Tag Archives: Motown

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

Commodores: Movin’ On

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In October 1975, “Motown” label released “Movin’ On”, the third Commodores studio album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by James Anthony Carmichael,   Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, William King and Walter Orange.

Personnel:

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

Track listing:

  1. Hold On – Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie
  2. Free – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  3. Mary, Mary – Milan Williams
  4. Sweet Love – Lionel Richie
  5. (Can I) Get a Witness – Walter “Clyde” Orange
  6. Gimme My Mule – Ronald LaPread
  7. Time – William King, Thomas McClary
  8. Cebu – Thomas McClary

Four Tops: Reach Out

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In July 1967, “Motown” label released “Reach Out”, the sixth Four Tops album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967 at “Hitsville Studio A”, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Smokey Robinson and Clarence Paul.

Personnel:

  • Levi Stubbs – lead vocals
  • Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Lawrence Payton, The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Reach Out I’ll Be There – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  2. Walk Away Renée – Bob Calilli, Michael Brown, Tony Sansone
  3. 7-Rooms of Gloom – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  4. If I Were a Carpenter – Tim Hardin
  5. Last Train to Clarksville – Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
  6. I’ll Turn to Stone – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland,  Dean Taylor
  7. I’m a Believer – Neil Diamond
  8. Standing in the Shadows of Love – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  9. Bernadette – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  10. Cherish – Terry Kirkman
  11. Wonderful Baby – Smokey Robinson
  12. What Else Is There to Do (But Think About You) – Stevie Wonder, Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax

 

Four Tops: On Top

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On July 2, 1966, “Motown” label released “On Top”, the third Four Tops studio  album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Brian Holland, Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Renaldo Benson– vocals
  • Abdul Fakir– vocals
  • Lawrence Payton– vocals, keyboards
  • Levi Stubbs– vocals
  • The Andantes- vocals

Track listing:

  1. I Got a Feeling – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  2. Brenda – Edward Holland Jr.
  3. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  4. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  5. Until You Love Someone – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  6. There’s No Love Left – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
  7. Matchmaker, Matchmaker – Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick
  8. Michelle – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  9. In the Still of the Night – Cole Porter
  10. Bluesette – Norman Gimbel, Toots Thielemans
  11. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Gene Lees
  12. Then – Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers

Commodores: Hot On The Tracks

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In June 1976, “Motown” label released “Hot on the Tracks”, the fourth Commodores album. It was recorded in 1976, “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by James Anthony Carmichael,  Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, William King and Walter Orange.

Personnel:

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

Track listing:

  1. Let’s Get Started – Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Ronald La Pread, Thomas McClary, William King
  2. Girl, I Think the World About You – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  3. High On Sunshine – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  4. Just to Be Close to You – Lionel Richie
  5. Fancy Dancer – Lionel Richie, Ronald La Pread
  6. Come Inside – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  7. Thumpin’ Music – William King
  8. Captain Quickdraw – Milan Williams
  9. Can’t Let You Tease Me – Walter Orange

The Supremes: Touch

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In June 1971, “Motown” label released “Touch”, the twenty-third Supremes studio album. It was recorded 1970 – 1971, and was produced by Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Jean Terrell– lead and backing vocals
  • Mary Wilson– lead and backing vocals
  • Cindy Birdsong– lead and backing vocals
  • The Blackberries– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. This Is the Story – Frank Wilson, Pam Sawyer
  2. Nathan Jones – Leonard Caston, Kathleen Wakefield
  3. Here Comes the Sunrise – Clifton Davis
  4. Love It Came to Me This Time – Leonard Caston, Kathleen Wakefield
  5. Johnny Raven- Billy Page
  6. Have I Lost You – Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer
  7. Time and Love – Laura Nyro
  8. Touch – Frank Wilson, Pam Sawyer
  9. Happy (Is a Bumpy Road) – Frank Wilson, Pam Sawyer
  10. It’s So Hard for Me to Say Goodbye – Frank Wilson, Pam Sawyer

Diana Ross: Diana

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On May 22, 1980, “Motown” label released “Diana”, the tenth Diana Ross album. It was recorded December 1979-March 1980, at “Power Station”, and “Electric Lady” in New York City, “Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Studios” in Hollywood and was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. The album was certified Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Diana Ross –lead vocals
  • Nile Rodgers– guitar
  • Andy Barrett (Schwartz) –piano
  • Raymond Jones – keyboards
  • Bernard Edwards– bass guitar
  • Tony Thompson– drums
  • Eddie Daniels –saxophone
  • Meco Monardo– trombone
  • Bob Milliken –trumpet
  • Valerie Haywood (The Chic Strings) –strings
  • Cheryl Hong (The Chic Strings) – strings
  • Karen Milne (The Chic Strings) – strings
  • Gene Orloff– conductor
  • Alfa Anderson –backing vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton– backing vocals
  • Luci Martin – backing vocals
  • Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
  • Bob Clearmountain– engineer
  • Bill Scheniman – engineer
  • James Farber – engineer
  • Neil Dorfsman– engineer
  • Ralph Osborn – engineer
  • Abdoulaye Soumare – engineer assistant
  • Jeff Hendrickson – engineer assistant
  • Lucy Laurie – engineer assistant
  • Peter Robbins – engineer assistant
  • Dennis King –mastering

Track listing:

All tracks by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers.

  1. Upside Down
  2. Tenderness
  3. Friend to Friend
  4. I’m Coming Out
  5. Have Fun (Again)
  6. My Old Piano
  7. Now That You’re Gone
  8. Give Up

Commodores: Natural High

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In May 1978, “Motown” label released “Natural High”, the sixth Commodores album. It was recorded in 1978, and was produced by James Carmichael, Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary, Milan Williams, Ronald LaPread, William King and Walter Orange.

Personnel:

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

Track listing:

  1. Fire Girl – William King, David Cochrane, Darryl Jones
  2. X-Rated Movie – Milan Williams
  3. Flying High – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary
  4. Three Times a Lady – Lionel Richie
  5. Such a Woman – Walter Orange
  6. Say Yeah – Lionel Richie, Ronald LaPread
  7. I Like What You Do – Lionel Richie, Walter Orange
  8. Visions – Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary

Supremes: Floy Joy

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In May 1972, “Motown” label released “Floy Joy”, the twenty-fifth Supremes album.  It was recorded 1971-1972, and was produced by Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Jean Terrell- lead and backing vocals
  • Mary Wilson- lead and backing vocals
  • Cindy Birdsong- lead and backing vocals
  • The Andantes(Louvain Demps, Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow) – additional backing vocals
  • Instrumentation byThe Funk Brothers:
    • Dennis Coffey- guitar
    • Robert White- guitar
    • Eddie Willis- guitar
    • Marvin Tarplin- guitar
    • Earl Van Dyke- piano, keyboards
    • Johnny Griffith- piano, keyboards
    • James Jamerson- bass
    • Zachary Slater – drums
    • Andrew Smith – drums
    • Jack Ashford- percussion
    • Jack Brokensha- percussion
    • Eddie “Bongo” Brown- percussion
  • Paul Riser- arranger
  • Jim Britt – photography
  • Berry Gordy- executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love – Smokey Robinson
  2. Floy Joy – SmokeyRobinson
  3. A Heart Like Mine – Smokey Robinson,Ronald White
  4. Over and Over – Smokey Robinson
  5. Precious Little Things – Smokey Robinson,Marvin Tarplin, Pam Moffett
  6. Now the Bitter, Now the Sweet – Smokey Robinson, Cecil Franklin
  7. Automatically Sunshine – Smokey Robinson
  8. The Wisdom of Time – Smokey Robinson, Pam Moffett, Clifford Burston
  9. Oh Be My Love – Smokey Robinson,Warren Moore

Mary Wells: Mary Wells Sings My Guy

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In May 1964, “Motown” label released “Mary Wells Sings My Guy”, the fourth studio Mary Wells album. It was recorded 1963-1964, and was produced by Smokey Robinson.

Personnel:

  • Mary Wells- lead vocals
  • The Andantes- backing vocals
  • The Love-Tones – backing vocals
  • Eddie Holland- backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers- instrumentation
  • Dezo Hoffmann- front cover photography
  • Lee Ivory – sleeve notes.

Track listing:

  1. He’s The One I Love – Smokey Robinson
  2. Whisper You Love Me Boy – Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier
  3. My Guy – Smokey Robinson
  4. Does He Love Me – William “Mickey” Stevenson
  5. How? (When My Heart Belongs To You) – Smokey Robinson
  6. He Holds His Own – Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier
  7. My Baby Just Cares for Me – Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson
  8. I Only Have Eyes for You – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  9. You Do Something to Me – Cole Porter
  10. It Had to Be You – Gus Kahn, Isham Jones
  11. If You Love Me (Really Love Me) – Geoffrey Parsons, Marguerite Monnot
  12. At Last – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon