From the category archives:

Pop/R&B

“Oh How Happy” Performed by Shades of Blue (1966), Edwin & Blinky (1969) & The Jackson 5 (1971)

March 11, 2010 · 0 comments

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#12 Billboard Top 100, #16 R&B Singles Chart

In 1961 a group of Detroit high school students   formed a singing group called the Domingos who naturally patterned their sound after Motown.  When another local group suggested they audition for RicTic Records (home of the Flaming Ember(s) and the Reflections and eventually purchased by Motown) they hung around the studio and stated singing with Edwin Starr who had a partially written song and the result was “Oh How Happy” recorded for The Golden World Label.

An independent producer liked what he heard and gave the soulful singers a new name and took them to  Impact Records where  “OHH” was recorded and became a  hit in 1966! The group soon broke up in 1970.

More historical detail on the blue-eyed soul group can be found here at this well done web site.

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#92 Billboard Hot 100

“Just We Two” , a 1969 Motown LP of duets by Edwin Starr and Blinky (Sandra Williams) contains their cover version of the classic.

Composed by Charles Hatcher,  this feel-good classic is another tune I have always loved  both when the original came out in 1966, when Edwin & Blinky’s cover came out,   and then later when the J5 cover came out, with my then love Jermaine singing lead. :-)   Of course MJJ’s background harmonizing and Tito’s bass is awesome too. Just listen and I bet you will agree. Here it is  as it appears on the J5’s 1971 “Third Album.”

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Please vote and share your favorite version of this song. I know I went off the Theme a bit by sharing covers of the original by the Blue Eyed Soul Artist being recognized — but I just love the song in all incarnations and wanted to share my joy. Hope you don’t mind.

Trivia: Even thought the group helped to create this classic, often covered hit song, they never got the writing credit they deserved. The record was credited solely to Charles Hatcher — the birth name of Edwin Starr!

Musically Yours,

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Filed under: Blue Eyed Soul, Charles Hatcher aka Edwin Starr, Co-ed Vocal Groups, Dynamic Duos (Duets), Edwin & Blinky, Guy Groups, Impact, Motown, Oh How Happy, One Hit Wonder, Pop/R&B, Seventies, Shades of Blue, Sixties, The Jackson Five

“Spinning Wheel” Performed by “Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969)

March 8, 2010 · 0 comments

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#1 Adult Contemporary, #2 Billboard Top 100, #45 R&B Singles

This song was very, very popular when I was in high school -- loved it then and now! Whenever I hear it it takes me back to those carefree days!

This song is from second LP released by the Al Kooper formed rock band ‘Blood Sweat and Tears’ that earned the group the 1969 Grammy for Album of the year. Entitled “Blood, Sweat and Tears” the group had added four new members since their debut LP and this no doubt pushed them to the next level since one of those four new members was the extraordinary soulful voice of new member and lead singer Canadian David Clayton Thomas!

Born David Henry Thomsett in the UK, Clayton-Thomas wrote the song “Spinning Wheel” which was one of three hit singles from this  award winning, now classic IMHO, LP. The song also won the 1969 Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best Background Arrangement for Fred Lipsius.

The LP charted #1 Billboard top 100 albums and #15 Billboard R&B albums.

According to WIKI:

In 2002, the album was honoured with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Clayton-Thomas left the band twice, but he was still touring with a reconstituted Blood, Sweat & Tears through 2004.

Clayton-Thomas was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996. In January, 2006, the song “Spinning Wheel” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Clayton- Thomas is still performing and touring today. His schedule can be found on his My Space Profile and his Official Website which also contains historical/biographical  information for your review.

Trivia: The third single to chart from this LP was the cover of the 1967 hit for Motown’s Brenda Holloway — “You Made Me So Very Happy.”  Composed by Berry Gordy, Jr., Patrice Holloway, Brenda Holloway and Frank Wilson,  the David Clayton-Thomas led version is simply awesome.  I loved it the first time I heard it.

I recall in an interview many years ago reading that Holloway was credited with saying that Clayton’s soulful version is how it was meant to be -- not the watered down version  Gordy had her release : she loved it!

BTW — has anyone seen In Concert: A Musical Biography? I was thinking of buying it.

Musically Yours,

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Filed under: Bands, Blood Sweat & Tears, Blue Eyed Soul, Columbia, David Clayton-Thomas, Grammy Gold, Pop/R&B, Sixties, Spinning Wheel

“Girl Watcher” Performed By The O’Kaysions (1968)

March 4, 2010 · 0 comments

Photo Source: www.okaysions.com

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This has got to be one of my all time favorite songs from the Sixites period. It was also one of my Dad’s favorites. I have no clue what it is about it that just clicked for us both, but it did then and still does for me.

As much as I loved the tune I never knew it was a Blue Eyed Soul cut until just a few years ago thanks to the Internet. ;-) Check out the official site of the Original O’Kaysions for a short biography.

Written by Ronald Killette and band member Wayne Pittman, this single by the North Carolina group, charted #6 R&B and #5 Pop in 1968 for ABC Records.

Trivia: The group, known as The Kays in 1967, has previously recorded this song for a local label in North Carolina before joining ABC  Records and changing their name to The O’Kaysions.

Musically Yours,

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Filed under: ABC Records, Bands, Blue Eyed Soul, Girl Watcher, Pop/R&B, Ronald Killette & Wayne Pittman, Sixties, The O'Kaysions

“Westbound #9″ Performed by Flaming Ember (1970)

March 1, 2010 · 0 comments

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24 Pop 15 R&B

This blast from my high school past was (and still is)  the perfect song to do the “Temptation Walk” to.  Can you dig it? :-)

Composed by Daphne Dumas, Ronald Dunbar and Edith Wayne, the tune   “Westbound #9″ was recorded on the band’s Hot Wax label which was owned by Holland, Dozier and Holland formerly of Motown.

The band had first recorded for the Ric Tic label (distributed by Buddah)  as the Flaming Embers, before dropping the “s” and joining Hot Wax.

The band members included Jerry Plunk on drums and lead vocals; Joe Sladich on guitar; Bill Ellis on keyboards; Jim Bugnel on bass guitar (replaced Mike Jackson in 1966);  and Larry Gregg on drums.

The group, hailing from Detroit,  later changed its name to ” Mind, Body and Soul” and continued to play in and around Detroit during the Seventies.

Trivia: When Ric Tic was purchased by Berry Gordy, he did not want the Embers as part of the package — so it just goes to show you that Mr. Gordy did not always make the correct decision now did he?   ;-)

Here is the group performing their biggest hit for as long as it lasts on YouTube. Enjoy!

Musically Yours,

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Filed under: Bands, Blue Eyed Soul, Daphne Dumas/Ronald Dunbar/Edith Wayne, Flaming Ember, Hot Wax, Pop/R&B, R&B/Soul, Seventies, Westbound #9

“It’s Your Thing” Performed By The Isley Brothers (1969)

February 25, 2010 · 0 comments

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There are  more 1969 Grammy Awards left  to discuss then there is month left in February  :-) .

I had a hard time deciding which award winning song to close the month out with, but finally decided on one of my favorite dance tunes of the Sixties -sung by one of my favorite tenors of all time — The Isley Brothers “It’s Your Thing”  which won the 1969 Grammy for Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance By a Group or Duo.

The brothers had been around as a gospel quartet ever since the fifties.  The group was made up of brother Ronald Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Vernon Isley. When Vernon passed  after a bicycle accident in 1955,  Ronald became the new lead singer.

From the RCA label with their soulful sounds (“the classics “Shout” and “Twist & Shout”),  to their own label T-Neck, to Motown’s Tamla label, and finally back to T-neck the brothers had their hard-knocks on the road to  Grammy Gold.

Like many others in the Motown stable, The Isley Brothers were tired of the neglect they received at Motown while Gordy concentrated on making The Supremes, The Temptations and Diane Ross the superstars of the label.

They were released from their contract and almost immediately the brothers co-wrote “It’s Your Thing” and released it on their own T-Neck label.  The funky “IYT” topped the R&B charts at #1 and the Billboard Top 100 at #2 , then went on the win the first Grammy Award for any former Motown artist.

Everyone covered the song including many Motown artists.  I am especially partial to The Temptations’ psychedelic cover: the vocals harmonies are awesome! The J5 version is pretty great too IMHO. Check them out right now and let me know what you think.

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The Temptations 1960 cover version

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This is the original vocal from the J5 cover but it is a current extended Remix that I have been listening to a lot lately. Hope you enjoy it.

Trivia. This is the first song on which the then 17 yr old, baby brother,  Ernie Isley,  played bass on a song. Of course brother Ernie would go on to become an integral part of the third generation Isley Brothers renamed  Isley Brothers 3 +3 — one of the most successful self contained family funk units of the seventies.

The Isley Brothers first charted in 1959 with “Shout -- Part 1″ ( #47 billboard top 100)

The Isley Brothers next appearance on the music charts was in 1962 with  “Shout -- Part 1″ (#94 Billboard top 100)

Musically Yours,

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Filed under: Grammy Gold, Guy Groups, It's Your Thing, Motown, Motown Covers Pop, Pop/R&B, Pop/Soul, R&B/Motown, R&B/Soul, Ronald Isley/ O'Kelly Isley Jr/ Rudolph Isley, Sixties, T-Neck, The Isley Brothers, The Jackson Five, The Temptations

“Color Him Father” Performed by The Winstons (1969)

February 22, 2010 · 0 comments

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The 1969 Grammy for the Best Rhythm and Blues Song   was  “Color Him Father,” Richard Spencer, songwriter.

Just like  another Grammy winning song in 1969, “A Boy Name Sue, “ “Color Him Father” is all about the superb lyrics!

Composed by group member Richard Spencer of Washington DC’s  The Winstons,  this song tells of the love for a step-father that holds a special place in my heart. When it came out I was learning to love my new step-mother (R.I.P) as another person to trust in my young confused  life.

The song got a lot of local airplay (I lived then and now in the Maryland suburbs of DC) and truly was inspirational in my life.

The Winstons had recorded a song prior to this one on the Curtom Label that was a minor local success, but “CHF” was their first and last  big hit on the Metromedia label.  It charted #2 R&B and of course won a Grammy.

Rev. O.C. Smith recorded a popular cover of the song that appeared on his 1969 LP ” O.C. Smith At Home,” but I prefer the original by the Winstons when  composer Richard Spencer sings the lead.

Color Him Father by Richard Spencer

There’s a man at my house he’s so big and strong
He goes to work each day, stays all day long
He comes home each night looking tired and beat
He sits down at the dinner table and has a bite to eat
Never a frown always a smile
When he says to me how’s my child
I’ve been studying hard all day in school
Tryin’ to understand the golden rule

Think I’ll color this man father
I think I’ll color him love
Said I’m gonna color him father
I think I’ll color the man love, yes I will

He says education is the thing if you wanna compete
Because without it son, life ain’t very sweet
I love this man I don’t know why
Jexcept I’ll need his strength till the day that I die
My mother loves him and I can tell
By the way she looks at him when he holds my little sister nell
I heard her say just the other day
That if it hadn’t been for him she wouldn’t have found her way
My real old man he got killed in the war
And she knows she and seven kids couldn’t of got very far
She said she thought that she could never love again
And then there he stood with that big wide grin
He married my mother and he took us in
And now we belong to the nman with that big wide grin

Think I’ll color this man father
I think I’ll color him love

Said I’m gonna color him father
I think I’ll color the man love, yes I will

OSML TRIVA: The Winstons toured as the backup band for The Impressions

Musically yours,

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Filed under: Color Him Father, Grammy Gold, Guy Groups, Metromedia, One Hit Wonder, Pop/R&B, R&B/Soul, Richard Spencer, Sixties, The Winstons

“You’re All I Need To Get By” Performed by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1968) and Aretha Franklin (1971)

January 25, 2010 · 0 comments

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Another hit written and produced by Ashford and Simpson from the Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell LP of the same name — “You’re All I need to get By” was  one of the biggest hits of Marvin & Tammi’s career as a duo.  It charted #1 on the R&B charts and remained there for 5 weeks!  The song charted #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1968 as well. This is one of my favorites by the singing duo!

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Aretha covered the Marvin & Tammi  smash hit in 1971 for her  “Aretha’s Greatest Hits” LP.  This cover did not earn her the Grammy, as did her second cover  from the same LP did (“Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” ) in 1974,   but the single did  chart #3 R&B and #19 Pop and remained at #19 on the British singles charts for an amazing 19 weeks!

Sometimes I wonder about the Grammy voters: personally this cover seems more  Grammy worthy than “Real Thing” cover did  — but that’s just my opinion.

Ashford & Simpson

One awesome song sung in two different styles! Although covered and sampled by many other artists --  these two renditions presented today are my favorites.  I can’t really pick one over the other. Can you?

Aretha Live 1978

Bonus Cover Version just for you  :-)

Musically Yours,

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Filed under: Aretha Covers and Hits, Aretha Franklin, Atlantic, Dynamic Duos (Duets), Fabulous Female Vocalists, Marvin Gaye & His Women, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Motown/Tamla, Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson, Pop/R&B, Pop/Soul, R&B/Duets, R&B/Motown, Seventies, Sixties, You're All I Need To Get By

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