By Joel Francis It’s hard to listen to Raphael Saadiq’s new album, “The Way I See It,” without thinking it’s a lost Motown gem. The record blasts off with “Sure Hope You Mean It,” a song that recalls the finer moments of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Later, Saadiq channels the Temptations on “Keep Marchin’” [...]
Posts Tagged ‘The Temptations’
Raphael Saadiq – “The Way I See It”
Posted in Album review, Motown, tagged Gamble-Huff, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Jay-Z, Joss Stone, neo-soul, Raphael Saadiq, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Sound Of Philadelphia, The Temptations on November 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Velvelettes – “He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’”
Posted in Motown, tagged Bananarama, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Norman Whitfield, The Temptations, the Velvelettes on October 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Velvelettes – “He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’,” Pop #64, R&B #21 By Joel Francis The Velvelettes’ final single for Motown was their most successful effort. Like their previous hit, “Needle In A Haystack,” this is another Norman Whitfield production. Unlike the house “assembly line” production on Whitfield’s earlier effort, this song bears more of his [...]
The Temptations – “My Girl”
Posted in Motown, tagged Al Green, David Ruffin, Dolly Parton, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., James Jamerson, Jesus and Mary Chain, music, My Girl, Rolling Stones, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Miracles, The Temptations on October 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Temptations – “My Girl,” Pop #1, R&B #1 By Joel Francis Lightning definitely struck twice for Smokey Robinson and the Temptations. After struggling for years, Robinson gave the Temptations their breakthrough hit with “The Way You Do The Things You Do.” “My Girl,” their follow-up, is not only Motown’s biggest song, but one of [...]
Velvelettes – “Needle in a Haystack”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Hitsville U.S.A., music, Norman Whitfield, soul music, The Temptations, Velvelettes on October 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Velvelettes – “Needle in a Haystack,” Pop #45 The real action in “Needle in a Haystack” is happening away from the microphones and behind the glass. This song was the first single the late Norman Whitfield’s produced for Motown. Whitfield got his start at the label as a songwriter, co-writing Marvin Gaye’s hit “Pride and [...]
Review: The Temptations and Four Tops
Posted in Kansas City Star, Motown, review, tagged Hitsville U.S.A., Norman Whitfield, soul music, Starlight Theater, The Four Tops, The Temptations on September 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Above: Are they still tempting? “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” from March, 2008. By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Halfway into his band’s set Saturday night at Starlight, Otis Williams, the last living original member of the Temptations, dedicated the evening’s performance to the late Motown producer Norman Whitfield. It was fitting. Whitfield wrote [...]
Stax vs. Motown (part two)
Posted in Motown, Stax, tagged Berry Gordy, Booker T and the MGs, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Joel Francis, Motown, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Staples Singers, Stax, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Wattstax on August 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The second of three installments in my conversation about the golden era of Stax and Motown with soul music fan and Stax afficiando Brad. Don’t forget to check out part one. Brad S.: I have to admit, when I think of Motown, I almost only associate it with the ‘64-‘65 period. Although I know, to [...]
The Temptations – “The Way You Do The Things You Do”
Posted in Motown, tagged Hitsville U.S.A., music, Smokey Robinson, soul music, The Temptations on August 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Temptations – “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” Pop #11 Several Motown songwriters had tried to write a hit for The Temptations before Smokey Robinson teamed with fellow Miracle Bobby Rogers to pen this gem. Sung by high tenor Eddie Kendricks, the lyrics are equal parts pick-up lines and nursery rhyme. Few could [...]
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Reunion bands: Ain’t nothing like the real thing
Posted in Industry commentary, tagged Art Blakey, Beatles, Billy Corgan, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Ian Astbury, INXS, Jazz Messengers, John Entwistle, Journey, Los Lobs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neal Schon, Paul McCartney, Paul Rogers, Pete Townshend, Queen, reunion tours, Smashing Pumpkins, Steve Perry, The Doors, The Four Tops, the Guess Who, The Temptations, the Who, Three Dog Night, truth in advertising, U2, Wilco, Yes on September 30, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Above: The two original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and five other guys play “Sweet Home Alabama.” By Joel Francis When the Temptations and Four Tops took the stage Saturday night with only one original member in each ensemble, it raised questions of truth in advertising. Can a band be billed by its legendary name if only one [...]
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