Tag Archives: Renaldo “Obie” Benson

Stevie Wonder: Up-Tight

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

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

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

Charles Lloyd: Lift Every Voice

On October 21, 2002, “ECM” label released “Lift Every Voice”, the 33rd Charles Lloyd album. It was recorded in February 2002, and was produced by Charles Lloyd, and Dorothy Darr.

Personnel:

  • Charles Lloyd – tenor saxophone, flute, tarogato
  • Geri Allen – piano
  • John Abercrombie – guitar
  • Marc Johnson – double bass
  • Larry Grenadier – double bass
  • Billy Hart – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Lloyd, except where noted.

  1. Hymn to the Mother
  2. You Are So Beautiful – Bruce Fisher, Billy Preston
  3. Amazing Grace – John Newton
  4. East Virginia, West Memphis
  5. What’s Going On – Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye
  6. Angel Oak
  7. Te Amaré – Silvio Rodríguez
  8. I’m Afraid – Duke Ellington
  9. Hafez, Shattered Heart
  10. Rabo de Nube – Silvio Rodríguez
  11. Blood Count – Billy Strayhorn
  12. Go Down Moses – traditional
  13. Beyond Darkness
  14. Nocturne
  15. Wayfaring Stranger – traditional
  16. Deep River – traditional
  17. Lift Every Voice and Sing – James Weldon Johnson, John Rosamond Johnson
  18. Prayer, The Crossing

Obie Benson

On July 1, 2005, Renaldo “Obie” Benson died aged 69. He was singer and songwriter, best known as a founding member and the bass singer of the Four Tops, a band that sold over 50 million records and had hits including “Reach Out (I’ll be There)” and “I Can’t Help Myself”. In 1971 Benson co-wrote “What’s Going On” for Marvin Gaye and song that “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked at no. 4 on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Four Tops: Reach Out

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