Jackson Five – “I’ll Be There,” Pop #1, R&B #1 By Joel Francis The Daily Record To say that the Jackson 5’s formula was successful would be a terrific understatement. Three upbeat, bubblegum hits, all penned and produced by Berry Gordy and his faceless Corporation, all No. 1 pop and R&B smashes. Gordy’s decision to [...]
Posts Tagged ‘The Temptations’
Jackson Five – “I’ll Be There”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Berry Gordy, bubblegum pop, Diana Ross, Green Day, Hal Davis, Hitsville U.S.A., Jackson 5, Jamie Foxx, La Toya Jackson, Mariah Carey, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Michael Jackson, Ne-Yo, New Kids on the Block, the Corporation, The Temptations, Trey Lorenz on June 30, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Diana Ross – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Andantes, Ashford and Simpson, Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Hitsville U.S.A., Marvin Gaye, Nick Ashford, Tammi Terrell, the Supremes, The Temptations, Valerie Simpson on June 7, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Diana Ross – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Pop #1, R&B #1 By Joel Francis The Daily Record This was the moment. For years, Berry Gordy had been grooming Diana Ross to become a star. First he pushed the hesitant child to the forefront of the Supremes, then elevated her to top billing. Now she [...]
Rare Earth – “Get Ready”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged acid rock, Ash, Berry Gordy, Black Eyed Peas, Bobby Rogers, Eddie Kendricks, Fergie, Get Ready, Gil Bridges, Hitsville U.S.A., Norman Whitfield, Pete Moore, Pete Rivera, psychedelic rock, Rare Earth, Smokey Robinson, The Miracles, the Proclaimers, the Supremes, The Temptations, Will.I.Am on February 15, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Rare Earth – “Get Ready,” Pop # 4, R&B # 20 By Joel Francis The Daily Record Motown’s signing of Rare Earth in 1968 was the sign of a label attempting to spread its wings. Although Rare Earth wasn’t the first all-white rock group signed by to Motown (that would be the Messengers in 1967), [...]
David Ruffin – “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)”
Posted in Motown, Song Review, tagged David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, Harvey Fuqua, Hitsville U.S.A., Johnny Bristol, Kiki Dee, My Whole World Ended, the Chi-Lites, the Originals, the Spinners, The Temptations on December 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
David Ruffin – “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me),” Pop # 9, R&B # 2 By Joel Francis Former Temptation David Ruffin stuck pretty close to his old band’s template on his solo debut. The Harvey Fuqua/Johnny Bristol song was slated to be the Tempts’ next single, but Ruffin was able to [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
The Temptations – “(I Know) I’m Losing You”
Posted in Motown, tagged Cornelius Grant, David Ruffin, Every Picture Tells a Story, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Norman Whitfield, Rare Earth, Rod Stewart, soul music, the Faces, The Temptations on June 17, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The Temptations – “(I Know) I’m Losing You,” Pop # 8, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis The list of Motown songs based around a guitar riff is a short one, but this masterpiece should be at the top of that one and several others. Producer Norman Whitfield wrote the song with Edward Holland of [...]
Jimmy Ruffin – “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”
Posted in Motown, tagged Bee Gees, Colin Blunstone, Dave Stewart, David Ruffin, Diana Ross, Hitsville U.S.A., Jimmy Ruffin, Supremes, The Temptations, Zombies on March 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Jimmy Ruffin – “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” Pop #7, R&B #6 By Joel Francis Jimmy Ruffin isn’t as well-known as his brother, the late Temptations singer David Ruffin, but Jimmy didn’t land at Motown through nepotism. Raised in Mississippi, Jimmy sang with David in the family gospel group. When he was drafted, Jimmy entertained [...]
The Contours – “First I Look at the Purse”
Posted in Motown, tagged Dirty Dancing, Four Tops, Hitsville U.S.A., Joel Francis, Motown 25, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Contours, The Miracles, The Temptations on December 3, 2008 | 2 Comments »
The Contours – “First I Look at the Purse,” Pop #57, R&B #12 By Joel Francis The name on the label says “The Contours,” but all four of the singers who found success with 1962′s chart-topping “Do You Love Me” were gone by the time this number came out three years later. A novelty song [...]
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