The Undisputed Truth - Face To Face With The Truth (1972)

 

You have to have this.

Norman Whitfield at his very best - giving this his second string his full attention and reinventing some Motown classics in his own way as a result.  This is Motown as soul not pop but the benefit is obvious.  The man reinvented the label after Holland Dozier Holland defected in my view - not that he wasn't succesful beforehand.

 

The stand out here is the slow burn of "What's Going On" (worth it for the really crying guitar track alone)  - how can anyone do this within a year of MPG and still deliver a definitive version.  Brave or just darn mad? but so good.  Other songs are familiar in name but differ in arrangement "Take Me In Your Arms" beautiful; "Heaven and Hell Right Here On Earth" poignant; "What It Is" a funky workout; "Superstar" surpasses Norman's take with the Temps (and for me that's saying something special).

 

You've got to have this record

Thank God It's Friday (1978)

This seems to have got better with age - a poor movie strung together with a few hits, some no hope tracks and some decent stuff.  A Casablanca double album with an additional 12" single of Donna Summer doing J'Taime (Moi Non Plus)  produced by her aces Moroder and Bellotte.  Other highlights are Natural Juices Floyd's Theme, Summer's stand alone hit "Last Dance" and Paul Jabara's pop hit "Trapped In A Stairway".  I have to say the billing for the movie as the next "Fever" was overdone but Casablanca still shifted van loads of this - swelling their ever draining funds (a complete other story - well documented in Larry Harris' label history "And Party Everyday").  Canny label heads got together with Gordy's Motown to co-produce the film, licensing hit tracks from Diana Ross, Thelma Houston and the Commodores to boost the set but basically the two and a half LPs were a stretch and a shorter highlights could have been a better seller.  The film is dire - watch it when wide awake or wanting of sleep!

Donna Summer RIP

Marvin Gaye Live At The London Palladium (1977)

This is from the later dates added to the original tour of Sepember 1976.  I was lucky enough to attend the first gig at the Royal Albert Hall and so this has a special importance for me (see Review). This represents the last tour Marvin made in the UK.  It was just before his exile to Belgium and subsequent return to the top of the charts with "Sexual Healing" and his eventual return home to the USA - their were a couple of tours stateside after this.

The album runs the career of Marvin through his original solo hit; his duets period and the later, more mature "What's Going On" through "I Want You " albums.  The live set fills three of the four sides here with the the final side gien over to a full length version of the later hit "Got To Give It Up".

the full tracklisting is:-

1. Intro

2. All The Way 'round

3. Since I Had You

4. Come Get To This

5. Let's Get It On

6. Trouble Man

7. Medley #1

Ain't That Peculiar/Wonderful One/

Stubborn Kind Of Fellow/Pride and Joy/

Little Darling/Grapevine/Hitchhike/

You/Too Busy Thinking 'Bout May Baby/

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

8. Medley #2

Inner City Blues/God Is Love/What's Going On/Save The Children

9. Medley #3 (with Florence Lyles)

You're All I Need To Get By/Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing/

Your Precious Love/It Takes Two/Ain't No Mountain High Enough

10. Distant Lover

11. Closing Theme

12. Got To Give It Up (studio 11'.54")

It is a good live album, a good record of a long and varied career and with a whopping bonus of the studio track - a worthwhile find.

This was released as a double album in 1977 and

then as a single CD in 1986 (orginal number ZD 72213) - the art was scanned of the Cd

The Persuasions - "More Than Before" (1974)

Tracked down one of my long lost favourites both as a 7" single and as a track on this album. Awful artwork! Good Music!  This includes a "Live Side" with covers of Bobby Womack and Temptations songs together with a studio side where they finally used instruments to (to quote the cover) add " a little instrumental colouring".

US Copy A+M - AMLS 63635

for more about my search for this go to BoyRed's Lost And Found - Persuasions

Bruce Willis - The Return Of Bruno (year)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

You know what? This ain't half bad!

My last days at RCA saw the release of this album and two hit singles from cover versions of "Respect Yourself" and "Under The Boardwalk". He has a fair voice although the hype that surrounded this pushed him above similar talents i'm sure - but he got to play with his heroes in Bonnie Pointer and the Temptations on the two tracks above so who can blame him - the results are pretty good for a second jobber.  I like the track "Comin' Right Up".  Released with the persona of Bruno - the everyman turned soul singer - this milked his fame from Moonlighting and Die Hard.

Produced by Robert Kraft

This is a USA orginal Cat No: 6222ML (this is the copy I used to orginate the CD Cover for the release which was shelved before issue and after my departure)

The CD is now available through Amazon.

45Cat link to Singles Released - http://www.45cat.com/artist/bruce-willis

The Jazz Crusaders - Old Socks New Shoes New Socks Old Shoes (1970)

From The Lost Record Covers Club The first album from the band that would become, simply, The Crusaders.  Comprised of such talent as Joe Sample, Wayne Henderson, Stix Hooper and Wilton Felder, this is an early release on Chisa which had a distribution deal with Motown worldwide. The track "Way Back Home" written by Felder, would become a single and popular live track for Jr Walker later.  This includes the Lennon-McCartney "Golden Slumbers", Sly's "Thank You For Lettinme ..." and the standard "Rainy Night In Georgia" - in addition to other originals.  Produced by the late and really great Stewart Levine. This is a Chisa original (that has seen better days cover-wise) Cat No: CS 804 It is now available on CD on the Verve label (owned by Universal who also own Motown) Cat No: 0602517654365 (aren't bar coded numbers awful)

Syreeta (1972)

By the release of this album in June 1972 Rita Wright was the ex-wife of Stevie Wonder but they were still collaborators and, with a history of writing hits ("If You Really Love Me" and "Signed, Sealed Delivered - I'm Yours" amongst them) it was Wonder who oversaw this debut album.  This was an early release on Motown's new MoWest Label. Syreeta had sung back up on a number of hits previously and been a serious contender as Diana Ross' replacement in the Supremes.

The album is a parallel introduction the the new Wonder who, freed from Motown controls after turning 21, would go on to produce his greatest work; producing ,writing and arranging albums and not just hit singles in the Motown tradition.  Songs here  a Wonder produced version of his earlier recording, "I Love Every Little Thing About You" (from Music Of My Mind released the same year); a cover of Lennon-McCartney's "She's leaving Home" and Smokey's "What Love Has Joined Together".  The killer track for me is "To Know You Is To Love You" which is a duet with a long guitar end segment.

Bobby Darin - Darin 1936-1973 (1974)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Motown signed Darin out of the blue ealry in the 70's.  He was in a singer-songwriter phase.  Here he records "The Letter" "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" "Sail Away".  Sadly, Darin passed away in 1973 before his work for the label was completed and the album is finished off with live versions of his previous triumphs notably "Moritat (Mack The Knife)" and "If I Were A Carpenter".  I bought this as was I frustratingly trying to find the MoWest single of Fats Domino's "Blue Monday" backed with "Moritat" - an excellent buy.

US Motown - M5-185V1 (reissue)

Gary Bird & The GB Experience - The Crown (1983)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

A gem.  This is a Stevie Wonder production in every sense with GB handling the rapped vocal. The lyrics about ancient history are fairly tame and follow the flow of the early "Rapper's Delight" style.  The female vocal chorus lifts the whole track with the Stevie sung bridge showing the class of Mr Morris.  The naff sleeve comes from the video where Gary is educating his class about self worth and pride etc.  Gary Byrd is a DJ and social activist.

Motown - TMGT 1312 (12" Single)

Ramsey Lewis - The Best Of (1970)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Bought following the release of "Wade In The Water" the track that introduced Ramsey Lewis to many, this includes some wonderful versions of well known songs.  One of my favourites is "Les Fleurs" a song from the Chess label mates Rotary Connection.  Includes "Uptight" "Function At The Junction" "Dancing In The Street" from the Motown catalogue but also extends to sweeping orchestra full tracks which show the breadth of his work.  This captures the Chess stuff - he later moved to CBS where he moved into more electronics - "Spring High" being a favourite.

Worth seeking out.

Chess - 6310 114

Eddie Kendricks - Eddie Kendricks (1973)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Another early 70's Motown classic.  Kendricks made albums as a solo artist following his departure from the Temptations under the supervision of Frank Wilson (who was also looking after the Four Tops at this point).  "Keep On Truckin'" would establish Eddie in the UK and still is his signature track pop-wise here although later tracks captured the dance crowd..  This set also features "Each Day I Cry A Little" a song that builds in to a real soul classic (One of my favourite vocal performances by this ex-temp). "If You Let Me" was the lead single. Motown tried to cash in on the success of "Truckin'" by commissioning the very similar "Boogie Down" for the next single and building an album around it. 


Tamla Motown - STML 11245 (This is a US Tamla Copy - T 327L)

The Four Tops - Live! (1966)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Only a few Motown artists survived the changing face of music as the 60's rolled into the 70's. Motown had a dogged determination to hold onto the old rather than move with the times, both musically and politically.  The Four Tops, however, enjoyed a career with the label spanning through the 60's and 70's and even rejoining the label in the late 80's.

This live set shows them at the height of their 60's fame riding the Motown sound at a show in Detroit's Roostertail club.  Backed by Earl Van Dyke and his band, they perfom many of their hits including "Reach Out"; "Baby, I Need Your Loving"; "It's The Same Old Song"; Ask The Lonely" and "I Can't Help Myself" between turning to nightclub favourites like "If I Had A Hammer" "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" (This Levi Stubbs makes his own, singing "..San Diego" before commenting " I like San Diego better!").  This second group of songs may put you off as they seem really old hat now but that doesn't factor in the Tops' performance which is forceful and free of Motown "slickness" - the group making everything soulful.  It's a great show and makes you wish you could have been there in that small sweaty club seeing these major stars about to break out of Detroit to worldwide acclaim. They even get local radio emcee Scott Regan (who also writes the sleeve notes here) involved.

This is a great record (in the wider sense) of the group doing what they did best - performing live.  Why this has never been issued by Motown and it's various owners on CD who have constantly given releases to less well deserved causes I have no idea.

Tamla Motown - (S)TML 11041 (original)/This reissue WL 72114

The First Motown on CD

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

From The Lost Record Covers Club

These were the first CDs of Motown music ...ever.  For the full story of their production go to the First Motown on CD page at http://picknmixed.blogspot.com/

Kiki Dee - Kiki Dee (1974)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

MFP was known for making cheap knock off copies of the day's hits or MOR records.  Then all of a sudden in 1973/4 they started Sounds Superb a sub-label that would release budget compilations from the EMI and (here) Motown catalogues. 

Kiki Dee had been one of the first white english women (and i can't thnk of another one) signed to Motown in the late 60's.  She issued one album of staple Motown cover versions in 1970 under the supervision of Frank Wilson (yes him again).  It didn't do well but was recognised by UK Tamla Motown fans as a classic.  MFP chose this to be in the first batch of releases under the new label.  This was probably to cash in on Kiki's new found success at Elton John's Rocket Records where she had recorded such hits as "Amoureuse" "First Thing In The Morning" and "I've Got The Music In Me" much rockier than this but at last getting the recognition she deserved.

Covers of "My Whole World Ended"; "I Second That Emotion"; "I'll Try Something New" all worked well as did the stand out original "The Day Will Come Between Sunday And Monday" - great 1970 Motown in a real Tamla Motown tradition (fans will know what I mean).

These tracks have been reissued together with others that have been sitting on the shelf at the label since that time on a 2CD set.  it's worth checking out.

 

Music For Pleasure (Sounds Superb) - SPR 90030

Junior Walker And The Allstars - Moody Jr. (1971)

From The Lost Record Covers Club Yet another album success for a mainly singles act on Motown in the watershed year of 1971.  Junior Walker delivered a real set here with Clay McMurray, Harvey Fuqua and Gladys Knight lending their writing and production talents to the credits along with the man himself.  A few more tracks with more playing less singing from him but some great back up vocalists.  I recommend the title track and of course "Walk In The Night" I saw him live a number of times and he and the Allstars always put on a fast moving upbeat soul show complete with Junior trying to stay on stage (a James Brown speciality) and pulling away from the MC to go back and continue the show for the crowd - always went down a storm (even when you knew it was coming).  This isn't on CD although a number of tracks appear on (re)compilations from Motown. Tamla Motown - STML 11211 ps.  Harvey Fuqua - Walker's longtime collaborator and producer died July 2010.  A Post on his career can be found at Harvey Fuqua (1929 - 2010)

Ashford And Simpson - Love Don't Always Make It Right (1980)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Ashford and Simpson wrote some of the marvellous Motown songs that we all know, particularly for the Marvin Gaye duets with Tammi Terrell; Gladys Knight and Diana Ross.  Valerie Simpson made a couple of albums for the label but although critically acclaimed they weren't Motown's priority and therefore suffered.  Nick Ashford had been on the Motown staff from early on and had worked as writer, arranger and producer on a number of acts.  When they broke out from Motown they started at Warners and continued with the great all round package of writing, producing and performing.  They had a lot of success stateside on the RnB charts but failed to cross over both there and make any sort of impact here.  This is a typical quality track that begs the question why? I love this and the track "Flashback" from this period.  They later went global at EMI/Capitol with "Solid" which frankly really gets on my nerves!

It is said that Valerie Simpson sang some of Tammi Terrell's parts on some of the later tracks during Tammi's tragic fight against cancer.  This has never been confirmed but if anyone did then that seems a fair assumption.

Warner Bros - WB49269 (7" Single)

Eddie Kendricks - People...Hold On (1972)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

Eddie Kendricks was one of the stars of the Temptations classic line-up but left the group as Norman Whitfield moved them more towards psychedelic/symphonic soul and the band became only one ingredient of the whole production with lengthy instrumental sections coming to the fore.  He made a couple of solo albums prior to this as he was moved around styles by Motown trying to find the right one for his beautiful falsetto.  Ironically some of the tracks here are more contemporary.  With the underated Frank Wilson producing, there are some real good moments with the title track, "Date With The Rain", "Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind", "Eddie's Love" standing the test of time.  There is some filler material here and whilst those songs are not so strong I think they benefit from Eddie's vocal style and sound.  I'd recommend this.  It seems to be under the radar in the UK where he is best remembered for his Temptations tenure and the later "Keep On Trucking".

This has recently been released on in a CD set of three solo albums - which is worth it for the tracks here alone.


Tamla Motown - STML 11213 (although this is a US copy)

Various - The Motown Sound Volume 2 (1973)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

To my knowledge this series only had two volumes and both held some real gems.  This one includes songs from 1971 to 1973 which,  whilst most people point to the 60's, i see as a golden period for Motown.  This shows the new maturity of the artists, with tracks from Stevie Wonder's "Music of My Mind" Album; New sounds from ex-Temptations David Ruffin "Blood Donors Needed" and Eddie Kendricks "Girl You Need A Change Of Mind"; Syreeta "To Know You Is To Love You" and the first released songs of Valerie Simpson as a vocalist. The stand-out here has to be The Undisputed Truth's version of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" - a Whitfield classic.  This isn't available on CD but as with all Motown, every song will be avalailable on numerous compilations including Greatest Hits packages.

Tamla Motown - STML11237

The Undisputed Truth - The Undisputed Truth (1972)

From The Lost Record Covers Club

As you can clearly see this cost me £12 to repurchase a LP that I had in my collection 35 years ago (cost £1.60) - the pain was it took an age to find - worth it though  -  this is Whitfield at the height of his powers.  Check out the psychedelic soul of "Ball Of Confusion" a great example of Whitfield/Strong pushing the boundaries.  You can also see the Sly Stone influence.

Tamla Motown - STML 11197