Motown and stax.

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:00 PM

Whilst acknowledging a 6 year time difference between these versions, I thought it an interesting comparison between the The Temptations Motown sound and the Staple Singers Stax sound. It kind of illustrates the difference between the raw Stax sound and the more polished Motown sound. I think maybe The Staple Singers sound is a little more current?

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:01 PM

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:12 PM

Slightly off topic, but I just have to to throw in this amazing version of the same song

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:13 PM

Soul Children on Stax.....

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:14 PM

Stevie singing it live....

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:16 PM

The great George Kerr

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:17 PM

The original of course...

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:18 PM

Jimmy Ruffin

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:22 PM

Big Maybelle..... surprisingly good...

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:24 PM

Chuck Jackson Maxine Brown

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:26 PM

Johnnie Taylor

**arr&bee** · 10-06-2015, 04:37 PM

Nice versions to be sure,but i'll stick with the originals versions.

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 04:38 PM

George

**sansradio** · 10-06-2015, 05:48 PM

I'm curious, Mike, as to why you characterize Maybelle's version as "surprisingly" good.

**soulwally** · 10-06-2015, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by MIKEW-UK

Whilst acknowledging a 6 year time difference between these versions, I thought it an interesting comparison between the The Temptations Motown sound and the Staple Singers Stax sound. It kind of illustrates the difference between the raw Stax sound and the more polished Motown sound. I think maybe The Staple Singers sound is a little more current?

The Tempts' original is 'polished', in that, as usual, the vocals are spot on, the Funks are in customary top form and and Smokey's production just sparkles. But it;s far from polished aka smooth. I;ve always liked the Staples version too, and it possibly sounds more current as the tempo is less 'Sixties'

RossHolloway · 10-06-2015, 06:08 PM

The Temps - Love Is a Hurting Thing.

https://youtu.be/pSWxgxbTMPI

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-06-2015, 06:09 PM

Sansradio, I guess I am guilty of pigeon holing Big Maybelle as a Blues / gospel belter, given she was recording in the 1940s....... I'm not really familiar with Big Maybelle's stuff as it was a bit before my time.....cheers

**sansradio** · 10-06-2015, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by MIKEW-UK

Sansradio, I guess I am guilty of pigeon holing Big Maybelle as a Blues / gospel belter, given she was recording in the 1940s....... I'm not really familiar with Big Maybelle's stuff as it was a bit before my time.....cheers

Fair enough, Mike. I'm a Maybelle devotee; that lady could sing anything. To wit:

**MIKEW-UK** · 10-07-2015, 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by sansradio

Fair enough, Mike. I'm a Maybelle devotee; that lady could sing anything. To wit:

Love it! I'll have to do a little research on her stuff.. cheers

**midnightman** · 10-07-2015, 04:39 AM

Someone described Motown and Stax's sounds like this: Stax was Saturday night barbeque, chicken wings and collard greens and Motown was Sunday night steak and caviar lol

Which is why it's amazing that Motown had its own gritty side but it was relegated to strictly R&B circles to maintain the "difference" in the sounds of the labels.