Tag Archives: Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Stevie Wonder: Up-Tight

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On May 4, 1966, “Motown” label released “Up-Tight”, the fifth Stevie Wonder album. It was recorded 1962 – 1966, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Henry Cosby, Willam “Mickey” Stevenson, Clarence Paul, Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – lead and harmony vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
  • Clarence Paul – co-lead vocals
  • Levi Stubbs – co-lead vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Lawrence Payton, Renaldo “Obie” Benson – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Pat Lewis – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Temptations – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Love a Go Go – Beth Beatty, Ernie Shelby
  2. Hold Me – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  3. Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
  4. Nothing’s Too Good for My Baby – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, William Stevenson
  5. Teach Me Tonight – Sammy Cahn, Gene De Paul
  6. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder (as Stevie Judkins), Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
  7. Ain’t That Asking for Trouble – Sylvia Moy, Gene De Paul, Stevie Wonder
  8. I Want My Baby Back – Harvey Fuqua, Cornelius Grant, Eddie Kendricks, Norman Whitfield
  9. Pretty Little Angel – Gene De Paul, Mike Valvano, Stevie Wonder
  10. Music Talk – Ted Hull, Gene De Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. Contract on Love – Janie Bradford, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  12. With a Child’s Heart – Vicki Basemore, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy

Diana Ross & The Supremes: Love Child

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On November 13, 1968, “Motown” label released “Love Child”, the fifteenth Diana Ross & the Supremes studio album. It was recorded February – October 1968, and was produced by Berry Gordy, Frank Wilson, R. Dean Taylor, Deke Richards, Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Marv Johnson, George Gordy, Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross – lead vocals
  • Mary Wilson – backing vocals
  • Cindy Birdsong – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Nickolas Ashford – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – instrumentation
  • Los Angeles area session musicians – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Love Child – Pam Sawyer, R. Dean Taylor, Frank Wilson, Deke Richards
  2. Keep an Eye – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  3. How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone – Pam Sawyer, Frank Wilson
  4. Does Your Mama Know About Me – Tom Baird, Tommy Chong
  5. Honey Bee (Keep on Stinging Me) – Janie Bradford, Debbie Dean, Deke Richards
  6. Some Things You Never Get Used To – Nikolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  7. He’s My Sunny Boy – Smokey Robinson
  8. You’ve Been So Wonderful to Me – Anna Gordy Gaye, George Gordy, Allen Story
  9. (Don’t Break These) Chains of Love – George Beauchamp, Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  10. You Ain’t Livin’ Till You’re Lovin’ – Nikolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  11. I’ll Set You Free – Gwen Fuqua, B. Gordy, Ivy Jo Hunter, Renee Tener
  12. Can’t Shake It Loose – Sidney Barnes, George Clinton, Joanne Jackson, Rose Marie McCoy

Diana Ross & The Supremes And The Temptations: Diana Ross & The Supremes Join The Temptations

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On November 6, 1968, “Motown” label released “Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations”, album by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations. It was recorded May – September 1968, and was produced by  Frank Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland, Henry Cosby, Terry “Buzzy” Johnson, Nickolas Ashford and Deke Richards.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross & The Supremes – vocals
  • The Temptations – vocals
  • Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong, Dennis Edwards, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – horns, strings
  • Los Angeles area session musicians – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Try It Baby – Berry Gordy
  2. I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland
  3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Jerry Ross
  5. This Guy’s in Love With You – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  6. Funky Broadway – Arlester Christian
  7. I’ll Try Something New – Smokey Robinson
  8. A Place in the Sun – Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
  9. Sweet Inspiration – Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham
  10. Then – Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore
  11. The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh

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

George Clinton: T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M

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On June 11, 1996, “Sony 550” label released “T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M.”, the eight George Clinton album. It was recorded in 1996, and was produced by George Clinton.

Personnel:

  • George Clinton – vocals, illustrations, executive producer
  • Steve Boyd – vocals, guitar
  • Michael Hampton, Gary James, Craig Love, Dewayne Blackbyrd McKnight, Garry Shider – guitar
  • Phelps “Catfish” Collins – rhythm guitar
  • Bernie Worrell – keyboards
  • Joseph “Amp” Fidder – vocals, keyboards
  • Clip Payne – vocals, keyboards
  • Junie Morrison – vocals, keyboards, guitar
  • Jerome Rodgers – vocals, synthesizer
  • Colin Wolfe – Wurlitzer, keyboards, percussion, drum programming
  • Bootsy Collins – vocals, bass
  • Lige Curry – bass
  • Rodney Curtis – bass
  • Billy “Bass” Nelson – bass
  • Cardell Mosson – bass
  • John Davis – vocals, bass
  • Eli Fountain – drums
  • Charlie Wilson, Kelly Cowan, Lashonda Clinton, Ray Davis, Sheila Brody, Pat Lewis, Olivia Ewing, Diane Fulmar, Paul Hill, Robert “P-Nut” Johnson, Louis “Babbling” Kabbabie, Rob Manzoli, Debra Killings, Kristen Gray, Dawn Knight, Tracey Lewis, Jeff Patterson, William Payne, Grady Thomas, Derrick “Frogg” Rossen, Ann Sheriff, Joi, Belita Woods, Andre Williams – vocals
  • MC Breed – rapping
  • Erick Sermon – rapping, mixing
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra
  • Paul Riser – string arrangements
  • Greg Boyer – trombone
  • Bennie Cowan – trumpet
  • Gregory Thomas – saxophone
  • Dwayne “Sa’d Ali” Maultsby – vocals, DJ
  • Gary “Mudbone” Cooper – vocals, drumbeat
  • Chris Baker, Cary Corey, Guy Daniels, Carl Glover, Brian Remenick – engineer
  • Joe Alexander, Mark Bass, Larry Fergusson, David Kennedy, Neil Pogue, Kevin Parker, Greg Reilly – engineer, mixing
  • Roger Lomas – mastering
  • Phil “Digital Dali” Carling – cover art
  • Ronald Edwards – artwork
  • Stozo Da Klown, Toons – assistant art director
  • Over-10 Void – artwork, cover art
  • Artsui Tribe – back cover illustration
  • Overton Lloyd – illustrations
  • Pedro Bell – back cover
  • Richard White – graphics
  • Charlie Pizzarello – photography
  • Jerry Ewing – linear notes

Track listing:

  1. If Anybody Gets Funked Up (It’s Gonna Be You) – George Clinton, Jr.; Belita Woods; Gary “Mudbone” Cooper
  2. Summer Swim – George Clinton, Jr.; Walter “Junni” Morrison
  3. Funky Kind (Gonna Knock It Down) – George Clinton, Jr.; Joseph “Amp” Fiddler; Dwayne “Sa’d Ali” Maultsby; Tracey “Treylewd” Lewis
  4. Mathematics – George Clinton, Jr.; Dewayne “Blackbyrd” McKnight
  5. Hard as Steel – George Clinton, Jr.
  6. New Spaceship – George Clinton, Jr.
  7. Underground Angel – George Clinton, Jr.; Steve “Go Ask Armen” Boyd; Derrick “Frog” Rossen; Mike Wilder
  8. Let’s Get Funky – George Clinton, Jr.; Joseph “Amp” Fiddler
  9. Flatman and Bobbin – George Clinton, Jr.; Ronald Dunbar; Belita Woods; Derrick “Frog” Rossen
  10. Sloppy Seconds – George Clinton, Jr.; William “Bootsy” Collins; Bernie “All The Woo” Worrell; Dewayne “Blackbyrd” McKnight; Belita Woods
  11. Rock the Party – George Clinton, Jr.; Olivia Ewing; Thomas “Bubbs” Fiddler; L. Mathew
  12. Get Your Funk On – George Clinton, Jr.; Belita Woods; David Spradley
  13. A.P.O.A.F.O.M. (Fly Away) – George Clinton, Jr.; Debra Barsha; Dwayne “Sa’d Ali” Maultsby
  14. If Anybody Gets Funked Up (It’s Gonna Be You) [Colin Wolfe Mix) – George Clinton, Jr.; Belita Woods; Gary “Mudbone” Cooper

Temptations: Gettin’ Ready

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Get Ready

On June 15, 1966, “Gordy” label released “Gettin’ Ready”, the fourth Temptations studio album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Smokey Robinson,  Norman Whitfield, William “Mickey” Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, Robert Staunton
and Robert Walker. This is band’s first album with Norman Whitfield as main producer, replacing Smokey Robinson on this position.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals
  • Eddie Kendricks – vocals
  • Paul Williams – vocals
  • Melvin Franklin – vocals
  • Otis Williams – vocals
  • Elbridge “Al” Bryant – vocals
  • The Supremes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers –  instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra: instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Little Miss Sweetness – Smokey Robinson
  2. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – Edward Holland, Jr., Norman Whitfield
  3. Get Ready – Smokey Robinson
  4. Lonely, Lonely Man Am I – Edward Holland, Eddie Kendricks, Norman Whitfield
  5. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby – Janie Bradford, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  6. I’ve Been Good to You – Smokey Robinson
  7. It’s a Lonely World Without Your Love – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  8. Fading Away – Warren ‘Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers
  9. Who You Gonna Run To – Smokey Robinson
  10. You’re Not an Ordinary Girl – Warren ‘Pete’ Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronnie White
  11. Not Now (I’ll Tell You Later) – Smokey Robinson, Otis Williams

 

Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On

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Whats+Going+On

On May 21, 1971, “Tamla” label released “What’s Going On”, the eleventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded June –September 1970; March – May 1971,  at “Hitsville U.S.A.”, “Golden World”, and “United Sound Studios” in Detroit and “The Sound Factory” in Hollywood, and was produced by Marvin Gaye. “What’s Going On” was an immediate success both commercially and critically, and is regarded as one of the most important albums in the music history. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number six on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 1985, readers of “NME” magazine voted “What’s Going On” the “Best Album of all Time”. “Guardian” ranked “What’s Going On at number one on its list of the “100 Best Albums Ever”.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals, piano, mellotron, box drum
  • The Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted and arranged by David Van De Pitte
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Solo Horns – instrumentation
  • Joe Messina, Robert White– electric guitars
  • Jack Ashford– tambourine, percussion
  • Earl Van Dyke– keyboards
  • Johnny Griffith– celeste, keyboards
  • Max Janowsky – double bass
  • James Jamerson– bass guitar
  • Bob Babbitt– bass guitar
  • Chet Forest – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown– bongos, congas
  • Earl DeRouen – bongos, congas
  • Bobbye Hall– bongos
  • Jack Brokensha– vibraphone, percussion
  • Larry Nozero, Angelo Carlisi, George Benson, Tate Houston– saxophone
  • Eli Fontaine– alto saxophone
  • Wild Bill Moore– tenor saxophone
  • John Trudell, Maurice Davis – trumpet
  • Nilesh Pawar – oboe
  • Carl Raetz – trombone
  • Dayna Hardwick, William Perich – flutes
  • Gordon Staples, Zinovi Bistritzky, Beatriz Budinzky, Richard Margitza, Virginia Halfmann, Felix Resnick, Alvin Score, Lillian Downs, James Waring – violin
  • Edouard Kesner, Meyer Shapiro, David Ireland, Nathan Gordon – viola
  • Italo Babini, Thaddeus Markiewicz, Edward Korkigan – cello
  • Carole Crosby – harp
  • The Andantes – Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps – backing vocals
  • Mel Farr, Charlie Sandersand  and Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions – backing vocals
  • Dave Bingof, The Detroit Pistons, Bobby Rogersof , The Miracles, Elgie Stover, Kenneth Stover – backing vocals
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Katherine Marking – design
  • Alana Coghlan – design
  • James Hendin – photography

Track listing:

  1. What’s Going On – Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo “Obie” Benson
  2. What’s Happening Brother – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  3. Flyin’ High (In the Friendly Sky) – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  4. Save the Children – Al Cleveland, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Marvin Gaye
  5. God is Love – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, James Nyx Jr.
  6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – Marvin Gaye
  7. Right On – Earl DeRouen, Marvin Gaye
  8. Wholy Holy – Renaldo “Oboe” Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye
  9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye, James Nyx Jr,