Bobby Taylor – “Does Your Mama Know About Me,” Pop # 29, R&B # 5 By Joel Francis North Carolina native Bobby Taylor was working with a trio of Canadian musicians performing Motown numbers in Vancouver when the group caught the attention of Supremes Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. The pair excitedly contacted Berry Gordy [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Diana Ross’
Bobby Taylor – “Does Your Mama Know About Me”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Bobby Taylor, Cheech and Chong, Diana Ross, Gamble and Huff, Hitsville U.S.A., Jimi Hendrix, Philly soul, The Sound Of Philadelphia, the Supremes, Three Dog Night, Tommy Chong on October 5, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Rita Wright – “I Can’t Give Back the Love I Feel For You”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Ashford and Simpson, Diana Ross, Dusty Springfield, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Jeff Beck, Stevie Wonder, Syreeta, the Supremes on October 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Rita Wright – “I Can’t Give Back the Love I Feel For You,” did not chart By Joel Francis Rita Wright is best known by her 1970s stage name, Syreeta. Before she collaborated with – and briefly married – Stevie Wonder, and scored a handful of Adult Contemporary hits with Billy Preston, Wright was a [...]
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – “I Second That Emotion”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Al Cleveland, David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, Diana Ross, Grateful Dead, Hitsville U.S.A., Japan, Jerry Garcia, Marv Tarplin, Smokey Robinson, soul music, Tammy Wynette, The Miracles, the Supremes, The Temptations on September 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – “I Second That Emotion,” Pop # 4, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis Smokey Robinson was Christmas shopping with fellow Motown songwriter Al Cleveland when Cleveland let slip the malapropism “I second that emotion.” Intrigued, Robinson penned a lyric about a man disinterested in flirting, fishing for long-term love. [...]
Gladys Knight and the Pips – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Aretha Franklin, Berry Gordy, Daydream Believer, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Isley Brothers, Jerry Wexler, King Curtis, Marvin Gaye, Monkees, Norman Whitfield, psychedelic soul, Smokey Robinson, The Miracles, the Pips, the Supremes on September 9, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Gladys Knight and the Pips – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Pop # 2, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis Unlike nearly every other soul singer at the time, Gladys Knight didn’t want to go to Motown. She was (rightly) worried she and her group, the Pips, would end up playing second fiddle to [...]
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – “More Love”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Berry Gordy, Bette Davis Eyes, David Ruffin, Diana Ross, Hitsville U.S.A., Kim Carnes, Martha Reeves, New Christy Minstrels, Paul Young, Smokey Robinson, Tamla Robisnson, the 5th Dimension, The Miracles, The Temptations on September 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – “More Love,” Pop # 23, R&B # 5 By Joel Francis Smokey Robinson has penned dozens of gorgeous love songs throughout his career, but few are affecting as “More Love.” The reassuring lyrics speak to the tragedies the couple suffered as a result of life on the road. Between [...]
Four Tops – “Bernadette”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Four Tops, Freda Payne, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Honey Comb, Levi Stubbs, Norman Whitfield, the Supremes on August 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Four Tops – “Bernadette,” Pop # 4, R&B # 3 By Joel Francis Levi Stubbs’ performance on “Bernadette” cements his status as Motown’s greatest male vocalist. The magnificent feats Stubbs laid down on the Four Tops previous pair of singles, “Reach Out” and “Standing in the Shadows of Love” reaches an impassioned crescendo on “Bernadette.” [...]
The Four Tops – “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)”
Posted in Motown, tagged Beatles, Diana Ross, Elton John, Four Tops, Funk Brothers, Gloria Gaynor, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, James Jamerson, Levi Stubbs, Michael Bolton, Michael McDonald, Motown vs Stax, Paul McCartney, Reach Out I'll Be There, Stax on June 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Four Tops – “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” Pop # 1, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis The dramatic introduction to “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” owes more than a little to Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound and was Motown’s most cinematic chart-topper to date. While the flute gets the signature melody, check out [...]
The Elgins – “Heaven Must Have Sent You”
Posted in Motown, tagged Diana Ross, Elgins, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Pointer Sisters, Saundra Edwards, Supremes, Vandellas on May 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Elgins – “Heaven Must Have Sent You,” Pop #50 , R&B #9 By Joel Francis I suspect that if you took this single and replaced the word “Elgins” with “Supremes” and gave it to DJs with no other changes, it would have been a far bigger hit. Not that Saundra Edwards’ voice sounds like [...]
Temptations – “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Bruce Springsteen, David Ruffin, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, James Jamerson, Jimmy Ruffin, Mary Wilson, Norman Whitfield, Paul Riser, Pistol Allen, Smokey Robinson, Supremes, Temptations, The Miracles on May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Temptations – “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep,” Pop #3, R&B #1 By Joel Francis After teaming to give the Tempts a No. 1 R&B hit with “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland paired again to deliver “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep,” which fared even better. The song was the Temptations’ third [...]
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