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 [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Smokey Robinson’
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 »
The Marvelettes – “The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Blondie, Bobby Rogers, Ella Fitzgerald, Grace Jones, Grateful Dead, Harvey Fuqua, Hitsville U.S.A., Jerry Garcia, Marvelettes, Miracles, New Birth, Please Mr. Postman, Smokey Robinson, soul music on July 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Marvelettes – “The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game,” Pop # 13, R&B #2 By Joel Francis The Marvelettes gave Motown its first No. 1 hit with “Please Mr. Postman,” but that was way back in 1961. But that was five years before “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” came out – a [...]
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 [...]
The Temptations – “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Count Basie, David Ruffin, Hitsville U.S.A., James Brown, Norman Whitfield, Rick Astley, Rolling Stones, Smokey Robinson, Temptations on March 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Temptations – “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” Pop #13, R&B #1 By Joel Francis If you’re not hooked in the first five seconds of this song, you haven’t been paying attention. All the elements attack immediately: the drum roll coupled with the insistent clanging cymbal, the knuckle-roll piano riff and, of course, David Ruffin’s [...]
Raphael Saadiq sends a love letter to soul makers and Motown
Posted in band feature, Kansas City Star, Motown, tagged Back To Rockville, Boyz II Men, Funk Brothers, Jay-Z, Marvin Gaye, Motown, neo-soul, Philly soul, Q-Tip, Raphael Saadiq, Smokey Robinson, soul music, Stevie Wonder, The Sound Of Philadelphia, Tony! Toni! Tone! on March 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
(Above: Raphael Saadiq runs the “100 Yard Dash.”) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Raphael Saadiq’s latest album, “The Way I See It,” is draped heavily in the sounds of Motown and Philly soul, but don’t call it a tribute album. “Boyz II Men did a tribute; I wrote a bunch of songs,” Saadiq [...]
Shorty Long – “Function at the Junction”
Posted in Motown, tagged Chess Records, Devil With a Blue Dress, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Huey Lewis, Koko Taylor, Ramsey Lewis, Shorty Long, Smokey Robinson, soul music, Wang Dang Doodle, Willie Dixon on February 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Shorty Long – “Function at the Junction,” Pop #97, R&B #42 Bluesman Shorty Long always sounded more like a Chess artist than someone on the Motown roster. His 1964 song “Devil With A Blue Dress” sounded like something coming out of a juke joint at midnight. “Function at the Junction,” released two years later, was [...]
Isley Brothers – “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)”
Posted in Motown, tagged Beatles, Berry Gordy, Four Tops, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Isley Brothers, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, Shout, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, Twist and Shout on February 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Isley Brothers – “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You),” Pop #12, R&B #6 By Joel Francis For the most part, Motown’s talent during its heyday was home-grown. Martha Reeves was a Hitsville secretary, Stevie Wonder was a kid pestering the Funk Brothers for lessons, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson were part of [...]
The Marvelettes – “Don’t Mess With Bill”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Hitsville U.S.A., Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson, Supremes on January 21, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The Marvelettes – “Don’t Mess With Bill,” Pop #7, R&B #3 The three years between this hit and the Marvelettes’ previous chart entry, “Beechwood 4-5789,” saw them slide from Barry Gordy’s go-to girl group to third fiddle behind Martha and the Vandellas and the Supremes. After passing on “Where Did Our Love Go,” which became [...]
The Miracles – “The Tracks of My Tears”
Posted in Motown, tagged Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Elvis Costello, Hitsville U.S.A., Joel Francis, Johnny Rivers, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Miracles, The Tracks of My Tears on December 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Miracles – “The Tracks of My Tears,” Pop #16, R&B #2 By Joel Francis Smokey Robinson had little to prove in 1965. Since joining Motown four years ago, he had not only given the label its first million-selling single and its first No. 1, but written, produced or performed on scores of classic tracks. [...]
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