Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Jermaine Jackson – That’s How Love Goes (1972) #23 R&B, #46 Billboard Top 200
MJJ was not the only Jackson 5 brother to go the Motown solo route. Naturally middle brother Jermaine, who was also Berry Gordy’s son-in-law and was initially the lead singer of the J5, had his first solo album release in 1972 simply titled “Jermaine.”
At the time, Jermaine was my favorite brother and I sat and listened to this LP over and over again in my bedroom while looking at photos of Jermaine on my bedroom walls that I had cut out from the teen magazine “Right On!” (LOL).
Ah – those were indeed the good old days!
“THLG” was a hit single for Jermaine. But of course I loved and knew the entire LP by heart and am listening to it and singing along as I compose this post. Every single song is great!
Written by Johnny Bristol, Wade Bowen and D. Jones “THLG” is an upbeat tune that is one of the best tracks on the LP. There are a lot of slow ballads on the LP, which are nice, but I prefer Jermaine doing the uptempo tunes.
Makes one wonder what stopped Jermaine from making records. There is no reason that Jermanie could not have had a great career in music if he so desired and put the work in. Frankly I don’t understand why he chose not to persue his career and let MJJ have all the glory — but I have no way of knowing what was in his mind.
Musically yours,
Filed under: Jermaine Jackson, Johnny Bristol/Harvey Fuqua/Sylvia Moy, Magnificent Male Vocalists, Motown, Pop/R&B, R&B/Motown, Seventies, That's How Love Goes
[audio http://boxstr.com/files/5191415_q1ymg/09%20-%20These%20Things%20Will%20Keep%20Me%20.mp3] The Velvelettes – These Things Will Keep Me Loving You (1966) #43 R&B
Happy month of May music lovers. May brings the bright and breezy sound of Girl Groups back to the OSML blog. This year all of the Girl Groups presented will be from the Motown family in honor of the year of Motown50 – 2009!
So let’s get started with one of the first Motown girl groups – The Velvelettes!
This young girl group already had two hits on the Motown/VIP label — “Needle In A Haystack” in 1964 and “He Was Really Saying Something” in 1965.
“These Things Will Keep Me Loving You,” composed by Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua and Sylvia Moy and released on the Motown/Soul label on October 27, 1966, would unfortunately be Velvelettes third and final single. The low chart performance of the song prompted Motown to drop any plans for an album of music by the girls. Looking back — this seems so unfair since “The N0-Hit Supremes” were allowed to hang around Motown hitless for many years before their success came: but don’t let me get started on THAT!
Back on topic — The Velvelettes remained in college and eventually disbanded in late 1969 – the same year that member Cal Gil married then Motown employee and future Temptation Richard Street.
The story of who the girls are how they came together as a group is most fascinating. Rather than give you a rehash you may get the story straight from the ladies at their official Web Site here.
Trivia: Does the song have a holiday flavor to it? Listen again. The melody was from a public domain Christmas tune. LOL But that’s OK because the instrumentation is pure Motown Funk Brothers! Right? Right On!
More Trivia. Lead singer Cal Gil was only 14 when she was brought into the group! How’s that for being young, gifted and black! at one point near the end of the group’s first tenure, Cal was the only original group member until they disbanded soon after being dropped from Motown. The group did reform in the eighties and a version is still performing today.
Musically Yours,
Filed under: Girl Groups, Johnny Bristol/Harvey Fuqua/Sylvia Moy, Motown/Soul, Pop/R&B, R&B/Motown, Sixties, The Velvelettes, These Things Will Keep Me Loving You
