Hitsville in October 1973

[drchrisp]

I was finally given information on the recording dates for Luther's Blues sessions through a contact at Universal Motown. I was very surprised that all of the songs were rhythm-tracked at Hitsville/Studio A in the first week of October 1973, vocals and other instruments were added over the next 3 weeks at Studio B, and a horn session at Studio B was in November. All this is much later that what I expected for a Motown album recorded in Detroit, especially at Studio A. But here you go.

Drivin’ Wheel
Track session 10578 Studio A – 10/2/73
Lead session 10583 Studio B – 10/9/73
Complete session 10588 Studio B – 10/17/73
Complete session 10589 Studio B – 10/18/73
Inst session 10590 Studio B 10/19/73

Easy Baby
Track session 10578 Studio A – 10/2/73
Lead session 10583 Studio B – 10/9/73
Complete session 10589 Studio B – 10/18/73
Inst session 10590 Studio B 10/19/73

Into My Life
Track session 10581 Studio A – 10/3/73
Lead session 10587 Studio B – 10/16/73
Complete session 10589 Studio B – 10/18/73
Misc session 10594 Studio B 10/29/73

Let’s Have A Little Talk
Track session 10581 Studio A – 10/3/73
Lead session 10584 Studio B – 10/11/73
Horns session 10608 Studio B – 11/16/73

Now You Got It
Working title: Funky Slide
Track session 10581 Studio A – 10/3/73
Lead session 10584 Studio B – 10/11/73
Misc session 10593 Studio B – 10/25/73
Misc session 10594 Studio B 10/29/73

Part Time Love
Track session 10582 Studio A – 10/4/73
Lead session 10588 Studio B – 10/17/73
Complete session 10589 Studio B – 10/18/73
Inst session 10590 Studio B 10/19/73
Horns session 10608 Studio B – 11/16/73

[Kraig Diesel]

According to several sources, including the liner notes of The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 12B [[1972), the last session held at Hitsville USA was August 30, 1973 [[the day the studio went “dark”). It consisted of instrumental overdubs to two songs by Art & Honey: “What Have I Done” and “Always Together”.

How could any recording dates have occurred at Studio A in "October of 1973"?

Are you sure you were given the correct Studio dates?

[drchrisp]

I'm sure. These dates corroborate the album's liner notes, whose author relied on Motown's archives. They are also in line with the dates that Luther Allison would have been in Michigan to record when not on tour. None of the usual Funk Brothers musicians performed in the October 2-4 sessions, but Hitsville was still used. For me, the question now is whether there could have been any even later sessions for anyone at Studio A. To me, it's entirely possible at this point.

[TomBairdFan]

drchrisp: After reading your posts about the Last Hitsville sessions, I decided that I needed a little Luther in my life and purchased the ''Luther's Blues'' CD. It's a scorcher! Things may have been running down at the studio, but the man was on fire! Many folks rate it as his finest album. Motown had a great talent on their hands with Mr. Allison and I bet Luther was mighy pleased with those sessions. Thanks for writing about them!

[drchrisp]

My pleasure. I admit that I had heard little about him before starting my research, but I bought the CD last October and immediately liked what I heard. It's hard to find blues guitarists who can sing and play excellently, but Luther was one of them.