Tag Archives: Barrett Strong

Edwin Starr: War & Peace

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On August 7, 1970, “Motown” label released “War & Peace”, the second Edwin Starr studio album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Edwin Star, Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Henry Cosby, Norman Whitfield and Ivy Joe Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Edwin Starr – vocal
  • David De Pitte, Henry Cosby, Paul Riser, Wade Marcus, Willie Shorter – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – art direction, design
  • Jim Hendin – photography
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphic supervision

Track listing:

  1. War – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  2. Running Back and Forth – Richard “Popcorn” Wylie, Edwin Starr
  3. Adios Senorita – Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
  4. All Around the World – Tina Turner
  5. I Can’t Escape Your Memory – Ivy Hunter, Jack Alan Goga
  6. At Last (I Found Love) – Elgie Stover, Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye
  7. I Just Wanted to Cry – Johnny Bristol, Edwin Starr
  8. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  9. Time – Richard “Popcorn” Wylie, Edwin Starr
  10. California Soul – Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  11. I Can’t Replace My Old Love – Harvey Fugua, Arthur Scott, Vernon Williams
  12. She Should Have Been Home – Johnny Bristol, Doris McNeil

Eddie Kendricks: The Hit Man

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In July 1975, “Tamla” label released “The Hit Man”, the sixth Eddie Kendricks album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston and Brian Holland.

Personnel:

  • Eddie Kendricks – lead and backing vocals
  • Jay Graydon, Johnny McGhee, Melvin “Wah-Wah” Ragin, Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Harold Johnson, Leonard Caston Jr. – keyboards
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Earl Palmer, Ed Greene, Harvey Mason, James Gadson – drums
  • Bobbye Hall, Gary Coleman, Gene Estes – percussion
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – congas
  • Bobby Taylor, Carolyn Majors, Frank Wilson, Harold Johnson, Joe Croyle, Joe White, John Fox, Karin Patterson, Leonard Caston Jr., Mara Baygulow, Mike Campbell – vocal ensemble
  • Jim Britt – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. If Anyone Can – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
  2. Happy – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
  3. Get the Cream Off the Top – Brian Holland, Eddie Holland
  4. Body Talk – Frank Wilson, Kathy Wakefield
  5. Fortune Teller – Barrett Strong
  6. Skippin’ Work Today – J. Christopher Fox
  7. You Loved Me Then – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston
  8. I’ve Got to Be – Kathy Wakefield, Leonard Caston

David Ruffin: Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay

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In December 1974, “Motown” label released “Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay”, the fifth David Ruffin album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Whitfield and Mark Davis.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals
  • Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, Johnny McGhee, Melvin Ragin – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Mark Davis – keyboards
  • Henry Davis, Ron Brown – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Ed Greene, James Gadson – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown, Stephanie Spruill – percussion
  • Mykal Moore – saxophone
  • Freddy Dunn, Kenny Copeland – trumpet
  • Carolyn Willis, Jessie Kirkland, Joe Greene, Julia Waters, Lisa Roberts, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I Saw You When You Met Her – Norman Whitfield
  2. Take Me Clear from Here – Vincent DiMirco
  3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay – Norman Whitfield
  5. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  6. No Matter Where – Clarence Drayton, Tamy Smith
  7. City Stars – Charles Higgins Jr, Dobie Gray
  8. I Just Want to Celebrate – Dino Fekaris, Nick Zesses

Doug Sahm: Texas Tornado

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In December 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Texas Tornado”, the second Doug Sahm studio album. It was recorded in October 1972, at “Atlantic Studios” and “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Doug Sahm.

Personnel:

  • Doug Sahm – vocals, guitar, bajo sexto, fiddle, electric piano, arrangements
  • Atwood Allen – acoustic guitar, harmony
  • Frank Paredes – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Luis Ortéga – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Owens – steel guitar
  • Andy Statman – mandolin
  • Mike Nock – electric piano
  • George Stubbs – electric piano
  • Flaco Jiménez – accordion
  • Augie Meyers – Vox Continental
  • Dr. John – piano, organ
  • Jack Barber – bass
  • Steve Vargas – bass
  • George Rains – drums
  • Pancho Morales – percussion
  • Warren Chiasson – vibraphone
  • David Bromberg – dobro
  • Kenny Kosek – fiddle
  • Rocky Morales – tenor saxophone
  • David “Fathead” Newman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Martin Fierro – tenor saxophone
  • Mel Martin – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson – trumpet
  • Jack Wilmoth – trumpet
  • Charley MacBirney – trumpet
  • Neil Rosengarden – flugelhorn
  • Jimmy Douglass – engineer
  • Ken Hopkins – engineer, mixing
  • Dan Healy – mixing
  • Lew Hahn – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Doug Sahm.

  1. San Francisco FM Blues
  2. Someday
  3. Blue Horizon
  4. Tennessee Blues
  5. Ain’t That Loving You
  6. Texas Tornado
  7. Jaun Mendoza
  8. Chicano
  9. I’ll Be There
  10. Hard Way
  11. Nitty Gritty

Marvin Gaye: In the Groove

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On August 26, 1968, “Tamla” label released “In the Groove”, the eighth Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded 1967 – 1968, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Ivy Jo Hunter and Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • Gladys Knight & The Pips – backing vocals
  • Telma Hopkins – backing vocals
  • Joyce Vincent Wilson – backing vocals
  • Pamela Vincent – backing vocals 
  • Herbart – design

Track listing:

  1. You – Jeffrey Bowen, Jack Coga, Ivy Jo Hunter
  2. Tear Ot on Down – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  3. Chained -Frank Wilson
  4. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  5. At Last (I Found a Love) – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  6. Some Kind of Wonderful – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  7. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  8. Change What You Can – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  9. It’s Love I Need – Stephen Bowden, Ivy Jo Hunter
  10. Every Now and Then – Eddie Holland, Frank Wilson
  11. You’re What’s Happening (In the World Today) – George Gordy, Robert Gordy, Allen Story
  12. There Goes My Baby – Benjamin Nelson, Lover Patterson, George Treadwell

The Undis Puted Truth: Same

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In July 1971, “Gordy” label released the self-titled, debut Undisputed Truth (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Joe “Pep” Harris – lead vocal
  • Billie Rae Calvin – lead and backing vocals
  • Brenda Joyce Evans – lead and backing vocals
  • Paul Riser – arrangements
  • Dave Van DePitte – arrangements, conductor
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Norman Whitfield – design concept 
  • Jim Hendin – photography
  • Jay Butler – liner notes
  • Scottie Regen – liner notes

Track listing;

  1. You Got The Love I Need – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  2. Save My Love for A Rainy Day – Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene
  3. California Soul – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. Aquarius – Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
  5. Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today) – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  6. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  7. We’ve Got a Way Out Love – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  8. Since I’ve Lost You – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  9. Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone – Cornelius Grant, Norman Whitfield, Sylvia Moy
  10. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  11. Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan 

Rare Earth: Ma

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In April 1973, “Motown” label released “Ma”, the sixth Rare Earth studio album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Ray Monette – vocals, lead guitar
  • Mark Olson – vocals, keyboards
  • Gil Bridges – vocals, flute, saxophone
  • Mike Urso – vocals, bass guitar
  • Peter Hoorelbeke – lead vocal, drums, percussion
  • Edward Guzman – congas, timbales

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield, except where noted.

  1. Ma
  2. Big John Is My Name
  3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Hum Along and Dance – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  5. Come With Me

Bruce Springsteen: Only The Strong Survive

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On November 11, 2022, “Columbia” label released “Only the Strong Survive”, the twenty-first Bruce Springsteen studio album. It was recorded 2021 – 2022, at “Thrill Hill Recording” New jersey, and was produced by Ron Aniello and Bruce Springsteen.

Personnel:

  • Bruce Springsteen – lead and backing vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
  • Ron Aniello – guitar, bass, drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, organ, vibraphone, glockenspiel, chimes, timpani, backing vocals, engineer, mixing
  • Rob Lebret – guitar
  • Bill Holloman – tenor saxophone
  • Ed Manion – baritone saxophone
  • Tom Timko – baritone saxophone
  • Barry Danielian – trumpet
  • Curt Ramm – trumpet
  • Clark Gayton – trombone
  • Lisa Kim – violin, concertmaster
  • Annaliesa Place – violin
  • Dasol Jeong – violin
  • Joanna Maurer – violin
  • Kristi Helberg – violin
  • Kuan Cheng Lu – violin
  • Sein Ryu – violin
  • Sharon Yamada – violin
  • Su Hyun Park – violin
  • Suzanne Ornstein – violin
  • Danielle Farina – viola
  • Devin Moore – viola
  • Re Clarice Jensen – cello
  • Patrick Jee – cello
  • Sophie Shao – cello
  • Rebecca Young – viola
  • Soozie Tyrell – backing vocals
  • Lisa Lowell – backing vocals
  • Sam Moore – backing vocals
  • Curtis King Jr. – backing vocals
  • Dennis Collins – backing vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
  • Michelle Moore – backing vocals
  • Rob Mathes – conductor
  • Andres Bermudez – engineer
  • Rob Lebret – engineer, mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Jon Landau – executive production

Track listing:

  1. Only the Strong Survive – Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
  2. Soul Days – Jonnie Barnett
  3. Nightshift – Walter Orange, Dennis Lambert, Franne Golde
  4. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
  5. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore – Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio
  6. Turn Back the Hands of Time – Jack Daniels, Bonnie Thompson
  7. When She Was My Girl – Larry Gottlieb, Marc Blatte
  8. Hey, Western Union Man – Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
  9. I Wish It Would Rain – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Rodger Penzabene
  10. Don’t Play That Song – Ahmet Ertegun, Betty Nelson
  11.  Any Other Way – William Bell
  12. I Forgot to Be Your Lover – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
  13. 7 Rooms of Gloom – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  14. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted – William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser, James Dean
  15. Someday We’ll Be Together – Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, Harvey Fuqua

Barrett Strong

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On January 29, 2023, Barrett Strong died aged 81. He was singer and songwriter, the performer who had the first hit for Berry Gordy’s label “Tamla Records”, “Money (That’s What I Want)”. Strong was best known for his work as a songwriter, especially in association with the producer Norman Whitfield. In mid 1960s he became “Motown Records” writer lyricist, and together with Whitfield, they wrote some of the best known soul and funk classics of all times, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; “War” by Edwin Starr; “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” by Marvin Gaye; “Smiling Faces Sometimes” by The Undisputed Truth; “Cloud Nine”, “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Psychedelic Shack”, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)”, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, by The Temptations. In 1973, Strong received “Grammy Award for Best R&B Song” for “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. As leader, Strong released four albums.

The Isley Brothers: Soul on the Rocks

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On January 24, 1967, “Tamla” label released “Soul on the Rocks”, the fifth studio album by Isley Brothers (The). It was recorded in 1966, at “Studio A”, Hitsville, Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson and Ivy Jo Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Ronald Isley – vocals
  • Rudolph Isley – vocals
  • O’Kelly Isley Jr. – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Got to have You Back – Ivy Jo Hunter, Leon ware, Stephen Bowden
  2. That’s the Way Love Is – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  3. Whispers (Getting’ Louder) – David Scott, Barbara Acklin
  4. Tell Me It’s Just a Rumor baby – Harvey Fugua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  5. One Too Many Heartaches – Ivy Jo Hunter
  6. It’s Out of the Question – William “Smokey” Robinson, Berry Gordy
  7. Why When Love Is Gone – Ivy Jo Hunter
  8. Save Me from This Misery – Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene, Stephen Bowden
  9. Little Miss Sweetness – William “Smokey” Robinson
  10. Good Things – Robert Bruce, Leroy Kirkland
  11. Catching Up on Time – Clarence Paul, Leon Ware, Morris Broadnax
  12. Behind a Painted Smile – Ivy Jo Hunter, Beatrice Verdi