Marv, this is crazy, I have been listening to this all day TODAY!! Wow I love this place
Well... strictly speaking, I have been listening to the equally-brilliant alternate version of the song, "Countin' On You, Babe"
Barbara's vocal and the instrumental and mixing and backgrounds on "Counting On You Babe" are ALL much better than on "Baby A Go Go". I wonder why it wasn't released?
I love both songs by Barbara.
What I like about the sixties is that ageism was not in full effect then.
Here we go...
This is stereo right!!??
That sounds so good. Thank you Tomatotom.
Barbara McNair was one gorgeous woman!
Motown Records also signed Billy Eckstine, Tony Martin, Bobby Breen [[and other MOR stars) in the mid '60s in an attempt the grab a piece of the 'middle-of-the-road' market. Also, Berry Gordy felt this gave the company an air of "legitimacy" among older listeners [[while defining itself as "The Sound of Young America").
Truly a great song. Still of the highlights of the first "Cellarful of Motown" CD.
I dont enjoy Counting On You Babe at all. In my view, her voice is not coping well because the notes are not in her vocal range.
My first time hearing it,cool.
I guesss I'm missing something. These songs sound like b sides to me and her voice is pleasant MOR sounding to me. I guess I may need enlightening. Her acting appealed more to me.
Rob,
'Countin' on You Babe' was mixed to stereo specifically for that set from the Multitrack for that set IIRC.
[[As per TomatoTom's video. For some reason the first 'Countin' on You Babe' was uploaded in mono).
I agree with Xtown and disagree with Rob on this!
'Baby A -Go-Go' [[an original Hitsville mono mix) is far more polished with the addition of those exquisite strings [[Paul Riser arranged no doubt) and a much more more polished vocal by Barbara IMHO.
[[As with a lot of Motown product from the time, it is a puzzle why this master wasn't released)!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Motown should have concentrated on these sort of tunes with Barbara rather than the standards and Mo R stuff they cut on her.
Cheers
Paul
Last edited by bradburger; 01-09-2017 at 04:58 PM.
Here's a nice clean version of 'Baby A Go-Go' as issued on 'A Cellarful of Motown Vol 1: -
[[It sounds like the first video was recorded from an acetate and possibly then onto a cassette).
Cheers
Paul
While that may be true, Marv, she was only 31 when she signed with Motown. Barbara had her best years in front of her. By the late 60's she had appeared in a movie with Elvis and one with Sidney Poitier, had her own TV show for a couple of years, and was headlining in Vegas. Her Motown stint was a lead up to better things for her.
Baby A Go Go is firmly in my Cellarful top ten...
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