Tag Archives: Motown

The Supremes And Four Tops: The Return Of The Magnificient Seven

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On July 13, 1971, “Motown” label released “The Return of the Magnificent Seven”, the second Supremes (The) and Four Tops collaborative album. It was recorded in 1970, and was produced by Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Jean Terrell – vocals
  • Mary Wilson – vocals
  • Cindy Birdsong – vocals
  • Levi Stubbs – vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir – vocals
  • Lawrence Payton – vocals
  • Renaldo “Obie” Benson – vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • David Van DePitte, Henry Cosby, Paul Riser, Tom Baird – arrangements
  • Frank Wilson – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  2. I Wonder Where We’re Going – Tom Baird
  3. Call Me – Tony Hatch
  4. One More Bridge to Cross – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  5. If You Could See Me Now – Janie Bradford, Joe Hinton, Henry Cosby
  6. I’ll Try Not to Cry – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  7. I’m Glad About It – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  8. Let’s Make Love Now – Nick Zesses, Dino Fekaris
  9. I Can’t Believe You Love Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  10. Where Would I Be Without You Baby – Clarence McMurray, Martin Coleman
  11. What Do You Have to Do (To Stay on the Right Side of Love) – Pam Sawyer, Leon Ware

Jackson 5: ABC

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On May 8, 1970, “Motown” label released “ABC”, the second Jackson 5 studio album. It was recorded 1969 – 1970, and was produced by Hal Davis, The Corporation and Bobby Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Jackie Jackson – vocal
  • Jermaine Jackson – vocal
  • Marlon Jackson – vocal
  • Michael Jackson – vocal
  • Tito Jackson – vocal
  • Motown Record Corp. – cover design
  • PF – Bovema EMI Art Studio – liner design
  • Joseph Hernandez – photography
  • Paul Slaughter – photography
  • Randy Kling – lacquer cut

Track listing:

  1. The Love You Save – The Corporation
  2. One More Chance – The Corporation
  3. ABC – The Corporation
  4. 2-4-6-8 – Leon Ware, Paw Sawyer
  5. (Come Round Here) I’m the One You Need – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland
  6. Don’t Know Why I Love You – Lula Mae Hardway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  7. Never had a Dream Come True – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, Henry Cosby
  8. True Love Can Be Beautiful – Leonard Caston Jr., Jeana Jackson, Bonny Taylor
  9. La-La (Means I Love You) – Thom Bell, William Hart
  10. I’ll bet You – George Clinton, Sydney Barnes, Theresa Lindsey
  11. I Found That Girl – The Corporation
  12. The Young Folks – George Gordy, Allen Story

Rare Earth: Ma

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In April 1973, “Motown” label released “Ma”, the sixth Rare Earth studio album. It was recorded in 1973, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Ray Monette – vocals, lead guitar
  • Mark Olson – vocals, keyboards
  • Gil Bridges – vocals, flute, saxophone
  • Mike Urso – vocals, bass guitar
  • Peter Hoorelbeke – lead vocal, drums, percussion
  • Edward Guzman – congas, timbales

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield, except where noted.

  1. Ma
  2. Big John Is My Name
  3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Hum Along and Dance – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  5. Come With Me

Stevie Wonder: For Once in My Life

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On December 8, 1968, “Motown” label released “For Once in My Life”, the ninth studio and the tenth overall Stevie Wonder album. It was recorded December 1967 – August 1968, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Stevoe Wonder, Henry Cosby and Don Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Stevie Wonder – vocals, harmonica, piano, organ, clavinet, drums, percussion
  • Robert White – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke – piano
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Uriel Jones – drums
  • The Funk Brothers – various instruments
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
  2. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  3. You Met Your Match – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Wonder
  4. I Wanna Make Her Love Me – Henry Cosby, Don Hardaway, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  5. I’m More Than Happy (I’m Satisfied) – Henry Cosby, Cameron Grant, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  6. I Don’t Know Why – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  7. Sunny – Bobby Hebb
  8. I’d Be a Fool Right Now – Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
  9. Ain’t No Lovin’ – Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Paul Riser, Stevie Wonder
  10. God Bless the Child – Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday
  11. Do I Love Her – Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy
  12. The House on the Hill – Lawrence Brown, Berry Gordy, Allen Story

Marvin Gaye: Here, My Dear

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On December 15, 1978, “Motown” label released “Here, My Dear”, the fifteenth Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded March 1977 – July 1978, at Marvins’s room in Los Angeles, and was produced by Marvin Gaye.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – vocals, piano, Rhodes, Roland bass, synth, horns; tape box percussion
  • Wali Ali – guitar
  • Gordon Banks – guitar
  • Spencer Bean – guitar
  • Cal Green – guitar
  • Mike McGloiry – guitar
  • Frank Blair – bass
  • Eric Ward – bass
  • Bugsy Wilcox – drums
  • Melvin Webb – drums, congas, cowbell
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown – congas, bongos
  • Elmira Collins – percussion
  • Jack Ashford – percussion
  • Gary Jones – congas
  • Ernie Fields, Jr. – alto saxophone
  • Charles Owens – tenor saxophone
  • Fernando Harkless – tenor saxophone
  • Nolan Andrew Smith – trumpet
  • Daniel LeMelle – saxophone
  • David Stewart – handclaps
  • Richard “Do Dirty” Bethune – handclaps
  • Art Stewart – handclaps, engineer, mixer
  • Fred Ross – engineer
  • Tony Houston – engineer
  • Bill Ravencraft – engineer
  • Odell Brown – RMI
  • David Ritz – liner notes
  • Michael Bryant – illustrations

Track listing:

All tracks by Marvin Gaye, except where noted.

  1. Here, My Dear
  2. I Met a Little Girl
  3. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
  4. Anger – Delta Ashby, Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend
  5. Is That Enough
  6. Everybody Needs Love – Ed Townsend, Marvin Gaye
  7. Time to Get It Together
  8. Sparrow – Ed Townsend, Marvin Gaye
  9. Anna’s Song
  10. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
  11. A Funky Space Reincarnation
  12. You Can Leave, but It’s Going to Cost You
  13. Falling in Love Again
  14. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (reprise)

Mike Terry

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On October 30, 2004, Andrew Alexander “Mike” Terry died aged 68. He was songwriter, musician (baritone saxophone), producer, and musical director. He was member of the bands Popcorn and the Mohawks, Joe Hunter Band, and The Funk Brothers. From 1960 – 1967, with The Funk Brothers he performed on thousands of “Motown” recordings. Terry worked with Martha and the Vandellas, Jackie Wilson, Mary Wells, The Four Tops, The Supremes, Kim Weston, The Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, J. J. Barnes, Rose Batiste, The Capitols, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Robinson, Sandra Phillips, The Little Foxes, Junior Walker & the All Stars, Clarence Carter, The Dells, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Maxine Brown, The Parliaments, and Edwin Starr.

Rick James

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On August 6, 2004, James Ambrose Johnson Jr. aka Rick James died aged 56. He was a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, known as “The King of Punk-Funk”. He was a member of few bands, before starting a successful recording career after signing with Motown’s “Gordy Records”. James released twelve studio albums, plus one released posthumously in 2007. As a songwriter and producer, he worked with Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Teena Marie, The Mary Jane Girls, and Eddie Murphy.

The Commodores: Midnight Magic

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In July 1979, “Motown” label released “Midnight Magic”, the seventh Commodores (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Motown Recording Studios” and “A&M Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by James Anthony Carmichael, Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, William King and Walter Orange.

Personnel:

  • Lionel Richie– vocals, piano, keyboards, saxophone
  • Thomas McClary– vocals, guitar
  • Milan Williams– keyboards
  • Ronald LaPread – bass guitar
  • William King– trumpet
  • Walter Orange – vocals, drums

Track listing:

  1. Gettin’ It – David Cochrane, Walter Orange
  2. Midnight Magic – Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie
  3. You’re Special – William King, Harold Hudson
  4. Still – Lionel Richie
  5. Wonderland – Milan Williams
  6. Sexy Lady – Thomas McClary
  7. Lovin’ You – Ronald LaPread
  8. Sail On – Lionel Richie
  9. 12:01 A.M. (reprise) – Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie

Uriel Jones

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On March 24, 2009, Uriel Jones died aged 74. He was musician (drums), session drummer for Motown’s in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. He has recorded with many famous artists including Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Carl Dixon BandTraxs and Spider Webb.

The Temptations: In a Mellow Mood

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On November 27, 1967, “Motown” label released “The Temptations in a Mellow Mood”, the sixth Temptations studio album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, and was produced by Frank Wilson and Jeffrey Bowen.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin– vocals
  • Eddie Kendricks– vocals
  • Paul Williams– vocals
  • Melvin Franklin– vocals
  • Otis Williams– vocals
  • B. Barnum– arrangements
  • Oliver Nelson– arrangements
  • Don Costa– arrangements
  • Frank Wilson– executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Hello Young Lovers – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  2. A Taste of Honey – Ric Marlow, Bobby Scott
  3. For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
  4. Somewhere – Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
  5. Ol’ Man River – Hammerstein, Jerome Kern
  6. I’m Ready for Love – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
  7. Try to Remember – Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt
  8. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) – Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
  9. What Now My Love? – Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë, Carl Sigman
  10. That’s Life – Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon
  11. With These Hands – Benny Davis, Abner Silver
  12. The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh