By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Monday, March 04, 2002 - 07:00 pm: |
bobby very kindly forwarded this studio shot from his collection.
he says "Here is a picture of a playback session at Kaye- Smith Studios in Seattle for the Elton John song "mama can't buy me love"
Back row left to right are: Tony Bell,(guitar) Charles Collins, partially hidden (drums)
Leroy Bell (writer) Bobby Eli (guitar) Casey James (writer) Bob Babbitt (bass)
Thom Bell (producer and piano) George Merrill (keyboards) Elton John
front row are: Win Kutz (assistant engineer) and Don Murray (engineer)"
thanks to you again bobby.
By John Lester (213.1.133.68 - 213.1.133.68) on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 - 12:09 am: |
BOBBY......wot a fab picture.
THAT WAS MORE THAN A "THREE WAY LOVE AFFAIR"......
hee hee
By phillysoulman (64.12.107.34 - 64.12.107.34) on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 - 05:11 pm: |
The pic was October of 1977. You can see a video camera in the right hand corner . That is because a local tv news crew was there to capture the event. During these sessions, which lasted about a week, we recorded six tracks. One of them, Are you ready for love, had the Spinners doing the backing vocals. Also Elton was very into a shell and retreated to a room away from the studio to brood because Thom Bell did nt allow him to play on the sessions!!!
Also this was the first time the Elton reunited with Bernie Taupin after a very long time. I have pics of that too.
Originally the sessions were scrapped for several reasons Elton wanted to record at Sigma but Thom was in Seattle by that time and did not want to go back at that time.
And at the end of the day Elton was not satisfied with the outcome of the sessions mainly because he did not have much creative control and after all thay were done for his label, Rocket Records.
But somehow, when MCA got involved , "Mama Can't Buy Me Love" was remixed at Sigma and became a massive number one smash in America in 1979.
Subsequently, in the mid eighties, MCA rescued the tapes and they became "The Thom Bell Sessions"
and that was that.
By john lester (213.122.192.245 - 213.122.192.245) on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 - 06:15 pm: |
........and Bobby
That cd album "The Thom Bell sessions" and the original 12" (which I loved SO much I bought TWO copies) are the ONLY Elton John songs in my collection.
3 Way Love Affair was my favourite which was on the 12"..I also have the Spinners version of "Are You Ready For Love"
Is this saying something about me or my taste in music!
By phillysoulman (64.12.101.182 - 64.12.101.182) on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 - 06:49 pm: |
John,
Elton wanted so much to record at Sigma. Let's face it Thom probably got a fortune for the production budget. We were always going to great restaurants with Thom and the gang which was quite a treat, especially in Seattle, a great food town. We could tell right away that Elton was not happy. Him and I had a lot of conversations about record collecting and he said that his records were all on a conveyor sort of contraption similar to that of what they have at the dry cleaners, so if he were looking for something he just looked at the index and there it was!!!! We also talked about cars and he remembered when I first came to London in late '67 with The Vibrations and Bluesology were on the bill. It was around this time also that he met Patti Labelle and tha Bluebelles.
Also at the Seattle sessions, there was a tremendous respect in our abilities by his managers, John Reid and Tony King.
By John Lester (213.122.192.245 - 213.122.192.245) on Tuesday, March 05, 2002 - 08:05 pm: |
We all know that John Reid was with Elton John for a very long time until their sad (and expensive for Elton) break up.
UK folk here might be intersted to know that John Reid worked for EMI records in the 60's...in particular, a label called Tamla Motown!!!