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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#1 R&B, #8 Pop
This chart topper, co-written by producer Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland and The Temptations guitar player Cornelius Grant, was another hit from the fabulous “Gettin’ Ready” Album.
Not too much I can say about this song that hasn’t already been said except this is Classic Motown and Classic Temptations at their best. I especially loved to see the gents perform this live and do their Temptations walk around in a circle during the “dodo wop” background part. . So smooth. So smooth. So smooth.
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We all know the very young Michael Jackson could sing, but so could the very young original lead singer of The Jackson Five — Jermaine Jackson. Just listen to his lead on “(I Know) I’m Losing You” to hear for yourself. This appeared on the very first Motown album release by the boys entitled “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson Five.” This introductory set by the brothers, released in 1969) topped the R&B Charts (#1) in 1970 and climbed to #5 Pop the same year.
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This Motown cover is one of many from Gladys Knight and the Pips’ third LP release with Motown called “Nitty Gritty.” The album charted #11 R&B in 1970 but only #84 Pop in 1960. Nevertheless it is an awesome collection of cover tunes with a few hit originals thrown in. Have you heard it before?
This won’t be the last time this LP will be mentioned here at OSML so stay tuned.
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#20 R&B, #7 Pop
Last but not least is the 1970 Rare Earth cover that appeared on Rare Earth’s first Motown LP entitled “Ecology.” This monster album was #4 R&B and #15 Pop, thanks in part to this remarkable arrangement of “(I Know) I’m Losing You” that you can’t help but love. Right?
Of course you must now vote to share your favorite version. Comments as to why you made your selection are not only welcomed but encouraged.
Before signing off be sure to take a look at this video from the 1968 TCB television special with Dennis Edwards doing what was originally David Ruffin’s lead part on the song.
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#3 R&B, #12 Pop
“Since I Don’t Have You” was the biggest hit for this Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania quintet that was inducted in to The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.
This is one of my favorites of the era. I was pleased as punch to see a new lineup of the quintet (with the same lead singer) on one of those fabulous PBS oldies specials a few years ago entitled “Doo Wop Gold.”
Here is the YouTube clip of the performance for your viewing pleasure.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen] #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 [...]
[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Last August 2008 OSML spotlighted the Best R&B Grammy Winners from 1958 to 1968. This month, February 2010, OSML is moving on to present all of the wonderful 1969 Grammy winners, in a variety of categories, that I grew up with and loved. This music was oh so [...]
[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Gladys Knight & The Pips – It Should Have Been Me (1968) Another awesome classic by GK&TP from their Motown years! This awesome mid-tempo effort tells the story so realistically that you can just feel Gladys’ hurt and pain at being left by her two timing lover. You [...]
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]Gladys Knight & The Pips – I Don’t Want to Do Wrong #17 Pop “End of our Road” is by far my favorite uptempo Motown release by GK&TP. It is funkiness at it’s best — even surpassing the group’s cover of “Grapevine IMHO. “IDWTDW” is also one of the [...]
. So smooth. So smooth. So smooth.
.”
