Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers - Malinda!

[marv2]

How about some "Canadian Motown Soul"? Bobby & the Vancouver were very popular in the Detroit area and their song "Malida" was a personal favorite of mine. I never knew but were they and their music popular elsewhere, across the board?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNnuankmT60

[arr&bee]

Hey marv,what a great song written by smokey,that thing is just cool.

[soulwally]

Oh I've Been Blessed has been played on the Northern Soul scene. Like most people, I first heard of Bobby and the Vancouvers when the delicious Does Your Mama Know About Me got a release in the UK. The song was a one-off, style-wise, for them, and after that first album the Vancouvers were out of the act, on record at least [[although we all know what happened to Tommy Chong!).
This is gorgeous...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsFuZ4Lap4Q

[westgrandboulevard]

One thing about 'Does You Mama...' [[which I love) is that to my ears it seems to be recorded 'low' - always sounds muted, and not quite the clarity and dynamic range of some of Bobby's other songs.

Love Malinda...but one of my really top favourites is "Don't Be Afraid".

Bobby's voice, the lyrics, the strings, and the combined vocal interplay between the Originals and The Andantes. Motown doesn't get any better for me....

[soulwally]

You're right on every point there, wgb. Unfortunately 'Mama' sounds like it was recorded in mud [[ a bit like most of Staunton and Walker's productions, think Say You). Bobby had [[has) a keening kind of voice that works on most of the things he did, such as I Am Your Man.

[Nothing But Soul]

Hey, Marv! First a Junior Walker thread and now a Bobby Taylor thread. Thanks for giving us a break from the 24/7 DRATS blather!

[marv2]

Hey, Marv! First a Junior Walker thread and now a Bobby Taylor thread. Thanks for giving us a break from the 24/7 DRATS blather!

I hear you and you're welcome! Motown was so much more than a one horse show! They created some really great music that just gets totally ignore on this forum.

[marv2]

You're right on every point there, wgb. Unfortunately 'Mama' sounds like it was recorded in mud [[ a bit like most of Staunton and Walker's productions, think Say You). Bobby had [[has) a keening kind of voice that works on most of the things he did, such as I Am Your Man.


Soulwally, for the few releases Bobby Taylor got on Motown, they all were quite special in my opinion. "I Am Your Man" was one of them. Yes Bobby & the Vancouvers were very talented and Berry knew it! There were some politics involved that I dont know if we'll get into, but Bobby explained some of it in an interview he did a few years ago in Hong Kong that was posted here but we have never been able to located it again in the internet.

[roger]

Wasn't Bobby actually from New York, though the group itself was founded in Vancouver B.C.? I seem to recall me describing him as "Canadian" in a thread some years back and being corrected.

There was a 2CD Anthology of his Motown recordings issued in the U.K. in 2006, however the notes by Paul Dixon don't make mention of this ....

http://www.amazon.com/Motown-Anthology-Bobby-Taylor/dp/B000EULS7A

Personally I've loved "Does Your Mama Know About Me" from the first time I heard it [[which was probably about two years after it was released), though to me it doesn't sound like a "Motown" record, being stylistically a lot more like the sound that was coming out of Philadelphia or New Jersey at that time. "Malinda" has grown on me over the years.

Roger

[marv2]

Hey marv,what a great song written by smokey,that thing is just cool.

arr&bee, it was a great song and memorable one for me, my brother and I am sure the buddies we had growing up on the block in those days. Picture 4-5 little dudes between the ages of 8-11 trying to sing this song on the sidewalk! LOL! That was us and that's how much we liked "Malinda"!

[BigAl]

Gordy took a quite the gamble on this group and scored. I thought it was interesting that their first [[only?) national charter, "Does Your Mama Know About Me," was co-penned by group member Tommy Chong. [[Yes, that Tommy Chong.) I recall that Bobby Taylor maintained that he "discovered" The Jackson Five when they opened for his group and he sent them to Hitsville for an audition. Later, Gladys Knight reportedly claimed to have discovered them, and as we all know, that "discovery" was eventually credited to Diana Ross.

[marv2]

Wasn't Bobby actually from New York, though the group itself was founded in Vancouver B.C.? I seem to recall me describing him as "Canadian" in a thread some years back and being corrected.

There was a 2CD Anthology of his Motown recordings issued in the U.K. in 2006, however the notes by Paul Dixon don't make mention of this ....

http://www.amazon.com/Motown-Anthology-Bobby-Taylor/dp/B000EULS7A

Personally I've loved "Does Your Mama Know About Me" from the first time I heard it [[which was probably about two years after it was released), though to me it doesn't sound like a "Motown" record, being stylistically a lot more like the sound that was coming out of Philadelphia or New Jersey at that time. "Malinda" has grown on me over the years.

Roger

Roger, they were a Canadian group, hands down!

[marv2]

Gordy took a quite the gamble on this group and scored. I thought it was interesting that their first [[only?) national charter, "Does Your Mama Know About Me," was co-penned by group member Tommy Chong. [[Yes, that Tommy Chong.) I recall that Bobby Taylor maintained that he "discovered" The Jackson Five when they opened for his group and he sent them to Hitsville for an audition. Later, Gladys Knight reportedly claimed to have discovered them, and as we all know, that "discovery" was eventually credited to Diana Ross.

Bobby Taylor discovered them. He told Gladys who was the first to tell Berry and Motown. Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard discovered Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and Mary was the first to tell Berry about them!

[BigAl]

Interesting!
Maybe we should start a "Six Degrees of Hitsville" thread. [[Or have we already?)

[motony]

Besides "Does Your Mama Know" never heard any of their other records on Soul or Pop radio in the South.The first time I heard "malinda" was a LIVE recording on that last Motortown Revue LP in '69.

[roger]

I knew that BOBBY TAYLOR was instrumental in the introduction of THE JACKSON FIVE to Motown and I've heard a number of different versions of the tale over the years, however I've found a video-interview with BOBBY TAYLOR on you-tube in which he states that the first Motowner to see THE JACKSON FIVE was GLADYS KNIGHT and that it was he who introduced them to BERRY GORDY after he was told by them that Miss Knight had left them in limbo ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yPcX-GRTo8

The Allmusic biography of Mr Taylor states his origins as follows ...

"Taylor was a veteran when he inked with Motown in 1967, he was born February 18, 1936, making him 31 at the time of the signing. Born in North Carolina, his folks moved to Washington, D.C., where he grew up in a public housing project and sang doo wops with friends on the street corners, sometimes joined by a tall, skinny kid named Marvin Gaye. Taylor's father was a full-blooded Native American and his grandfather, who had a singing group, was Puerto Rican. The Taylors knew all the musicians and their home was used as a resting place and motel for many artists who came through the district. "

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bobby-taylor-mn0000374639

Anyway ... back to the music .. this is a recording from after Mr Taylor left Motown that I know has quite a following amongst the NS crowd ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P56RwvzjUIo

Roger

[marv2]

Interesting!
Maybe we should start a "Six Degrees of Hitsville" thread. [[Or have we already?)



Now that is a good idea!

[marv2]

Besides "Does Your Mama Know" never heard any of their other records on Soul or Pop radio in the South.The first time I heard "malinda" was a LIVE recording on that last Motortown Revue LP in '69.

Motony, that is what I was most curiouse about. I knew Bobby & the Vancouvers were very popular in our region: Michigan, Northern Ohio, Canada, etc) but I don't remember if they were big nationally.

[marv2]

I knew that BOBBY TAYLOR was instrumental in the introduction of THE JACKSON FIVE to Motown and I've heard a number of different versions of the tale over the years, however I've found a video-interview with BOBBY TAYLOR on you-tube in which he states that the first Motowner to see THE JACKSON FIVE was GLADYS KNIGHT and that it was he who introduced them to BERRY GORDY after he was told by them that Miss Knight had left them in limbo ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yPcX-GRTo8

The Allmusic biography of Mr Taylor states his origins as follows ...

"Taylor was a veteran when he inked with Motown in 1967, he was born February 18, 1936, making him 31 at the time of the signing. Born in North Carolina, his folks moved to Washington, D.C., where he grew up in a public housing project and sang doo wops with friends on the street corners, sometimes joined by a tall, skinny kid named Marvin Gaye. Taylor's father was a full-blooded Native American and his grandfather, who had a singing group, was Puerto Rican. The Taylors knew all the musicians and their home was used as a resting place and motel for many artists who came through the district. "

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bobby-taylor-mn0000374639

Anyway ... back to the music .. this is a recording from after Mr Taylor left Motown that I know has quite a following amongst the NS crowd ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P56RwvzjUIo

Roger

Roger, you are right. That's how it went. Gladys and the Bobby Taylor. Bobby was their first Motown producer as well.

[marv2]

Wasn't Bobby actually from New York, though the group itself was founded in Vancouver B.C.? I seem to recall me describing him as "Canadian" in a thread some years back and being corrected.

There was a 2CD Anthology of his Motown recordings issued in the U.K. in 2006, however the notes by Paul Dixon don't make mention of this ....

http://www.amazon.com/Motown-Anthology-Bobby-Taylor/dp/B000EULS7A

Personally I've loved "Does Your Mama Know About Me" from the first time I heard it [[which was probably about two years after it was released), though to me it doesn't sound like a "Motown" record, being stylistically a lot more like the sound that was coming out of Philadelphia or New Jersey at that time. "Malinda" has grown on me over the years.

Roger

Roger, "Does Your Mama Know About Me" does have that rich, smooth Philly Soul sound to it. I remember it was a big, big radio hit in the Detroit area around Christmas time 1968.
I know it came out a few months earlier, but when I hear it now, it brings me back to Christmas '68 for some reason.

[MIKEW-UK]

Malinda was written by Smokey Robinson, Al Cleveland and Terry Johnson. Given that we will never hear Smokey sing this composition, Chazz Dixon does a very Smokey - like rendition on this classic song..... drums [[ machines?) are a little leaden but the vocal is nice and the song outstanding with typical Smokey wordplay..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ0AwznwYtc

[marv2]

MikeW-UK, I don't know how you found this.........but thank you! This guy is really channeling Smokey! Deon Jackson, whom we lost just last week at times sounded a lot like Smokey also.

[144man]

I've always liked "Malinda".

The group never had a hit in the UK, but they did appear over here prior to "Mama" when Brian Epstein brought them over as support to Chris Clark. They were introduced simply as the Vancouvers, and very good they were too.

[thomas96]

Soulwally, for the few releases Bobby Taylor got on Motown, they all were quite special in my opinion. "I Am Your Man" was one of them. Yes Bobby & the Vancouvers were very talented and Berry knew it! There were some politics involved that I dont know if we'll get into, but Bobby explained some of it in an interview he did a few years ago in Hong Kong that was posted here but we have never been able to located it again in the internet.

Bobby Taylor is the greatest soul singer there is in my opinion. He taught little Mikey how to sing and groomed him to be a star. Every time I hear Michael's voice singing I hear a lot of Bobby in him.

[marv2]

Not the interview I was looking for, but here's a nice, brief interview Bobby Taylor did focusing on his early sightings of Michael and the Jackson 5:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yPcX-GRTo8

[thomas96]

Not the interview I was looking for, but here's a nice, brief interview Bobby Taylor did focusing on his early sightings of Michael and the Jackson 5:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yPcX-GRTo8

Marv, I believe we were looking for an old Bobby interview a while ago, right? From some Hong Kong Radio DJ? I don't think we ever found it, and I assume that's the one you were looking for. In addition to that interview and the one we're looking for, there is a lot of fantastic insight from Bobby in the documentary "Michael Jackson: The Life of An Icon."

[marv2]

Marv, I believe we were looking for an old Bobby interview a while ago, right? From some Hong Kong Radio DJ? I don't think we ever found it, and I assume that's the one you were looking for. In addition to that interview and the one we're looking for, there is a lot of fantastic insight from Bobby in the documentary "Michael Jackson: The Life of An Icon."

Yes the one I have been looking for is over an hour long where Bobby really told it like it was! LOL!

[marv2]

Right this very second, station CKWW 580 AM out of Windsor, ON serving the Detroit area is playing Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers- "Does Your Mama Know About Me". It was such a popular record in our area when it was released that it still gets played!

[radionixon]

I play Bobby and the Vancouvers A LOT on my show [[including Malinda!) - they always go down really well. I heard he'd moved to China a while back to run a recording studio.

[marv2]

I play Bobby and the Vancouvers A LOT on my show [[including Malinda!) - they always go down really well. I heard he'd moved to China a while back to run a recording studio.

Radionixon, yes Bobby now resides in Hong Kong. Is there a link to your broadcasts?

[thomas96]

I play Bobby and the Vancouvers A LOT on my show [[including Malinda!) - they always go down really well. I heard he'd moved to China a while back to run a recording studio.

He's in Hong Kong working with some youth on singing. Not sure if he actually has a recording studio, but he performs live 3 times a week. 80 years of experience and throat cancer sure as hell won't stop Bobby!

[radionixon]

Radionixon, yes Bobby now resides in Hong Kong. Is there a link to your broadcasts?

The online archive is at:

http://www.mixcloud.com/discoveringmotown

There's a thread elsewhere in the forum called "Discovering Motown Live: February [[something something)..." which has details of track lists, artwork, links to the individual shows etc.

But enough about me, back to Bobby. I didn't know he was in Hong Kong - I remember a while ago I read somewhere [[possibly in The Complete Motown Singles? I can't physically check right now) that he ran the "Bobby Taylor Recording Studios" [[or some similar name) in Beijing. Good for him, I thought. And even if it's not true, good for him that he's still performing, he's one of the unheralded greats and he deserves his due.

[MIKEW-UK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RM4lIwjZ4Q

[MIKEW-UK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW_SQ5Wn9ik

[marv2]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RM4lIwjZ4Q

This is completely, totally....................AWESOME! He is 80 years old and still doing his thing. It gives me hope. God Bless Bobby Taylor!

[marv2]

MikeW-UK can't thank you enough for finding and sharing these. Bobby Taylor is proof that you don't have to let yourself or your talent go down just because you get a bit older!

[MIKEW-UK]

Marv, glad you enjoyed it... Bobby is hugely talented in so many ways....

here's an interview with Bobby just a few weeks ago

http://hk-magazine.com/city-living/article/bobby-taylor

[MIKEW-UK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orzrz2sHxJ8

[marv2]

Again, thank you so much. Did you also like Edwin Starr?

[thomas96]

This is completely, totally....................AWESOME! He is 80 years old and still doing his thing. It gives me hope. God Bless Bobby Taylor!

I don't have a link but you need to see his version of Sexual Healing live in Hong Kong. Better than Marvin's in my opinion.

[marv2]

I don't have a link but you need to see his version of Sexual Healing live in Hong Kong. Better than Marvin's in my opinion.


We must find it!

[thomas96]

We must find it!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTiW-IqVX88

One reason I like it better is because I like the band better than the synths in Marvin's recording. Bobby goes off on this one too though.

[thomas96]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Zhx3kZcy0

Best ever!

[thomas96]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GFW22SOYs4

[snakepit]

quite like this


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh6ih_mC1HE&list=PLTaOJyUcCJwW1kIwJnPZN_XZgXfrgKRC8

[snakepit]

my favourite but unfortunately....not the full track


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsglJCszP3c

[marv2]

quite like this


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh6ih_mC1HE&list=PLTaOJyUcCJwW1kIwJnPZN_XZgXfrgKRC8

Now that song makes me feel real, which is what music is suppose to do~! Thanks Snakepit!

[marv2]

It has that Jazzy, early 60's Ray Charles vibe.........great recording.

[snakepit]

"Don't be Afraid" was a big play on the Northern Soul/crossover scene in UK but for some reason, youtube clips won't play !


Found one!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efB_wSb-XDA

[snakepit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nxkXzigEi0

Motown track on Jackson 5 and Four Tops, recorded by Bobby Taylor after Motown

[snakepit]

Another favourite ..."Blackmail"

I like quite a few Bobby Taylor Motown tracks..but was very disappointed wit the anthology double CD....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSiN8GOyrx8

[marv2]

Another favourite ..."Blackmail"

I like quite a few Bobby Taylor Motown tracks..but was very disappointed wit the anthology double CD....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSiN8GOyrx8

They never do a good and comprehensive release on Bobby Taylor and many of the other very talent, but less celebrated artists from Motown. It sucks!

[marv2]

Now this song "Blackmail" has the "true" late 60's Motown Sound that was so very popular regionally speaking and by that I mean North Central, Great Lakes, Detroit, Windsor, Toledo, Cleveland and Ontario Canada. This is the type of song that got radio play on the stations covering that area. Most have probably never heard much of Bobby & the Vancouvers work.

[snakepit]

not sure I understand you there

the anthology pulled together ALL his tracks...nothing wrong wit the CD...it just that the vaulted tracks were not as good as "One Girl", "So this is love", "Malinda" etc IMHO

[snakepit]

They never do a good and comprehensive release on Bobby Taylor and many of the other very talent, but less celebrated artists from Motown. It sucks!


Motown UK , and Ace / Kent have done Motown proud over the last ten years or so...with a few exceptions

Still waiting for The Originals to be fully covered.

[marv2]

They never do a good and comprehensive release on Bobby Taylor and many of the other very talent, but less celebrated artists from Motown. It sucks!


Motown UK , and Ace / Kent have done Motown proud over the last ten years or so...with a few exceptions

Still waiting for The Originals to be fully covered.

I'd like to see more on the Originals, Jimmy Ruffin and Edwin Starr.

[radionixon]

I'd like to see more on the Originals, Jimmy Ruffin and Edwin Starr.

Agree on the Originals and Edwin Starr [[the latter is crying out for a proper retrospective!), but Jimmy had a fantastic 2CD Spectrum Motown anthology a few years ago, in the same series as Bobby Taylor's.

[sunshineonacloudyday]

I recently saw Malinda posted on fb by someone who called it "unknown Motown", haha, I guess it's relative to time/place because it was well-known and frequently heard in the SF Bay Area, as were other songs off that BT&V Lp. BTW, "Does Your Mama.." began as...
8139

[sunshineonacloudyday]

And I love that 2-CD Bobby Taylor set, which really shows his versatility. One of my favorites off that set is his marvelous take on "In Other Words[[Fly Me To The Moon)". The only song I'm missing is his version of "The Bells"

[marv2]

I recently saw Malinda posted on fb by someone who called it "unknown Motown", haha, I guess it's relative to time/place because it was well-known and frequently heard in the SF Bay Area, as were other songs off that BT&V Lp. BTW, "Does Your Mama.." began as...
8139

That is strange becaues it was very well known in Detroit. We use to sing it as kids.

[marv2]

sunshineonacloudyday, where'd you find those pics of that master recording?

[sunshineonacloudyday]

sunshineonacloudyday, where'd you find those pics of that master recording?

From my collection

[marv2]

From my collection

Nice.....................!!!!

[sunshineonacloudyday]

Marv, do you know where I can find "The Bells" on CD? I think it may have been prev unissued.

[marv2]

Marv, do you know where I can find "The Bells" on CD? I think it may have been prev unissued.

I'm sorry at the moment I do not, but if I come across it, I will send you a private message with the details, cool?

[sunshineonacloudyday]

Great, thanks!

[Roger Polhill]

Marv, do you know where I can find "The Bells" on CD? I think it may have been prev unissued.
Do you mean "Baby I`m For Real" [[The Bells), if so It is on "Motown Sings Motown Treasures Vol 1 & 2".

[sunshineonacloudyday]

Do you mean "Baby I`m For Real" [[The Bells), if so It is on "Motown Sings Motown Treasures Vol 1 & 2".

Wow, thanks Roger! Ordered! I thought I had it on one of the 'Cellarful' CDs, was just looking for it last week to no avail.

[marv2]

Do you mean "Baby I`m For Real" [[The Bells), if so It is on "Motown Sings Motown Treasures Vol 1 & 2".

Good work Roger and thanks!

[Roger Polhill]

The pleasure is all mine!

[MIKEW-UK]

Tommy Chong and Wes Henderson were part of a band from Vancouver called Little Daddy and The Bachelors, before a changing line up and hook up with Bobby Taylor morphed into Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers. Tommy Chong's guitar lead was an important part of the first album.... you can hear more of his lead guitar on this record of Little Daddy and The Bachelors....... spot the similarity in style and tone?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cr6GQxOUnI

[MIKEW-UK]

here's The Bells by Bobby and The Vancouvers....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJnBh3nJ4tE

[Honkeydog]

I read in wikipedia that Malinda was written by Rick James but he wasn't given credit because he was basically "on the lam" during that time. I've also seen where others are credited for this song. Anyone have a definite answer / source on this?

[motony]

I only heard "Does Your Mama Know About Me" on the Soul stations in Florida. I only heard "Malinda" after playing a promo copy at the local record store. Then when I purchased a LIVE LP that had a Live version of "Malinda" on it.

[snakepit]

Malinda [[William Robinson-Al Cleveland-Terry Johnson) published Jobete 15-Jun-68
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 03-Jun-68 ; produced by Smokey Robinson, A