Personnel: vocals - Jack Sheldon, guitar - Howard Roberts and no other
details.
Comments: Great singing and guitar playing. Many thanks to Ed Barr
of Valdosta State University for this.
Variations on a Theme by Bird was supposedly for a Broadway show called Bajour.
The Big Guitars - Billy Strange, Howard Roberts, Glenn Campbell
1965 - Surrey
Selections : Daddy Roll 'Em (Gibson), Sangaree (Paulin-Salkowitz),
Blues Wail (Strange), Nashville Blues Ramble, Cottonfields (Leadbetter),
Hooten (Bond), Get The Bird Flyin', Bulldurem (Campbell), Shindiggin' (Bond),
Color Him Folky (Roberts).
Personnel : guitars - Billy Strange, Glenn Campbell and Howard Roberts.
Comments : Howard Roberts in a country/folk vein playing a 12 string.
H.R. is featured on Cottonfileds and Color Him Folky,
the latter song also being
penned by him. These selections were also issued respectively on The Twelve String Story, Volume 1 and the Twelve String Story, Volume 2 on Horizon Records SWP-1626 and SWP-1634. Thanks to Rowland Harris of Greenville, North Carolina for
this. Interesting! Good playing as usual by H.R.
Roy Clark - Stringin' Along With the Blues
1965 - Capitol
Selections :
St. Louis Blues, The Frankie and Johnnie Blues, Finger Likin', Worried Mind,
South, Just a Closer Walk With Thee, I Almost Lost My Mind, Honky Tonk,
Overdue Blues Part VII, Holdin, Blues Stay Away From Me,
Turkey In the Straw.
Personnel : guitars - Roy Clark, Barney Kessel and Howard Roberts,
drums - Earl Palmer, bass - Red Callender, piano and organ - Gene Gerf.
Comments : HR and Barney are only comping - but nicely.
Many thanks to Rowland Harris of Greenville, NC for this.
Si Zentner and his Orchestra - Put Your Head On My Shoulder
1965 - RCA LPM/LSP3484.
Selections: You Were Meant For Me (Freed-Brown),
All I Do Is Dream Of You (Freed-Brown),
Dream On Little Dreamer (Crutchfield-Burch),
Put Your Head On My Shoulder (Anka),
Soft Sound Of Love (Harrison-Zentner), Be My Love (Cahn-Brodszky),
I'm Confessin (That I Love You) (Daugherty-Reynolds-Neiburg)
Don't Blame Me (Fields-McHugh), Fly Me To The Moon (Howard),
My Devotion (Hillman-Napton), Because of You (Hammerstein-Wilkinson).
Personnel: trumpet - Ruby O'Donnell, Gene Coe, Neal Friel, Bob Carter,
trombone - Si Zentner, Fred Laurence, Dennis Good,
bass trombone - Bob Braun, alto sax - Frank St. Peter, Dave Hawley,
tenor sax - Pete Christlieb, Rod Adam, bari sax - Meyer Hirsch,
piano - Jack Riedling,
guitar - Tommy Tedesco, Tony Rizzi, Howard Roberts, Bob Bain, Bobby Gibbons,
bass - Jeff Castleman, drums - Bobby Harrison, percussion - Frank Flynn,
arrangers - Harry Betts, Perry Botkin Jr., Gene Coe, Bobby Harrison.
Session: Hollywood, July 12, 13 and 20, 1965.
Comments: Guitars are reasonably prominent and H.R. is discernible
on a few, in particular I'm Confessin'. Still there is a rather
annoying tick, tick, tick single note guitar accompaniment
on many of the tunes. I suspect this a 6 string bass Danelectro.
Not bad for a few tunes but it is overused.
Sonny and Cher - Look At Us
1965 - Sundazed SC6139 originally issued as ATCO LP 33-177 August, 1965.
Selections :
I Got You Babe (Bono), Unchained Melody (North-Zanet),
Then He Kissed Me (Spector-Greenwich-Berry),
Sing C'est La Vie (Bonoi-Green-Stone), Its Gonna Rain (Bono),
500 Miles (West), Just You (Bono), The Letter (Harris-Terry),
Let It Be Me (Curtis-Becaud), You Don't Love Me (Reye),
You've Really Got a Hold on Me (Robinson),
Why Don't They Let Us Fall in Love (Spector-Greenwich-Berry),
Its the Little Things (Bono), Don't Talk to Strangers (Bono),
Hello (Bono).
Personnel : guitars - Don Peake, Barney Kessel and Howard Roberts,
Steve Mann, Monte Dunn,
drums - Earl Palmer, Hal Blaine, Frank Capp,
bass - Lyle Ritz, Cliff Hils, piano - Harold Batiste, Don Randi,
harpsichord - Mike Rubini, percussion - Julius Wechter, Gene Estes,
Brian Stone.
Comments : Nice backgrounds. Sounds like everybody was using
Telecasters.
Many thanks to jazz record collector
C.C. Weijman of Utrecht, Netherlands for this.
Friendly Persuasion, Ray Coniff His Orchestra and Chorus
1965 - Columbia CS9010
Selections : Tiger Rag (Original Dixieland Jazz Band),
High Noon (Washington-Tiomkin), Ebb Tide (Sigman-Maxwell),
So Rare (Sharpe-Herst), Song of Love (Schubert-Berte-Romberg-Donelly),
April Love (Webster-Fain), June Night (Boer-Friend),
Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love) (Webster-Tiomkin), Stompin' At The
Savoy (Goodman-Webb-Sampson), I Understand (Gannon-Wayne),
Shangri-la (Maxwell-Malneck), Rose Room (Hickman-Williams).
Personnel :
trombone - Ray Conniff, Joe Howard, Edward Kusby, Ernie Tack,
piano and organ - Jimmy Rowles, Bob Ralston,
saxophone - Abe Most, John Bambridge, John Lowe, Fred Falensby, Ted Romerso,
producer - Ernie Altschuler,
vocals - Vangie Carmichael, Pat Collier, Jimmy Joyce, Gene Merlino, Jay Meyer,
Loulie Jean Norman, B.J. Baker, Verne Rowe,
harp - Stella Castellucci,
trumpet - Conrad Gozzo, Ollie Mitchell, Jimmie Zito,
guitar - Al Hendrickson, Howard Roberts,
drums - Milt Holland,
percussion - Wally Snow,
bass - Phil Stephens.
Comments : Just comping but a nice picture on the back of the album of
the full orchestra in the studio. H.R. seems to be playing a flat-top acoustic.
Bobby Darin - The Shadow of Your Smile
1965 - Atlantic SD-8121.
Selections with H.R.:
The Breaking Point, Cute (Hefti), Its Only a Paper Moon (Rose-Harburg-Arlen), Silver Dollar (Van Ness-Palmer).
Personnel:
vocals - Bobby Darin, trumpet - Pete Candoli, Lee Katzman, Bud Brisbois, Don
Fagerquis, trombone - Lloyd Ulyate, Urbie Green, Gilbert Falco, George
Roberts, saxes - Wilbur Schwartz, Ronald Langinger, Plas Johnson, Jack
Nimitz, piano - Jimmy Rowles, guitar - Howard Roberts, Bill Pittman,
bass - Max Bennett, conga - Jack Sperl, Emil Richards, director - Jack Lee,
arranger/conductor - Richard Wess.
Session Los Angeles, December 14 1965.
Comments: There were a couple of selections also recorded at this
session that do not appear on this album, namely The Sheik of Araby,
and This Could Be the Start of Something Big.
Some nice big-band style comping on Cute and Its Only A Paper Moon
but no solos.
Frankie Randall - Going The Frankie Randall Way
1965 - RCA LSP-3627
Selections: A Taste Of Honey (Marlow-Scott), Gone With The Wind (Magidson-Wrubel),
Crazy She Calls Me (Russell-Sigman), They Didn't Believe Me (Reynolds-Kern),
Carnival (Bonfa-Weiss-Peretti-Creatore), Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
(Clare-Stept-Palmer), Gravy Waltz (Allen-Brown),
The Best Things In Life Are Free (DeSylva-Brown-Henderson),
Isn't It Romantic (Rodgers-Hart), I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Rodgers-Hart),
Here's That Rainy Day (Burke-Van Heusen), It Had To Be You (Kahn-Jones).
Personnel : vocal - Frankie Randall, arranger and conductor - Billy May,
trumpet - John Audino, Ray Triscari, Don Fagerquist, Uan Rasey,
trombone - James Priddy, Milt Bernhart, Bill Shaffer, Joe Howard,
saxes - Harry Klee, Wilbur Scwartz, Willie Smith, Bob Hardaway,
piano - Jimmy Rowles,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Bob Bain, John Collins, bass - Chick Berghofer,
drums and percussion - Hal Blaine, Milt Holland, Julius Wechter.
Session: Los Angeles, 1965.
Comments : Just comping.
Jack Sheldon Presents The Entertainers
1964-65 - V.S.O.P. #90 CD
Selections: On Green Dolphin Street (B. Kaper), How Long, How Long
Blues (L. Carr), Pennies From Heaven (Johnston), Days Of Wine And Roses
(J. Mercer), Charade (H. Mancini-J. Mercer),
What Kind Of Fool Am I (L. Bricusse-A. Newley),
Killer Joe (B. Golson), She's A Woman (J. Lennon-P. McCartney),
Born To Lose (Brown-J. Sheldon), Steeplechase (C. Parker),
The Atomic Bomb (J. Sheldon),
Royce Hall Blues (J. Mercer).
Personnel: trumpet - Jack Sheldon, trombone - Frank Rosolino,
vocal - Jack Sheldon, Frank Rosolino, Johnny Mercer, bass - Joe Mondragon,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Jack Marshall, drums - Shelly Manne, Stan Levey.
Session: Harbor High, Costa Mesa, CA in March or April 1964
and Royce Hall, L.A. on March 1, 1965.
Comments: Some nice performances generally and great guitar
throughout. H.R. is featured on Days Of Wine And Roses.
Jack Sheldon Live At Don Mupo's Gold Nugget
1965 - V.S.O.P. #101 CD
Selections: Jack's Blues (J. Sheldon), Bodega Bay (J. Sheldon),
Who Can I Turn To (Bricusse-Newley),
Creamfinger (Sheldon-Marshall, Bricusse-Newley),
Steeplechase (C. Parker), Historia de Amor (traditional), Don Mupo (J. Sheldon),
Rodrigo/What Kind Of Fool Am I (Sheldon-Marshall, Bricusse-Newley),
You Fascinate Me So (Cy Coleman), Wait And See (J. Sheldon),
The Girl From Ipanema (Marshall-Sheldon, Jobim), She's A Woman (Lennon-McCartney).
Personnel: trumpet - Jack Sheldon,
vocal - Jack Sheldon, bass - Joe Mondragon,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Jack Marshall, drums - Stan Levey.
Session : The Gold Nuggett was club in Oakland, CA and this was recorded in April of 1965.
Comments: Live performances, similar to Jack Sheldon Presents The
Entertainers. Great guitar playing throughout and in particular
extended guitar solos on Steeplechase, What Kind Of Fool Am I and She's A Woman!
Some of the songs are combined
with comedy sketches created by Jack Marshall and Jack Sheldon.
the Sandpiper - Johnny Mandel
1965 - Verve
Selections: All compositions by Johnny Mandel. The Shadow Of Your
Smile (Webster-Mandel), Main Title, Desire, Seduction, San Simeon,
Weekend Montage, Baby Sandpiper, Art Gallery, End Title, Bird Bath.
Personnel: trumpet - Jack Sheldon, Una Rasey, George Werth,
Rubin Zachary, James Zito,
trombone - Randall Miller, Richard Noel, Kenny Shroyer,
horn - Jack Cave, Vincent DeRosa, Herman Lebow, Arthur Maebe Jr.,
reeeds - Bernard Fleischer, Plas Johnson, Harry Klee, Jack Nimitz, Wilbur Schwartz, Bud Shank, Pete Terry,
tuba - J.T. Johnson,
violin -Sam Caplan, Lou Klass, Sarah Kreindler, Bernard Kundell, Dan Lube,
Alfred Lustgarten, Joy Lyle, Betty Marks, Lou Raderman, Heiman Weinstine,
bass - Joe Mondragon, Red Mitchell,
viola - Cecil Figelski, Allan Harshman, Virginia Majewski, Reuben Marcus,
cello - Raphael Kramer, Frederick Seykora, Glorai Strassner,
harp - Catherine Gotthofer,
piano - Artie Kane,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
drums - Frank Carlson, Victor Feldman,
conductor - Robert Armbruster.
Comments: Not a jazz recording but great music. The guitar is quite
distinct and has some extended passages. I believe Johnny Mandel won an
Academy Award for this music. I do not recommend the movie! H.R. was a member
of Jack Sheldon's group at this time.
Elvis Presley - Paradise Hawaiian Style
1966 - RCA LPM/LSP-3643.
Selections with H.R.: Sand Castles (Coldberg-Hess).
Personnel : vocal - Elvis Presley,
guitars - Howard Roberts, Al Hendrickson, drums - Vic Feldman,
bass - Ray Siegel or Keith Mitchell.
Session: July 27, 1965.
Comments: Nice guitar and vocal on this.
Quiet Nights and Brazilian Guitars - Guitars Unlimited
1966 - Capitol
Selections: Girl From Ipanema (A. Jobim),
Black Orpheus (Manha da Carnival) (L. Bonfa),
Meditation (A. Jobim), Here Lies Love (Jack Marshall-Bob Mosher),
Ho-Ba-La-La (J. Gilberto), Bim Bom (J. Gilberto), Desafinado (A. Jobim),
Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) (A. Jobim),
One Note Samba (A. Jobim), These Are The Ways Of Love (Jack Marshall-Bob Mosher),
O Barquinho (Little Boat) (R. Menescal).
Personnel : conductor-arranger - Jack Marshall,
guitars - Howard Roberts, Laurindo Almeida, Rosinha De Valenco,
Bob Bain, Tony Rizzi, Al Hendrickson, Jack Marshall, Tommy Tedesco,
percussion - Shelley Manne, Milton Holland, bass - Joe Mondragon,
bells - Frank Flynn.
Comments: Similar to "Tender Is The Night".
All the guitar solos are by Howard Roberts except on Here Lies Love
and These Are The Ways Of Love where Laurindo Almeida solos.
Thanks to Bill Gobby for making this available and to Adrian Pellew for providig additional information..
Tender Is The Night - Guitars Unlimited
Capitol
Selections: Tender Is The Night (Donaldson-Adamson),
Espesa No Aqui, (Bain-Berlin) The Shadow Of Your Smile (Mandel-Webster),
Cuando Sali De Cuba (Kusik-Snyder-Aguile),
The Second Time Around (Van Heusen-Cahn),
Mujers Con Ojos Cafe (Schlugge), Close Your Eyes (Petkere),
Halfway Is Nowhere (Marshall-Folino), A Happening (Marshall),
Let Me Love You Tonight (Touzet-Parish), The Moon Is Low (Brown-Freed).
Personnel : guitars - Bob Bain, Tony Rizzi, Bill Pitman, Al Hendrickson, Dennis
Budimir, percussion - Frank Flynn, Stan Levey, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Shelly Manne.
Comments: Not a "jazz" album but high quality musicianship makes this a
good album. H.R. is quite recognizable.
Nancy Wilson - Nancy Naturally
1966 - Capitol T2634.
Selections: In The Dark (Green), Ten Years Of Tears (Harrington),
Since I Fell For You (Johnson), You Ain't Had The Blues (Joyner-Bright),
Willow For Me (Ronell), My Babe (Dixon),
Just For A Thrill (Armstrong-Raye), Alright, Okay You Win (Wyche-Watts),
I Wish I Didn't Love You So (Loesser), Smack Dab In The Middle (Calhoun),
Watch What Happens (Gimbel-Legrand), Ain't That Lovin' You (Malone).
Personnel: Arranged and Conducted by Billy May. No personnel
listed but a Bluenote discography puts H.R. on My Babe which
was also released on a Bluenote CD.
Session: July 13, 1966, L.A.
Comments: Just comping.
Unforgettable - Johnny Hartman
1966 - Impulse
Selections with H.R. : Today I Love Everybody (H. Arlen-D. Fields),
T'Ain't No Need (N. Jones), For theWant Of A Kiss (R. Evans-S.Winkler),
Girl Talk (N. Hefti-B. Troup), That Old Black Magic (J. Mercer-H. Arlen).
Personnel : guitar - Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts,
percussion - James Lockert, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Shelly Manne, piano - Mike Melvoin, baritone sax - Bill Hood,
alto sax - Gabe Baltazar, trombones, Billy Byers, Mike Barone,
trumpets - Ollie Mitchell, Al Porcino, Conte Candoli.
Session: September 28, 1966.
Comments: No solos.
Mel Torme - Right Now
1966 - Columbia CK 65164
Selections :
Comin' Home Baby (Tucker-Borough), Homeward Bound (P. Simon),
My Little Red Book (Bacharach-David), Walk on By (Bacharach-David),
If I Had a Hammer (P. Seeger-L. Hays),
Strangers In the Night (Kaempfert-Snyder-Singleton),
Better Use Your head (Randazzov-Pike), Time (Merchant), Secret Agent Man
(S. Barri-P.F. Sloan), Pretty Flamingo (M. Barkan), Red Rubber Ball (P. Simon-B. Woodley),
All That Jazz (B. Carter-A. Stillman), You Don't Have to Love Me (Donaggio-Pollavicini), Dominique's Discotheque (Straigi-Linsley-Rossi),
The Power of Love (Bramlett-Cooper), Lover's Roulette (Arenas-Edmonds-Thompson),
Ciao Baby (?), Molly Marlene (Thornton), The King (?),
Lima Lady (Curtis-Meyer), Wait Until Dark (Mancini-Livingston-Evans),
Only When I'm Lonely (?).
Personnel :
Arranged and conducted by Mort Garson,
violins - Robert Barene, Arnold Belnick, Harry Bluestone, James Getzoff,
Nathan Ross, Henry Roth, Sidney Sharp, Marshall Sosson,
viola - Joseph DiFiore, Myron Samndler,
cello - Armand Kaproff, Fredrick Seykora, piano - Michael Melvoin,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Al McKibbon, drums - Jim Gordon,
vibes - Gary Coleman.
Session: Recorded at Columbia Studios, Hollywood on June 6, 1966.
Comments: First 11 tracks issued on the original album with remainder
added to CD. Strangers in the Night also appears on the Mel Torme Collection 1944-1985. H.R. is just accompanying.
Jean King - Sings for the In Crowd
1966 - Hanna-Barbera HST-9505.
Selections: Watermelon Man (G. Lynne-H. Hancock), Up Tight (S. Wonder-S. Moy-H. Cosby), Hang On Sloopy (W. Farrell-B. Burns), The In-Crowd (B. Page),
Just My Style (G. Lewis-L. Russell-T. Leslie-A. Kapps),
England Swings (R. Miller), I Got You (J. Brown), All I Really Want To Do
(B. Dylan), My World Is Empty Without You (B. Holland-L. Dozier-E. Holland),
A Hard Day's Night (Lennon-McCartney), My Love (T. Hatch), Going To A Go-Go
(W. Robinson-W. Moore-M. Tarplin-R. Rogers).
Personnel : arranged by Gene Page and Shorty Rogers,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Chuck Berghofer, drums - Hal Blaine,
percussion - Emil Richards, piano - Pete Jolly, vocals - Jean King.
Session: 1966.
Comments: H.R. in a soul bag. Jean King was a member of the Blossoms
(remember Shindig?). Actually with all the talent on this record you might expect something interesting .... There are some interesting pictures of H.R.
playing his Telecaster on it though.
Billy May Today!
1966 - Capitol T2560.
Selections: Michelle (Lennon-McCartney),
St. Joe, Mo. (May), Goin' Out of My Head (Randazzo-Weinstein),
Rain Sometimes (Hamilton), Strangers In the Night (Kaempfert-Singleton-Snyder),
Spanish Flea (Wechter), You've Got Your Troubles, (Greenaway-Cook)
Lover's Concerto (Linzer-Randell), Compatibility (May),
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Ellington-Russell),
The Shadow of Your Smile (Wenster-Mandel).
Personnel : arranged by Billy May,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Bob Bain, John Collins, bass - Chuck Berghofer,
percussion - Hal Blaine, Milt Holland, Larry Bunker, Julius Wechter,
Trumpets - John Audino, Don Fagerquist, Uan Rasey, Ray Triscari,
trombones - James Priddy, Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Bill Schaefer,
woodwinds, Justin Gordon, Harry Klee, Wilbur Schwartz, Willie Smith,
Bob Haraway.
Session: Studio A in the Capitol Tower Building, L.A., June 1, 6 and 7, 1966.
Comments: Billy May arrangements with a "contemporary" feel for that
period. The guitars play a big role but mostly comping on solid bodies
and use of the Benson fuzz at times.
The Folkswingers - Raga Rock
1966 - World Pacific WP-1846
Selections: Paint It Black (Jagger_Richards),
Eight Miles High (Clark-McGuinn-Crosby), Dona, Dona (Secunda-Secunda),
Norwegian Wood (Lennon-McCartney),
Along Comes Mary (Almer), Time Won't Let Me (King-Kelley),
Shapes Of Things Smith-Relf-McCarthy), Hey Joe (Valenti), Kicks (Mann-Weil),
Homeward Bound (Simon), Grim Reaper Of Love (Portz-Nichal),
Raga Rock (Tipton).
Personnel : arranger - George Tipton,
sitar - Harihar Rao, 12 string guitar - Dennis Budimir,
guitar - Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts, Tommy Tedesco,
drums - Hal Blaine, bass guitar - Bill Pitman, Lyke Ritz,
organ and electric piano - Larry Knechtel.
Session: ?
Comments: The album features the sitar.
H.R. just provides rhythmic accompaniment. Dennis Budimir
does the majority of solos on 12 string with fuzz. To quote the liner notes
"It's another step forward in closer understanding of two
cultures, the East and the West." Hmmm. Thanks to Joseph Scott
for clarifying some details.
Nancy Sinatra - Sugar
1966 Reprise RS-6239 resissued by Sundazed Music SC 6055 in 1995.
Selections:
Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie-Pinkard-Casey),
Vagabond Shoes (Gallop-Saxon), Oh! You Beautiful Doll (Ayer-Brown),
Hard Hearted Hannah (Yellen-Ager-Bigelow-Bates),
All By Myself (Berlin), Coastin' (Hazelwood),
Mama Goes Where Papa Goes (Ager-Yellen), Let's Fall In Love (Koehler-Arlen),
What'll I Do (Berlin), Limehouse Blues (Furber-Braham),
Limehouse Blues (Furber-Braham), Sugar Town (Hazelwood),
Button Up Your Overcoat (DeSylva-Brown-Henderson),
My Buddy (Kahn-Donaldson), Love Eyes (Hazelwood), Something Stupid
(Parks).
Personnel: vocals - Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra,
guitar - Al Casey, Glen Campbell, Donnie Owens, James Burton,
Bobby Gibbons, Howard Roberts, Jimmy Helms, Billy Strange,
trumpet - Oil Mitchell, Roy Caton, Virgil Evans, Bud Brisbois, Howard Katz,
trombone - Lew McCreary, Dick Hyde, Bobby Knight, Hoyt Bohannon,
piano - Don Randi, Larry Knechtel,
electric bass - Carol Kaye, Larry Knechtel,
bass - Chuck Berhofer, Cliff Hills, drums - Hal Blaine, James Gordon,
percussion - Joe Porcaro.
Session: L.A. 1966.
Comments: Nothing particularly discernible as H.R. but lots
of nice guitar back-ups by a real who's who of L.A. session guitarists.
The Deep Six
1966 - originally released as Liberty LRP 3475 (7475 in stereo)
and rereleased on CD as CR REv 46.
Selections: Paint It Black (Jagger-Richards),
When Morning Breaks (Paxton), Unlock the Door (Lind),
What Would You Wish From the Golden Fish (Gray),
Somewhere, My Love (Jarre-Webster),
A Groovy Kind of Love (Bayer-Wine),
Solitary Man (Diamond),
Counting (Lind),
Rising Sun (Gray),
Winds of Morning (Cannon-Dunn-Gray)
Why Say Goodbye (Cannon, Lottermoser),
Where Were You When I Needed You (Barri-Sloan),
Strollin' Blues (Dehr-Gilkyson-Miller),
Things We Say (Dunn-Lottermoser),
I Wanna Shout (Gray),
Image of a Girl (Clasky-Rosenberg),
C'mon Baby (Blow Your Mind) (Kane).
Personnel: Mac Elsensohn, Dean Cannon, Don Dunn,
Dave Gray, Dan Lottermoser, Tony McCashen and various
studio musicians including Carole Kaye on bass and Howard Roberts,
Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel on guitar.
Session: L.A., 1966. Comments: Some "fuzz" guitar might be H.R. Nice recording overall.
Della - On Strings of Blue - Della Reese
1967 ABC Records ABCS-612.
Selections:
On the South Side of Chicago (P. Zeller),
I Had to Know My Way Around (Badale-Clifford),
Mean To Me (Ahlert-Turk),
Something Cool (B. Barnes),
I Heard You Cried Last Night (Grouya-Kruger),
Walking By the River (Sour-Carlisle),
I Don't Know Enough About You (Lee-Barbour),
A House is Not a Home (Bacharach-David),
Do I Worry (Worth-Cowan),
The Show Must Go On (Alfred-Frisch),
Some of My Best Friends are the Blues (Harris-Byron),
I'm Coming Home, Los Angeles (Sanicola-Worth).
Personnel : vocals - Della Reese,
guitar - Howard Roberts, John Collins,
bass - Jimmy Bond, Ray Brown,
piano - Kirk Stuart, drums - Earl Palmer, Ed Thigpen,
vibes - Victor Feldman and a string section.
Session: June 15, 16 and 17, 1967 in L.A.
Comments: Lots of talent on this record but pretty disappointing.
H.R. plays some pretty obligatos but in general all the instruments are mixed
way too low **except** for the strings. The guitar sounds like it is
being played at the end of a long tunnel!
Gabor Szabo - Wind Sky and Diamonds
1967 Impulse A-9151.
Selections with H.R.: Are You There (G. Szabo-S. Allen), Lucy in the Sky
with Diamonds (Lennon-McCartney), To Sir With Love (D. Black-M. London).
Personnel : guitar - Gabor Szabo, Howard Roberts, Louis Morell,
bass - M. Pohlman, piano and harpsichord - M. Melvoin, drums - Jimmy Gordon,
percussion - Victor Feldman, sitar - Bill Plummer.
Session: September 13, 1967 L.A.
Comments: Just comping.
Lalo Schifrin - Cool Hand Luke
1967 - DOT #DLP 25833.
Selections: All by Lalo Schifrin except where indicated.
Main Title (aka Down Here on the Ground),
Just a Closer Walk With Thee (Traditional), Tar Sequence,
Lucille, Egg Eating Contest, Plastic Jesus (Rush-Cromarty),
Bean Time, Ballad of Cool Hand Luke, Arletta Blues, The First Morning,
The Chase, Road Gang, End Title (aka Down Here on the Ground).
Personnel: piano - Mike Melvoin, bass - Ray Brown,
drums - Earl Palmer, guitar - Howard Roberts (and others).
There are many others on this but I have no further information.
Session: 1967 Hollywood, CA.
Comments: There is lots of guitar music on this including the
theme which is played by two nylon string guitars.
According to Lalo Schifrin (as told to Mitch Holder) H.R. played
the lead melody while Tommy Tedesco played the background.
Further Mitch added "Lalo said
everyone was really touched by Howard's performance on that track. Lalo
has fond memories of Howard ..."
This song was nominated for an Academy Award.
While H.R. is not listed,
Arletta Blues is definitely Howard Roberts being featured. I've put
this up under Music. Also Just a Closer Walk With Thee
features some of the excellent funky comping H.R. was reknowned for.
Henry Cain - The Funky Organization of Henry Cain
1967 - Capitol ST 2688.
Selections: The Way I Feel (J. Patton), Lonely Avenue (D. Pomus),
Why (Am I Treated So Bad) (Stable), Shake a Lady (Bryant), Respect (Redding),
Dead End Street (Axelrod), Sunny (Hebb), I'm On My Way (N. Adderly),
Critics Choice (O. Nelson),
Precious Memories (Montague), Horror Scope (Cain).
Personnel: organ - Henry Cain, guitar - Howard Roberts, Arthur Wright,
trumpets - Tony Terran, Fred Hill, sax - Plas Johnson,
Plas Johnson, H.B. Barnum, John Kelson,
drums - Earl Palmer, bass - James Bond, vibes and percussion
- John Williams, Gary Coleman, arrangements - Oliver Nelson, H.B. Barnum.
Session: L.A. 1967.
Comments: Some funky rhythm playing and a few nice fills by H.R.
Probably playing the Fender Broadcaster.
Carmen McRae - Portrait of Carmen
1968 - Atlantic SD8165 reissued on Collectibles Jazz Classics COL CD 6835.
Selections with H.R.:Elusive Butterfly (Lind), When You get Around
To Me (Ahlert), Ask Any Woman (Stewart-Langley).
Personnel: vocal - Carmen McRae, horn - William Hinshaw, David Duke,
Henry Sigismonti, trombone - George Roberts, Lew McCreary,
flute - Gene Cipriano, Harry Klee, piano - Norman Simons, guitar - Howard Roberts,
Dennis Budimir, bass - Ray Brown, drums - Earl Palmer, percussion -
Victor Feldman, Louis Singer, strings (6 violins, 2 celli) - ?,
arranger - Shorty Rogers.
Session: Los Angeles, Nov. 28, 1967.
Comments: Just comping but nicely!
Willie Ruff - The Smooth Side of Ruff
1968 - Columbia CS 9603.
Selections: Sheffield Blues (Ruff), Pa Moscuna Vechera
(Russian folk tune arranged by Ruff),
Slim (Ruff), Recado (OLive), Jet Set Gypsy (Ruff),
Snowfall (Charles-Thornhill), Casino Royale (David-Baharach), Soundboard (Ruff),
Mirage Blanc (Ruff), That Someone Is Me (Ginsberg),
Bella Pulcinella (Ruff).
Personnel: producer - John Hammond, Sr. and Irving Townsend,
drums - Grady Tate, Ed Thigpen, arranger - Art Harris,
guitar, French horn, vocals - Willie Ruff, bass - Ray Brown,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
vibes - Emil Richards. Also a big band but no members listed.
Session March 10, October 11, 13, 21 and Nov. 1, 1967 and January 23, 1968, L.A.
Comments: Excellent album with some nice contributions from H.R.
There was one other track called Massachusetts that was released on
Col 4-44406.
Thelonious Sphere Monk - Monk's Blues
1968 - reissued on CD - Columbia CK 53581.
Selections: Let's Cool One (T. Monk), reflections (T. Monk), Rootie Tootie (T. Monk), Just A Glance Of Love (T. Macero), Brilliant Corners (T. Monk),
Consecutive Seconds (T. Monk), Monk's Point (T. Monk), Trinkle Tinkle (T.
Monk), Straight, No Chaser (T. Monk), Blue Monk (T. Monk),
'Round Midnight (B. Hanighen-C. Williams-T. Monk).
Personnel: arranger - Oliver Nelson,
trumpet - Robert Bryant, Frederick Hill, Conte Candoli,
trombone - Robert Brookmeyer,William Byers, Mike Wimberly,
saxes - Ernie Small, Tom Scott, Gene Cipriano, Ernest Watts, Charlie Rouse,
bass - Lawrence Gales,
guitar - Howard Roberts, drums - Benjamin Riley, percussion - John Guerin.
Comments: Some of these selections were previously issued on
"Who's Afraid Of The Big Band Monk" and "Thelonious Monk - The Composer".
There is not much guitar on this other than some nice comping. Unfortunately
one selection that featured the guitar was not released.
Jimmy Smith - Livin' it up!
1968 - reissued on CD - Verve V6/8750.
Selections: Mission Impossible, Refractions, The Gentle Rain,
Burning Spear, Go Away Little Girl, Livin' It Up,
This Nearly Was Mine, Big Boss Man,
Valley Of the Dolls.
Personnel: not all of the personnel are listed,
arranger - Oliver Nelson,
organ and vocals - Jimmy Smith,
saxes - Plas Johnson,
bass - Ray Brown, Carol Kaye,
guitar - Howard Roberts, drums - Larry Bunker.
Session: L.A., May 13-14, 1968.
Comments: Excellent comping which is quite pronounced but no
solos. Some of the selections on this album also appear on the Verve CD's The
Roots of Acid Jazz and Verve Jazz Masters 29, Walk on the Wild Side.
Bullitt - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
1968 - reissued on CD - Warner Bros. WPCR-783.
Selections: Music composed by Lalo Schifrin.
Bullitt (Main Title), Route "26", Hotel Daniels, The Aftermath of
Love, Music to Interrogate By, On the Way to San Mateo, Ice Pick Man,
A Song for Cathy, Shifting Gears, Cantata for Combo, The First Snowfall,
Bullitt (End Title).
Personnel: conductor - Lalo Schifrin,
flute - Bud Shank, bass - Ray Brown, guitar - Howard Roberts,
trumpet - Bud Brisbois, trombone - Milt Bernhart, tenor sax - Plas Johnson,
piano and organ - Mike Melvoin, drums - Larry Bunker, strings - not listed.
Session: Burbank, 1968.
Comments: Excellent music and many great contributions from H.R.
The soundtrack CD contains a lot more H.R. and interesting music generally
than the actual film. I believe the theme Bullitt was released separately.
Lou Rawls - For You My Love
1968 - reissued on CD - Capitol Jazz.
Selections with H.R. :That's Your Red Wagon (Raye-DePaul-Jones), Just Squeeze me (But Don't Tease Me) (D. Ellington-L. Gaines), It's You (l. Rawls),
I Love You Yes I Do (Seiler-Marcus-Wood-Nix-Glover), I Wonder (C. Gant-R.
Leveen), Wee Baby Blues (P. Johnson-J. Turner), I Wonder Where Our Love
Has Gone (B. Johnson).
Personnel: arranger - Benny Golson,
trumpet - Harry "Sweets" Edison, Freddie Hill,
trombone - Dick Leith,
saxes - Jim Horn, Bill Green, Plas Johnson,
bass - Robert Haynes,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Walter Namuth,
drums - Melvin Lee, percussion - Joe Clayton,
vibes - Dale Anderson,
piano, organ - Gildo Mahones.
Session: Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, November 26 and 27, 1968.
Comments: Excellent big band and vocals and the guitar is quite prominent.
Song For My Daughter - Jack Wilson
1968 - Bluenote BST 84328.
Selections with H.R.: Herman's Helmet (J. Wilson),
Night Creature (D. Ellington), Soft Summer Rain (D. Baker),
Eighty-One (R. Carter).
Personnel: piano - Jack Wilson,
bass - Andy Simpkins, Ray Brown,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
drums - Jimmie Smith, Donald Bailey,
vibes and tympani - Victor Feldman, Tommy Vig.
Session: L.A., Dec. 16, 1968.
Comments: Thanks to Bill Gobby for making this available.
Not much H.R. although some nice background on Soft Summer Rain.
Accent on Africa - The Cannonball Adderly Quintet
1968 - Capitol ST8-2987.
Selections: All selections composed by C. Adderly except Up and At It
which is by Wes Montgomery. Ndolima, Hamba Nami, Khutsana, Up and At It, Gumba Gumba,
Marabi, Gunjah, Lehadima.
Personnel: alto and soprano sax and Selmer varitone - C. Adderly,
cornet - Nat Adderly, trumpets - Jack Lambert, Freddie Hill, Anthony Terra,
Oliver Mitchell, trombones - Bob Pring, Richard Leith,
french horn - Vincent De Rosa, reeds - Jules Jacob, Buddy Collette,
Plas Johnson, Jim Horn, woodwinds - Jackie Kelso, vibes - Gene Estes,
piano - Don Randi, guitars - Howard Roberts, Carol Kaye, bass - Ray Brown,
drums - Earl Palmer, percussion - Frank Guerrero, Joe Clayton,
arranger and conductor - H.B. Barnum.
Session: June 13-14, 1968, L.A.
The Electric Prunes - Release of an Oath - The Kol Nidre
1968 - Reprise RS 6316.
Selections: Compositions by David Axelrod.
Kol Nidre, Holy Are You, General Confessional, Individual Confessional,
Our Father, Our King, The Adoration, Closing Hymn.
Personnel: keyboards - John Herren,
guitar - Mark Kincaid, Howard Roberts, Ron Morgan,
bass - Brett Wade,
drums - Richard Whetstone.
Session: November 1968, L.A.
Comments: Playing Telecaster on this with Benson fuzz.
There are no personnel listed on the record. I believe it was mostly
made by studio musicians so there are many others on this record who
are not listed. I'm not sure if H.R.
was on other Electric Prunes records or not. Here is a
quote from David Axelrod (thanks to Chris Clermont for
this) that appeared in
Wax Poetics, #14, Fall, 2005.
"...Mainly, Howard is so good. Geeze, Howard was just
wonderful. Good God. And the Electric Prunes thing,
Release of an Oath, the solo on "Holy Are You" is
insane! I mean he's playing so many notes. He's not
just playing notes to play notes; he's saying
something. The only guitar player I know of who
Howard would have had a problem with was Wes
Montgomery. Howard had two guitars--his jazz Gibson
and his rock-and-roll Fender. Howard was beautiful.
I've known Howard since 1954."
Song of Innocence - David Axelrod
1968 - originally on Capitol but rereleased on Ascension in 2000.
Selections: Compositions by David Axelrod.
Urizen, Holy Thursday, The Smile, A Dream, Song of Innocence, Merlin's
Prophecy, The Mental Traveller.
Personnel:
vocals, producer - David Axelrod, vocals (background) - Gary Coleman,
percussion - Gene Estes, trumpet - Freddie Hill, Ollie Mitchell, Terry Terran,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Pedro Wynant,
bass - Carol Kaye, drums - Earl Palmer,
wind - Henry Sigismonti,
trombone - Richard Leith, horn - Arthur Maebe, Lew McCreary, Vincent DeRosa,
violins - Arnold Belnick, Allen DiRienzo, Bill Hinshaw, Harry Hyams,
Nathan Ross, Myron Sandler, Harold Schneier, Marshall Sosson,
contractor - Ben Barrett.
Comments: Interesting music. Not too much from H.R. Some distorted
guitar solos on the Broadcaster.
David Axelrod - David Axelrod
1968/2001 - MoWax MWR141 CD.
Selections: Compositions by David Axelrod.
The Little Children, Jimmy T, Crystal Ball, Fantasy For Ralph,
The Dr & The Diamond, Big B PLus, For Land's Sake, The Shadow Knows,
Loved Boy.
Personnel:
producer - David Axelrod,
vocals - Lou Rawls, John Austin, Life Chois (conducted by H.B. Barnum),
Cynthia Bass, Brenda Marie Eiger, Esterlee Nicholson, Anite Tolber Nwede,
Melanie Taylor,
percussion - Gary Coleman,
trumpet - Oscar Brashear, trombone - Georege Bohanon,
reeds - Gene Cipriano, Bob Efford, Lanny Morgan, Ernie Watts,
piano - Don Randi,
organ - Joe Sample,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Pedro Wynant, Lou Morell,`
bass - Carol Kaye, drums - Earl Palmer,
violins - Donald Palmer, viola - Marilyn Baker, cello - Nat Gershman,
contrabass- James Hughart.
Session: Capitol Records, L.A.
Comments: The rhythm tracks were recorded by H.R., Carol Kaye and
Earl Palmer in 1968 and material was subsequently added by Axelrod
and released in 2001. Also H.R. has a number of solos in a rock
vein. Overall an interesting recording. CD also contains a
video interview with David Axelrod and he mentions H.R.
The Monkees - The Birds, The Bees And The Monkees
1968 - Colgems COS-109.
Selections:
Dream World (Jones-Pitts), Auntie's Municipal Court (Nesmith-Allison),
We Were Made For Each Other (Bayer-Fischoff),
Tapioca Tundra (Nesmith),
Daydream Believer (Stewart),
Writing Wrongs (Nesmith),
I'll Be Back Up On My Feet (Linzer & Randell),
The Poster (Jones & Pitts),
P.O. Box 9847 (Boyce & Hart),
Magnolia Simms (Nesmith),
Valleri (Boyce-Hart),
Zor and Zam (Chadwick-Chadwick),
Alvin (Thorkelson),
I'm Gonna Try (Jones-Pitts),
P.O. Box 9847 (Boyce-Hart),
The Girl I Left Behind Me (Sedaka-Bayer),
Lady's Baby (Tork).
Personnel: The Monkees (Peter Tork - vocals, guitar, piano,
Michael Nesmith - vocals, guitar,
Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz - vocals). Additional personnel includes
guitar - Michael Deasy, Al Hendrickson, Gerry McGee,
Keith Allison, Bill Chadwick, Dennis Budimir, James Burton, Al Casey, Howard Roberts,
Louie Shelton, Lance Wakely, Stephen Stills,
piano - Michael Melvoin (also on harpsichord), Don Randi,
Paul T. Smith, Keith "Red" Mitchell, keyboards - Harry Nilsson,
bass - Max Bennett, Richard Dey, Chip Douglas, Lyle Ritz, Joe Osborne,
Red Callender, drums - Earl Palmer, Eddie Hoh, Billy Lewis, Milt Holland,
Hal Blaine, Buddy Miles.
Session: Recorded at Western Recorders, RCA Victor Studios and United Recorders,
Hollywood, California between June 1967 and March 1968.
Comments: Nice solo on Valleri is by Louis Shelton.
H.R, plays on The Poster.
Carol Kaye: Bass
1968 - released in 1994 on Hot Wire Records
Selections with H.R. : Moke and Poke Stomp (Brown), Bass Catch (Brown-Kaye), Groundhog Shuffle (Brown), Greenapple Quickstep (Brown).
Personnel: bass - Carol Kaye, Ray Brown, guitar - Howard
Roberts, drums - Milt Holland, piano - Joe Sample.
Session: 1968, Western 2, Hollywood.
Comments: There is lots of interesting music on the CD besides these
tracks including Carol's collaboration with Joe Pass and demos recorded in
Colrado in 1986.
Mannix - Lalo Schifrin
1969 - Paramount PAS 5004.
Selections: Compositions by Lalo Schifrin.
Mannix, The Edge of Night, The Girl Who Came in with the Tide, Beyond the
Shadows of Today (Shifrin-Geller), The Shadow, Turn Every Stone (S. Rogers),
Hunt Down,
Warning: Live Blueberries, Fear, The End of the Rainbow, End Game.
Personnel: None listed.
Comments: Lalo Schifrin has redone this recording and released a CD
on his own label Aleph in 1999. I contacted guitarist Paul Shigihara who
played on this later recording and he confirmed, after speaking
with Lalo Schifrin, that H.R. did in fact play on the original. Actually
there are several parts on the album that are distinctively Howard Roberts
although he is playing with a somewhat harsher tone than is customary.
Both recordings are highly recommended.
Lalo Schifrin has again recorded the Bullitt soundtrack,
this time with Paul Shigihara on guitar.
Since the Bullitt soundtrack is a great recording for H.R. fans it will
be interesting to hear the new version.
Ernie Heckscher, Those Were The Days
1968, Earl Records EH 1600.
Selections: Those Were The Days (Raskin),
Funny Girl (Merrill-Styne), Frenesi (Dominguez),
When Was The Time (Mignonne), Bar-Rump Bump (Alexander-Hale),
Classical Gas (Williams), Wave (Jobim),
How Are Things In Glocca Mora? (Harburg-Lane-Desylva-Brown-Henderson),
The Sandman (Mignonne), Sunny (Hebb),
San Francisco(Wear Flowers In Your Hair) (Phillips).
Personnel:
27 piece orchestra including trumpet - Manny Klein, Shorty Sherock,
violin - Harry Bluestone, alto sax - Justin Gordon,
trombone - Jimmy Henderson, George Roberts, guitar -
Al Hendrickson, Howard Roberts, bass - Max Bennett.
drums - Jack Sperling, organ - Ray Sherman, percussion - Hugh Anderson,
piano - Ernie Heckscher. The remaining personnel are part
of Hecksher's regular orchestra.
Session: October 11, 1968, T.T.G. Sunset Highland Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Comments: I believe the Ernie Hecksher Orchestra was the
house band at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco for many years.
H.R. plays a few small solos (probably on the Broadcaster).
Soulful Brass #2 - Steve Allen
1969 - Flying Dutchman FDS-101.
Selections with H.R.: Games People Play (Joe South), This Guy's In
Love with You (Bacharach-David), Tell Me Something (S. Allen),
Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero (Lbara-Ornelas-Herrera).
Personnel:
Orchestra arranged and conducted by Oliver Nelson,
piano - Steve Allen, Mike Lang,
trumpets - Bobby Bryant, Freddie Hill, Buddy Childers, Ollie Mitchell,
trombones - Billy Byers, George Bohanon, Bob Brookmeyer, Ernie Tack,
french horn - Vincent De Rosa, Bill Hinsal, David Duke, Alan Robinson,
sax - Frank Strozier, Ernie Watts, John Klemmer,
guitars - Howard Roberts, David Cohen, bass - Max Bennett,
drums - Jimmy Gordon, percussion - Bobby Morin.
Session: February 22, 1969, L.A.
Comments: An attempt to make a jazz-rock big band record. There
are a couple of guitar solos but they are taken by the other guitarist
who is playing a skinny stringed (out of tune) guitar and is presented
as something of a new star. H.R. is relegated
to comping on his Telecaster. What a waste!
Milt Jackson - Memphis Jackson
1969 - Impulse AS-9193.
Selections with H.R.: Memphis Junction (M. Jackson),
Queen Mother Stomp (V. Feldman), Enchanted
Lady (M. Jackson).
Personnel: vibes - Milt Jackson,
bass - Ray Brown, electric bass - Wilton Fender,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Fred Robinson,
drums - Paul Humphries,
trumpet - Al Aacrens, tenor sax - Teddy Edwards, electric piano - Joe Sample,
percussion - Vic Feldman.
Session: L.A., Oct. 10, 1969.
Comments: Thanks to Jay Smith for making this available.
Windmills Of Your Mind - Bud Shank Plays The Music and Arrangements
of Michel LeGrand
1969 - World Pacific Jazz
Selections:
The Windmills Of Your Mind (M. Legrand-M. Bergman-A. Bergman),
Watch What Happens (N. Gimbel-M. LeGrand), Theme D'Eglise (M. LeGrand),
One Day (M. LeGrand-M. Bergman-A. Bergman), Chanson De Solange (M. LeGrand-J. Demy), De Delphine A Lancien (M. LeGrand-J. Demy), I Will Wait For You (N. Gimbel-M. Legrand), His Eyes, Her Eyes (M. LeGrand-M. Bergman-A. Bergman),
Once Upon A Summertime (E. Barclay-M. LeGrand-J. Mercer-E. Marnay),
Chanson Des Jumelles (M. LeGrand-J. Demy).
Personnel: arranger - M. LeGrand,
piano and harpsichord - M. Legrand
alto sax and flute - Bud Shank,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
tenor sax - Ernie Watts,
bass - Ray Brown,
drums - Shelly Manne,
trumpet - Gary Barone, Bud Brisbois,
Conte Candoli, trombone - Billy Byers, organ - Artie Kane, string section -
Israel Baker, Arnold Belnick, Joseph DiFiore, Armand Kaproff, Ray Siegel.
Session: L.A., 1969.
Comments: Thanks to Adrian Pellew's eagle eye for this one.
Merryweather/Word of Mouth
1969- One Way Records - reissued on CD.
Selections with H.R.: Teach You How To Fly (Douglas Roberts-Merryweather-Burt-Roth-Hall), Mrs Roberts' Son (Dave Burt).
Personnel: vocal - Neil Merryweather, guitar- Howard Roberts, Dave Burt,
bass - Neil Merryweather, piano and organ - Ed Roth, drums - Coffi Hall.
Comments: Howard Roberts in a rock/blues vein. The album also has
Dave Mason, Steve Miller, Barry Goldberg and Charlie Musselwhite on it.
Ed Roth was a member of a great 60's group in Toronto called The Trip
and later Livingston's Trip. They played fabulous R&B which was
quite popular in Toronto at that time.
I was quite a fan of this group in my "youth"
so there is an interesting connection with this album for me. Thanks to
Stan Endersby, former lead guitarist for the The Trip, for clarifying
a number of details.
I recently discovered Neil Merryweather's
website . This has
an interview with Neil by Ruth McCartney where he discusses, among
many things, HR's playing on his album Word of Mouth. It
is number 7 in the video clips
Harvey Mandel - Righteous
1969 - Philips PHS 600-306.
Selections: Righteous (H. Mandel), Jive Samba (C. Adderly),
Love of Life (H. Mandel-B. Jones), Poontang (B. Jones), Just a Hair More (H. Mandel),
Summer Sequence (R. Burns), Shor's Stuff (S. Rogers), Boo-Bee-Doo (D. Hitchings), Campus Blues (H. Mandel).
Personnel: string and horn arrangements - Shorty Rogers,
guitar - Harvey Mandel, Howard Roberts, Bob Jones,
trumpet - Buddy Childers, John Audino, Stan Fishelson, Ollie Mitchell
percussion - Victor Feldman,
sax - Plas Johnson, Bill Perkins, Ernie Watts, Jack Nimitz,
keyboards - Pete Jolly, Duane Hitchings,
trombone - Mike Barone, Richard Leith, Lew McCreary, Peter Myers,
drums - Eddie Hoh, Earl Palmer,
bass - Art Stavro, Bob West.
Session: 1969, Amigo Studios, North Hollywood.
Comments: Just comping. Also issued on a double CD called Harvey Mandel -
The Mercury Years.
Elvis Presley - Change of Habit
1969 - (soundtrack recording for Universal's Change of Habit)
released in 1995 on RCA Victor.
Selections:
Change of Habit (Kaye-Weisman), Let's Be friends (Arnold-Morrow-Martin),
Let Us Pray (Kaye-Weisman), You'll Never Walk Alone, (Weisman-Fuller-Kaye),
Have a Happy (Weisman-Fuller-Kaye).
Personnel: vocals - Elvis Presley,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Bob
Bain, Dennis Budimir, Mike Deasy, bass - Joe Mondragon, Lyle Ritz, Max Bennett,
drums - Carl O'Brien, piano - Roger Kellaway, vocals - B.J. Baker,
Sally Stevens, Jackie Ward, The Blossoms.
Session: March 5-6, 1969, Decca Universal Studio, Hollywood, CA.
Comments: Some nice guitar background.
Head Start - Bob Thiele Emergency
1969 - Flying Dutchman FDS-104.
Selections with H.R.:
Head Start (T. Scott), Beatle Ballads a. Blackbird, b. Julia,
c. I Will (Lennon-McCartney), Freaky Zeke (T. Scott)
Lanoola Goes Limp (Chaikin-Hardy-Sander),
Jungle Sound (Scott), Swing Era (Scott), Be Bop (Scott),
In the Vineyard (Scott) , Avant Garde (Scott), A Few Thoughts for the Day
(Scott-Appleton-Thiele).
Personnel: alto sax and flutes - Tom Scott, Bill Perkins,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
piano - Roger Kellaway, bass - Chuck Domanico, vibes - Gary Coleman,
drums - Jimmy Gordon, trumpets - Buddy Childers, Paul Hubinon, Gary Barone,
trombone - Bob Brookmeyer, Mike Barone, George Bohanon, Ernie Tack,
french horn - Bob Henderson,
tenor sax - Pete Christlieb, baritone sax - Jim Horn, drums - John Guerin.
Comments: The solo on Freaky Zeke is the most rock
influenced guitar playing by H.R. that I've heard. This song highlights H.R.
Head Start/Freaky Zeke were also issued on 45 and the first 3 selections
on this album were also issued on Tom Scott in L.A. - 1975. Overall this
is an interesting collection of music originally issued in a double album.
Some of the music is quite adventurous. Also contains contributions by
Ornette Coleman, Elvin Jones and Joe Pass.
Harry - Harry Nilsson
1969 - RCA LSP 4197 reissued on CD BMG DRC 11863.
Selections:
The Puppy Song (Nilsson),
Nobody Cares About the Railroads Anymore (Nilsson),
Open Your Window (Nilsson),
Mother Nature's Son (Lennon-McCartney),
Fairfax Rag (Martin),
City Life (Martin),
Mournin' Glory Story (Nilsson),
Maybe (Nilsson),
Marchin' Down Broadway (Nilsson),
I Guess the Lord Must be in New York City (Nilsson),
Rainmaker (Nilsson-Martin),
Mr. Bojangles (Walker),
Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear (Randy Newman),
I Will Take You There (Nilsson), Waiting (Nilsson),
Rainmaker (Nilsson/Martin).
Personnel:
drums - Jim Gordon,
piano - Michael Wofford, Michael Melvoin,
guitar - David Cohen, Howard Roberts,
bass - Larry Knechtel,
flute - Jim Horn, sax - Tom Scott.
Comments: H.R. is not really discernible.
Ragnarök - Electronic Funk by Paul Beaver and Bernard L. Krause
1969 - Limelight Records LS-86069.
Selections: Ragnarök (Beaver-Krause), The Fisherman (Krause),
Circle X (Beaver-Krause), Dill Piccolo (Beaver), Moogy Blues Funk (Krause),
As You Hear It (Krause), 33rd Stanza of a Hymn to Sancho Panza (Beaver-Krause),
Fountains of the Dept. of Water & Power (Beaver), Changes (Beaver-Krause),
Interplay (Beaver-Krause).
Personnel: sax -Bud Shank,
sunthesizer, keyboards - Paul Beaver,
keyboards - Dave Grusin,
percussion - Milt Holland,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
synthesizer, keyboards - Bernie Krause,
drums - Paul Lagos.
Comments: One of the early Moog synthesizer recordings. Interesting
music in parts but Bud Shank, H.R. and Milt Holland are indiscernible to me.
Bernie Krause confirmed to me that H.R. is on this album. See
the commentary under Gandharva/In a Wild Sanctuary (1970/71) below for more
details about H.R.'s involvement with Beaver and Krause.
Songs of Experience - David Axelrod
1969 - originally on Capitol but rereleased on Stateside in 2000.
Selections: Compositions by David Axelrod.
The Poison Tree, A Little Girl Lost, London, The Sick Rose,
The School Boy, The Human Abstract, The Fly, The Divine Image.
Personnel:
None are listed on the CD but in the liner notes, based on an interview
with David Axelrod, he comments on several contributions
by Howard Roberts, Carol Kaye and Earl Plamer. In fact, in commenting
on his days as a producer and selecting musicians, he says that he used "wherever
possible Howard Roberts on guitar."
Comments: Interesting music completing the second part of Axelrod's
tribute to William Blake.
Tina Mason Is Something Wonderful
196? - Capitol T2785.
Selections:
Are You There (Bacharach-David), Cry Me a River (Hamilton),
You Go Your Way (Russell-Mayorga), What (Barnum),
Life and Soul of the Party (Hatch), Just Say Goodbye (Hatch, Clark, Delanole),
A Good Kind of Hurtin' (Raleigh-Barkan), Just Like a Man (Mason-Reed),
Crazy He Calls Me (Russell-Sigman), You Can Have Him (Cook),
The Way of Love (Stillman-Dieval).
Personnel: Arranger and conductor - H.B. Barnum,
producer - David Axelrod, vocals - Tina Mason,
guitar - Howard Roberts, piano and organ -
Gerald Wiggins, drums - Earl Palmer, John Guerin, percussion - Vic Feldman.
Comments: Just comping on the Broadcaster.
Phil Campos, doesn't anybody know my name?
196? - Envoy VOY 9161.
Selections:
Big Jack (Haffner), Lucky Me (Stanley),
Indigo Blue (Haffner),
I Need Love (Schwimmer),
Flowering Tree (DeCola-Lynn), Bury Me Deep (Daffin),
Hangman's Trail (Haffner),
Movin' Down The Line (McKuen),
Doesn't Anybody Know My Name (McKuen), You Pass Me By (McKuen),
Land Of Oden (Shipman), Last Night They Burned Atlanta (McKuen-Monte).
Personnel: vocals - Phil Campos,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Jim Helms, bass = Red Mitchell.
Comments: Phil Campos is a folk singer. Sounds like everybody
is playing flat-tops and/or a nylon string. There are a few fills etc.
possibly from H.R. but nothing very distrinctive.
