This morning, as I was listening to the Four Tops' "Bernadette" with not only the Andante's "Ahhhhssss" between each section and Levi coming back in with his "Bernadette" after what seemed to be the final 'ahhhh', I began to reflect on those slight little effects/innovations that Motown was adding to some of the output. I am focusing more on the output prior to 1968 or so because after that year, it was not uncommon to find very innovative effects being used such as on the Four Tops' Changing Times lp.
Other innovative effects come to mind:
"Reflections"; Supremes ...with that introduction and those spattered 'beep beeps' throughout the song.
"My Baby Must be a Magician";Marvelettes...using Melvin Franklin's "You are under my power...it is the power of love" along with the swooshing guitar.
"Your Wonderful Sweet Love"; Supremes...Sounds like a spoken voice through an old fashioned megaphone
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone"; Temptations...maybe not the same kind of innovation as the others; however that introduction is a masterpiece!
"Nathan Jones"; Supremes...the phasing effect
Honorable mentioned:
"Tears of a Clown"; Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...the introduction using an arrangement and instruments that mimic a circus
"Shotgun"; Jr. Walker & the All Stars"...the gun shot
"My Girl"; Temptations...man, that classic introduction and the string arrangement throughout the song
Do any others stand out to you that demonstrate just how creative and innovative the writers and the arrangers at Motown were?
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