A Special List of James Griffin Recordings

A work in progress.

In going through the James Griffin discography of solo/duo and group recordings and also lists of his demos and recordings by others (where he served as vocalist, writer or producer), one could come up with ideas of compilations that may be of interest to fans and collectors. With his lyrical substance and incredible voice, a suitably chosen collection of James Griffin tracks could blow people away.

The following tables sketch out some things that need filling in (release and production details, etc.), so it is surely a very incomplete start. Doing a repetoire search on the BMI website reveals details concerning his writing career and suggests that a considerable quantity of demos may exist, and there is certainly no need to reproduce any list of demos here. ("For All We Know" has already been released on the "Retrospective" CD, and I'm still hoping to come across the demo for "Get The Message.")

Anita Ward's disco classic "Ring My Bell" has a James Griffin listed as engineer, but it is a different person of the same name as indicated here.

* = Very partial listings, especially considering the dozens of songs
co-written with Michael Z. Gordon and Robb Royer.

+ = Recordings (mainly by others) not considered on the discography pages.

     

Involvement in duet or group recordings: *
Terry Sylvester & James Griffin – Travellin' Boy (1976; TS & JG production from the UK "I BELIEVE" LP by TS) 3:23
Terry Sylvester – Travellin' Boy (1976; Alan Parsons production from all other issues of "I BELIEVE," whether LP or CD; added for comparison to the above item) 3:39
Mike Finnigan – Misery Loves Company (circa 1976; JG harmony)+ 3:48
Black Tie – Learning The Game – original, LP version (1985) 1:47
Black Tie – Learning The Game – redone, CD version (1990) 1:50
Black Tie – Chain Gang – original, LP version (1985) 2:59
Black Tie – Chain Gang – redone, CD version (1990) 3:26
Black Tie – If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody (1985) 3:51
Black Tie – You're My Life (1985) 2:34
Black Tie – Oh My Lover (1985) 3:23
Holly & James Griffin – For All We Know – 2005 CD single 2:37
Holly & James Griffin – For All We Know – 2006 CD single (country remix) 2:39
Lynn Bryant & James Griffin – Can We Still Be Friends – from 2005 CD by Lynn Bryant: "WOMAN ENOUGH"+ 4:04
Frank Black – Lone Child (JG background vocals) – from 2005 CD by Frank Black: "HONEYCOMB"+ 3:10
Frank Black – Atlantis (with Al Franken & JG) – from 2005 CD by Frank Black: "HONEYCOMB" (only on Japanese edition; bonus track)+ 5:43
     

Involvement with recordings by others as writer (and
often producer) plus related recordings for comparison:*+

(Not necessarily in any order. Most are from the mid-late 1960s.)
Ed Ames – Apologize 1,2 2:05
The Roosters – Love Machine 1,2 2:44
The Roosters – I'm Suspectin' 1,2 2:25
The Roosters – Home Down Right 2,1  
The Roosters – Good, Good Lovin' 2  
The Cascades – Main Street 2,1  
Michelle Lee – It's A Long, Long Way To Fall 1,2  
The Surprise Package – The Other Me 1,2 2:13
Bobby Vee – Save A Love 1,2 2:10
Bobby Vee – Get The Message 1,2 2:32
Brian Hyland – Get The Message 1,2 2:46
Michael J. James – Get The Message 1,2 2:32
The Young Men – Get The Message 1,2 2:36
Saggittarius – Get The Message 1,2 2:49
Saggittarius – Hotel Indiscreet (single version) 1,2 2:22
Saggittarius – Hotel Indiscreet (LP version) 1,2 2:11
Wild Silk – Jesse 1,2 2:52
Peter Courtney – Loving Two 1,2 1:44
Rudy Vallee – (Who Likes) Good Pop Music 1,2 2:22
The Leathercoated Minds – Sunset And Clark 4
(no JG involvement; added for comparison to the following item)		 2:02
The Morning Glories – You're So Young 1,2,4
(uses "Sunset And Clark" as instrumental track; lead vocalist sounds like JG)		 2:12
The Morning Glories – Love-In 1,3,5 2:38
The Beethoven Soul – Dreams 1,2 2:34
The Beethoven Soul – A Violent Crime 1,3 2:24
The Beethoven Soul – Beggin' Your Pardon M'Lady 1,2 2:15
The David – The Light Of Your Mind 1,3 2:50
The Bells – Love Once Removed 3,1 3:18
Slade – Could I 1,3 2:47
Allan Nicholls – Coming Apart 1,3 3:19
Jack Jones – Coming Apart 1,3 3:34
Jack Jones – Games Of Magic 1,3 2:40
Ray Charles – She Knows 1,3  
Richard Manuel – She Knows (live) 1,3 3:38
Conway Twitty – Who's Gonna Know (1991) 6,7,1 2:49
Restless Heart – You Can Depend On Me (1992) 8,1 2:38
Holly – Dance On The Moon (2006) 1 2:57
WRITER CREDITS:
1  James Griffin
2  Michael Z. Gordon
3  Robb Royer
4  J. J. Cale		   5  Eddie le Blanc    
  6  Richard Mainegra    
  7  Rick Yancey    
  8  Ronnie Rogers