Tag Archives: Norman Whitfield

Marvin Gaye: In the Groove

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On August 26, 1968, “Tamla” label released “In the Groove”, the eighth Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded 1967 – 1968, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Ivy Jo Hunter and Frank Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • Gladys Knight & The Pips – backing vocals
  • Telma Hopkins – backing vocals
  • Joyce Vincent Wilson – backing vocals
  • Pamela Vincent – backing vocals 
  • Herbart – design

Track listing:

  1. You – Jeffrey Bowen, Jack Coga, Ivy Jo Hunter
  2. Tear Ot on Down – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  3. Chained -Frank Wilson
  4. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  5. At Last (I Found a Love) – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  6. Some Kind of Wonderful – Gerry Goffin, Carole King
  7. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  8. Change What You Can – Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover
  9. It’s Love I Need – Stephen Bowden, Ivy Jo Hunter
  10. Every Now and Then – Eddie Holland, Frank Wilson
  11. You’re What’s Happening (In the World Today) – George Gordy, Robert Gordy, Allen Story
  12. There Goes My Baby – Benjamin Nelson, Lover Patterson, George Treadwell

Rose Royce: Rainbow Connection IV

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On August 17, 1979, “Whitfield” label released “Rainbow Connection IV”, the fourth Rose Royce album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Fort Knox Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Gwen Dickey – lead vocals
  • Kenji Brown – lead vocals, guitar
  • Michael Nash – keyboards, c0 – producer
  • Michael Moore – saxophone
  • Kenny Copeland – lead vocals, trumpet
  • Freddie Dunn – trumpet
  • Lequeint “Duke” Jobe – vocals, bass
  • Henry Garner – vocals, drums
  • Terry Santiel – congas
  • Walter Downing – clavinet, Rhodes piano
  • Lafayette Trey Stone, Isy Martin, Wah Wah Watson – guitar
  • Jack Ashford – tambourine, cowbell
  • Norman Whitfield – arrangements, mixing, album concept
  • Bruce Miller – string and horn arrangement
  • Leanard Jackson, Steve Smith – recording, mixing
  • Tim Bryant / Gribbitt! – art direction
  • Norman Moore – design
  • Scott Hensell – photography
  • Bill Whitfield – album coordinator

Track listing:

All tracks by Norman Whitfield, except where noted.

  1. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight – Robert Daniels
  2. Is It Love You’re After – Miles Gregory
  3. Shine Your Light – Robert Daniels
  4. What You Waitin’ For – Norman Whitfield
  5. Bad Mother Funker
  6. You Can’t Run from Yourself
  7. Lock It Down – Miles Gregory
  8. Pazazz – Michael Nash

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 

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

Bruce Springsteen: Only The Strong Survive

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On November 11, 2022, “Columbia” label released “Only the Strong Survive”, the twenty-first Bruce Springsteen studio album. It was recorded 2021 – 2022, at “Thrill Hill Recording” New jersey, and was produced by Ron Aniello and Bruce Springsteen.

Personnel:

  • Bruce Springsteen – lead and backing vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
  • Ron Aniello – guitar, bass, drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, organ, vibraphone, glockenspiel, chimes, timpani, backing vocals, engineer, mixing
  • Rob Lebret – guitar
  • Bill Holloman – tenor saxophone
  • Ed Manion – baritone saxophone
  • Tom Timko – baritone saxophone
  • Barry Danielian – trumpet
  • Curt Ramm – trumpet
  • Clark Gayton – trombone
  • Lisa Kim – violin, concertmaster
  • Annaliesa Place – violin
  • Dasol Jeong – violin
  • Joanna Maurer – violin
  • Kristi Helberg – violin
  • Kuan Cheng Lu – violin
  • Sein Ryu – violin
  • Sharon Yamada – violin
  • Su Hyun Park – violin
  • Suzanne Ornstein – violin
  • Danielle Farina – viola
  • Devin Moore – viola
  • Re Clarice Jensen – cello
  • Patrick Jee – cello
  • Sophie Shao – cello
  • Rebecca Young – viola
  • Soozie Tyrell – backing vocals
  • Lisa Lowell – backing vocals
  • Sam Moore – backing vocals
  • Curtis King Jr. – backing vocals
  • Dennis Collins – backing vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
  • Michelle Moore – backing vocals
  • Rob Mathes – conductor
  • Andres Bermudez – engineer
  • Rob Lebret – engineer, mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Jon Landau – executive production

Track listing:

  1. Only the Strong Survive – Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
  2. Soul Days – Jonnie Barnett
  3. Nightshift – Walter Orange, Dennis Lambert, Franne Golde
  4. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
  5. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore – Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio
  6. Turn Back the Hands of Time – Jack Daniels, Bonnie Thompson
  7. When She Was My Girl – Larry Gottlieb, Marc Blatte
  8. Hey, Western Union Man – Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
  9. I Wish It Would Rain – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Rodger Penzabene
  10. Don’t Play That Song – Ahmet Ertegun, Betty Nelson
  11.  Any Other Way – William Bell
  12. I Forgot to Be Your Lover – William Bell, Booker T. Jones
  13. 7 Rooms of Gloom – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  14. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted – William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser, James Dean
  15. Someday We’ll Be Together – Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers, Harvey Fuqua

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

Barrett Strong

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On January 29, 2023, Barrett Strong died aged 81. He was singer and songwriter, the performer who had the first hit for Berry Gordy’s label “Tamla Records”, “Money (That’s What I Want)”. Strong was best known for his work as a songwriter, especially in association with the producer Norman Whitfield. In mid 1960s he became “Motown Records” writer lyricist, and together with Whitfield, they wrote some of the best known soul and funk classics of all times, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; “War” by Edwin Starr; “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” by Marvin Gaye; “Smiling Faces Sometimes” by The Undisputed Truth; “Cloud Nine”, “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Psychedelic Shack”, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)”, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, by The Temptations. In 1973, Strong received “Grammy Award for Best R&B Song” for “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. As leader, Strong released four albums.

The Isley Brothers: Soul on the Rocks

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On January 24, 1967, “Tamla” label released “Soul on the Rocks”, the fifth studio album by Isley Brothers (The). It was recorded in 1966, at “Studio A”, Hitsville, Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson and Ivy Jo Hunter.

Personnel:

  • Ronald Isley – vocals
  • Rudolph Isley – vocals
  • O’Kelly Isley Jr. – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Got to have You Back – Ivy Jo Hunter, Leon ware, Stephen Bowden
  2. That’s the Way Love Is – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  3. Whispers (Getting’ Louder) – David Scott, Barbara Acklin
  4. Tell Me It’s Just a Rumor baby – Harvey Fugua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  5. One Too Many Heartaches – Ivy Jo Hunter
  6. It’s Out of the Question – William “Smokey” Robinson, Berry Gordy
  7. Why When Love Is Gone – Ivy Jo Hunter
  8. Save Me from This Misery – Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene, Stephen Bowden
  9. Little Miss Sweetness – William “Smokey” Robinson
  10. Good Things – Robert Bruce, Leroy Kirkland
  11. Catching Up on Time – Clarence Paul, Leon Ware, Morris Broadnax
  12. Behind a Painted Smile – Ivy Jo Hunter, Beatrice Verdi

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

Aretha Franklin: Get It Right

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On July 14, 1983, “Arista” label released “Get It Right”, the twenty-ninth Aretha Franklin studio album. It was recorded in 1983, and was produced by Luther Vandross.

Personnel:

  • Aretha Franklin – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements
  • Doc Powell – guitar
  • Georg Wadenius – guitar
  • Teddy F. White – guitar
  • Nat Adderley Jr. – keyboards, rhythm arrangements
  • Marcus Miller – synthesizers, bass guitar, rhythm arrangements
  • Yogi Horton – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion, congas, bongos
  • Steve Kroon – congas, triangle
  • Dave Friedman – vibraphone
  • David Carey – timpani
  • George Young – soprano saxophone
  • Alan Rubin, George Young, Gregory Williams, Jim Pugh, John Clark, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Lou Marini, Peter Gordon, Ronnie Cuber, Tom Malone – horns
  • Alfred Brown, Barry Finclair, Elena Barere, Emanuel Vardi, Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Harry Zaratzian, Homer Mensch, Jan Mullen, Jean R. Dane, Jesse Levy, John Beal, John Pintavalle, Jonathan Abramowitz, Joseph Rabushka, Judy Geist, Julien Barber, Kathryn Kienke, Kermit Moore, Lamar Alsop, Lewis Eley, Margaret Ross, Marilyn Wright, Regis Landiorio, Richard Sortomme, Richard Young, Sanford Allen, Sue Pray, Winterton Garvey – strings
  • Rob Mounsey – string arrangements, horn arrangements
  • Paul Riser – string and horn arrangements
  • Luther Vandross – vocal arrangements, backing vocals
  • Michael Love Smith – vocal arrangements, backing vocals
  • Brenda White – backing vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
  • Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals
  • Phillip Ballou – backing vocals
  • Tawatha Agee – backing vocals
  • Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals
  • Darlene Love – backing vocals
  • Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals
  • Brenda Corbett – backing vocals
  • Margaret Branch – backing vocals
  • Sandra Richardson – backing vocals
  • Aaron T. Smith – backing vocals
  • Danny Dedusual Smith – backing vocals
  • Myrna Smith – backing vocals
  • Don Cuminale – engineer
  • Paul Brocek, Michael Christopher – additional engineering, engineer assistant
  • Mark Cobrin – engineer assistant
  • Michael H. Brauer – mixing
  • Donn Davenport – art direction
  • Howard Fritzson – design

Track listing:

All tracks written by Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller, except where noted.

  1. Get It Right
  2. Pretender
  3. Every Girl (Wants My Guy)
  4. When You Love Me Like That
  5. I Wish It Would Rain – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene
  6. Better Friends Than Lovers – Michael Lovesmith
  7. I Got Your Love – Luther Vandross
  8. Giving In – Clarence Franklin