Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band – Express Yourself (1970)

Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band – Express Yourself (1970)  Warner Bros. WS 1864

updated 10/18/2026

Warner Bros. Records 1970  WS 1864

description:

Released in 1970 on Warner Bros. Records, Express Yourself is a landmark
 album by Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, 
capturing the raw energy, infectious grooves, and distinctive West
 Coast sound of early 1970s funk and soul.

Led by singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist Charles Wright,
 the group combined tight rhythm-section playing, punchy horn arrangements,
 soulful vocals, and extended instrumental passages. 
The result is a vibrant mixture of funk, rhythm and blues, and deep soul, 
driven by powerful drumming, melodic bass lines,
 expressive keyboards, and memorable vocal hooks.

The album's best-known track, “Express Yourself,” became the band's signature
 song. Written and produced by Charles Wright, it celebrates individuality,
 self-confidence, and the freedom to be yourself. Its irresistible groove and positive
 message helped establish the song as a lasting classic of American funk. 
The track later gained further recognition through its influence on hip-hop, 
particularly N.W.A.'s 1988 song of the same name.

Beyond the hit single, the album offers a rich musical journey through tracks
 such as “Road Without an End,” “I Got Love,” “High as Apple Pie,” and 
“Tell Me What You Want Me to Do.” The band's arrangements balance tight, 
danceable rhythms with expansive instrumental sections, revealing the 
musicianship and creativity that made the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band 
an important force in the Los Angeles funk scene.

Recorded at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood, the album features production 
by Charles Wright and engineering by Doc Siegel and Stan Ross.
 Arrangements by Wright, Ray Jackson, Gabe Flemings, and Yusuf Rahman 
contribute to the record's varied instrumental textures and powerful ensemble sound.

For collectors of vintage funk vinyl, classic soul, early 1970s R&B, 
and influential groove-based music, Express Yourself remains
 an essential Warner Bros. Records release.

credits:

Charles Wright    Lead vocals, guitar, piano
James Gadson    Drums, vocals
Melvin Dunlap    Bass, guitar
John Dukes    Upright bass
Benorce Blackmon    Guitar
Al McKay    Guitar; associated with the band's earlier lineup
Gabe Flemings    Trumpet, piano
Ray Jackson    Piano, trombone
Bill Cannon    Saxophone
John Rayford    Saxophone, vocals
Yusuf Rahman    Piano, trombone, arrangements
Carolyn Willis, Oma Drake, Sandra Peeler, Oren Waters, 
Sentell Willis Jr.    Background vocals


Arranged By  Yusuf Rahman (tracks: A2, A3, B1, B2)
Engineer  Doc Siegel, Stan Ross
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By  Charles Wright

Recorded at Gold Star Recording Studios, Inc.

trackslist:

A1        Love Land
Arranged By – Ray Jackson
Written-By – Charles Wright, Don Trotter
    3:04
A2        I Got Love
Written-By – Charles Wright
    3:37
A3        High As Apple Pie - Slice I
Written-By – Charles Wright
    6:03
A4        Express Yourself
Arranged By – Gabe Flemings, Ray Jackson
Written-By – Charles Wright
    3:50
B1        I'm Aware
Arranged By – James Gadson
Written-By – Charles Wright, James Gadson
    3:45
B2        High As Apple Pie - Slice II
Written-By – Charles Wright
    17:43

Link available upon request

Mel Tormé – Right Now! (1966)

Mel Tormé Right Now! LP – Columbia Records CL 2535

updated 10/18/2026

Columbia ‎records 1966  – CL 2535 

 

description:

Released in 1966 on Columbia Records, Right Now! showcases 
the remarkable versatility of Mel Tormé, one of the finest vocalists 
in American popular music and jazz. Known affectionately as 
“The Velvet Fog,” Tormé combines his smooth, expressive voice, 
impeccable phrasing, and sophisticated musical timing with 
contemporary pop material and polished orchestral arrangements.

On this studio album, Tormé interprets songs associated with the
 popular music of the 1960s, transforming familiar melodies into 
elegant vocal performances infused with jazz sensibility. The arrangements
 bring together orchestral textures and a refined pop sound,
 highlighting the singer’s ability to move effortlessly between
 traditional vocal jazz, sophisticated easy listening,
 and contemporary pop.

The album features arrangements and conducting by Mort Garson,
 Shorty Rogers, Ernie Freeman, and Arnold Goland. Their contributions 
provide a variety of musical colors while keeping Tormé’s
 distinctive voice at the center of the performances.

Right Now! is an interesting document of Mel Tormé’s mid-1960s
 career, when established jazz vocalists were exploring the changing
 landscape of popular music. For collectors of vintage Columbia
 Records releases, classic vocal jazz, orchestral pop, and easy-listening
 albums, this LP offers a glimpse into that musical era.

credits:

Mel Tormé    Lead vocals, drums
Howard Roberts    Guitar
Michael Melvoin    Piano
Gary Coleman    Vibraphone
Jim Gordon    Drums
Al McKibbon    Bass
James Getzoff, Robert Barene, Henry Ross, Marshall Sosson, Sidney Sharp,
Arnold Belnick, Nathan Ross, Harry Bluestone    Violins
Myron Sadler, Joseph DiFiore    Violas
Armand Karpoff, Frederick Seykora    Cellos

Arranged and conducted by Mort Garson
produced by Allen Stanton and Larry Marks
Recorded    18 April & 10-11 June 1966

trackslist:

A1        Comin' Home Baby
Written-By – B. Tucker*, B. Dorough*
    3:16
A2        Homeward Bound
Written-By – P. Simon*
    2:34
A3        My Little Red Book
Written-By – B. Bacharach - H. David*
    2:34
A4        Walk On By
Written-By – B. Bacharach - H. David*
    2:48
A5        If I Had A Hammer
Written-By – L. Hays*, P. Seeger*
    2:58
A6        Strangers In The Night
Written-By – B. Kaempfert*, C. Singleton*, E. Snyder*
    2:40
B1        Better Use Your Head
Written-By – T. Randazzo*, V. Pike*
    2:51
B2        Time
Written-By – M. Merchant*
    3:38
B3        Secret Agent Man
Written-By – P. F. Sloan*, S. Barri*
    2:26
B4        Pretty Flamingo
Written-By – M. Barkan*
    2:23
B5        Red Rubber Ball
Written-By – B. Woodley*, P. Simon*
    2:30

Link available upon request

 

Mel Tormé – Comin’ Home Baby! (1962)

Mel Tormé Comin’ Home Baby! (1962) – Atlantic SD 8069

updated 10/16/2026

Atlantic records 1962   SD 8069

description:

Comin’ Home Baby! is one of the most distinctive recordings in
 the career of Mel Tormé, the celebrated American jazz vocalist 
nicknamed “The Velvet Fog.” Released by Atlantic Records in 1962, 
this album captures Tormé exploring a more contemporary, 
rhythm-driven sound while retaining the impeccable phrasing,
 melodic sophistication and swing that made him one of the 
finest jazz singers of his generation.
The album combines sophisticated vocal jazz with bluesy grooves,
 infectious rhythms and inventive arrangements. Its centrepiece 
is the title track, “Comin’ Home Baby,” written by Ben Tucker, with 
lyrics by Bob Dorough. Tormé’s recording features a memorable
 rhythmic pulse, orchestral colour and backing vocals by the Cookies.
 The performance became his biggest American hit since the early 
1950s and reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1962.
 It also earned Grammy nominations in 1963. 

Beyond the hit single, the album showcases Tormé’s versatility across
 modern jazz compositions and classic popular standards. 
His interpretations of “Dat Dere,” “Moanin’,” “Hi-Fly” and “Whisper Not” 
reveal his natural affinity for jazz phrasing and rhythmic improvisation,
 while “Puttin’ on the Ritz” and “The Lady’s in Love with You” highlight
his command of the American songbook.
The album is particularly interesting because it brings together two 
contrasting orchestral approaches: the jazz-oriented arrangements 
of trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers, and the more polished 
orchestral treatment of Claus Ogerman on the title track and “Right Now.”
 The result is an engaging meeting point between classic vocal jazz 
and the more modern pop and R&B sounds of the early 1960s.

credits:

Mel Tormé — lead vocals; also credited with drums on the album.
Shorty Rogers — flugelhorn, arrangements and musical direction; 
Joe Burnett — trumpet; Milt Bernhart — trombone; 
John Kitzmiller — tuba; Bob Cooper and Bud Shank — woodwinds; 
Emil Richards — vibraphone; Mike Wofford — piano;
 Joe Mondragon — bass; Larry Bunker — drums.
This ensemble recorded the jazz-oriented selections in 

Los Angeles during July 1962.

Claus Ogerman Orchestra
Claus Ogerman — arrangements and conducting; orchestra personnel
 not fully identified in the available session discography. The Cookies 
provide backing vocals on “Comin’ Home Baby.”
Ogerman’s New York session on September 13, 1962, 
produced the title track and “Right Now.”


Additional musicians credited across the album include 
trumpeters Ollie Mitchell, Al Porcino and Ray Triscari;
 trombonists Harry Betts and Kenny Shroyer; 
woodwind players Buddy Collette and Bill Hood; 
and vibraphonist Gene Estes. 
These credits cover the album as a whole and should 
not be interpreted as a confirmed lineup for every track.

Producer    Nesuhi Ertegun
Recording engineers    Bones Howe (Los Angeles sessions); 

Tom Dowd (New York session)
Arranger and conductor    Shorty Rogers, for the Los Angeles sessions
Arranger and conductor    Claus Ogerman, for “Comin’ Home Baby” and “Right Now”

Recording dates :

July 11, 1962
Los Angeles, California
“Hi-Fly,” “On Green Dolphin Street,” “Dat Dere” and “Moanin’” 
were recorded with Shorty Rogers and his jazz ensemble.

July 13, 1962
Los Angeles, California
“Walkin’,” “Whisper Not” and “Sidney’s Soliloquy” 
were recorded during the Los Angeles sessions.

July 16, 1962
Los Angeles, California
“The Lady’s in Love with You,” “Sing You Sinners” and
 “Puttin’ on the Ritz” were recorded with the Shorty Rogers group.

September 13, 1962
New York City, New York
“Comin’ Home Baby” and “Right Now” were recorded with 
Claus Ogerman conducting and arranging. 
Tom Dowd was the recording engineer.

tracklist:

A1 Comin' Home Baby
   Written-By Ben Tucker, Bob Dorough 2:41     
A2 Dat Dere
    Written-By  Bobby Timmons, Oscar Brown Jr. 2:56     
A3 The Lady's In Love With You
    Written-By Burton Lane, Frank Loesser 2:57     
A4 Hi-Fly
    Written-By  Jon Hendricks, Randy Weston 3:12     
A5 Puttin' On The Ritz
    Written-By  Irving Berlin 3:23     
A6 Walkin'
    Written-By  Richard Carpenter (2) 2:55     
B1 Moanin'
    Written-By  Bobby Timmons, Jon Hendricks 3:00     
B2 Sing You Sinners
    Written-By  Sam Coslow, W. Franke Harling* 2:24     
B3 Whisper Not
   Written-By  Benny Golson, Leonard Feather 2:47     
B4 On Green Dolphin Street
    Written-By  Bronislau Kaper*, Ned Washington 2:50     
B5 Sidney's Soliloqui
    Written-By  Jimmy Wisner 2:26     
B6 Right Now
    Written-By  Carl Sigman, Herbie Mann 2:13

Link available upon request