Tag Archives: Smiling Faces Sometimes

David Ruffin: Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay

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In December 1974, “Motown” label released “Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay”, the fifth David Ruffin album. It was recorded 1973 – 1974, at “Motown Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Whitfield and Mark Davis.

Personnel:

  • David Ruffin – vocals
  • Dennis Coffey, Eddie Willis, Johnny McGhee, Melvin Ragin – guitar
  • Earl Van Dyke, Mark Davis – keyboards
  • Henry Davis, Ron Brown – bass
  • Aaron Smith, Ed Greene, James Gadson – drums
  • Eddie “Bongo” Brown, Stephanie Spruill – percussion
  • Mykal Moore – saxophone
  • Freddy Dunn, Kenny Copeland – trumpet
  • Carolyn Willis, Jessie Kirkland, Joe Greene, Julia Waters, Lisa Roberts, Luther Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I Saw You When You Met Her – Norman Whitfield
  2. Take Me Clear from Here – Vincent DiMirco
  3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  4. Me ‘n Rock ‘n Roll Are Here to Stay – Norman Whitfield
  5. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) – Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
  6. No Matter Where – Clarence Drayton, Tamy Smith
  7. City Stars – Charles Higgins Jr, Dobie Gray
  8. I Just Want to Celebrate – Dino Fekaris, Nick Zesses

Doug Sahm: Texas Tornado

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In December 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Texas Tornado”, the second Doug Sahm studio album. It was recorded in October 1972, at “Atlantic Studios” and “Wally Heider Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin and Doug Sahm.

Personnel:

  • Doug Sahm – vocals, guitar, bajo sexto, fiddle, electric piano, arrangements
  • Atwood Allen – acoustic guitar, harmony
  • Frank Paredes – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Luis Ortéga – vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Owens – steel guitar
  • Andy Statman – mandolin
  • Mike Nock – electric piano
  • George Stubbs – electric piano
  • Flaco Jiménez – accordion
  • Augie Meyers – Vox Continental
  • Dr. John – piano, organ
  • Jack Barber – bass
  • Steve Vargas – bass
  • George Rains – drums
  • Pancho Morales – percussion
  • Warren Chiasson – vibraphone
  • David Bromberg – dobro
  • Kenny Kosek – fiddle
  • Rocky Morales – tenor saxophone
  • David “Fathead” Newman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Martin Fierro – tenor saxophone
  • Mel Martin – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Wayne Jackson – trumpet
  • Jack Wilmoth – trumpet
  • Charley MacBirney – trumpet
  • Neil Rosengarden – flugelhorn
  • Jimmy Douglass – engineer
  • Ken Hopkins – engineer, mixing
  • Dan Healy – mixing
  • Lew Hahn – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Doug Sahm.

  1. San Francisco FM Blues
  2. Someday
  3. Blue Horizon
  4. Tennessee Blues
  5. Ain’t That Loving You
  6. Texas Tornado
  7. Jaun Mendoza
  8. Chicano
  9. I’ll Be There
  10. Hard Way
  11. Nitty Gritty

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

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.