Classics West Coast Music
The late seventies and early eighties are sometimes referred to as “The Golden Age” of West Coast Music, and the contrast to so much of what the nineties have offered us musically is remarkable.
Lots of studio recordings, especially in the Los Angeles area and with several artists or bands that released a few albums, some only a debut album and never had a follow up, also some artists moved to another music direction.
At this list you can see a selection of albums that are worthy a listening.
Gabriel - S.T.
Epic Records 1978
Tracks: Since I Met You, Take It Back, Maybe, Ooo Wee Baby, Right Track, Martha (Your Lovers Come And Go), For Quite Awhile, I Get High On You, Go Back Home & Didn't I Love You?
Musicians on the Gabriel album: Frank Butorac, Terry Lauber, Michael Kinder, Gary Ruhl, Tim Gorman, Kell Houston, Kim Eggers, Don McKinney & Danny O'Keefe.
Gabriel - Sweet Release
ABC Records 1976
Tracks: Love Disguise, Don't Tell Me No, It's Gonna Be A Hard Night, The Evening Of My Years, In The Middle Of The Night, Sweet Release, Chain Lightning, Making Her Cry, Took The Love Of A Woman & Higher And Higher.
Musicians on the Sweet Release album: Frank Butorac, Stacy Christenson, Michael Kinder, Terry Lauber & Gary Ruhl.
Gabriel - The Star On Every Heal
ABC Records 1975
Tracks: A little Bit Of Understanding, Round Round, I Wish I Were A Star, Rock And Roll Band, You Never Told Me You Loved Me, Be My Woman, Fly Away, Santa Cruz, I See You Hiding, Loving You, Idle Days & Little Darling.
Musicians on the Star On Every Heal album: Frank Butorac, Terry Lauber, Stacy Christenson, Michael Kinder, Gary Ruhl & Mark Pennick.
Henry Gaffney - On Again Off Again
Manhattan Records 1978
Henry Gaffney - Waiting For A Wind
RCA Records 1976
Billy And Sarah Gaines - S.T.
Benson Records 1986
Rob Galbraith - Throw Me A Bone
RCA Records 1976
Tracks: Just Be You, I Majored In Jive, 300 Pounds Of Hongry, White Boy In The Woodpile, Way He Looks At You, Damn It All, They Still Holler Boogie, Just Leave Me Alone, Throw Me A Bone & Inspire Me.
Musicians on the Throw Me A Bone album: Rob Galbraith, Tim Krekel, Don Potter, Reggie Young, Steve Brantley, Roy Goin, Joe Osborn, Bobby Ogdin, Bobby Wood, Hayward Bishop, Larrie Londin, Farrell Morris, Gayle Whitfield Horns, Michael Bacon, David DeArmond, Tommy Smith, Archie Jordan, Bergen White, The Colby Twins, Bruce Dees, The Fidgettes & The Holladays.
Gale Force - Two
Fantasy Records 1978
Peter Gallway - On The Bandstand
Vivid Sound 1978
Tracks: Sunday Basketball, I Had A Friend, I'd Give It All To You, Liz, They Went That A Way, On The Bandstand, No Other Words, The Make Believe Mambo, Table For Two & Sally B. And Me.
Musicians on the On The Bandstand album: Peter Gallway, David Landau, Will MacFarlane, Larry John McNally, Mark Wainer, Denny Williams, Dave Conrad, James Libbey, Ron Roy, Neil Stubenhaus, David Case, Kevin DeSimone, Jon Hardy, Harry King, Murry Weinstock, Tom Blackwell, Steve Johnson, Jeff Teague, Marshall Rosenberg, Steve Fazio, Billy Novick, Mike Turk, Tom Blackwell, Steve Johnson, Ron Roy, Jane Simms & Murry Weinstock.
Glenn Garrett - It Is Written
Cut Above Music 1980
Glenn Garrett - Renewed Like An Eagle
New Born Records 1979
Leif Garrett - My Movie Of You
Scotti Bros. Records 1981
Leif Garrett - Can´t Explain
Scotti Bros. Records 1980
Leif Garrett - S.T.
Atlantic Records 1977
Terry Garthwaite - Hands In Glove
Fantasy Records 1978
Larry Gatlin And The Gatlin Brothers Band - Straight Ahead
Columbia Records 1979
Crystal Gayle - Nobody Wants To Be Alone
Warner Bros 1985
Lowell George - Thanks I´ll Eat It Here
Warner Bros 1979
Renée Geyer - Moving Along
RCA Records 1977
Tracks: Heading In The Right Direction, Be There In The Morning, Quicker Than The Eye, Tender Hooks, Stares And Whispers, Just To Make Love To You, Touch & Moving Along.
Musician on the Moving Along album: Renée Geyer, Steve Beckmeier, Ray Parker Jr., Greg Poree, James Jamerson, Barry Sullivan, Nathan Watts, Harry Booker, Reginald Burke, Mal Logan, Jerry Peters, Raymond Pounds Percussion : Jack Ashford, Frederick Lewis, Venetta Fields, Pat Henderson, Sherlie Matthews, Tie Meier McCain, Otis Stokes & Frank Wilson.
Steve Gibb - Let My Song
Clouds Records 1979
Jon Gibson - On The Run
Frontline Records 1986
Jon Gibson - Standing On The One
Warner Bros 1983
Gilberto Gil - Nightingale
Elektra Records 1978
Gilberto Gil - Realce
Elektra Records 1978
Mic Gillette - Ear Candy
BKA Records 2005
Tracks: Funky Good Time (Intro), Tell Mama, I Like That, Before I Go, How Was I To Know, If Only For A Moment, Abaco, Open Up The Door, If, It Had Better Be Tonight & Funky Good Time (Complete).
Musicians on the Ear Candy album: Mic Gillette, Bruce Wall, Jeff Machado, John Xepolias, Jeff Redlawsk, Kelly Gravely, David Garibaldi, Rick Hendricks, Francis Rocco Prestia, Rick Duncan, Bernard Hairston, Steve Finch, Ray Wilkes, Julia Gillette, Jerry Cortez, Jeff Tamelier, Tall Morris, Rick Milan, Chester Thompson, Tom Suczek, Stevie Roseman, David Ferguson, Bill Champlin, Megan Gillette, Bob Anthony, Ronnie Law, Karl Perazzo, George Brooks, Greg Adams, Skip Mesquite, Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Marc Russo, Elmer Coles, Ms. Mone't, Lenny Williams, Fred Ross, Rick Duncan & Tony Conner.
Glad - No Less Than All
Greentree Records 1983
Glad - Captured In Time
Greentree Records 1982
Glad - Beyond A Star
Myrrh Records 1980
Glad - S.T.
Myrrh Records 1978
Garry Glenn - GG
PPL Records 1980
Tracks: I Need You In My Life, Heaven Kind Of Love, Gonna Give You My Love, Cause I Love You, Fork In The Road, Don't Stop The Music, You're The One, Got You On My Mind & It's Love Again.
Musicians on the GG album: Garry Glenn, Ricky Lawson, Quentin Dennard, Peter Bunetta, Kenny Turman, James Vaughn, Gregg Moore, Robert Palmer, David Pruitt, Tennyson Stephens, Roderick Rancifer, Daniel Odudua, Ray Moore, John Rosemberg, Stewart Blumberg, Ernest Carlson, John Mitchell, Glen Garrett, Jimmy Carter, Gary Metz, Kristy Wheeler, Patrice Banks, Robert Glenn, Terri Hendricks & Fred Brady.
Jim Gold - I Can´t Face Another Day Without You
Tabu Records 1977
Michael Gonzales - Mountaintop
Ministry Resource Center 1983
Michael Gonzales - Fire In My Soul
Sonrise Records And Tapes 1980
Good News - Good News II
Sonrise Mercantile Company 1977
Cuba Gooding - Love Dancer
Motown Records 1979
Cuba Gooding - The 1st Cuba Gooding Album
Motown Records 1978
Tim Goodman - Footsteps
Columbia Records 1981
Tracks: Fara, Footsteps In The Night, Standin' On This Corner, New Romeo, Tell Your Mama, Growin' Up, Live Or Die, Little To Little, Tricycle & Johanna And The Sailor.
Musicians on the Footsteps album: Tim Goodman, John McFee, Michael O'Neill, Mark Andes, Tiran Porter, Sean Hopper, Richie Lawrence, Michael McDonald, Keith Knudsen, Chet McCracken, Billy Meeker, Cornelius Bumpus, Phil Chester, Max Gronenthal, Patrick Simmons & Chris Thompson.
Ray Gooliak - Home Away From Home
Silver Sidewalk Productions 1979
Lesley Gore - Love Me By Name
A&M Records 1976
Carl Graves - S.T.
A&M Records 1975
Tracks: Heart Be Still, Don't Throw It All Away, My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me), How Can I Be A Man, Baby Don't Knock, Welcome Home, You're Gonna Be All Alone, Be Tender With My Love, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do & That's The Way Love Is.
Musicians on the Carl Graves album: Carl Graves, Ed Greene, Wilton Felder, Larry Carlton, Ray Parker, Joe Sample, Robbie Buchanan, Pla Johnson, Steve Madaio, Lew McCreary, Tom Scott, Kim Carnes, Donny Gerrard, Julia Tillman & Maxine Willard.
Al Green - Precious Lord
Myrrh Records 1982
Lilly Green - I Am Blessed
Myrrh Records 1978
Steve Green - He Hold The Keys
Sparrow Records 1985
Steve Green - S.T.
Sparrow Records 1984
Lee Greenwood - Streamline
MCA Records 1985
Lee Greenwood - Somebody´s Gonna Love You
MCA Records 1983
James Griffin - S.T.
Polydor Records 1978
Tracks: Laura Lee, Hanalei, Goin' Back To Tennessee, Blood From A Stone, How Do You Say Goodbye, Treat Her Right, That's All I Need, My Love Is Mine & I Repent.
Musicians on the James Griffin album: James Griffin, Barry Burton, Dean Parks, Dave Budameyer, David Gates, Larry Knechtel, Josef Lamanno, David Paich, Michael Botts, Jim Gordon, Jim Horn, Ed Logan, Andrew Love, James Mitchell, Jack Hale, Wayne Jackson & Carol Carmichael Parks.
James Griffin - Breakin´Up Is Easy
Polydor Records 1974
Tracks: Breakin' Up Is Easy, Someday, Love You Till The Cows Come Home, She Knows, Father And Son, You'll Get Along, Lifeline, Goin' Back To Boston, Only Know & Love To Light The Way.
Musicians on the Breakin´Up Is Easy album: James Griffin, Russ Kunkel, Mike Botts, Lee Sklar, David Gates, Larry Knechtel, Jeff Baxter, Larry Knechtel, Robb Royer, Curtis Amy & Jim Horn.
Glenda Griffith - S.T.
Ariola Records 1977
Tracks: I Can't Dance, Eagle, Heavenly Island, Isn't That So ?, All My Friends, Angel Spread Your Wings, Valentine Pieces, Night Eyes, Don't Worry & Quits.
Musicians on the Glenda Griffith album: Glenda Griffith, Dan Dugmore, Walter Egan, Don Felder, Andrew Gold, John Leslie Hug, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Danny Kortchmar, Danny O'Keefe, Waddy Wachtel, Joe Walsh, Kenny Edwards, Timothy B. Schmit, John Selk, Willie Weeks, Bob Carpenter, Craig Doerge, Jay Ferguson, Carole King, Vince Melamed, Jai Winding, Michael Botts, Don Henley, Russ Kunkel, Steve Forman, Bobbye Hall, Mark Hofstein, Tommy Morgan & Valerie Carter.
Rob Grill - Uprooted
Mercury Records 1979
Dave Grusin - Night Lines
GRP Records 1983
Don Grusin - 10K-LA
JVC Records 1984
Arlo Guthrie - Amigo
Reprise Records 1976
Kit Hain - School For Spies
Mercury Records 1983
Kit Hain - Looking For You
Mercury Records 1982
Kit Hain - Spirits Walking Out
Deram Records 1981
Jimmy Hall - Cadillac Tracks
Epic Records 1982
Jimmy Hall - Touch You
Epic Records 1980
Pam Mark Hall - Keeper
Reunion Records 1986
Pam Mark Hall - Supply And Demand
Reunion Records 1984
Pam Mark Hall - Flying
Aslan Records, Inc 1976
Sammy Hall - Don´t Let Anyone Steal Your Dream
Newpax Records 1977
Dirk Hamilton - Meet Me At The Crux
Elektra Records 1978
Dirk Hamilton - Alias I
ABC Records 1977
Dirk Hamilton - You Can Sing On The Left Or Bark On The Right
ABC Records 1976
Hamilton, Joe Frank & Dennison - Love And Conversation
Playboy Records 1976
Tracks: You Sold Me A One Way Ticket To Love 2 - I Was There 3 - Don't Fight The Hands (That Need You) 4 - Love And Conversation 5 - Now That I've Got You 6 - Act Of Mercy 7 - Houdini 8 - Old Habits 9 - Get On The Bus.
Musicians on the Love And Conversation album: Dan Hamilton, Joe Frank Carollo, Alan Dennison, Jeff Baxter, Paulinho Da Costa, John D'Andrea, Jimmy George, Gary Grant, Jay Graydon, Bill Greene, Ed Greene, Tom Hensley, David Hungate, James Jamerson, Charles Loper, Lew McCreary, Lee Ritenour & Ernie Watts.
Albert Hammond - Somewhere In America
Columbia Records 1982
Albert Hammond - Your World And My World
Columbia Records 1981
Steve Harley - Hobo With A Grin
EMI Records 1978
Gene Harris - In A Special Way
Blue Note Records 1976
Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You
MCA Records 1984
Lisa Hartman - Letterock
RCA Records 1982
Lisa Hartman - Hold On
Kirshner Records 1979
Harvest - Only The Overcomers
Greentree Records 1986
Harvest - It´s Allright Now
Milk & Honey 1982
Harvest - S.T.
Everlast Spring 1979
Leon Haywood - Double My Pleasure
MCA Records 1978
Murray Head - Between Us
Philips Records 1979
Rob Hegel - Hegel
RCA Victor 1980
Finis Henderson - S.T. "CD Issue"
Motown Records 1997
Tracks: Skip To My Lou, Making Love, Lovers, You Owe It All To Love, Blame It On The Night, Percussion Intro / Call Me, Vina Del Mar, Crush On You, I'd Rather Be Gone & School Girl.
Musicians on the Finis Henderson album: Finis Henderson, Gregory Doty, Paul Jackson Jr., Michael Landau, Steve Lukather, Al McKay, Nathan East, Abraham Laboriel, Neil Stubenhaus, Michael Boddicker, Erich Bulling, Frank Hamilton, Tom Keane, Randy Kerber, Steve Porcaro, Jeff Porcaro, John "JR" Robinson, Carlos Vega, Philip Bailey, Paulinho Da Costa, Ralph Johnson, George Bohannon, Steve Tavaglione, Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Bill Reichenbach, Bill Champlin, Steve George, Gary Glenn, Adonis Hampton, Richard Page, Arleen Parks & Carmen Twillie.
Finis Henderson - S.T.
Motown Records 1983
Tracks: Skip To My Lou, Making Love, Lovers, You Owe It All To Love, Blame It On The Night, Percussion Intro / Call Me, Vina Del Mar, Crush On You, I'd Rather Be Gone & School Girl.
Musicians on the Finis Henderson album: Finis Henderson, Gregory Doty, Paul Jackson Jr., Michael Landau, Steve Lukather, Al McKay, Nathan East, Abraham Laboriel, Neil Stubenhaus, Michael Boddicker, Erich Bulling, Frank Hamilton, Tom Keane, Randy Kerber, Steve Porcaro, Jeff Porcaro, John "JR" Robinson, Carlos Vega, Philip Bailey, Paulinho Da Costa, Ralph Johnson, George Bohannon, Steve Tavaglione, Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Bill Reichenbach, Bill Champlin, Steve George, Gary Glenn, Adonis Hampton, Richard Page, Arleen Parks & Carmen Twillie.
Kyle Henderson - More Than The Look Of Love
Kerygma Records 1985
Patrick Henderson - Look To Jesus
Newpax Records 1981
Annie Herring - Search Deep Inside
Sparrow Records 1981
Annie Herring - Through A Child´s Eyes
Sparrow Records 1976
Hero - Boys Will Be Boys
20th Century Fox Records 1978
Bertie Higgins - Just Another Day In Paradise
Epic Records 1982
Highway - Highway 1
Epic Records 1979
Marcia Hines - Ooh Child
Miracle Records 1979
Becky Hobbs - Everyday
Tattoo Records 1977
Hodges, James & Smith - What Have You Done For Love ?
London Records 1978
Holm, Sheppard & Johnson - S.T.
Greentree Records 1981
David James Holster - Chinese Honeymoon
Columbia Records 1979
Tracks: Constant Love, Good Bye Carmelita, Take Me Back, Blame, Gambler, All My Understanding, Candlelight Satin Gown & Teenage Tragedy Queen.
Musicians on the Chinese Honeymoon album: David James Holster, Kenny Edwards, Haden Gregg, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Bryan Garofalo, Bob Carpenter, Andrew Gold, Rick Marotta, Russ Kunkel, David Sanborn, Bryan Savage, Bob Carpenter & John David Souther.
Homi & Jarvis - Friend Of A Friend
GRP Records 1983
Honeytree - Maranatha Marathon
Myrrh Records 1979
Hotel - Half Moon Silver
MCA Records 1980
Hotel - S.T.
MCA Records 1979
Bill House - Dancing With A Smile
Decca Records 1979
Tracks: Better Than I Ever Thought It's Be, Heaven Stay In My Arms, (I Can Hardly Wait Until) Sundown, This Disco Sure Gets Lonely, You Can Make It Big, I Found You, I Don't Wanna Grow Up, Feels Like A Friday Night & Good Winners And Good Friends.
Musicians on the Dancing With A Smile album: Bill House, Jeff Allen, Steve Turner, Dil Katz, John Hobbs, Mel Collins and Friends & Kim Goody.
Bill House - Give Me A Break
RCA Records 1974
Tracks: You're No Better Than A Common Thief, Bad Luck Into Good Times, The Damage Is Done, Atlanta, Love Has Got Its Hold On Me, We Could Be So Good Together, Matthew Of The Canyon, Jenny, You're My What (I Needed All Along), He's A Bad Man & If I've Won Or If I've Lost.
Musicians on the Give Me A Break album: Bill House, Stan House, Curtis Stone, John Hobbs, Joe Romano, Steve Douglas, Dennis Dreith, Louis Gonzales, Gloria Grinel, Kenny Hinkle, Terry Melcher & John Seiter.
Thelma Houston - S.T.
MCA Records 1983
Howdy Moon - S.T.
A&M Records 1974
Tracks: Lovelight, Cheyenne Autumn, I’m Alone, Nora Lee, Runnaway, And You Never Knew, Machine, Cook with Honey, For Tonight & Millstream.
Musicians on the Just A Stone´s Throw Away album: Valerie Carter, Richard Hovey, Jon Lind, Eric Eisner, Dennis Budimir, Arthur Adams, Lowell George, Dennis Budimir, Andrew Gold, Sneaky Pete, Chuck Rainey, David Parlato, Wilton Felder, Roy Estrada, Van Dyke Parks, Bill Payne, Gordon De Witty, Mike Utley, Bill Payne, Jim Keltner, Fred White, Gary Mallaber, Richard Hayward, Sam Clayton, John Bargamo, Milt Holland, Bobby Hall & John Sebastian.
The Hues Corporation - Your Place Or Mine
Warner Bros 1978
Hudson Brothers - Damn Those Kids
Elektra Records 1980
Hudson Brothers - The Truth About Us
Arista Records 1978
Dan Huff - Solos
Home Sweet Home Records 2007
Bill Hughes - Dream Master
Epic Records 1979
Tracks: Stealin' My Heart Away, Dreams Come True, Waiting For You To Fly, Only Love, Lower Lights, Gypsy Lady, Quiet Moment, Catch Me Smilin', Only Your Heart Can Say & Dream Master.
Musicians on the Dream Master album: Bill Hughes, Oscar Castro Neves, Jose Feliciano, Terry Frewer, Jay Graydon, Mitch Holder, Will McFarland, Tony Peluso, Brett Wade, Wilton Felder, Mike Porcaro, Allen Soberman, Joel Wade, Dale Jacobs, Randy Kumano, Doug Louie, Lincoln Mayorga, Mike Melvoin, Ian Underwood, John Dell, Kat Hendrikse, Russ Kunkel, Jeff Porcaro, Rick Shlosser, Victor Feldman, Jose Feliciano, Steve Forman, Gary Lyons, Michel L. Bolivar, Ray Pizzi, Ernie Watts, Ian Freebairn Smith, Rene Armand, Paulette Brown, Clark Burroughs, Laura Creamer, Venetta Fields, Ian Freebairn Smith, Terry Frewer, Sherlie Matthews, Colleen Peterson & Joanie Taylor.
Hummingbird - Diamond Nights
A&M Records 1977
Engelbert Humperdinck - Don't You Love Me Anymore ?
Epic Records 1981
Engelbert Humperdinck - Love´s Only Love
Epic Records 1980
Con Hunley - Oh Girl
Warner Bros 1982
Steve Hunter - Swept Away
Atco Records 1977
Idle Cure - S.T.
Frontline Records 1986
Iguana - The Winds Of Alamar
United Artists Records 1977