OSML welcomes 2012 by posting about Motown Covering Pop Tunes.
Enjoy your visit.
In 1973 the band Stories, had a massive hit state side with “Brother Louie,” on Karma Sutra records. This song was everywhere and I loved it. Check out this live performance above, featuring Ian Lloyd on lead vocal, from the “Midnight Special” television concert series. I remember this well.
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#1 Pop, #22 R&B (1973)
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It wasn’t until I started preparing this post last week, that I discovered that Stories’ “Brother Louie” track was a cover of a song by the British Soul/Pop Band Hot Chocolate (pictured above). “Stories” had released their hit cover about six months after Hot Chocolate’s original was released and became a hit in the UK.
I knew of Hot Chocolate – but not until their 1976 smash hit “You Sexy Thing” (one of my Dad’s favorite pop songs BTW!). I made it a point to search out the Hot Chocolate original version of this song about interracial love — and it turned out to be even is more soulful and funky than the original!
The song was written by HC group members Errol Brown and Tony Wilson.
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And now for the reason for this post — this month’s theme for posts will be Motown Covers Pop! As you probably know, Motown wrote most of their hits at their very own “Hit Factory” that were then published through Gordy’s Jobete. That made cover tunes something of a rarity. But sometimes a song was so good that cover tunes were made and The Undisputed Truth’s 1974 cover version of “Brother Louie” is what this post is all about! The song appeared on their LP “Down To Earth” that charted #16 R&B and #114 Pop.
“Brother Louie” By Errol Brown & Tony Wilson
She was black as the night
Louie was whiter than white
Danger, danger when you taste brown sugar
Louie fell in love overnight
Nothing bad, it was good
Louie had the best girl he could
When he took her home
To meet his mama and papa
Louie knew just where he stood
Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you’re gonna cry
[Instrumental Interlude]
There he stood in the night
Knowing what’s wrong from what’s right
He took her home to meet his mama and papa
Man, he had a terrible fright
Louie nearly caused a scene
Wishin’ it was a dream
Ain’t no diff’rence if you’re black or white
Brothers, you know what I mean
Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you’re gonna cry
[Instrumental Interlude]
Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you’re gonna cry
Louie Louie Louie, Louie
Louie Louie Louie Louie Lou-I
Louie Louie Louie
Louie Louie you’re gonna cry
Now that you have listened to all three — you know the drill . Let’s compare favorites!
Musically Yours,
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Filed under:Bands,British Invasion,British Invasion/ R&B - Pop,Brother Louie,Erroll Brown & Tony WIlson,Hot Chocolate,Motown Covers Pop,Pop/R&B,R&B/Motown,Seventies,Stories,The Undisputed Truth
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#8 Pop
The beautiful love song, “If I Were A Carpenter,” became a smash hit single when covered by Bronx born and bred Walden Robert Cassotto, who you probably know as Bobby Darin. Darin’s song appeared on his LP of the same name, released in December 1966 on the Atlantic Records label.
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I say Bobby Darin covered IIWAC, but perhaps that is the wrong terminology since the song writer, Tim Harden, also recorded the song and it appeared on the singer/songwriter’s second studio album released in April 1967 (on the Verve Forecast label) AFTER Darrin’s release. Of course I don’t know exactly when Hardin wrote and/or recorded the song. If any reader out there knows please write in.
TRIVIA: Did you know that Tim sang “If I Were a Carpenter” at Woodstock in 1969? He did. Check it out.
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In 1968 the song charted #17 R&B, #20 Pop
Subsequently this ballad has been covered by, literally, hundreds of artists and one of those was the Four Tops of Motown, with the stunning voice of Levi Stubbs on lease vocal. The Tops’ IIWAC cover appeared on their July 1967 release, the LP “Reach Out.” “Reach Out” contained both Motown originals and some great pop covers including “Walk Away Rene” and “If I Were A Carpenter.” Both of these tracks of big favorites of mine.
There is not else to much to say about Levi and The Tops other than every thing I have ever heard by these gentlemen has been suberb. Levi Stubb’s voice was one of a kind IMHO. R.I.P. Mr. Stubbs.
Uploaded by jimaluko on Nov 5, 2006
This is from a TV special recorded 9 months before Bobby Darin’s death at age 37. He jokes around and then sings a spellbinding version of “If I Were a Carpenter.”
I’d like to close with this tender live performance by Darrin that I found on YouTube. Before I even checked YT, I just knew I would find plenty of vintage live performances of this tune by Darin because I remember seeing him perform this song on just about every variety show of the era. I think you will especially enjoy this one. 
Musically Yours,
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Filed under:Atlantic,Bobby Darrin,Guy Groups,If I Were A Carpenter,Magnificent Male Vocalists,Motown,Motown Covers Pop,Pop/Folk,Pop/R&B,Sixties,The Four Tops,Tim Hardin,Tim Hardin Composer,Verve
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Struggling songwriter Kris Kristofferson composed and subsequently recorded this beautiful love ballad in 1969, on the Monument Label, after singer Dottie West turned the song down. The tune appeared on his first 1970 LP entitled “Kristofferson.” The LP was re-released in 19971 under the title “Me & Bobby McGee” after Janis Joplin had her huge hit with the Kristofferson penned song by the same name — and the rest is musical history!
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R&B #13
Many, many other artists have recorded this country/pop song, including the then Motown act Gladys Knight & The Pips. This is basically a solo performance by Gladys that appeared on the GKATP 1971 LP entitled “Standing Ovation.” “Standing Ovation” was #11 R&B and #60 Pop on the Album charts in 1972.
So now that you have listened to the original and a cover out of Motown, I want to know, out of the literally hundreds of covers of “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” which is your favorite?
I can’t pick just one: I love Gladys Knight’s cover AND Willie Nelson‘s cover AND Nora Jones‘ cover.
This classic song spans generations and will continue to do so.
So tell me you favorite: the comment section awaits you.
Musically Yours.
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Filed under:Country Pop,Country Soul,Fabulous Female Vocalists,Gladys Knight & the Pips,Kris Kristofferson,Kris Kristofferson Composer,Magnificent Male Vocalists,Monument,Motown Covers Pop,Motown/Soul,R&B/Motown,Seventies,Sixties
