Tag Archives: The Funk Brothers

Marvin Gaye: Moods of Marvin Gaye

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On May 23, 1966, “Tamla” label released “Moods of Marvin Gaye”, the seventh Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, at “Hitsville” in Detroit, US, and was produced by Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Clarence Paul and Lamont Dozier.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Miracles – backing vocals
  • The Spinners – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. I’ll Be Doggone – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarpin
  2. Little Darling (I Need You) – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  3. Take This Heart of Mine – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
  4. Hey Diddle Diddle – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fugua, Marvin Gaye
  5. One More Heartache – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin, Ronald White
  6. Ain’t That Peculiar – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
  7. Night Life – Walt Breeland, Paul Buskrik, Willie Nelson
  8. You’ve Been a Long Time Coming – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  9. Your Unchanging Love – Holland – Dozier – Holland
  10. You’re the One for Me – Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
  11. I Worry ‘Bout You – Norman Mapp
  12. One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
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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

Melvin Ragin

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On October 24, 2018, Melvin M. Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson died aged 67. He was musician (guitar), famous for his unique skills with wah-wah pedal. He was member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for “Motown Records”, recorded and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Williams, Thelma Houston, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, The Beach Boys, George Benson, Bobbi Humphrey, Janet Jackson, Yung Berg, Blondie, Norman Whitfield, The Undisputed Truth, Donald Byrd, Labelle, Love Unlimited, Cher, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gloria Gaynor, The Temptations (his guitar work on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Pointer Sisters, Martha Reeves, Rose Royce, Bob Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. As leader, Wah Wah Watson released one solo album (Elementary, 1976).

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.

Robert Kreinar

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On July 16, 2012, Robert Kreinar aka Bob Babbitt died aged 74. He was musician (bass), member of the “Motown Records” studio band The Funk Brothers, MFSB for “Philadelphia International Records”, and founding member of Scorpion. As a session musician Babbitt recorded for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, Alice Cooper, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Freda Payne, The Temptations, and The Main Ingredient. “Bass Player” magazine ranked Babbitt at number 59 on its list of the “100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.

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.

On January 8, 1970.

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On January 8, 1970, “Tamla” label released “That’s the Way Love Is”, the tenth Marvin Gaye studio album. It was recorded in 1969, at “Hitsville U.S.A.” in Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye- lead vocals
  • The Andantes, The Originals- background vocals
  • The Funk Brothers- instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Gonna Give Her All The Love I’ve Got – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  2. Yesterday – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. Groovin’ – Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere
  4. I Wish It Would Rain – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  5. That’s The Way Love Is – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  6. How Can I Forget? – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  7. Abraham, Martin & John – Dick Holler
  8. Gonna Keep On Tryin’ Till I Win Your Love – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  9. No Time for Tears – Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield
  10. Cloud Nine – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  11. Don’t You Miss Me A Little Bit, Baby? – Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
  12. So Long – Eddie Holland,  Dean Taylor, Norman Whitfield

In October 1971.

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In October 1971, “Rare Earth” label released “Stoney and Meatloaf”, the debut Meat Loaf album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by Ralph Terrana, Russ Terrana, Mike Valvano, Nick Zesses and Dino Fekaris.

Personnel:

  • Lead vocals: Meat Loaf, Stoney Murphy
  • Backing vocals: Mike Campbell, Telma Hopkins, Joyce Vincent
  • Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers, Bob Babbitt, Mike Campbell, Ray Monette and Andrew Smith, Ralph Terrana, Charlie Irwin, Richard Ponte, Jim Simmons and Scott Strong.
  • Arrangers: Tom Baird, David Van De Pitte
  • Remix engineer: Glen Jordan
  • Mastering engineer: Jack Andrews

Track listing:

  1. (I’d Love to Be) As Heavy as Jesus – Patti Jerome, Ralph Terrana, Mike Valvano
  2. She Waits by the Window – Mike Campbell, Ray Monette
  3. It Takes All Kinds of People – Patti Jerome, Mike Valvano
  4. Game of Love – Ike Turner
  5. Kiss Me Again – Mike Campbell, Ray Monette
  6. What You See Is What You Get – Patti Jerome, Mike Valvano
  7. Sunshine (Where’s Heaven?) – Ralph Terrana, Mike Valvano
  8. Jimmy Bell – traditional
  9. Lady Be Mine – Mike Campbell, Ray Monette
  10. Jessica White – Mike Campbell, Ray Monette

In July 1967.

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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