# Melvin Van Peebles discography

Melvin Van Peebles was an American actor, filmmaker, writer, and composer. Over his career he recorded several albums with various musicians, and also recorded soundtracks.

## Studio albums

* Brer Soul (1968)
* Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (1970)
* As Serious as a Heart-Attack (1971)
* What the....You Mean I Can't Sing?! (1974)
* Ghetto Gothic (1995)
* Nahh... Nahh Mofo (2012)
* The Last Transmission (2014, with The Heliocentrics)

## Compilations

* X-Rated By an All-White Jury (1997) – including Brer Soul, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death and As Serious as a Heart-Attack

## Soundtrack albums

* Watermelon Man (1970)
* Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
* Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (1972)
* Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)

## Details
### La Permission

In 1968, Van Peebles released a 4-song EP in France to accompany the motion picture with the same name.

### Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

In 1971, to help promote his film, Van Peebles released this soundtrack album, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song which featured Earth, Wind & Fire.

#### Track listing

All tracks are written by Melvin Van Peebles

## As Serious as a Heart-Attack
### Track listing

All tracks are written by Melvin Van Peebles

### Musicians

* Rhetta Hughes - guest vocalist on "Mother's Prayer"
* Doug Carn - keyboards
* John Boudreaux Jr. - drums
* Tom Scott, Albert Hall, Jr. - horns
* William Henderson - strings
* Clydie King, Venetta Fields, Rhetta Hughes, Jessica Smith - backing vocals

### Engineers

* Robert Appère - recording and mix
* Dick Burns - mix
* Produced And Conceived By Melvin Van Peebles
* All Words And Music By Melvin Van Peebles
* All Selections Published By Almo Music Corp./Yeah Inc., Ascap,
* Except "Love That's, America," Colgems Music, Ascap
* Art Direction: Roland Young
* Album Design: Chuck Beeson
* Photography: Jim McCrary

## What the....You Mean I Can't Sing?!

In 1974, Van Peebles released his first album that had less spoke word and a good deal of singing on the tracks.

### Track listing

All tracks are written by Melvin Van Peebles, except for "Superstition", written by Stevie Wonder

### Musicians

* Melvin Van Peebles – lead vocals
* Kenny Altman – bass
* Bob Babbitt – bass
* David Cohen – guitar
* George David – guitar
* Leopoldo Fleming – percussion
* Jerry Friedman – guitar
* Rhetta Hughes – background vocals
* Tali Jackson – drums
* Arthur Jenkins – keyboards
* Bob Mann – guitar
* Barbara Massey – background vocals
* Andrew Smith – drums
* Warren Smith – percussion
* J. Steven Soles – guitar
* Tasha Thomas – background vocals
* Christie Thompson – keyboards
* Harold Wheeler – arranger, conductor, keyboards

### Production

* Charles Blackwell – executive producer
* Tony Bongiovi – remixing
* Gary Hobish – remastering
* Michael Myers – liner notes
* Abdullah Rahman – artwork
* Dave Rubin – cover design
* Mark Rubin – cover design
* Stephen Y. Scheaffer – engineer
* LeBaron Taylor – executive producer
* Pat Thomas – reissue producer
* Melvin Van Peebles – liner notes, photography, producer

## Ghetto Gothic

After over 20 years, in 1995, Van Peebles released an album, waiting so long because he waited "until I could do it correctly."

### Track listing

All tracks are written by Melvin Van Peebles

### Musicians

* Melvin Van Peebles – vocals
* Anthony Aiello – saxophone
* Lamar Alsop – viola
* Seymour Barab – cello
* Julien Barber – viola
* Katreese Barnes – background vocals
* Warren Benbow – drums
* Don Blackman – organ, piano
* Roger Byam – saxophone
* Barry Finclair – violin
* Kenneth Gordon – violin
* Natalie Kriegler – violin
* Spaceman Patterson – bass, guitar, baritone horn, pocket trumpet
* Dunn Pearson, Jr. – keyboards
* Angel Rogers – background vocals
* Norma Jean Wright – background vocals

### Production

* Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander – engineer
* Nelson George – liner notes
* Butch Jones – engineer
* Mark Partis – engineer
* Spaceman Patterson – arranger, associate producer, programming
* Dunn Pearson, Jr. – arranger, associate producer, programming
* Mark Schaffel – engineer
* Tommy Steele – art direction
* Mark Stichman – engineer
* Ezra Tucker – illustrations
* Melvin Van Peebles – arranger, producer
* Harley White – remixing

## Nahh... Nahh Mofo

Van Peebles released a limited vinyl album for his eightieth birthday. It featured his current band at the time, widLaxative. It was distributed at his birthday celebration at the Film Forum.

### Track listing

All tracks are written by Melvin Van Peebles

### Credits

* Baritone Saxophone – Paula Henderson
* Bass – Jared Nickerson
* Cello – Will Martina
* Drums – Chris Eddleton
* Keyboards – Bruce Mack
* Lead Vocals – Melvin Van Peebles
* Mastered By – Tony Dawsey
* Mixed By – Alex Lozupone
* Music By – Melvin Van Peebles
* Recorded By – Alex Lozupone
* Technician [Polished By] – Billy "Spaceman" Patterson
* Words By – Melvin Van Peebles
* Samaritans: Mikel Banks, Andre Lasalle, Michael Kammers
* Mike Sargent - Front Cover
* Amy Gail - Original Logo
* Alex Lozupone - Rear Photo

## The Last Transmission

Van Peebles' last recorded release was a concept album with The Heliocentrics released in 2014.

### Track listing

All tracks are written by Melvin Van Peebles

### Credits

* Art Direction – Errol F. Richardson
* Bass Clarinet – Shabaka Hutchings
* Composed By, Arranged By, Performer – The Heliocentrics
* Electronics – Tom Hodges
* Executive Producer – Eothen Alapatt
* Guitar – Adrian Owusu
* Lyrics By, Performer, Vocals – Melvin Van Peebles
* astered By – Guy Davie
* Mixed By – Spaceman Patterson
* Percussion, Vibraphone, Flute, Other [Metallic Objects] – Jack Yglesias
* Photography By – Eric Coleman
* Piano, Keyboards, Effects – Ollie Parfitt*
* Recorded By, Mixed By, Producer, Bass, Other [Radio, Atmospherics] – Jake Ferguson
* Recorded By, Mixed By, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Piano, Effects [Oscillator] – Malcom Catto
* Theremin – Susi O'Neil