Album · 1977
Tracklist
Africa (The Motherland)
A1 Motherland 0:29
A2 Roots Mural Theme 2:10
A3 Main Title: Mama Aifambeni (Premiere Episode) 1:03
A4 Behold, The Only Thing Greater Than Yourself (Birth) 1:30
A5 Oluwa (Many Rains Ago) (African Theme) 2:28
A6 Boyhood To Manhood 0:53
A7 The Toubob Is Here! (The Capture) 1:06
A8 Middle Passage (Slaveship Crossing) 1:15
A9 You In Americuh' Now, African 0:32
America (The Promised Land)
B1 Roots Mural Theme Intro (Slave Auction) 0:15
B2 Ole Fiddler 1:12
B3 Jumpin' De Broom (Marriage Ceremony) 0:42
B4 What Can I Do? (Hush, Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name) 2:17
B5 Roots Mural Theme Bridge (Plantation Life) 1:25
B6 Oh Lord, Come By Here 3:25
B7 Free At Last? (The Civil War) 2:24
B8 Many Rains Ago (Oluwa) (African Theme: English Version) 4:50
Line-up/Musicians
Acoustic Bass – Arni Egillson , Milt Kestenbaum
Banjo – Alton Hendrickson
Cello – Jeff Solow , Jesse Erlich , Paul Bergstrom, Ronnie Cooper
Concept By [Conceived By], Producer, Conductor – Quincy Jones
Conductor [Choir] – Tommy Bahler (tracks: A5, B8)
Conductor [The Wattsline Choir] – Reverend James Cleveland
Electric Bass – Chuck Rainey, Ed Reddick
French Horn – Alan Robinson, David Duke, James Decker
Guitar – David T. Walker, Lee Ritenour
Harp – Catherine Gotthoffer, Dorothy Remsen
Keyboards – Dave Grusin, Ian Underwood, Mike Boddicker , Pete Jolly, Richard Tee
Percussion – Bill Summers, Bobbye Hall, Caiphus Semenya, Emil Richards, King Errison , Milt Holland, Paul Bryant , Shelly Manne, Tommy Vig, Victor Feldman, Zak Diouf
Performer – Bill Summers, Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbulu, Lou Gossett, Quincy Jones Orchestra , The Wattsline Choir
Trombone – Bill Watrous, Dick Nash, Maurice Spear
Trumpet – Bobby Bryant, Buddy Childers, John Audino
Tuba – Tommy Johnson
Viola – Alex Nieman, Marilyn Baker, Bob Ostrowsky , Rollis Dale
Violin – Bobby Bruce, Erno Neufeld, Gerald Vinci, Harry Bluestone, Irv Katz, Janice Gower, John Santulis, Joseph Livoti, Joe Stepansky , Ralph Shaeffer , Bob Sushell , Sheldon Sanov, Bill Nuttycomb*
Vocals – Alexandra Brown , Caiphus Semenya, Deborah Tibbs, Jim Gilstrap, John Lehman, Linda Evans, Paulette McWilliams, Reverend James Cleveland , Stephanie Spruill
Vocals [Featured Soloist] – Letta Mbulu
Vocals [The Wattsline Choir] – Charles May, David Pridgen, Mortonette Jenkins, Rodney Armstrong, Sherwood Sledge
Woodwind – Ernie Watts, Jerome Richardson, Ted Nash, Terry Harrington, Bill Green
About this release
A&M Records – SP-4626 (US)
Music from and inspired by the David L. Wolfer production of "Roots". ROOTS the saga of an American family.
Recorded at A&M Studios and United Western Recorders
Thanks to snobb for the addition