From the category archives:

R&B/Motown

“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

“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

“Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” Performed by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1968) & Aretha Franklin (1974)

January 21, 2010 · 0 comments

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Just about every song Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell performed together was a smash hit for Motown. There is not a single song they recorded that I don’t adore.  I don’t think  anyone could surpass what those two put on wax together!

“Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing,” composed by the extraordinary songwriting couple of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, was surely no exception.   “Real Thing” was just one of  many of Ashford and Simpson’s  long string of hits on Gaye & Terrell that had started with 1967’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.

“Real Thing” topped the R&B singles chart at #1 in 1968 and was #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song appeared on the duo’s 1968 LP  (#4  R&B #60 Billboard Top 200 Albums)  entitled “You’re All I Need ” --  pictured above.

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One of my personal favorite covers of this tune was by the Jackson 5 with Jermaine and MJJ sharing lead,  but this month’s theme is Aretha covers and of course her cover version,  recorded in 1973 and released as a single in 1974, charted a respectable #6 R&B and #47 Pop.

This time around Aretha didn’t best the original,  but she sure made a great showing! Don’t you agree?  Besides — this cover  earned Aretha the 1974 Grammy for  Best Female  R&B Vocal!

Aretha’s cover version appeared on her 1974 LP release “Let Me In Your Life” — pictured above.

Ok, now that you have voted for your fave please enjoy the bonus video below. This is my all time favorite version of  “Real Thing.”

MJJ -- I miss you.  Jermaine is that an afro wig or did you actually groom your hair into that perfect halo? ;-)   Jackie and Marlon  your moves are great: smooth temptation-like unison fellas!

Musically Yours,

Updated 1/24/09

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Filed under: Aint Nothing Like The Real Thing, Aretha Covers and Hits, Aretha Franklin, Atlantic, Dynamic Duos (Duets), Grammy Gold, Marvin Gaye & His Women, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Motown, Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson, Pop/Soul, R&B/Duets, R&B/Motown, R&B/Soul, Seventies, Sixties

“You’ve Changed” Performed By The Jackson 5 (1968 & 1969)

December 28, 2009 · 0 comments

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This has been a year of great loss for me personally. In addition,  I also share the loss of musical icon Michael Joe Jackson with the world!  I will close out this  year of Motown 50 with a  J5 classic that I love.

This particular song is a fave from the first Motown LP that introduced the Jackson 5 to the world in 1969. This entire LP brings back some of the best ever memories of my teenage years and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I do.  Let me know what you think?

1969 Hollywood Palace

Trivia: Did you know that before the brothers joined Motown and released this first LP that they had released a single? Well they did and it was called “Big Boy.” This minor local hit single, on Steel Town Records, was backed with “You’ve Changed!”  Yes, the fellas originally recorded this song on 7/13/67 and it was released as the B-Side to their first single on 1/31/69. Have a listen and tell me what you think about this original?

Jackson Five circa 1968

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Musically yours,

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Filed under: Guy Groups, Motown, Pop/R&B, R&B/Motown, Sixties, The Jackson Five, You've Changed

“The Christmas Song” Performed By The Jackson Five” (1970)

December 24, 2009 · 0 comments

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This song is from the third LP released by the J5 in 1970: a holiday set that they had to sneak off to the studio and record since their  mother, of the Jehovah Witness faith, did not allow Christmas celebrations.

You may not agree that this is the best Motown rendition of “The Christmas Song” but it happens to be the most memorable version for me.

As a teen I , like most teen girls, was in love with the Jackson Five.  Michael was the cutest,  but to me Jermaine was a smooth singer and my fantasy beau:  since he was closest in age to me I suppose in my mind I had assumed that he was the most attainable. Of course once he married Hazel Gordy I was through with Jermaine and set my sights on the “older man” Jackie. ;-)

Watching the “Jackson Family Dynasty” mini seris these past two Sundays,  and seeing the J4 personalities as grown men, let me know I made the right decision in dumping Jermaine as a teen. (LOL)

Nevertheless, Jermaine’s lead vocal on this song takes me back to a special time when both my parents and maternal grandparents would spend Christmas together. All four are gone now –  but at least this song remains for me and it will always make me feel that special time in my life.

Mrs. Jackson, if you ever read this, please know that this album is special to millions of people and that your boys most assuredly did the right thing when they disobeyed you to record this classic.

Happy Holidays.

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Filed under: Guy Groups, Holiday Music, Mel Torme & Robert Wells, Motown, Pop/Holiday, R&B/Motown, Seventies, The Christmas Song, The Jackson Five

“The Christmas Song” Performed By Smokey Robinson & The Temptations (1987)

December 22, 2009 · 0 comments

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Smokey has sung lead on this tune with The Miracles and you have heard a few versions of the Temptations take on this classic.

But this has got to be the smoothest  Motown rendition of this classic holiday tune yet!  With Smokey AND Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin and the rest of the Temptations  gang giving it there all — well how can you go wrong?!

This audio (provided in case the YouTube cClip vanishes) is from my latest Motown Holiday Collection (yes, I had to purchase yet another one but I had a good reason). And of  course it is the audio from the classic 1987 Motown Merry Christmas TV Special of 1987.

I feel very fortunate to have found this clip on YouTube,  but does anyone know if this show is available on DVD please?

Watching this clip makes you feel all warm and fuzzy doesn’t it?

Musically Yours,

Note: This post was scheduled for yesterday 12/21/09 @ 7am and for some reason when I logged on today I see “Schedule  Missed” in red letters. I don’t know what happened but I am so sorry for the delay.

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Filed under: Eighties, Guy Groups, Holiday Music, Magnificent Male Vocalists, Mel Torme & Robert Wells, Motown, Pop/R&B, R&B/Holiday, R&B/Motown, Smokey Robinson & The Tempations, The Christmas Song

“The Christmas Song” Performed By Marvin Gaye (1963) Live at the Apollo

December 17, 2009 · 4 comments

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Even though this song is almost 50 years old it is new to me and a great way to pay tribute to the year of Motown50 in it’s final few holiday season weeks.

It is a simply marvelous LIVE, soulful rendition of “The Christmas Song” by Marvin Gaye that I discovered on YouTube! I notice that some of the holiday tunes that I posted about last year from YouTube are now gone so please click on the link and enjoy this song while you can.

I really don’t have much more to say other than this is a great addition to my Motown holiday music collection and this is why I love YouTube.

Thank you bigchunkz for sharing this.

Musically Yours,

SonDan Holiday Green #02A805

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Filed under: Holiday Music, Magnificent Male Vocalists, Marvin Gaye, Mel Torme & Robert Wells, Motown/Tamla, R&B/Holiday, R&B/Motown, Sixties, The Christmas Song

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