GD
Tempt Fanatic
Posts: 43
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Post by GD on Apr 24, 2004 20:25:23 GMT -5
This is to help/aid in Cadeho's theory/statement: "Singer, Musician. He was a member of the original line-up of Motown's biggest act, The Temptations. He was a fine falsetto tenor vocalist and sang lead on some of the vocal group's earliest songs, such as "May I Have This Dance," "Isn't She Pretty," and possibly a number of others that were never attributed to him. After an unceremonious departure from The Temptations (allegedly because of his unreliability and alcoholism), Mr. Bryant would appear in many local groups in and around Detroit, Michigan. He was even - very briefly - a member of The Dramatics, another well-known outfit. Cause of death: Liver failure" quoted from from a gravesite lookup webpage. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7524017&pt=Elbridge%20'Al'%20Bryant  That reminds me of a book that came out in the early 90's "The Heart of Rock and Roll, the Greatest 1001 songs of all time" by Dave Marsh. The Tempts classic "Don't Look Back" is included, among other Tempt songs, but as Marsh is describing it, he says David Ruffin's plaintive and soulful delivery of Smokey's tune make it unforgettable etc etc and all the rest!!! David Ruffin?  The point? Believe half of what you read! It's Eddie on "May I Have This Dance" and "Isn't She Pretty?". "Pretty" is an ensemble so I'm sure we hear Al somewhere in there. Also Eddie co--wrote the tune. But don't believe me. Hear it and trust your ears. www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/030680901X/qid=1082853159/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-3595624-0630353?v=glance&s=books |
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Post by PaulzFan24 on Apr 24, 2004 23:34:18 GMT -5
Like you know that they have recordings of Al in the vaults. Motown didn't see fit to release them if there are any such recordings. I know that they have not been heard,and YOU didn't hear them. Since you have a strong belief that such a recording exists..you must have been with them 24/7,yourself. What was it like? Did Al record "FLOAT ON" ? The man was a second tenor who could at times go into a falsetto note. But, like I said...I see all this maybe and what if's...but the truth is YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT AL SOUNDS LIKE. Do you?  To answer your question, No I don't know what lies in Motown's vaults, and neither do you. What I was saying was that we have no idea if there is a record or track with an easily identifiable Al part in Motown's vaults. There may be such a track or record, but there may not be such a track or record. If there is a track/record, then release it so we can hear Al's voice, if not, then that rules out any real commercial release of Al, of course there may be somthing with Johnnie Mae's Northern Label(is that the right label?), of course they may not be. What someone should do, is go through the Motown vault, and make a catalogue of everything that lies in there, and then post it on the web for everyone to look and see what all lies there, but that'll probably never happen. |
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Post by PaulzFan24 on Apr 24, 2004 23:39:12 GMT -5
As I recall, what started all of this in the other thread about "My Pillow" was me identifying the three voices singing after Melvin sings "my pillow." Why did I list Melvin, Otis, Al, and Paul (to which Mike said that couldn't be)? Well Melvin and Paul are obvious, and the first voice after Melvin sounds like Otis. Now, with Eddie singing the lead, why would he then back himself up if it's a group thing? Unless Al wasn't there to record, it should be his voice that follows Otis'. It's not impossible that Eddie could sing lead and join the others. The thing that Mike's making it seem is that Al never sang at all and there are no samples in the some twenty singles during his tenure. Thanks to Jane and Ed. Believe me, I drove some roommates crazy doing it. I only do it when I really like the singers and try to figure out who's who. As for instrumentals, I guess that goes back to music class and my aunt asking me what instrument was playing. Jane, about the "why?" in "Isn't She Pretty," actually there was a time I thought it could be Otis. It sounded like Eddie to me after hearing his voice on TCB, I believe he said, "Hey Diana, let's do that one more time!" As for the lead on "Isn't She Pretty," if that is indeed Eddie, why does he sound so weird? It's like he completely strained his voice and it sounds so rough even in the parts without the falsetto like in the part at the end. The group's singing, "she's so fine so fine so fine" and I can't tell what the lead lyrics are, but the voice doesn't match Eddie's to me. If it is it sounds like he's pushing a boulder and trying to sing. And perhaps that is Al I hear that sounds like Eddie in the background. Cadeho I agree with you about if it's EJK on Pretty, it sounds as though he is straining. It sounds like he is just screaming in his high voice! You made a great anology about it sounding like him pushing the boulder and trying to sing, I got the same impression! I wish I could analyze the songs and instruments like you, you really have a great musical ear, and gift!!! |
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Post by PaulzFan24 on Apr 24, 2004 23:47:27 GMT -5
That reminds me of a book that came out in the early 90's "The Heart of Rock and Roll, the Greatest 1001 songs of all time" by Dave Marsh. The Tempts classic "Don't Look Back" is included, among other Tempt songs, but as Marsh is describing it, he says David Ruffin's plaintive and soulful delivery of Smokey's tune make it unforgettable etc etc and all the rest!!! David Ruffin? The point? Believe half of what you read! It's Eddie on "May I Have This Dance" and "Isn't She Pretty?". "Pretty" is an ensemble so I'm sure we hear Al somewhere in there. Also Eddie co--wrote the tune. But don't believe me. Hear it and trust your ears. www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/030680901X/qid=1082853159/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-3595624-0630353?v=glance&s=booksYes your absolutely right. There are always going to be mistakes like that one, why are there always so many mistakes with school books?? While those songs are, as you and many others say, are led by EJK, I am sure that there is a track out there with Al's voice on it. Al was a member of the Temptations, he must have recorded on at least one track of theirs! Either that, or they invented the reality show, watch the new episode of, "Make a Struggling Singer a Temptation". Of course, who would've tuned in, being that the Tempts hadn't gained commercial success yet??? |
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Post by Cadeho on Apr 26, 2004 7:58:43 GMT -5
Anyone here have Stevie Wonder's "Contract on Love"?
Listen to the Tempts singing at the beginning before Stevie comes in. You can hear Paul and Eddie well plus a third voice that's not Otis (who I don't hear at all here) or Melvin. Eddie is using one of his recognizable voices but there is another voice that sounds similar to the "straining Eddie" from the end of "Isn't She Pretty."
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Post by Cadeho on Apr 30, 2004 0:48:04 GMT -5
For some time I've wondered too if "Camouflage" was really Eddie when I first heard the song. "Isn't She Pretty" and "Camouflage" are back to back on the 1961-1963 compilation I made and their recording dates are close. Eddie's voice in "Camouflage" is similar to the co-lead in "Isn't She Pretty." However, if that is Eddie, why do I hear his voice in the background too? And why is his voice so rough and strained? It doesn't sound like his voice in later recordings. I know voices mature but they don't change like that.
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Elbridge
Tempt Fanatic
Elbridge "Al" Bryant
Posts: 28
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Post by Elbridge on Apr 30, 2004 1:48:06 GMT -5
I finally pulled out my "Meet" album and I heard what you've been hearing, Cadeho. If it is who I think it is, he had a very nice voice.... Ed |
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Post by mcribs on Apr 30, 2004 7:04:10 GMT -5
Cadeho & Ed: I also have "Meet" and I've been listening to those songs (Camo, Pretty & Pillow) with my headphones on. You can definitely tell it is a different voice than Otis, Eddie, or Paul, who could get up there in his early years. I think it just might be the elusive, mysterious Al Bryant.  |
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Post by Ivory Fair on Apr 30, 2004 9:30:49 GMT -5
C, which voice in the background of "Pillow" do you think is Eddie's? Al has the first "Pillow" then O and then Paul. About his voice being rough and strained? Huh? |
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Ughan Ali
Tempt Fanatic
Dennis, David and Melvin
Posts: 28
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Post by Ughan Ali on Apr 30, 2004 10:01:06 GMT -5
And why is his voice so rough and strained? It doesn't sound like his voice in later recordings. I know voices mature but they don't change like that. Because Eddie was young and had not fully developed his total sound, he was still raw. |
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Post by Cadeho on Apr 30, 2004 13:19:00 GMT -5
Ivory, I've thought it to be Otis, Al, then Paul. I don't think Eddie's in the background of that song, unless Mike says he wasn't there at all, then he'd take Al's place.
Ughan, the only thing is, those are basically the only two songs where I hear a voice like that. Everyone else seemed to be consistent.
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Ughan Ali
Tempt Fanatic
Dennis, David and Melvin
Posts: 28
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Post by Ughan Ali on Apr 30, 2004 15:02:02 GMT -5
Cadeho, I am going to listen to Meet The Temptations, and those other pre Ruffin songs again, and if I hear what you are talking about then I will concede you are right, but I still suspect that is Eddie
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Post by Cadeho on Jul 14, 2006 22:35:58 GMT -5
Whew! Page 34! But I found it!
Anyway, I mentioned this to Ed a few months ago when I got Vol 4 of Hip-O's singles collection... how come none of you all told me there were TWO versions of "Just Let Me Know"?! All these years and I thought it was just the album version. Now which one came first? On the disc I made of each known-to-me song from 1961 - 1963, I placed the album version last. Another good thing about the collection is the mono version of "Isn't She Pretty" which seems to accentuate to me Eddie's voice in the background. In the stereo version it's the most noticable voice on the left side. I can't be shaked. Ever since I first heard that song, I said that is not Eddie. And after listening to all those Eddie songs between 1961 and 1963 (of which "Isn't She Pretty" was the third oldest song) and his solo albums (again thanks to Hip-O)... that one song is so out of place in tone to be him.
Other places I've listened for Al (and I have two discs, one for the house and one for the car) and thanks to Jane, I can hear him in the intro to "Farewell My Love" before he goes out on his own in the background while coming back with the group. Then there's his part at the end of "Not Now..." where he kind of does the intro melody through to the end (best to hear him on the extended version). Recently I think he's the high part in the background of "Paradise"... And what's weird to me about "Baby, Baby I Need You," is I think Otis spends most of that song humming while Al spends his time floating all around the background. And of course his voice has its most noticable spot as third "pillow" in "My Pillow" (Melvin, Otis, Al, Paul).
Sorry guys I have to keep this going. I bet even Otis has forgotten those songs and session to even say for sure who sang what.
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Post by janebse on Jul 15, 2006 17:21:00 GMT -5
Curious, Cadho, but the term "floating all around the background" is almost the exact term used by Otis to describe Al's musical contributions. He called him a "floating tenor" and said the girls loved it when he did that.
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Post by Cadeho on Jul 16, 2006 1:19:58 GMT -5
I know, I can't describe it otherwise. Otis used the right word. He can be with the group here then woooing in the air then back with the group.
You know speaking about the voices, I wonder if they deteremined who should be heard more on a song in the background? Or is that just how they sang and that's what our ears picks up? Some songs I can hear Otis... tons you hear Eddie, some you hear Paul. And in the old days, to me it sounds like Otis blended well with Al... you could still hear Eddie on top. Then there are times when Otis doesn't seem to be there and it can sound like two Eddies.
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