Label : Deniz Productions
01 - The Greatest Ears In Town (Bette Midler & Marc Shaiman)02 - So Blue (Arif Mardin & Roxane Seeman)
03 - No Way Out (Arif Mardin)
04 - Goodbye To Rio (Arif Mardin)
05 - No One (Arif Mardin & Margo Guryan)
06 - So Many Nights (Arif Mardin)
07 - Calls A Soft Voice (Arif Mardin)
08 - Longing For You (Arif Mardin & Michael Margulies)
09 - Dual Blues (Arif Mardin)
10 - Chez Twang's (Arif Mardin)
11 - Willie's After Hours (Lone Star Blues) (Arif Mardin)
12 - All My Friends Are Here (Arif Mardin)
13 - Wistful (Arif Mardin)
Produced by Arif Mardin & Joe Mardin for Deniz Productions, Inc.
Recorded by Michael O'Reilly
Mixed by Joe Mardin & Michael O'Reilly
Associate Producer : Michael O'Reilly
Recorded at Avatar Studios, Right Track Studios, Sony Studios, Clinton Studios & Brooklyn Recording
Additional Recording at NuNoise Studio by Joe Mardin
Mixed at Brooklyn Recording
Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound
Assistant Engineers :
Avatar : Brian Montgomery, Peter Doris, Justin Gerrish, Rick Kwan
Right Track : Chris Jennings, Alex Venguer, Chris Soper, Reed Taylor, Tim Whitney
Clinton : Tom Alezza, Sheldon Yellowhair-Golbert
Sony : Andy Manganello
Brooklyn Recording : Yohei Gotoh, Ben Liscio
01 - The Greatest Ears In Town
Featuring Bette Midler
Also Featuring Barry Gibb & Polygraph Lounge
Arranged by Joe Mardin, Arif Mardin, Rob Schwimmer & Mark Stewart
Chorus Background Vocals Arranged by Joe Mardin
Strings & Horns Conducted by Joe Mardin
Bette Midler : Lead vocal
Rob Schwimmer : Piano, Stylophone, Hammond B3 Organ
Tom Barney : Acoustic Bass
Joe Mardin : Drums & Percussion
Mark Stewart : Rock Guitar, Chaladoo, Hawaiian Tremolo
Bucky Pizzareli : Jazz Guitar
Philippe Saisse : Vibraphone
Ula Hedwig & Margaret Dorn : Chorus Background vocals
Joe Mardin, Mark Stewart, Rob Schwimmer, Melissa Fathman : Additional Background vocals & Voices
Jerry Barnes : 'Soul' Background vocals
Arif Mardin, Bette Midler & Marc Shaiman : Sketch Voices
Barry Gibb : 'Jive Talkin' Vocal
Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff (Solos) : Trumpets
John Fedchock, Keith O'Quinn : Trombones
George Flynn : Bass Trombone
Andy Snitzer, Dave Mann (Solos) : Alto Saxophones
Charlie Pillow, Rich Perry : Tenor Saxophones
Ronnie Cuber : Baritone Saxophone
Aaron Heick : Oboe & Additional Saxophones
Barry Gibb Vocals Recorded by John Merchant at Hit Factory / Criteria Studios
Assistant Engineers : Patrick Magee & Jose Gonzalez
02 - So Blue
Featuring Chaka Khan
Also Featuring David Sanborn
Arranged & Conducted by Arif Mardin
Track Conducted by Joe Mardin
Chaka Khan : Lead vocal
Rob Schwimmer : Piano
Tom Barney : Acoustic Bass
Dennis MacKrell : Drums
David Sanborn : Alto Saxophone Solos
Jim Hynes, Barry Danielian, Tony Kadlec : Trumpets
Larry Farrell, Birch Johnson : Trombones
George Flynn : Bass Trombone
Bob Carlisle, Phil Myers : French Horns
Roger Rosenberg : Bass Clarinet
Marc Goldberg : Basson
Gordon Gotlieb : Vibraphone
Alto Saxophone Recorded by Dean Sharnow
03 - No Way Out
Featuring Nicki Parrott
Arranged by Arif Mardin
Strings Conducted by Joe Mardin
Nicki Parrott : Lead vocal & Acoustic Bass
Robbie Kondor : Piano
Billy Drummond : Drums
Jerry Dodgion : Flute
Joe Mardin : Gamelan Sequence & Gong
Nicki Parrott & Joe Mardin : Finger Snaps
04 - Goodbye To Rio
Featuring Raul Midón
Arranged by Arif Mardin
Conducted by Joe Mardin & Arif Mardin
Raul Midón : Lead vocal, Nylon & Steel String Guitars, Solo, Mouth Trumpet
Nilson Matta : Acoustic Bass
Cyro Baptista : All Drums & Percussion
05 - No One
Featuring Dianne Reeves
Arranged & Conducted by Arif Mardin
Dianne Reeves : Lead vocal
Robbie Kondor : Piano
Tom Barney : Acoustic Bass
Dennis MacKrell : Drums
Michael Leonhart : Trumpet
06 - So Many Nights
Featuring Danny O'Keefe
Arranged & Conducted by Arif Mardin
Danny O'Keefe : Lead vocal
Rob Schwimmer : Piano
Gordon Gottlieb & Philippe Saisse : Vibraphone
Diane Lesser : Oboe
Vocals Recorded by Garey Shelton at Garey Shelton Productions
07 - Calls A Soft Voice
Featuring Carly Simon
Arranged by Arif Mardin & Steve Skinner
Strings Arranged & Conducted by Arif Mardin
Carly Simon : Lead vocal
Steve Skinner : Keyboards & Programming
Jerry Barnes : Bass
Joe Mardin : Drums
Erik Charlston : Vibraphone
Robbie Buchanan : Acoustic Piano
Ralph MacDonald : Shaker
Arif Mardin : Spoken Background vocals
Background vocals : Rachele Cappelli, Angela Cappelli, Robbi Kamalo
Children's Choir : Mbali Kumalo, Didi Kumalo, Gabe Nekrutman, Leah Borrie, Emma Borrie, Julia Heim, Lindsey Williams, Dylan Donadio, Ayla Von Essen, Indu Von Essen, Giovanni Von Essen
Conducted by Robbi Kumalo
Spoken Voices at End : Patty Aicher & Anna Therése Skinner
Spoken Voices Recorded by Steve Skinner
08 - Longing For You
Featuring Norah Jones
Arranged & Conducted by Arif Mardin
Norah Jones : Lead vocal
Lee Musiker : Piano
Tom Barney : Acoustic Bass
Grady Tate : Drums
Joe Lovano : Tenor Saxophone
Jon Faddis : Trumpet
09 - Dual Blues
Featuring Amy Kohn
Arranged & Conducted by Arif Mardin
Amy Kohn : Lead vocal & Accordion
Rob Schwimmer : Piano & Theremin
Ben Street : Acoustic Piano
Ben Perowsky : Drums
Philippe Saisse : Vibraphone
Jim Hynes, Barry Danielian, Tony Kadlec : Trumpets
Larry Farrell, Birch Johnson : Trombones
George Flynn : Bass Trombone
Bob Carlisle, Phil Myers : French Horns
Roger Rosenberg : Baritone Saxophone
Mark Goldberg : Bassoon
10 - Chez Twang's
Featuring Dr. John
Arranged by Arif Mardin
Dr. John : Lead vocal & Piano
Jim Compilongo : Melody Guitar & Solo
Ira Siegel : Rhythm Guitar
Tom Barney : Acoustic Bass
Howard Johnson : Tuba
Herlin Riley : Drums & Washboard
Victor Goines : Clarinet
Michael Leonhart : Trumpet
Kenny Kosek : Fiddle
Gil Goldstein : Accordion
Joe Mardin : Marching Bass Drum
Katreese Barnes : Background vocals
Steve Skinner : Programming
11 - Willie's After Hours (Lone Star Blues)
Featuring Willie Nelson & Katreese Barnes
Recorded in 1973
Willie Nelson : Acoustic Guitar Solo
Arif Mardin : Fender Rhodes Piano & Solo
Doug Sahm : Electric Guitar Solo
Jimmy Day : Pedal Steel Guitar
Dan Spears : Bass
Paul English : Drums
Jeff Gutcheon : Hammond B3 Organ
Steve Burgh : Electric Guitar
David Bromberg : Dobro
Track Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios
Engineered by Gene Paul
Recorded in 2006
Katreese Barnes : Lead & Background vocals
Jim Hynes, Barry Danielian, Rony Kadlec : Trumpets
Larry Farrell, Birch Johnson : Trombones
George Flynn : Bass Trombone
Bob Carlisle, Phil Myers : French Horns
Roger Rosenberg : Baritone Saxophone
Mark Goldberg : Bassoon
Horns Arranged & Conducted by Arif Mardin
Vocals & Horns Recorded by Michael O'Reilly
12 - All My Friends Are Here
Featuring Members of The Average White Band, The Bee Gees & The Rascals, Phil Collins, Hall & Oates, Lalah Hathaway & Boy Meets Girl
Arranged by Arif Mardin
Additional Arranging by Steve Skinner & Joe Mardin
Conducted by Joe Mardin
Robbie Kondor : Clavinet
Steve Skinner : Hammond B3 Organ & Fender Rhodes
Alan Gorrie : Bass
Steve Ferrone : Drums
Onnie McIntyre, David Spinozza : Guitars
Hamish Stuart, Reggie Griffin : Additional Guitars
Sammy Figueroa : Congas
Will Lee : Additional Bass
Spooner Oldham : Wurlitzer Electric Piano
Randy Brecker : Trumpet & Solo
David 'Fathead' Newman : Tenor Saxophone
Andy Snitzer : Alto Saxophone
The Arif's Friends Chorus : Jerry Barnes, Katreese Barnes, Sharod Barnes, David Brigati, Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere, Phil Collins, Sammy Figueroa, Barry Gibb*, Robin Gibb, Alan Gorrie, Reggie Griffin, Daryl Hall*, Lalah Hathaway*, Cissy Houston, Margie Joseph*, Robbie Kondor, Will Lee, Onnie MacIntyre, Joe Mardin (Also Bass & Harmony Vocals), George Merrill, John Oates, Michael O'Reilly, Shannon Rubicam, Rob Schwimmer, David Spinozza, Hamish Stuart*, Bobby Valli
*Also Ad Libs
Barry Gibb's Vocals Recorded by John Merchant at Hit Factory / Criteria Studios
Assistant Engineers : Patrick Magee & Jose Gonzalez
Robin Gibb's Vocal Recorded by Savvas Iossifidis
John Oates's Vocal Recorded by Jamie Rosenberg at Great Divide Studios
Margie Joseph's Vocal Recorded by Dale Ramsey at Ramtrax
Assistant Engineer : Joey P.
Spooner Oldham's Electric Piano Recorded by Jimmy Nutt at the Nutthouse Studio
13 - Wistful
Arif Mardin : Piano
Remixed at NuNoise Studio
Violin : Elena Barrere & Carol Webb (Concert Masters), Abe Appleman, Avril Brown, Enrico DiCecco, Narciso Figueroa, Katherine Fong, Hae-Young Ham, Joyce Hammann, Jean Ingraham, Karen Karlsrud, Ann Leathers, Ann Lehmann, Laura McGinniss, Jan Mullen, Carol Pool, Ricky Sortomme, Yuri Vodovoz & Carol Webb Sortomme
Viola : Vincent Lionti, Irene Breslaw-Grapel, Karen Dreyfus, Desiréee Elsevier, Craig Mumm, Maxine Roach
Cello : Richard Locker, Jeanne LeBlanc, Eugene Moye, Jeremy Turner
