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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 25, 2003 15:27:21 GMT -5
I'm listening to the Motown Rarities album(the one that look like a tape reel) and I got(?) questions:
1. Where is the long missing 1971 David Ruffin album, David Ruffin? I won't even go into the 1983 Ruffin/Motown sessions, but at least give us the '71 album.
2. How come Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Velvelettes get the smoking track for "Everybody Needs Love", Mary Wells(with backing by Eddie and Otis) gets the cute track for "Everybody" and Jimmy Ruffin and the Tempts get the bland track?
And how many different ways did Jimmy Ruffin sing this track?
3. Marvin Gaye could sing the contents of a milk carton and make it sound good. But if he's singing "My Girl", do not have him sing it without (a) the Funk Brothers playing and (b) Smokey and/or Ronnie White producing it. You might as well have Vic Damone or Perry Como singing this. (Old time singers, way back in the '50's and '60's).
4. I'm liking Smokey's version of "Grapevine", more and more. And this is the original version, although two other artists could've had shots at this: the Isleys, who may or may not have a version and the Tempts, who would've sung Marvin's version.
5. Suppose Norman Whitfield gave the psychedelic sound to the Spinners instead of the Tempts? And would the Tempts sing this had David not left?
6. After listening to Dennis sing "Brokenhearted", is it "... The roots of love grow all around" or "The fruits of love grow all the round"?
6a. Maybe Dennis should've been a solo act instead of joining the Tempts.
7.Who's got the better version of "Truly Yours",one of the great Motown hidden treasures: The Spinners or the Tempts?
8. Imagine THIS conversation:
Smokey Robinson: Man, of all of the acts to give one of my songs to, why didja pick the Underdogs?
Norman Whitfield: Smoke, this is a hip garage band, and I think I can soul their rock. Ya know, BG will dig this.
Smokey: You got one thing right, Whit, it does sound like it was done IN a garage...
Norman: What are you worried about, I can make a hit and you'll get paid!!!
Smokey: I got the feeling me and Bobby won't be rushing out to the mailbox on this one.
Norman: Believe in me, Smoke. I can do the job on these guys!
9. I like Carolyn Crawford's version of "My Smile Is Just A Frown" a lot. But Eddie, the Tempts and Smokey should've redid this one. Probably was tired...
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Post by Ivory Fair on Mar 25, 2003 23:47:14 GMT -5
5. Suppose Norman Whitfield gave the psychedelic sound to the Spinners instead of the Tempts? And would the Tempts sing this had David not left?
Yep.
If you look up "Temptations" in the dictionary, about the third or forth definition it gives is "changes over time, adapts."
They'd a been psychadelic regardless.
Try and diagram THAT Kalisa, "they'd a been"
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Post by Nish on Mar 26, 2003 0:57:24 GMT -5
SS - I like the Spinners' version of "Truly Yours" better than the Tempts.
And RE: Eddie's version of "My Smile"... I think I'm the only one who likes that version. I think the backing track is so INTERESTING, and the Tempts harmony is once again peerless. Eddie's voice isn't at it's greatest, but even working with half a voice, he's still great!
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Post by iratherlikeme on Mar 26, 2003 2:58:17 GMT -5
Man, I thought you were going to talk about David Ruffin singing Questions... Whoops.  Anyway, I'm learning some new stuff. I've got my pen and paper and I'm writing this stuff down. So many songs! |
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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 26, 2003 3:56:54 GMT -5
SS.... Dennis says "Fruits". Jimmy says "Roots". "Fruits" makes more sense than Roots, since after they "grow all around", they "Come tumbling down". Roots usually aren't in a position to tumble down  . I keep saying, but nobody ever listens to me  , that the Tempts with Ruffin on lead would have tore up Grapevine. JMO of course. "Fruits" does make more sense, but why does everyone else sing "roots"? I've heard that that was slotted for the Tempts. Why they didn't sing that version at that time is another of the mysteries... And David would've been great in that production; I'm surprised Whitfield never did it anyway, since he cut a song on almost everyone he could find. |
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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 26, 2003 4:18:30 GMT -5
SS - I like the Spinners' version of "Truly Yours" better than the Tempts. And RE: Eddie's version of "My Smile"... I think I'm the only one who likes that version. I think the backing track is so INTERESTING, and the Tempts harmony is once again peerless. Eddie's voice isn't at it's greatest, but even working with half a voice, he's still great! I go back and forth on "Truly Yours". I like Bobbie Smith of the Spinners, and I really like him on this song. David can always sing and he's really good on the song, too. But I think the song was destined to be slower. As for "My Smile...", Carolyn Crawford's got the better version. I think Smokey should've re-cut it, it didn't do he or Eddie any good. Eddie sounds tired. But I love the pause after every verse, when Eddie sings the hook. Those parts keep me listening to the song. Janie Bradford, Mickey Stevenson AND Smokey Robinson all on one song? That is odd... |
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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 26, 2003 4:36:34 GMT -5
5. Suppose Norman Whitfield gave the psychedelic sound to the Spinners instead of the Tempts? And would the Tempts sing this had David not left?
Yep. If you look up "Temptations" in the dictionary, about the third or forth definition it gives is "changes over time, adapts." They'd a been psychadelic regardless. Try and diagram THAT Kalisa, "they'd a been" Not necessarily. Whitfield was producing Gladys and the Pips, and he didn't turn them psychedelic. Besides, the Spinners, though having good to great songs, weren't getting much play at Hitsville and the new productions would've given them a chance. Especially, since we know what they did at Atlantic. Besides, they ALSO did "Message From a Black Man".  A new direction, as Ruffin leaves? Cause and effect? Coincidence? |
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Post by Aba21 on Mar 26, 2003 11:45:20 GMT -5
It is hard to imagine the Spinners in the line-up they had before leaving Motown doing the psycedelic songs. This would have been prior tp Philippe and unless you are assming he would have still been on board had they stayed then ok but without him it's tough to imagine for me.
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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 26, 2003 11:58:58 GMT -5
I can barely stand to wrap my fingers around the words to type that the Spinners did a better job on "Truly Yours"...but there ya go, that's my opinion. Part of it is the production, which is not the Tempts fault. But David isn't doing his usual wonderful "finesse" with the song, he's shouting it more than I've heard him on early recordings. but...p.s., I'm only working with 1/3 of the song, since the other user disconnected before I got it all...maybe David did better later in the song . SS...isn't it true, or haven't we heard rumors, that David did some rehearsing of "Cloud Nine"? Is that just rumor? If true, that would of course put a lid on the idea that his leaving spurred on the psychedelic direction. I've heard the rumors too, but Motown says that they can't find anything to validate them. Consider: The song was cut in one day. Vocals and music, done in Oct '68. Whitfield always has tracks available for several artists to cut his songs. Wouldn't David tell everyone he was the original voice on "Cloud Nine", even twenty years after the fact? If he were to cut it it would have to be between Feb and June of '68, since David was gone, officially after June '68. Yet, in all of that time, with all of the new material popping up, tracks from that period are scarce. That's when Cloud Nine should've shown up in a track, but the Sly Stone influence wouldn't be in effect yet, since that song was hitting the charts. So I dunno, I wish he did sing that, but I don't see how. |
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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 26, 2003 12:09:58 GMT -5
It is hard to imagine the Spinners in the line-up they had before leaving Motown doing the psycedelic songs. This would have been prior tp Philippe and unless you are assming he would have still been on board had they stayed then ok but without him it's tough to imagine for me. But they did "It's A Shame" with GC Cameron, which means they did "Message From A Black Man" with him too. The Spinners weren't getting any attention anyway, why not try something different. If it backfires, you don't hurt your top acts. I mean the Undisputed Truth got the relevant stuff. The Undisputed Truth?  Besides, you would think the hottest producer at Motown could get a hit on anyone, wouldn't you? |
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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 26, 2003 12:39:45 GMT -5
Soul stirrer: "Fruits" does make more sense, but why does everyone else sing "roots"?Guess we'd have to go to the songwriter for that, or the other singers. Maybe my honey Dennis saw the problem and changed the word to make it right?? <<<< K2 slaps self back to reality!>>>> or NOT. LOL...maybe whoever was in charge of their recording.... finally got the rest of the Tempts "Truly Yours"...I like the ending, but still isn't up to the Spinners...JMO. It's fine if he changed the words. So howcum he adds, "all tha round"? Fruits grow all the round?? Huh What fertilizer is he using?  |
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Post by SoulStirrer on Mar 26, 2003 14:42:15 GMT -5
SS...Remember my Dennis is the one who sang " My name is in every phrase my lips say" on Live at the Copa...hence the slap back to reality for me...and good enough reason for all tha fruits to be round LOL!! LOL!!!! One of the greatest lines in music history: MY name is in every phrase my lips say. Only the great Dennis Edwards, last member of the Magnificent Seven, can get away with that. Just think, My window, each way got somebody in trouble!!! |
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Post by iratherlikeme on Mar 26, 2003 18:52:46 GMT -5
So speaking of Dennis changing words, are the words of Song For You,"singing this song FOR you" (like the actual title of the song), or "singing this song TO you" (like I've heard Donny Hathaway and Leon Russell singing it)?
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Post by kanabul on Mar 26, 2003 22:13:05 GMT -5
1. Where is the long missing 1971 David Ruffin album, David Ruffin? I won't even go into the 1983 Ruffin/Motown sessions, but at least give us the '71 album. David did a session with Motown in 1983? Sounds interesting |
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Post by Aba21 on Mar 26, 2003 22:52:18 GMT -5
Watch it Queenie!!!!!! ;D
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