Tag Archives: The Funk Brothers

Martha And The Vandellas: Come And Get These Memories

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On June 28, 1963, “Gordy” label released “Come and Get These Memories”, the debut Martha and the Vandellas album. It was recorded 1962 – 1963, at “Studio A” in Hitsville U.S.A., and was produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland and William “Mickey” Stevenson.

Personnel:

  • Martha Reeves – lead and backing vocals
  • Rosalind Ashford – backing vocals
  • Annette Beard – backing vocals
  • Gloria Williams – backing vocals
  • Brian Holland – additional backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Eddie Willis – guitar
  • Robert White – guitar
  • Raynoma Liles Gordy – organ
  • Joe Hunter – piano
  • Earl Van Dyke – electric piano
  • James Jamerson – bass
  • Benny Benjamin – drums
  • Andrew “Mike” Terry – baritone saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Come and Get These Memories – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  2. Can’t Get Used to Losing You – Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman
  3. Moments (To Remember) – Richard Berry
  4. This Is When I Need You Most – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  5. A Love Like Your (Don’t Come Knocking Everyday) – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  6. Tears on My Pillow – Sylvester Bradford, Al Lewis
  7. To Thank You Would Hurt Me – Brian Holland, Robert Gordy
  8. There He Is (At My Door) – Eddie Holland, Freddie Gorman
  9. I’ll Have to Let Him Go – William “Mickey” Stevenson
  10. Give Him Up – Wm. Robinson
  11. Jealous Lover – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  12. Old Love (Let’s Try It Again) – Holland-Dozier-Holland

Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell: United

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On August 29, 1967, “Tamla” label released “United”, album by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (the first of three collaborative albums). It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Hal Davis and Berry Gordy, Jr.,

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals
  • Tammi Terrell – lead and backing vocals
  • Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, The Originals, The Andantes, The Spinners – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation

Track listing:

  1. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  2. You Got What It Takes – Berry Gordy, Jr., Gwen Gordy, Tyran Carlo
  3. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  4. Somethin’ Stupid – C. Carson Parks
  5. Your Precious Love – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  6. Hold Me Oh My Darling – Harvey Fuqua
  7. Two Can Have a Party – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Thomas Kemp
  8. Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl – Harvey Fuqua, Etta James, Brook Benton
  9. If This World Were Mine – Marvin Gaye
  10. Sad Wedding – Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers
  11. Give a Little Love – Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Clyde Wilson
  12. Oh How I’d Miss You – Hal Davis, Frank Wilson, Vance Wilson

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: Make It Happen

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On August 29, 1967, “Tamla” label released “Make It Happen”, the third Smokey Robinson & the Miracles album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, at “Hitsville USA” in Detroit, and in Los Angeles, and was produced by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Smokey Robinson and Henry Cosby.

Personnel:

  • Smokey Robinson – lead vocals, executive producer
  • Ronnie White – backing vocals
  • Bobby Rogers – backing vocals
  • Warren “Pete” Moore – backing vocals
  • Claudette Robinson – backing vocals
  • Marv Tarplin – guitar
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • The Andantes – additional backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. The Soulful Shack – Smokey Robinson
  2. The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage – Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
  3. My Love for You – Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax
  4. I’m on the Outside (Looking In) – Bobby Weinstein, Teddy Randazzo
  5. Don’t Think It’s Me – Smokey Robinson
  6. My Love Is Your Love (Forever) – Ivy Jo Hunter, Stevie Wonder
  7. More Love – Smokey Robinson
  8. After You Put Back the Pieces (I’ll Still Have a Broken Heart) – Clarence Paul, Morris Broadnax, Stevie Wonder
  9. It’s a Good Feeling – Holland-Dozier-Holland
  10. You Must Be Love – Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore
  11. Dancing’s Alright – Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin, Warren Moore, Robert Rogers, Ronald White
  12. The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby

Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell: You’re All I Need

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In August 1968, “Tamla” label released “You’re All I Need”, the second Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell studio album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, and was produced by Robert Gordy, Harvey Fugua, Johnny Bristol and Ashford & Simpson.

Personnel:

  • Marvin Gaye – lead and backing vocals
  • Tammi Terrell – lead and backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – instrumentation
  • Nicholas Ashford – backing vocals
  • Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
  • The Originals – backing vocals
  • The Andantes – backing vocals
  • The Spinners – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  2. Keep on Lovin’ Me Honey – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  3. You’re All I Need to Get By – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
  4. Baby Don’t Cha Worry – Johnny Bristol, Jackie Beavers
  5. You Ain’t Livin’ Till You’re Lovin’ – Nicholas Ashford, Valerie Simpson)
  6. Give In, You Just Can’t Win – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  7. When Love Comes Knocking at My Heart – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Gladys Knight, Vernon Bullock
  8. Come on and See Me – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol
  9. I Can’t Help but Love You – Robert Gordy, Thomas Kemp, Marvin Gaye
  10. That’s How It Is (Since You’ve Been Gone) – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  11. I’ll Never Stop Loving You Baby – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Beatrice Verdi
  12. Memory Chest – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol

The Isley Brothers: This Old Heart of Mine

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On May 17, 1966, “Tamla” label released “This Old Heart of Mine”, the fourth Isley Brothers (The) studio album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, at “Studio A, Hitsville USA” in Detroit, Michigan, and was produced by Robert Gordy, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and William Stevenson.

Personne:

  • Ronald Isley – lead vocals
  • O’Kelly Isley, Jr. – backing vocals
  • Rudolph Isley – backing vocals
  • The Andantes (Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, Louvain Demps) – backing vocals
  • The Funk Brothers – all instruments

Track listing:

All tracks by Holland-Dozier-Holland, except where noted.

  1. Nowhere to Run
  2. Stop! In the Name of Love
  3. This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) – Holland-Dozier-Holland, Sylvia Moy
  4. Take Some Time for Love – Thomas Kemp, Robert Gordy
  5. I Guess I’ll Always Love You
  6. Baby Don’t You Do It
  7. Who Could Ever Doubt My Love
  8. Put Yourself in My Place – Holland-Dozier-Holland, John Thornton
  9. I Hear a Symphony
  10. Just Ain’t Enough Love
  11. There’s No Love Left – Holland-Dozier-Holland, James Dean
  12.  Seek and You Shall Fine – Ivy Jo Hunter, William Stevenson

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

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.