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Topic: Tamla Motown Return to archive Page: 1 2 3
June 22nd, 2005 04:38 PM
Honky Tonk Man I recently purchased Tamla Motown Gold and I'm absolutely loving it. Any other Motown fans here?
June 22nd, 2005 06:23 PM
scratched You should check out the 'Cellar Full Of Motown' compilation. All are rare, deleted or never released recordings from the Motown vaults. After listening to it, I couldn't believe that most of the tunes are unheard of. Quality album.
June 22nd, 2005 06:37 PM
stonedinaustralia
quote:
Honky Tonk Man wrote:
I recently purchased Tamla Motown Gold and I'm absolutely loving it. Any other Motown fans here?



that's me HTM
June 24th, 2005 06:15 AM
Honky Tonk Man I can’t believe this thread has only had two responses!

Tamla Motown Gold is such a great value for money package!

It was interesting to hear the Motown originals, which the Stones covered. Going To A Go Go, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, I Don’t Know Why I Love You and of course, My Girl are all included
June 24th, 2005 07:23 AM
Voodoo Scrounge Yeah love the old motown stuff

My mum got me into it in a big way. She was clearing the loft a while back and found all her old stuff. I comandered it.

Gladys Knight and the Pips Midnight train to Georgia is my favourite
June 24th, 2005 11:37 AM
glencar I have a ton of the stuff. I ahven't played it in a while & the second post here lists a collection I'd like to get...
June 24th, 2005 11:40 AM
Gazza
quote:
Honky Tonk Man wrote:
I recently purchased Tamla Motown Gold and I'm absolutely loving it. Any other Motown fans here?



most definitely.
June 24th, 2005 12:33 PM
Honky Tonk Man I have CD 1 blasting through my speakers now. It's phenomenal stuff. My goodness, five years ago I'd of been embarrassed to admit to liking this music!
June 24th, 2005 07:34 PM
stonedinaustralia glad you loving it so much HTM - it is truly phenomenal stuff - welcome to the appreciation society

i'm not one for the rock and roll hall of fame but IMHO Florence Ballard (she of the Supremes) should have an entire wing named after her - devoted to all those great talents who were ripped off or never received the recognition they deserved

the Temptations RULE, OK!!

and HTM if you have 25x5 check it out for the brief clip of Smokey Robinson live (at the Apollo??)








[Edited by stonedinaustralia]
June 25th, 2005 05:46 AM
Honky Tonk Man
quote:
stonedinaustralia wrote:
and HTM if you have 25x5 check it out for the brief clip of Smokey Robinson live (at the Apollo??)
[Edited by stonedinaustralia]




I know the clip you mean. They are performing You Really Got A Hold On Me.

I'm in agreement about Florence Ballard. She formed the Supremes and was they're lead singer, until someone decided Diana Ross should be. Was the reason for this ever explained?
June 25th, 2005 06:30 AM
corgi37 Boys, i have only recently really got into motown. I've always liked some tracks, but have just got hooked big time. A few months back, the 4 tops were on Letterman. They did "I'll be there". I know the song, of course. ANyway, i was on this here computer when i heard it. I got off, watched them, and downloaded about 25 songs in the next few days.

Those guys, and gals, had real style. Real class. Some of the stuff is dated a bit, but i just love chilling out listening to that stuff. Believe me, apart from my Stoneys, having a few beers (or ice cold vodkas), sitting in my deck chair, watching my babies destroy my house, and catching a side on glance of my wifes tits is the most perfect way to spend a sunny Sunday.

I am a Temptations man.
June 25th, 2005 06:55 AM
Honky Tonk Man
quote:
corgi37 wrote:
I am a Temptations man.



I'm not too sure if I'm digging The Temptations yet. At the moment I'm more of a Four Tops and Supremes man myself. I also quite like some of the Stevie Wonder stuff. I must be honest; I thought his music was kind of gay before I embraced Motown. All that I Just Called To Say I Love You and Ebony And Ivory nonsense.

Corgi, you really should just go out and buy Tamla Motown Gold. It's the best introduction bar none.
June 25th, 2005 07:02 AM
BillyBoll I'm a big fan too.

You can see where the Stones got the "roll" from when you listen to that stuff and the R&B that preceded it.
June 25th, 2005 07:10 AM
scratched
quote:
Honky Tonk Man wrote:
I also quite like some of the Stevie Wonder stuff.



You should invest in a copy of Inervisions by Stevie. It's absolutely mind blowing!
June 25th, 2005 11:18 AM
FPM C10 I LOVE Motown, especially the early/mid-60s stuff, and being a bass player I am of the firm opinion that James Jamerson was one of the best bassists EVER. As innovative, or more so, as Paul McCartney in terms of reinventing the role of the instrument in rock & roll.

"Standing In The Shadows of Motown" is a must-see for everyone in this thread. Yeah, all of the vocalists you mentioned were great - but the guys in their backup band were geniuses.

Hmmmm...favorites? Four Tops or Temps...it's a straight-up tie for me. I love the drama of songs like "Bernadette", "Standing in the Shadows of Love", "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", "Ball of Confusion", and "Can't Get Next To You".

Like most great music in the 60s, it seemed like Motown could just keep cranking this stuff out forever, but sadly it eventually ran out of steam. Still, it's the most amazing instance of a "Hit Factory" really working and producing pop music which came very close to being art.
June 25th, 2005 11:20 AM
Gazza Temptations for me, as my personal Motown favourites

Marvin Gaye a close second. Alex, go out next and buy "What's Goin' On".

Stevie Wonder's run of 70's classic albums are up there, too.
June 25th, 2005 11:23 AM
Gazza
quote:
corgi37 wrote:
Boys, i have only recently really got into motown. I've always liked some tracks, but have just got hooked big time. A few months back, the 4 tops were on Letterman. They did "I'll be there". I know the song, of course. ANyway, i was on this here computer when i heard it. I got off , watched them, and downloaded about 25 songs in the next few days.




you were obviously very excited, then! Maybe it was the porn on your PC?
June 25th, 2005 07:12 PM
texile stevie and marvin in the early 70s are fucking sublime;
the bass on the supremes' love is here, and now you're gone is unbelievable........
and smoky's tears of a clown?
the heavy bass and bottom on that song .....
priceless.
June 25th, 2005 07:58 PM
FPM C10
quote:
texile wrote:
stevie and marvin in the early 70s are fucking sublime;
the bass on the supremes' love is here, and now you're gone is unbelievable........
and smoky's tears of a clown?
the heavy bass and bottom on that song .....
priceless.




Just the way all of those songs are put together is what kills me - they're symphonic.

Stevie was a different story, because he mostly played everything, didn't he? I'm nuts about the stuff the Funk Brothers played on. That stuff is sheer genius.

The guy who played tambourine was a freakin' genius, too! If you listen to some of those songs, the tambourine is a lead instrument!
June 25th, 2005 08:59 PM
texile yes.
they were PRODUCTIONS - immaculate productions with everything going on in a thousand different directions....
i always loved the earthy grittiness of stax - so it took me awhile to appreciate what made motwon so great;
another great bassline: reflections;
and what about the four tops and supremes background vocal riffs?
makes me proud to be american!
June 25th, 2005 09:05 PM
Bloozehound love the motown myself, for the money you can't go wrong with marvin gaye or the supremes, cream o the crop, but it's all good

I've always been a big fan of spector's ronnettes too, not sure if they're real motown or just girl group though

June 25th, 2005 09:10 PM
texile love the ronettes, but i always thought brian wilson did the "wall of sound" thing better than spector.....
listen to wouldn't it be nice and try to locate ONE instrument.....fucking genius.
June 25th, 2005 10:14 PM
Nasty Habits I love the Temptations dearly, but they are second in my heart - first and foremost among the citizens of Motown are the glorious Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

This here is one of the finest live albums in history:



I'm also very fond of the Marvelettes, who may not have beat the Supremes for talent but exceeded them in R & B guts. "Strange I Know" is just a great, great song.

June 25th, 2005 10:28 PM
scratched
quote:
Bloozehound wrote:
I've always been a big fan of spector's ronnettes too, not sure if they're real motown or just girl group though



They're not Motown but another scene entirely. Phil Spector had his own acts on is own label, 'Philles', including acts such as The Ronnettes, The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx & Blue Jeans, The Righteous Brothers, Lenny Bruce, and Ike And Tina Turner.

Good collections to get are 'Phil Spector's Christmas Album' or 'Back to Mono 1958-1969'
[Edited by scratched]
June 26th, 2005 12:12 AM
Stonesthrow In the 1968-69 season, my junior college basketball team used to blast Marvin Gaye's Grapevine and Cloud Nine by the Temps during their warm ups before the games. They didn't lose a home game, and they finished 5th in the country that year. It must have been the music. It may not have hurt that one of the players went on the play in the NBA.

June 26th, 2005 01:09 AM
texile there's just something timeless about motown and .....comforting;
and nasty, smoky was an amazing lyricist....
but i love the holland/dozier/holland grooves.


June 26th, 2005 11:38 AM
corgi37 Gazza, if i could be insulted, i would be by your crass comment.

All the porn is on my OTHER computer!

Still, glad to see you are a Temptations man.

Hey, is there a Motown rivalry? You know, like Beatles v Stones?

Is there a 4 tops v Temptations thing?

Vendellas V Supremes thing?

Whats goin' on?

P.S. Another killer last line from me!
June 26th, 2005 12:04 PM
Gazza
quote:
corgi37 wrote:
Gazza, if i could be insulted, i would be by your crass comment.

Whats goin' on?

P.S. Another killer last line from me!







"Let's Get It On!"


right back atcha!
[Edited by Gazza]
June 26th, 2005 03:27 PM
texile
quote:
corgi37 wrote:
Gazza, if i could be insulted, i would be by your crass comment.

All the porn is on my OTHER computer!

Still, glad to see you are a Temptations man.

Hey, is there a Motown rivalry? You know, like Beatles v Stones?

Is there a 4 tops v Temptations thing?

Vendellas V Supremes thing?




yeah - i'm sure;
some people prefer the more polished temps sound, but levi stubbs had that great big, gritty voice
and alot of people prefer martha to to diana's whispery voice, but i bet to differ....her voice made those songs so sweet - but........diana could really smolder on stuff like reflections, now you're here - she'd surprise you and that's always interesting.
June 27th, 2005 04:12 AM
Prodigal Son Hey HTM, nice to see you around (as I don't do that much these days). Motown is amazing kick-ass stuff. I've got double-disc anthologies for the Miracles, Temptations, Supremes, Marvin Gaye (as well as his albums What's Going on and Let's Get it on) as well as collections of hit singles spanning 1959-92 (okay, it pretty much turns into a suckfest of Commodores, Boyz II Men, etc. with highlights being Rick James after 1978).

These discs have approx. 40-50 songs each, all the singles, very little fluff. The Funk Bros. were such a kick ass band. I've got Stevie Wonder greatest hits, vol. 1 and 2 not to mention his great solo albums from 1972-80 (not Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, of course). I also have ultimate collection discs of the Four Tops, Gladys Knights and the Pips (as opposed to other Motown luminaries, they just got better as they went along and even had some great tunes after leaving Motown in 1973), Jr. Walker and the All-Stars (a funky soul alternative who would've fit in perfectly with Stax Records, and despite a career change in 1969 to a more mellow adult sound, they were still good), and The Jackson Five (nuff said).

The anthologies are good but lack some definitive stuff that these triple-disc anthologies on vinyl from 1973 had. For each Motown giant, I'll list my favourite tracks to give some insight.
Supremes: Early phase of 1963-67, "You Keep Me Hangin' on," and "Love is Here and Now You're Gone" 1968-72 phase, not such a strong period but "Love Child" and "Stoned Love" top the list for me.

Four Tops: Early phase 1964-68, hard to choose but "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Bernadette" are the most harrowing, epic masterpieces R&B ever produced and it didn't even need horns, wah-wah guitar and a big drum beat to do so. From 1968-72, I'd say they were the greatest Motown group if only they didn't start becoming lame after 1968-but "Still Water (Love)" and "It's All in the Game" are gorgeous.

Temptations: Both phases were strong for them but I prefer the classic R&B side from 1962-68 and "I Know (I'm Losing You)" and "My Girl" are the best of a strong bunch while for 1969-75 I think "Papa Was a Rolling Stone and "Just My Imagination" are no-brainers.

Miracles: My favourite Motown group. Wow, Smokey was the most talented singer, songwriter and lyricist Motown ever had. The post-Smokey (1972) Miracles don't factor in despite that funky shit "Love Machine." From 1958-65, "The Tracks of My Tears" and "Mickey's Monkey" are top notch. From the weaker but underrated 1966-72 era I absolutely love "I Second That Emotion" and "Baby Baby Don't Cry."

Gladys Knight/Pips: Their 1966-69 period was gritty, greasy R&B and their cut of "Grapevine" and "Friendship Train" kick major ass. The smoother 1970-73 period has two of the greatest R&B love songs ever, "If I Were Your Woman" and "Neither One of us." Puts that no good Isaac Hayes to shame.

Jr. Walker/All-Stars: If you like the Stones, you'll love the party music of this band. Jr. Walker was an alright singer, but his sax did the real wailing. They're bluesy and soulful like the early Stones. In their dance floor days of 1964-68, "Shotgun" and "Cleo's Mood" are great. From the more sweet soul of 1969-72, "What Does it Take" and "Gotta Hold onto This Feeling" are the prime cuts.

Marvin Gaye: He also did a lot of duets, many of which are classic. Almost all his duets with Tammi Terrell are legendary. On Motown from 1961-81, I'd give him three eras. The straight-up Motown dance sound was his calling card from 1961-67 and "Ain't That Peculiar" and "Can I Get a Witness?" are my faves and for his duets, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "If This World Were Mine" with Terrell were the best. From 1968-74 his music morphed from a more dark, brooding sound to a completely new one starting with What's Going on where he won his artistic independence from Motown's hitmaking machine which had run dry for him by 1970. But in this time "Mercy Mercy Me" and his version of "Grapevine" are my preferences and as for the duets, "You're All I Need to Get By" and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" with Terrell, were amazing. For his more subdued, depressed 1975-81 period, "Got to Give it Up" and "I Want You" rank as the best.

Stevie Wonder: His 70s work is so sprawling, it's better to review his pre-1972 days. In his years of being a teen idol from 1963-67, his best two were easily "Uptight" and "I Was Made to Love Her." From 1968-72, he experimented a lot more and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and "If You Really Love Me" are my favourites.

Jackson 5: They were with Motown for merely 7 years, but in their early days were just gold. From 1969-72, "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "I Want You Back" are the best while "Dancing Machine" was the only real five-star track from 1973-76.
There's my overview for y'all.
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