Tag Archives: Motown

The Jackson 5: Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5

Leave a comment

On December 12, 1969, “Motown” label released “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5”, the debut Jackson 5 (The) studio album. It was recorded May – August 1969, at “The Sound Factory” in Hollywood, California, and was produced by Bobby Taylor and The Corporation (Berry Gordy, Alphonso Mizell, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards).

Personnel:

  • The Jackson 5 (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael) – vocals
  • David Blumberg, David Van DePitte, Paul Riser, The Corporation – arrangements
  • Curtis McNair – artwork direction
  • Ken Kim – artwork, design
  • Jim Hendin – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah – Ray Gilbert, Allie Wrubel
  2. Nobody – The Corporation
  3. I Want You Back – The Corporation
  4. Can You Remember – Thom Bell, William Hart
  5. Standing in the Shadow of Love – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  6. You’ve Changed – Jesse Reese
  7. My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Hank Cosby
  8. Who’s Lovin’ You – Smokey Robinson
  9. Chained – Frank Wilson
  10. I Know I’m Losing You – Cornelius Grant, Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland
  11. Stand – Sylvester Stewart
  12. Born to Love You – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson

Edwin Starr: War & Peace

Leave a comment

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

Stevie Wonder: Up-Tight

Leave a comment

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

Stevie Wonder: Where I’m Coming From

Leave a comment

On April 9, 1971, “Motown” label released “Where I’m Coming From” the thirteenth Stevie Wonder studio album. It was recorded July 1970 – February 1971, at “Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Stevie Wonder.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – vocals, arrangements
  • David Van DePitte – arrangements
  • Jerry Long – arrangements
  • Paul Riser – arrangements
  • Randy King – mastering
  • Curtis McNair – art direction
  • Tom Schlesinger – graphic supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright.

  1. Look Around
  2. Do Yourself a Favor
  3. Think of Me as Your Soldier
  4. Something Out of the Blue
  5. If You Really Love Me
  6. I Wanna Talk to You
  7. Take Up a Course in Happiness
  8. Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer
  9. Sunshine in Their Eyes

Jackson 5: Skywriter

Leave a comment

On March 29, 1973, “Motown” label released “Skywriter”, the seventh Jackson 5 studio album. It was recorded April 1972 – January 1973, and was produced by Hal Davis and The Corporation.

Personnel:

  • Tito Jackson – vocals, lead guitar, synthesizer
  • Jermaine Jackson – lead vocals, bass guitar
  • Michael Jackson – lead vocals, percussion
  • Jackie Jackson – lead vocals, percussion
  • Marlon Jackson – vocals, percussion
  • Rod Dyer – design
  • Leandro Correa – photography
  • Berry Gordy – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Skywriter – Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino
  2. Hallelujah Day – Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian
  3. The Boogie Man – Deke Richards
  4. Touch – Pam Sawyer, Frank Wilson
  5. Corner of the Sky – Stephen Schwartz
  6. I Can’t Quit Your Love – Leonard Caston, Kathy Wakefield
  7. Uppermost – Clifton Davis
  8. World of Sunshine – Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino
  9. Ooh, I’d Love to Be with You – Fonce Mizell, Larry Mizell
  10. You Made Me What I Am – The Corporation

David Ruffin: Same

Leave a comment

In February 1973, “Motown” label released the self-titled, fourth David Ruffin album. It was recorded 1972 – 1973, at “The Sound Suite” in Detroit, and was produced by Robert Eugene Miller.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • Eddie Kendricks – backing vocals
  • David Van De Pitte – arrangements
  • John Lewis – recording
  • Michael Grace – technical assistant
  • Jim Britt – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Robert Eugene Miller, except where noted.

  1. The Rovin’ Kind
  2. Common Man
  3. I’m Just a Mortal Man
  4. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right – Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, Raymond Jackson
  5. There Will Always Be Another Song To Sing
  6. I Miss You (Part 1) – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
  7. Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)
  8. A Little More Trust
  9. Go On With Your Bad Self
  10. A Day in the Life of a Working Man – Robert Miller, David Ruffin

The Supremes: The Supremes Sing Country, Western & Pop

Leave a comment

On February 22, 1965, “Motown” label released “The Supremes Sing Country, Western & Pop”, the fourth Supremes (The) studio album. It was recorded 1962 – 1965, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Clarence Paul.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson – lead and backing vocals
  • Cranford Nix, Sr. – banjo
  • The Andantes – additional backing vocals
  • Lawrence Horn – co-producer

Track listing:

  1. Funny How Time Slips Away – Willie Nelson
  2. My Heart Can’t Take It No More – Clarence Paul
  3. It Makes No Difference Now – Floyd Tillman
  4. You Didn’t Care – Clarence Paul
  5. Tears in Vain – Clarence Paul
  6. Tumbling Tumbleweeds – Bob Nolan
  7. Lazy Bones – Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael
  8. You Need Me – Clarence Paul
  9. Baby Doll – Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  10. Sunset – Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. The Man With the) Rock and Roll Banjo Band – Clarence Paul, Berry Gordy, Jr.

Smokey Robinson: Being With You

Leave a comment

On February 17, 1981, “Motown” label released “Being with You”, the ninth Smokey Robinson album. It was recorded November – January 1981, at “Studio Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, “Motown Recording Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by George Tobin, Mike Piccirillo and Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead and backing vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars
  • Reginald “Sonny” Burke – keyboards, arrangements
  • Ronnie Rancifer – keyboards
  • Bill Cuomo – keyboards
  • Mike Piccirillo – synthesizers, organ, guitars, additional keyboards, percussion, steel drums, associate producer
  • Scott Edwards – bass
  • Robert “Pops” Popwell – bass
  • Ed Greene – drums
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Scotty Harris – drums
  • Howard Lee Wolen – percussion
  • Mark Wolfson – percussion
  • Joel Peskin – saxophones
  • Harry Kim – trumpet
  • David Strout – trombone
  • George Tobin – arrangements
  • Ivory Davis – backing vocals
  • Patricia Henley – backing vocals
  • Robert John – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Julia Waters Tillman – backing vocals
  • Maxine Waters Willard – backing vocals
  • Michael Lizzio – engineer, mixing
  • Howard Lee Wolen, Mark Wolfson – engineer
  • Richie Griffin, Ginny Pallante – engineer assistant
  • George Tobin – mixing
  • John Lemay – mastering
  • Johnny Lee – art direction
  • Ginny Livingston – design
  • Gary Heery – photography
  • Lisa Marie – production coordinator
  • Randy Dunlap, Barbara Ramsey – project manager

Track listing:

All tracks by Smokey Robinson, except where noted.

  1. Being With You
  2. Food For Thought
  3. If You Wanna Make Love (Come ‘Round Here)
  4. Who’s Sad – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  5. Can’t Fight Love – Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
  6. You Are Forever
  7. As You Do – Peter Kingsbery
  8. I Hear The Children Singing – Forest Hairston

Four Tops: Same

Leave a comment

On January 21, 1965, “Motown” label released self-titled, debut Four Tops studio album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

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

Track listing:

  1. Baby I Need Your Loving – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  2. Without the One You Love (Life’s Not Worth While) – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  3. Where Did You Go? – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  4. Ask the Lonely – William “Mickey” Stevenson
  5. Your Love Is Amazing – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  6. Sad Souvenirs – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  7. Don’t Turn Away – Ivy Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  8. Tea House in China Town – Jo Hunter, William “Mickey” Stevenson
  9. Left With a Broken Heart – Marv Johnson
  10. Love Has Gone – Holland–Dozier–Holland
  11. Call on Me – Holland–Dozier–Holland

Tammi Terrell: Irresistible

Leave a comment

In January 1969, “Motown” label released “Irresistible”, the only Tammi Terrell album, It was recorded 1965 – 1968, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fugua, James Dean and William Weatherspoon.

Personnel:

  • Tammi Terrell – lead and additional backing vocals
  • The Andantes, The Spinners – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. I Can’t Believe You Love Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  2. That’s What Boys Are Made For – Harvey Fuqua, Gwen Gordy Fuqua
  3. Come On and See Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  4. What a Good Man He Is – Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland
  5. Tears at the End of a Love Affair – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Sylvia Moy
  6. This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) – Holland–Dozier–Holland, Sylvia Moy
  7. He’s the One I Love – Smokey Robinson
  8. Can’t Stop Now (Love Is Calling) – James Dean, Stanley McMullen, William Weatherspoon
  9. Just Too Much to Hope For – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Clyde Wilson, Wilbur Jackson
  10. Hold Me Oh My Darling – Harvey Fuqua
  11. I Can’t Go on Without You – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Sylvia Moy