Favorite Motown String Arrangements?

[Sotosound]

Great track. It's a shame that the strings got suppressed during the first verse in the 7" mono mix.

I also love the strings on "My Whole World Ended" by David Ruffin and dislike the fact that they similarly were dropped for part of the 7" mix.

[Sotosound]

Stevie Wonder-I'm Wondering
Stevie Wonder- Shoe Be Do Be Do Dah Day
Four Tops-I Can't Help Myself
Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston- It Takes Two
Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving

There are also some fabulous little arrangements on R Dean Taylor's Back Street, Edwin Starr-Soul City [[Open Your Arms To Me)-Blinky & Edwin-Oh How Happy

but the biggest prize from me goes to

Temptations - Smiling Faces Sometimes

Regarding Stevie Wonder- Shoo Be Do Be Do Dah Day, the strings are great but you'd hardly know it on the 7" mix since they're barely audible.

The strings on "Honey Chile" by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas also got a similar treatment.

In both cases it's stereo for me.

[arr&bee]

My fav is the magnificent strings of[since i lost my baby-the temptations]so sad and beautiful.

[theboyfromxtown]

Regarding Stevie Wonder- Shoo Be Do Be Do Dah Day, the strings are great but you'd hardly know it on the 7" mix since they're barely audible.

The strings on "Honey Chile" by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas also got a similar treatment.

In both cases it's stereo for me.

Jimmy Ruffin- Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got and Marvin's Too Busy ..on US mono 45 worked the other way.

[TomatoTom123]

I also love the strings on "My Whole World Ended" by David Ruffin and dislike the fact that they similarly were dropped for part of the 7" mix.

YES! Can't believe I forgot about that heartbreakingly brilliant tune with its heavenly string work

[Sotosound]

Jimmy Ruffin- Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got and Marvin's Too Busy ..on US mono 45 worked the other way.

The certainly did. The intro to "Too Busy.." just isn't the same in stereo, or on the alternative mono mix which we seem to get everywhere these days.

The same also applies to "I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose" by Marv Johnson, which sounds so anaemic in every way in stereo.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Marvin & Tammi's "This Poor Heart Of Mine" from their "Easy" album. The strings on the instrumental break are typical-Motown HOT! The Detroit Symphony String players surely earned their money during the recording session for that one!

[144man]

What's So Good About Goodbye - The Miracles
Way Over There - Miracles
I Don't Want to Take A Chance - Mary Wells
My Baby - The Temptations
Ask Any Girl - The Supremes
Don't Compare Me With Her - Kim Weston
You're Gonna Love My Baby - Barbara McNair
Lonely Lonely Girl Am I - The Velvelettes

[sansradio]

Has anyone mentioned Michael's "I Wanna Be Where You Are"? Those strings at the beginning send me.

[kje71]

Has anyone mentioned Michael's "I Wanna Be Where You Are"? Those strings at the beginning send me.

Ahh, yes of course, enjoy!

https://soundcloud.com/imaginationmi...ou-are-strings

[sansradio]

Thanks, kje71! Heavenly!

[jobucats]

Lonely Lonely Girl Am I - The Velvelettes

I heard this for the first time today. I loved the song and the strings on this recording are the BEST!

[theboyfromxtown]

Clearly Midnight Johnny loves those strings.....here is his latest extended version

[RanRan79]

I love the strings on "I'm Ready for Love" by Martha and the Vandellas. I believe it's the mono version that I love the best. Some of those early Motown strings, like on "What's So Good About Goodbye" are absolutely great.

[nomis]

the rise in volume in the strings half way thru Diana's often looked over masterpiece "Now That Your Gone" for me [[1980)