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.
Tag Archives: Cloud Nine
Marvin Gaye: That’s the Way Love Is
On January 8, 1970, “Tamla” label released “That’s the Way Love Is”, the tenth Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.
Personnel:
- Marvin Gaye- lead vocals
- The Funk Brothers- instrumentation
- The Andantes, The Originals- backing vocals
Track listing:
- Gonna Give Her All The Love I’ve Got – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Yesterday – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Groovin’ – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
- I Wish It Would Rain – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- That’s The Way Love Is – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- How Can I Forget? – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Abraham, Martin & John – Dick Holler
- Gonna Keep On Tryin’ Till I Win Your Love – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- No Time for Tears – Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield
- Cloud Nine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Don’t You Miss Me A Little Bit, Baby? – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- So Long – Eddie Holland, Dean Taylor, Norman Whitfield
The Temptations: Cloud Nine
On February 17, 1969, “Gordy” label released “Cloud Nine”, the ninth Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1968 – January 1969, and was produced by Norman Whitfield. This was first Temptations studio album to feature Dennis Edwards as the replacement for David Ruffin, and it marks the beginning of the Temptations’ psychedelia period, in a fusion genre referred to as “psychedelic soul.” In 1969, the album won The Temptations their first “Grammy Award”.
Personnel:
- Dennis Edwards– vocals (tenor)
- Eddie Kendricks– vocals (tenor/falsetto)
- Paul Williams– vocals (tenor/baritone)
- Melvin Franklin– vocals (bass)
- Otis Williams– vocals (tenor/baritone)
- Ken Kim – art disrection
- Chester Higgins – liner notes
Track listing:
- Cloud Nine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Run Away Child, Running Wild – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing – Ben Raleigh, Dave Linden
- Hey Girl – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
- Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go) – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I Need Your Lovin’ – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
- I Gotta Find a Way (To Get You Back) – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield,Eddie Holland, Cornelius Grant, Eddie Kendricks
- Gonna Keep on Tryin’ till I Win Your Love – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
George Harrison: Cloud Nine
On November 2, 1987, “Dark Horse” label released “Cloud Nine”, the eleventh George Harrison studio album. It was recorded January – August 1987, at the “FPSHOT” in Oxfordshire, and was produced by Jeff Lynne and George Harrison. This was the last studio album released during Harrison’s lifetime.
Personnel:
- George Harrison– lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, sitar, backing vocals
- Jeff Lynne– bass, guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
- Eric Clapton– guitar
- Elton John– piano
- Gary Wright– piano
- Ringo Starr– drums
- Jim Keltner– drums
- Ray Cooper– drums, percussion
- Jim Horn– baritone and tenor sax
- Bobby Kok – cello
- Vicki Brown– vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by George Harrison, except where noted.
- Cloud 9
- That’s What It Takes – George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Gary Wright
- Fish on the Sand
- Just for Today
- This Is Love – George Harrison, Jeff Lynne
- When We Was Fab – George Harrison, Jeff Lynne
- Devil’s Radio
- Someplace Else
- Wreck of the Hesperus
- Breath Away from Heaven
- Got My Mind Set on You – Rudy Clark
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