Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland compositions, as performed by the Funk Brothers, are a major part of the “Motown Sound” and this song is no exception.
I will just let you listen to all of these renditions by the Motown artists and let you hear for yourself. This is Classic Motown at it’s best IMHO.
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#9 R&B, #50 Pop
First here is the extended version by the very under-rated and so often over -looked Elgins. This 1966 hit is my favorite!
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And this version of “Heaven Must Have Sent You” is the Funk Brothers with The Andantes on vocals. For those of you that don’t know — this is the Motown “House Band” and the “House Backup Singers”
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This Supremes rendition comes from my 2000 Box Set Bonus Disc (Now OOP). Since I have digitized most of my music collection I don’t have the Box Set Booklet at my fingertips, but I will eventually locate it and see if it has a recording date for this tune and update this post accordingly.
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Naturally Bonnie Pointer’s first Motown LP released in 1978, produced by her husband Jeffrey Bowen, had the required Jobete published cover tunes, but this one was given a “Disco” flavor to update it to the then current sound of pop music. It was actually quite successful in 1979.
Now it is time for your opinion readers. Pick you fave and tell us why in the comments section.
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Kim Weston – Helpless (1968) #13 R&B, #56 Billboard Top 100
From the very first tambourine shake, any Motown fan will tell you that this song is pure HDH (Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland/Brian Holland). I loved it then and I love it now.
This was Kim’s second solo hit during here short tenure at Motown. So you see she wasn’t just another Marvin Gaye Duet Partner — although she did that very, very well as “Take Two Plus” proves.
The Motown label had so many talented artists that never became superstars like Lady Ross and this post is just my small way to remind the world about these wonderful ladies that should never be forgotten.
Looking forward to sharing some of my favorite songs this month by some more of Motown’s great and often overlooked female artists so stay tuned.
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The Elgins – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) (1966)
Marvin Gaye originally released the song in 1965 and had a chart buster on it in 1965. Of course to reap the benefits of Gaye’s success there were many covers of the song released to try for more hits on the track.
The Elgins made a great cover of HSIITBLBY — don’t you agree? Hard to believe that the following year (1967) this great group disbanded.
I had a post last year on the Motown versions of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) ” made from 1964 – 1966. In it I mentioned there was one Motown cover of the song, by the Elgins, that I did not have a digital version of to share with you at the time.
I always keeps my promises (maybe latter than earlier) so here is the Elgins version and a poll so that you can finally select your favorite version of this awesome tune.
To refresh your memory here is the link to the original posting from 1/1/08 right here so that you can listen again to the other three versions before you vote.
I am so looking forward to seeing what the results of the poll will be so please vote.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]The Elgins – Darling Baby (1966) #4 R&B, #72 Pop The Elgins came about from a merger of Motown/Tamla artists Saundra Mallett and The Downbeats. It took three years before the group’s first single, “Darling Baby,” was released on the Motown/VIP label. With a little more promotion I am [...]
[Audio clip: view full post to listen] The Isley Brothers – I Guess I’ll Always Love You (1966) #31 R&B, #61 Pop This is not only my favorite song from the Isleys first of three LPs they made at Motown, but one of my favorites of their entire career at Motown and beyond. Ron Isley [...]
[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Martha & The Vandellas – I’m Ready For Love (1966) #2 R&B, #9 Pop Ok, so now I must move on from the Marvelettes. I have been singing their tunes ever since I first posted about them last week so now I have this particular tune of this [...]
Here are The Supremes are singing their 1965 #1 USA & #7 UK hit single. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] The Supremes — Stop In The Name of Love (Alternate) (1965) And here is an alternate version of the song from my cherished, now oop, Import Supremes Limited Edition Box Set of 200o. [...]
