Tag Archives: Gordy

The Undisputed Truth: Cosmic Truth

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In June 1975, “Gordy” label released “Cosmic Truth”, the fifth Undisputed Truth (The) studio album. It was recorded 1974 – 1975, at “Motown / Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Joe “Pep” Harris – lead vocals
  • Billie Rae Calvin – co-lead and backing vocals
  • Brenda Joyce Evans – co-lead and backing vocals
  • Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, Johnny McGhee, Melvin “Wah Wah” Ragin, Paul Warren – guitar
  • Mark Davis – keyboards
  • Henry Davis – bass
  • Eddie Green, Eddie Fisher, James Gadson, Zachary Slatter – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – congas
  • Bob Zimitte – timpani
  • Angel Balestier, Bob Robitaille, Glenn Jordan – engineer
  • Art Stewart – engineer, mastering
  • Norman Whitfield – mastering
  • Katarina Pettersson – art direction
  • Bob Gleason – illustration
  • Jim Britt – photography

Track listing:

  1. Earthquake Shake – Joe Harris, Norman Whitfield
  2. Down by the River – Neil Young
  3. UFO’s – Norman Whitfield
  4. Lil’ Red Ridin Hood – Norman Whitfield
  5. Squeeze Me, Tease Me – Norman Whitfield
  6. Spaced Out – Norman Whitfield
  7. Got To Get My Hands on Some Lovin’ – Norman Whitfield
  8. 1990 – Norman Whitfield
  9. I Know I’m Losing You – Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield

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

Martha Reeves And The Vandellas: Natural Resources

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On September 8, 1970, “Gordy” label released “Natural Resources”, the seventh Martha Reeves and the Vandellas album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, and was produced by Henry Cosby and Clarence Paul.

Personnel:

  • Martha Reeves – lead and backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Lois Reeves – backing vocals
  • Sandra Tilley – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • Nickolas Ashford – backing vocals
  • David Van De Pitte – arrangements
  • Henry Cosby – arrangements
  • Paul Riser – arrangements
  • Robert White – arrangements
  • Wade Marcus – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – art direction, design
  • Jim Hendin – photography
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphic supervision

Track listing:

  1. Something – George Jarrison
  2. Easily Persuaded – Dick Cooper, Clarence Paul, Ernie Shelby, Morris Broadnax
  3. Didn’t We – Jimmy Webb
  4. I’m in Love – Ernie Shelby
  5. Love, Guess Who – Clarence Paul, Ermie Shelby
  6. Everybody’s Talking – Fred Neil
  7. Put a Little Love in Your Heart – Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers
  8. The Hurt Is Over (Since I Found You) – Duke Browner
  9. Take a Look – Clyde Otis
  10. Won’t It Be So Wonderful – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  11. I Should Be Proud – Henry Cosby, Joe Hinton, Pam Sawyer
  12. People Got to Be Free – Felix Cavaliere, Ed Brigati

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 

Martha And The Vandellas: Come And Get These Memories

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On June 28, 1963, “Gordy” label released “Come and Get These Memories”, the debut Martha and the Vandellas album. It was recorded 1962 – 1963, at “Studio A” in Hitsville U.S.A., and was produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland and William “Mickey” Stevenson.

Personnel:

  • Martha Reeves – lead and backing vocals
  • Rosalind Ashford – backing vocals
  • Annette Beard – backing vocals
  • Gloria Williams – backing vocals
  • Brian Holland – additional backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Eddie Willis – guitar
  • Robert White – guitar
  • Raynoma Liles Gordy – organ
  • Joe Hunter – piano
  • Earl Van Dyke – electric piano
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Benny Benjamin – drums
  • Andrew “Mike” Terry – baritone saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Come and Get These Memories – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  2. Can’t Get Used to Losing You – Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
  3. Moments (To Remember) – Richard Berry
  4. This Is When I Need You Most – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  5. A Love Like Your (Don’t Come Knocking Everyday) – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  6. Tears on My Pillow – Sylvester Bradford, Al Lewis
  7. To Thank You Would Hurt Me – Brian Holland, Robert Gordy
  8. There He Is (At My Door) – Eddie Holland, Freddie Gorman
  9. I’ll Have to Let Him Go – William “Mickey” Stevenson
  10. Give Him Up – Wm. Robinson
  11. Jealous Lover – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  12. Old Love (Let’s Try It Again) – Holland-Dozier-Holland

Rick James & The Stone City Band: Come And Get It!

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On April 20, 1978, “Gordy” label released “Come Get It!”, album by Rick James and the Stone City Band (the debut Rick James album overall). It was recorded 1977 – 1978, at “Cross Eyed Bear Studios” in New York, “record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Art Stewart and Rick James.

Personnel:

  • Rick James – vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • Freddy Rapillo – guitar
  • Levi Ruffin, Jr. – Keyboards
  • Billy Nunn – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Bobby Nunn – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Andy Rapillo – bass
  • Richard Shaw – bass
  • Mike Caputy – drums
  • Lorenzo Shaw – drums
  • Randy Brecker, Mike Brecker – horns
  • Flick, Berry, Steve Williams – horns
  • Levi Ruffin – backing vocals
  • Jackie Ruffin – backing vocals
  • Sascha Meeks – backing vocals
  • Richard Shaw – backing vocals
  • Vanessa Brooks Nunn – backing vocals
  • Joey Diggs – backing vocals
  • Anthony Caesar – backing vocals
  • Roger Brown – backing vocals
  • Calvin Moore – backing vocals
  • Bennie McCullough – backing vocals
  • Chuck Madden, Shelly – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Rick James.

  1. Stone City Band, Hi!
  2. You and I
  3. Sexy Lady
  4. Dream Maker
  5. Be My Lady
  6. Mary Jane
  7. Hollywood
  8. Stone City Band, Bye!

The Temptations: Power

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On April 18, 1980, “Gordy” label released “Power”, the 24th Temptations (The) album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Golden Sound”, “Group IV Audio Inc”, “Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios”, “Jennifudy Studios”, and was produced by Angelo Bond, Berry Gordy, Teddy Randazzo and William Weatherspoon.

Personnel:

  • Dennis Edwards – vocal
  • Melvin Franklin – vocal
  • Glenn Leonard – vocal
  • Richard Street – vocal
  • Otis Williams – vocal
  • Paul M. Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Tim May – guitar
  • Melvin “Wah Wah” Ragin – guitar
  • Anthony Travaglini – guitar
  • David T. Walker – guitar
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards
  • Eric Butler – keyboards
  • Earl Van Dyke – keyboards
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards
  • Eric Butler – keyboards
  • “Ready” Freddie Washington – bass guitar
  • Nathan Watts – bass guitar
  • Quentin Dennard – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • John Arnold – percussion
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – percussion
  • Gary Coleman – percussion
  • Gene Page – horn and string arrangements
  • Paul Riser – horn and string arrangements
  • McKinley Jackson – rhythm arrangements
  • Teddy Randazzo – arrangements
  • Barney Perkins – recording, mixing
  • Bob Robitaille – recording, mixing
  • Steve Williams – recording
  • Guy Costa – recording
  • Lawrence T. Horn – recording
  • Tony Autore – recording assistant
  • Bobby Brooks – recording assistant
  • Dave Mancini – recording assistant
  • Greg Orloff – recording assistant
  • Berry Gordy – mixing, executive producer
  • Paul Ring – mixing assistant
  • Mike Diehl – cover, design, illustration
  • Ginny Livingston – art direction
  • Ron Slenzak – photography
  • Ronald Wakefield – photography
  • Suzee Wendy Ikeda – project management

Track listing:

  1. Power – Angelo Bond, Berry Gordy, Jean Mayer
  2. Struck by Lightning Twice – Angelo Bond, Ronald Weatherspoon, William Weatherspoon
  3. Isn’t the Night Fantastic – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams
  4. How Can I Resist Your Love – Angelo Bond, William Weatherspoon
  5. Shadow of Your Love – Teddy Randazzo, Tony Travaglini
  6. Can’t You See Sweet Thing – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams
  7. Go for It – Angelo Bond, Ronald Weatherspoon, William Weatherspoon
  8. I’m Coming Home – Dennis Edwards, David English, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street, Otis Williams

The Temptations: Temptin’ Temptations

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On November 1, 1965, “Gordy” label released “The Temptin’ Temptations”, the third Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1964 – 1965, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, William “Mickey” Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals (baritone, tenor, falsetto)
  • Eddie Kendricks – vocals (tenor, falsetto)
  • Paul Williams – vocals (baritone)
  • Melvin Franklin – vocals (bass)
  • Otis Williams – vocals (tenor, baritone)
  • The Andantes – additional backing vocals
  • Jimmy Ruffin – additional backing vocals
  • Smokey Robinson – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Since I Lost My Baby – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore
  2. The Girl’s Alright with Me – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland, Jr., Eddie Kendricks
  3. Just Another Lonely Night – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  4. My Baby – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers
  5. You’ve Got to Earn It – Smokey Robinson, Cornelius Grant
  6. Everybody Needs Love – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
  7. Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
  8. Don’t Look Back – Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White
  9. I Gotta Know Now – Norman Whitfield, Edward Holland
  10. Born to Love You – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  11. I’ll Be in Trouble – Smokey Robinson
  12. You’re the One I Need – Smokey Robinson

The Undisputed Truth: Face to Face With the Truth

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In January 1972, “Gordy” label released “Face to Face with the Truth”, the second Undisputed Truth (The) album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Joe “Pep” Harris – lead vocals
  • Billie Rae Calvin – additional lead and backing vocals
  • Brenda Joyce Evans – additional lead and backing vocals
  • Dennis Coffey – lead guitar
  • Melvin Ragin, Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – piano
  • Johnny Griffin – organ
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Richard Allen, Andrew Smith – drums
  • Eddie Brown – bongos, congas
  • Jack Ashford – tambourine, maracas, percussion
  • Jack Brokensha – timpani, vibraphone, bells
  • Norman Whitfield – engineer, mastering, art concept

Track listing:

  1. You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth
  2. What It Is
  3. Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World) / Friendship Train
  4. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
  5. Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me
  6. Don’t Let Him take Your Love from Me
  7. What’s Going On