Hot Butter was an American instrumental band fronted by the keyboard player and studio musician Stan Free. The other band members were John Abbott (arranger, guitar), brothers Bill (producer, engineer, percussion) and Steve Jerome (producer, electric piano), Danny Jordan (producer) and Dave Mullaney (arranger, ondioline); also joined in studio by Tony Spinosa (percussion). They were best known for their 1972 version of the Moog synthesizer instrumental song "Popcorn", originally recorded by its composer, Gershon Kingsley, in 1969. The track became an international hit, selling a million copies in France, 250,000 in the United Kingdom, and over two million worldwide.

Free's best-known recording was the Moog hit "Popcorn" (1972), with the album named Hot Butter. In addition to Free, five studio musicians contributed to the album. Free also toured and recorded with the First Moog Quartet (1970–72), organized by Gershon Kingsley. Additionally he arranged music and conducted for many performers, notably the jazz vocalist Chris Connor (Chris Craft), and the comedian Jack Carter. He was also a studio musician for many of the rock and pop groups of the 1960s, including The Four Seasons, The Monkees and The Association. In 1979, Free played percussion on the Broadway Show The Most Happy Fella.

He was married with children and grandchildren, and died in New York.

Discography

Albums

Hot Butter

  • Musicor MS-3242 (U.S.); Pye International NSPL.28169 (UK), 1972

Side one

  1. "Popcorn" (Gershon Kingsley) (2:30)
  2. "Day by Day" (Stephen Schwartz) (3:44)
  3. "Apache" (Jerry Lordan) (2:50)
  4. "At the Movies" (Abbott, Mullaney, Jerome, Jerome, Jordan) (2:31)
  5. "Tristana" (Abbott, Mullaney, Jerome, Jerome, Jordan) (3:29)
  6. "Song Sung Blue" (Neil Diamond) (3:54)

Side two

  1. "Telstar" (Joe Meek) (2:34)
  2. "Tomatoes" (Neal Hefti) (2:27)
  3. "Amazing Grace" (Trad. Arr. Abbott, Mullaney) (2:37)
  4. "Love at First Sight" (S. Gainsbourg) (2:38)
  5. "Song of the Nairobi Trio" (R. Maxwell) (2:13)<!---"Narobi" is the spelling given on the album-->
  6. "Hot Butter (The Silent Screen)" (Abbott, Mullaney, Jerome, Jerome, Jordan) (2:04)

More Hot Butter

  • Musicor MS-3254; 1973

Side one

  1. "Percolator"
  2. "Slag Solution"
  3. "Sounds"
  4. "Wheels"
  5. "Skokiaan"
  6. "Pipeline"

Side two

  1. "Space Walk"
  2. "The Masterpiece"
  3. "Tequila" (Instrumental)
  4. "Syncopated Clock"
  5. "Kappa Maki"
  6. "Mah-Na, Mah-Na"

Popcorn with Hot Butter

Side one

  1. "Popcorn" (Instrumental)
  2. "Day by Day"
  3. "Apache"
  4. "At the Movies"
  5. "Tomatoes"

Side two

  1. "Pipeline"
  2. "Hot Butter"
  3. "Telstar"
  4. "Tristana"
  5. "Song of the Nairobi Trio"
  6. "Amazing Grace"

Moog Hits

  • Musicor Records, L34984, 1974 (Australia)

Side one

  1. "Slag Solution"
  2. "Sounds - Simple"
  3. "Wheels"
  4. "Skokiaan"
  5. "Russian Whistler"

Side two

  1. "Space Walk"
  2. "The Masterpiece"
  3. "Tequila"
  4. "Syncopated Clock"
  5. "Mah-Na, Mah-Na"
  6. "Mexican Whistler"

Popcorn (CD)

  • Castle Music ESMCD907 (UK), 2000
  1. "Popcorn" (Gershon Kingsley)
  2. "Day by Day" (Stephen Schwartz)
  3. "Apache" (Lordan)
  4. "At the Movies" (Abbott, Mullaney, Jerome, Jerome, Jordan)
  5. "Tristana" (Abbott, Mullaney, Jerome, Jerome, Jordan)
  6. "Song Sung Blue" (Diamond)
  7. "Telstar" (Meek)
  8. "Tomatoes" (Hefti)
  9. "Amazing Grace" (Trad. Arr. Abbott, Mullaney)
  10. "Love at First Sight" (Gainsbourg)
  11. "Song of the Narobi Trio"<!---"Narobi" is the spelling given on the album--> (Maxwell).
  12. "Hot Butter (The Silent Screen)" (Abbott, Mullaney, Jerome, Jerome, Jordan)
  13. "Mah-Na-Mah-Na" (Umiliani)
  14. "Masterpiece" (Mouret, Parnes)
  15. "Percolator" (Bideu, Freeman)
  16. "Skokiaan" (Kusarurgwa) <!--it is spelled with a K on the album cover, but if the "Skokkian" page is correct, it is an error-->
  17. "Slag Solution" (Morgan, Ranzzano)
  18. "Sounds" (Macero)
  19. "Space Walk" (Mullaney, Mullaney)
  20. "Syncopated Clock" (Anderson, Parish)
  21. "Tequila" (Rio)
  22. "Wheels" (Petty)

Singles

  • 1972: "Popcorn" <small>(Gershon Kingsley)</small> [2:30] / "At the Movies" <small>(John Abbott, Dave Mullaney, Bill Jerome, Steve Jerome, Danny Jordan)</small> [2:31]
  • 1972: "Apache" <small>(Jerry Lordan)</small> [2:47] / "Hot Butter" (Mozart: Sinfonie Nr. 40) <small>(Abbott, Mullaney, B. Jerome, S. Jerome, Jordan)</small> [2:08]
  • 1972: "Tequila" <small>(Chuck Rio)</small> [1:47] / "Tomatoes" <small>(Neil Hefti)</small> [2:21]
  • 1973: "Percolator" <small>(Lew Bedell, Ernie Freeman)</small> [1:58] / "Tristana" <small>(Abbott, Mullaney, B. Jerome, S. Jerome, Jordan)</small> [3:29] (#46 CAN AC)
  • 1973: "Slag Solution" <small>(Tony Ranzzano, Babel Son)</small> [2:30] / "Kappa Maki" <small>(Abbott, Mullaney, B. Jerome, S. Jerome, Jordan)</small> [2:38]
  • 1975: "Getting Off" <small>(D. Mullaney, J. Mullaney)</small> [2:53] / "Getting On" <small>(D. Mullaney, J. Mullaney)</small> [3:29]
  • 1977: "You Should Be Dancing" <small>(Gene Farrow, Chris Warren)</small> [5:13] / "You Should Be Dancing" (Track Without Lead Vocal) <small>(Farrow, Warren)</small> [4:42]

References

  • [ Allmusic.com biography]