Sounds like Motown but wasn't

[luke]

Im Doin Fine Now--NYC
The Real Thing-Tina Britt
Feel the Need in Me--Detroit Emerlads

[marv2]

J. J. Barnes and "Baby Please Come Back"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n82CFE7Fdc

[marv2]

Jackie Ross and "Selfish One"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4mEuuVIcAA&list=RD02xnh5zjPfkM8

[detmotownguy]

Wow thanks Marv! She has that look in her eyes lol! She has a wonderful voice.

[marv2]

Wow thanks Marv! She has that look in her eyes lol! She has a wonderful voice.

Can't you just imagine Mary Wells singing that one and making it a hit?

[robb_k]

7371
"Lucky To Be loved By You", "Don't Lead Me On, Baby" by Emanuel Laskey
"That Was My Girl"-Parliaments
"My World Is On Fire"-Jimmy Mack
"Happiness Is Here", "Challenge My Love"-Tobi Lark
"I'll Never Let You Go"-O'Jays
"Run One Flight Of Stairs"-Gloria Jones
"You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet", Let Me Know"-Mary Love
"Dear Lover", "Me Without You"-Mary Wells
"As Long As The Feeling Is There"-Fantastic Four
"Poor Unfortunate Me"-J.J. Barnes
"Too Young, Too Much, Too Soon"-Spinners
"Actions Speak Louder Than Words"-David Ruffin
"Open The Door To Your Heart", "Our Love Is In The Pocket", "Somebody, Somewhere Needs You", Angel baby"-Darrell Banks
"The Touch of Venus", "Love Belongs To Everyone"-Sandy Wynns
"Wonderful One"-Theresa Lindsey

[mowest]

Pat Lewis: "Warning" and "Love's Creeping Up On Me"
Edwin Starr: "Agent Double O Soul" and "Stop Her On Sight"

[supremester]

Those are all great examples. This, Nothing But a Heartache by the Flirtations, I went ape over immediately - thrilled that Martha had a true comeback smash on her hands. I was shocked to learn it wasn't her and even more shocked that it didn't hit. The link has an interesting intro....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMPzgCLNCHs

[Methuselah2]

The Formations/AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS [1968]

Written by Leon Huff & Jerry Akines

Would have fit nicely for The Isley Bros., too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Un-q9fISwE

Thanks to Soulman7262 for the YouTube posting.

[jsmith]

Can't believe that no one has mentioned Fontella Bass "Rescue Me" yet.

[Nothing But Soul]

Jan Bradley - "Mama Didn't Lie" [[sounds like early Mary Wells)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piQXVTR1uwY

The Platters - "With This Ring" [[Sonny Turner sounding very much like Levi Stubbs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO0Zba2Y5Uw

Frankie Beverly and the Butlers - "Because of My Heart" [[Frankie Beverly in his pre-Maze days).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlM2cmaBBS0

[jack020]

Two Hearts- Phil Collins

[woodward]

Im Doin Fine Now--NYC
The Real Thing-Tina Britt
Feel the Need in Me--Detroit Emerlads

Ironic that I'm Doing Fine Now was the first song mentioned. Are you aware that this song was composed by the one and only Thom Bell who led the Spinners to their monumental success. I often wonder how well the Spinners would have done if Thom Bell was with them at Motown. Think about it!!!
It is a great song.

[RossHolloway]

Stolen Hours - Patrice Holloway [[post-Motown)


http://youtu.be/c_ap1bI4urE

[RossHolloway]

Rose Batiste - Hit and Run.


http://youtu.be/LU7mCf63dvg

[MIKEW-UK]

Dee Edwards Why Can't There Be Love


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vJSf4LI0Hg

[marv2]

The Foundations - "Build Me Up Buttercup" sounds like a song that would have been a hit for the Contours.

[MIKEW-UK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsaeA76m6Go

[RossHolloway]

Rose Batiste - I Miss My Baby. I think they were doing their best to imitate the HDH sound and sounds like it could have been a record for Kim Weston, The Velvelettes or even the Supremes.


http://youtu.be/4Luo8VIG2Lo

[lakedistrictlad1]

I can't believe no-one has posted this ultimate tribute to the Supremes. It even has the classic H-D-H sax break....

http://youtu.be/NUg-6nEsZ1g

[bradsupremes]

Sunday Morning People - Honey Cone

To me, the most Motown sounding song by a non-Motown label. Of course, it was written and produced by HDH, recorded in Detroit with the Funk Brothers, but it sounds like it was recorded right in the Snakepit at Hitsville.

[smark21]

Stop by the Spice Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JD6ejmlpa8

[Methuselah2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsaeA76m6Go

Mike - Sounds a great deal like a chunk of THIS OLD HEART OF MINE [[IS WEAK FOR YOU). The Astaire/Rogers routine works beautifully. Thanks for posting. Hadn't heard this one before.

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhMfVLz65IA

[theboyfromxtown]

Notice the incorrect label credits


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyDwduBaWpI

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkCJO1Bs0v4

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6jQ6mkHtxo

[Nothing But Soul]

Mike - Sounds a great deal like a chunk of THIS OLD HEART OF MINE [[IS WEAK FOR YOU). The Astaire/Rogers routine works beautifully. Thanks for posting. Hadn't heard this one before.

Funny you should say "Can't Satisfy" sounds like "This Old Heart of Mine." Holland, Dozier, and Holland thought so, too. They sued and won. H-D-H, along with Sylvia Moy, ended up with songwriting credits for "Can't Satisfy" [[originally claimed by Curtis Mayfield). "Can't Satisfy" was an R&B hit for the Impressions in 1966.

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loYTCjWcchI

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKEW3n1D33o

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woam9rjeVN8

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGr8vnbp65A

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZC7PMp-2Qs

[theboyfromxtown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7KPXqNpPG8

[rovereab]

Back In Love Again - Donna Summer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0iCY4Yfpq8

I'm Your Man - Wham - links nicely with Love Is Like An Itching :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvDi04MPvCQ

Ain't Nothing But A Houseparty - Show Stoppers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvrAce0fK4Q

[roger]

I've always thought this owed a lot to "Needle In a Haystack" by THE VELVELETTES ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jpd43ezaqQ
Roger

[Methuselah2]

Funny you should say "Can't Satisfy" sounds like "This Old Heart of Mine." Holland, Dozier, and Holland thought so, too. They sued and won. H-D-H, along with Sylvia Moy, ended up with songwriting credits for "Can't Satisfy" [[originally claimed by Curtis Mayfield). "Can't Satisfy" was an R&B hit for the Impressions in 1966.

Sounds like justice was served. Thanks very much for that update, NBS. Definitely no escaping the similarity of those tunes.

[roger]

And this to the "Can't Help Myself" era FOUR TOPS ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbmOEEWLtqE
Roger

[roger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGr8vnbp65A

But Mr Boyfromxtown .. we learnt a few years back that "Boo-Ga-Loo" WAS a Motown recording .. it used the backing track of a vaulted CONTOURS song called "Do The See-Saw" ..

http://www.allmusic.com/song/do-the-see-saw-mt0040672767

Roger :)

[MotownLover]

Never heard the Billy Ocean tune. Really is catchy and very 60s Motownesque, yes?

[Nothing But Soul]

I thought of Motown the first I heard this song [[nearly 40 years ago) and every time I've heard it since.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dANdPhs3Ilo

[marv2]

7371
"Lucky To Be loved By You", "Don't Lead Me On, Baby" by Emanuel Laskey
"That Was My Girl"-Parliaments
"My World Is On Fire"-Jimmy Mack
"Happiness Is Here", "Challenge My Love"-Tobi Lark
"I'll Never Let You Go"-O'Jays
"Run One Flight Of Stairs"-Gloria Jones
"You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet", Let Me Know"-Mary Love
"Dear Lover", "Me Without You"-Mary Wells
"As Long As The Feeling Is There"-Fantastic Four
"Poor Unfortunate Me"-J.J. Barnes
"Too Young, Too Much, Too Soon"-Spinners
"Actions Speak Louder Than Words"-David Ruffin
"Open The Door To Your Heart", "Our Love Is In The Pocket", "Somebody, Somewhere Needs You", Angel baby"-Darrell Banks
"The Touch of Venus", "Love Belongs To Everyone"-Sandy Wynns
"Wonderful One"-Theresa Lindsey

Robb, as usual you are right on the money with this list!

[marv2]

Stop by the Spice Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JD6ejmlpa8

This reminds of something Wham would have recorded. Nice song though.

[marv2]

I thought of Motown the first I heard this song [[nearly 40 years ago) and every time I've heard it since.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dANdPhs3Ilo

You too? When I first heard this on the radio, I thought it was the Supremes with Mary Wilson on lead. Maxine has their style down perfectly.

[thanxal]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned anything by The Four Seasons. Opus 17, Let's Hang On, Beggin', Marlena, all have an uncanny resemblance to the Motown Sound. They even recorded for MoWest in the 70s.

[BigAl]

Can't you just imagine Mary Wells singing that one and making it a hit?
Once or twice I've heard that "Selfish One" had been written with Mary Wells in mind. It did follow the formula of "My Guy," by using part of an old pop standard as part of its intro. [["My Guy" used "Canadian Sunset," and "Selfish One" used "Tenderly.") Whether there's any validity in that supposition is anyone's guess I suppose. In any case, had Mary Wells recorded it, it would have been during her 20th Century contract. Her recordings for that label weren't getting all that great a response so I suspect, even if she had recorded it, it would not have gotten the push which Jackie Ross's recording did at Chess.

[BigAl]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned anything by The Four Seasons. Opus 17, Let's Hang On, Beggin', Marlena, all have an uncanny resemblance to the Motown Sound. They even recorded for MoWest in the 70s.
"Let's Hang On, "Workin' My Way Back to You," and "Opus 17" were Linzer/Randell creations [[like "A Lover's Concerto") and that team famously borrowed very heavily from the Hitsville sound, especially HDH's productions.

[thanxal]

"Let's Hang On, "Workin' My Way Back to You," and "Opus 17" were Linzer/Randell creations [[like "A Lover's Concerto") and that team famously borrowed very heavily from the Hitsville sound, especially HDH's productions.
"borrowed" being the nice way of putting it!!!

[luke]

Follow your Heart--Bunny Sigler http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFaN3BFwZB0

[luke]

Yes Woodward I was thinking about Im Doin Fine Now and how it reminds me of I'll Always Love You by the Spinners.

[marv2]

Once or twice I've heard that "Selfish One" had been written with Mary Wells in mind. It did follow the formula of "My Guy," by using part of an old pop standard as part of its intro. [["My Guy" used "Canadian Sunset," and "Selfish One" used "Tenderly.") Whether there's any validity in that supposition is anyone's guess I suppose. In any case, had Mary Wells recorded it, it would have been during her 20th Century contract. Her recordings for that label weren't getting all that great a response so I suspect, even if she had recorded it, it would not have gotten the push which Jackie Ross's recording did at Chess.

BigAl, I didn't know that "Selfish One" may have been intended for Mary Wells. Interesting observations you have regarding the intro to both of the respective records you cited. True, Mary Wells would have been gone from Motown by 1965 so "Selfish One" would have been recorded outside Motown. It just sounded so right for Mary's voice and delivery style.

[BayouMotownMan]

My Man, A Sweet Man-Millie Jackson
Right Back Where We Started From-Maxine Nightingale
Kiss Me Sailor-Diane Renay What A Fool Believes-Doobies

[robb_k]

My Man, A Sweet Man-Millie Jackson
Right Back Where We Started From-Maxine Nightingale
Kiss Me Sailor-Diane Renay What A Fool Believes-DoobiesI

7375I don't think that "Kiss Me Sailor" sounds ANYTHING like Motown. It sounds like typical 1963-64 New York Brill Building Girls Group style.

[tjl]

some feels like "Motown" for me today:

- You Better Get What Goes For You - Margie & The Formations
- Hold Back The Night - The Trammps
- I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzales
- The 81 - Candy & The Kisses
- Big Stone Wall - Tapestry [[same theme as I'll Turn To Stone/Staue Of A Fool)
- A Million And One Dreams - The Bel Larks [[sounds like early Miracles/After All)
- You Make My Dreams - Hall And Oates
- More, More, More Of Your Love - Bob Brady & The Conchords
- The River Is Wide - The Forum
- Please Forgive Me - The Du-Ettes
- Gotta Find A Way - Theresa Lindsay
- A Lady's Man - The Volcanos [[Marvin Gaye type feel from The Trammps)
- Romeo & Juliet - The Reflections
- Mine Exclusively - The Olympics
- When Smokey Sings - ABC
- Hungry Heart - Bruce Sprinsteen
- Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
- Run Baby Run - The Newbeats
- Pleasure Of Your Company - S.N. & The C.T.s
- Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton
- Oh How Happy - Shades Of Blue
- A Lovers Concerto - Toys
- Love Man - Otis Redding
- Yeah Man - Sam Cooke
- Love Land - Charles Watts & The 103rd St. Rhythm Band
- Morning Train - Sheena Easton
- The Motown Song - Rod Stewart
- Stand By Me - Spyder Turner
- Showdown - Archie Bell & The Drells
- I Just Can't Stop Dancing - Archie Bell & The Drells
- Don't Have To Shop Around - The Mad Lads
- Somewhere - Len Barry
- Like A Baby - Len Barry
- Would I Love You - Len Barry

[bradsupremes]

Ouch That Hurt - Dionne Bromfield

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YugvkmZB10

[marv2]

I first heard this one a few years back in Montreal and thought to myself, hmmmm......sounds like a Motown song. Noisettes with "I'll Never Forget You":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4dSEyaT6R8

[R. Mark Desjardins]

Excuse me if this has already been listed, and a poor Jackson 5 wanna be at that,, but "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds. And for what it's worth I know they did a Motown Medley too.

[roger]

Yes Woodward I was thinking about Im Doin Fine Now and how it reminds me of I'll Always Love You by the Spinners.

I recall reading that THOM BELL decided to write and produce for THE SPINNERS [[when he struck up a production deal with Atlantic Records at the same time that THE SPINNERS left Motown and signed for them) because he was such a fan of their old "I'll Always Love You"/"Truly Yours" material. I'm pretty certain that "I'll Be Around" and "Could it be I'm Falling in Love" were his attempts to recreate that type of sound so it makes sense to include "I'm Doing Fine Now" in with them as another homage to Motown.

Roger

[blue_whippet]

Christine Cooper - Heartaches Away My Boy
Patti Labelle - Stir It Up

[roger]

I see someone has mentioned "More, More, More of Your Love" by BOB BRADY & THE CONCORDS .. which was a virtually note-for-note remake of a track off of THE MIRACLES "Away We A Go-Go" L.P.
That brought to mind another "Smokey tribute" from Mr Concord and his group ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3DJCyigtC8
I wonder if Mr Concord was kicking himself a couple of years later for not giving the same treatment to "Tears of a Clown" .. :)
Roger

[luke]

Didnt Gordy turn down One Bad Apple for the J5?

[Roberta75]

Didnt Gordy turn down One Bad Apple for the J5?

His name is Mr Gordy or Mr Berry Gordy. Please show the man some respect for all the music he give us.

[heikki]

Hi!

Thom Bell remembered the Spinners from their early 60s days [[That's What Girls Are Made For) at the Uptown Theater, when they all were playing there and was fascinated by their sound already at that point.

Best regards
Heikki

[marv2]

Didnt Gordy turn down One Bad Apple for the J5?

I heard that he did. I heard that "One Bad Apple" was supposedly written for the Jackson Five. Gordy can't always be right,.......LOL!

Remember he hated "What's Goin' On?" by Marvin Gaye.

[theboyfromxtown]

His name is Mr Gordy or Mr Berry Gordy. Please show the man some respect for all the music he give us.

That's an interesting comment and I should respectfully explain why. Over here in the UK, it is customary to refer to someone in written prose as Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms or even include their christian name. But I do recall reading some time ago reading some American literature [[probably some tabloid!!) that refers to people simply by their surname, What struck me as odd is that I often didn't know the sex of the person until I had more of the text.

I hope this slight drift off ffrom topic does not upset.