Tag Archives: Detroit

Stevie Wonder: Eivets Rednow

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On November 20, 1968, “Gordy” label released “Eivets Rednow”, the ninth Stevie Wonder album (Eivets Rednow is Stevie Wonder spelled backwards, Wonder’s name does not appear on the cover of the original releases). It was recorded 1967 – 1968, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Henry Cosby.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – harmonica, piano, clavinet, drums, percussion
  • James Jamerson – bass guitar
  • Benny Benjamin – drums
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Alfie – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  2. More than a Dream – Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder
  3. A House Is Not a Home – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  4. How Can You Believe – Stevie Wonder
  5. Medley: Never My Love/Ask the Lonely – Don Addrisi, Dick Addrisi/Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  6. Ruby – Mitchell Parish, Heinz Roemheld
  7. Which Way the Wind – Stevie Wonder
  8. Bye Bye World – Stevie Wonder
  9. Grazin’ in the Grass – Philemon Hou

Count Basie And His Orchestra: The Happiest Millionaire

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In November 1967, “Coliseum” label released “The Happiest Millionaire” (Count Basie Captures Walt Disney’s The Happiest Millionaire), album by Count Basie and His Orchestra. It was recorded in October 1967, at “A&R” in New York, and was produced by Teddy Reig.

Personnel:

  • Count Basie – piano
  • Bobby Plater – alto saxophone, flute
  • Marshal Royal – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Eric Dixon – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – tenor saxophone
  • Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
  • Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Gene Goe, Sam Noto – trumpet
  • Richard Boone, Harlan Floyd, Grover Mitchell – trombone
  • Bill Hughes – bass trombone
  • Freddie Green – guitar
  • Norman Keenan – bass
  • Louis Bellson – drums
  • Chico O’Farrill – arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.

  1. Detroit
  2. Strengthen the Dwelling
  3. I’ll Always be Irish
  4. Valentine Candy
  5. Bye-Yum-Pum-Pum
  6. Watch Your Footwork
  7. What’s Wrong with That
  8. Let’s Have a Drink on It
  9. Are We Dancing
  10. Fortuosity

Stevie Wonder: Down To Earth

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On November 16, 1966, “Tamla Motown” label released “Down to Earth”, the sixth Stevie Wonder studio album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – vocals, harmonica, keyboards, drums, percussion
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • James Jamerson – bass guitar
  • Benny Benjamin – drums
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. A Place in the Sun – Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
  2. Bang Bang – Sonny Bono
  3. Down to Earth – Ron Miller, Avery Vanderberg
  4. Thank You Love – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  5. Be Cool, Be Calm (And Keep Yourself Together) – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  6. Sylvia – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  7. My World Is Empty Without You – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  8. The Lonesome Road – Gene Austin, Nat Shilkret
  9. Angel Baby (Don’t You Ever Leave Me) – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
  10. Mr. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
  11. Sixteen Tons – Merle Travis
  12. Hey Love – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Away We A Go-Go

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In November 1966, “Tamla Motown” label released “Away We a Go-Go”, album by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (second album by the name of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles). It was recorded in 1966, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Mickey Gentile, Frank Wilson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Norman Whitfield and Ivy Jo Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers  – instrumentation
  • Various New York session musicians – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Whole Lot of Shakin’ in My Heart (Since I Met You) – Frank Wilson
  2. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me – Pino Donaggio, Simon Napier-Bell, Vicki Wickham, Vito Pallavicini
  3. Come ‘Round Here) I’m the One You Need – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  4. Save Me – Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers, Warren Moore
  5. Oh Be My Love – Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore
  6. Can You Love a Poor Boy – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  7. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr.
  8. I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  9. Baby Baby – Helen Lewis, Kay Lewis
  10. Walk On By – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  11. Swept for You Baby – Smokey Robinson
  12. More, More, More of Your Love – Smokey Robinson

Four Tops: Four Tops Second Album

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On November 13, 1965, “Motown” label released “Four Tops Second Album”, the second Four Tops studio album. It was recorded in 1965, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Levi Stubbs – lead (baritone) and backing vocals
  • Abdul Fakir – first tenor and backing vocals
  • Renaldo Benson – bass backing vocals
  • Lawrence Payton – second tenor backing vocals, lead vocals, keyboards
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

All tracks by Holland–Dozier–Holland (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland), except where noted.

  1. I Can’t Help Myself
  2. Love Feels Like Fire
  3. Is There Anything That I Can Do – Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  4. Something About You
  5. It’s the Same Old Song
  6. Helpless
  7. Just as Long as You Need Me
  8. Darling, I Hum Our Song
  9. I Like Everything About You
  10. Since You’ve Been Gone
  11. Stay in My Lonely Arms
  12. I’m Grateful – Eddie Holland, Cleo Drake, George Fowler

The Miracles: Cookin’ With The Miracles

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On November 13, 1961, “Tamla” label released “Cookin’ with the Miracles” the second Miracles (The) album. It was recorded in 1961, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, “RCA Studios” in Chicago, and was produced by Berry Gordy Jr.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Berry Gordy, Jr. – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. That’s the Way I Feel – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  2. Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
  3. Mama – Smokey Robinson, Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy Jr.
  4. Ain’t It Baby – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  5. Determination – Smokey Robinson
  6. You Never Miss A Good Thing – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  7. Embraceable You – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  8. The Only One I Love – Smokey Robinson
  9. Broken Hearted – Berry Gordy Jr, Smokey Robinson
  10. I Can’t Believe – Smokey Robinson

The Miracles: Four In Blue

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On November 3, 1969, “Motown” label released “Four in Blue”, album by The Miracles. It was recorded in 1969, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Pete Moore – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar

Track listing:

  1. You Send Me (With Your Good Lovin’) – Al Cleveland, Terry “Buzzy” Johnson, Smokey Robinson
  2. Dreams Dreams – Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland
  3. Tomorrow Is Another Day – Deke Richards, Beatrice Verdi
  4. Hey Jude – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. California Soul – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. A Legend in Its Own Time – Smokey Robinson
  7. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – Barry Mann, Phil Spector, Cynthia Weil
  8. We Can Make It We Can – Nikolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  9. When Nobody Cares – Smokey Robinson
  10. Don’t Say You Love Me – Richard Morris
  11. Wish I Knew – Debbie Dean, Deke Richards
  12. My World Is Empty Without You – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland

The Supremes: Where Did Our Love Go

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On August 31, 1964, “Motown” label released “Where Did Our Love Go”, the second Supremes (The) studio album. It was recorded December 1962 – Augudt 1964, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield and Robert Gordy.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson – lead and backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Robert White – guitar
  • Eddie Willis – guitar
  • Joe Messina – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – piano
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Richard “Pistol” Allen – drums
  • Uriel Jones – drums
  • Jack Ashford – vibraphone
  • Andrew “Mike” Terry – baritone saxophone
  • Hank Cosby – tenor saxophone
  • Mike Valvano – footstomps
  • The Four Tops, and Holland–Dozier–Holland – backing vocals
  • The Love-Tones – backing vocals
  • Bernard Yeszin, Wallace Mead – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Holland–Dozier–Holland, except as noted.

  1. Where Did Our Love Go
  2. Run, Run, Run
  3. Baby Love
  4. When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
  5. Come See About Me
  6. Long Gone Lover – Smokey Robinson
  7. I’m Giving You Your Freedom
  8. A Breathtaking Guy – Smokey Robinson
  9. He Means the World to Me – Norman Whitfield
  10. Standing at the Crossroads of Love
  11. Your Kiss of Fire – Robert Gordy, Harvey Fuqua
  12. Ask Any Girl

Freda Payne: Band Of Gold

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In August 1970, “Invictus” label released “Band of Gold”, the third Freda Payne studio album. It was recorded in 1970, at “HDH Sound Studios” (Holland-Dozier-Holland Sound Studios, Inc.) in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by William Weatherspoon.

Personnel:

  • Freda Payne – vocal
  • Lawrence Horn – recording
  • Bob Dennis – mastering
  • Bob Wortham – cover photography
  • William Weatherspoon – production supervision

Track listing:

  1. Band of Gold – Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne
  2. I Left Some Dreams Back There – Norma Toney, Ron Dunbar
  3. Deeper and Deeper – Norma Toney, Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne
  4. Rock Me in the Cradle – Ron Dunbar, General Johnson, Gregg Perry
  5. Unhooked Generation – Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne
  6. Love on Borrowed Time – William Weatherspoon
  7. Through the Memory of My Mind – William Weatherspoon
  8. This Girl Is a Woman Now – Alan Bernstein, Vic Millrose
  9. The World Don’t Owe You a Thing – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier
  10. Nos Is the Time to Say Goodbye – Scherrie Payne
  11. Happy Heart – Wayne P. Walker
  12. The Easiest Way to Fall – Ron Dunbar, Edythe Wayne, Scheerie Lavette