Motown and Other Artists I Have Worked With

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. I have decided to write a blog series on my website about the Motown and other artists I have worked with. You can access it here. I hope you enjoy it. Dennis Coffey

http://denniscoffeysite.com/category/blog/

[motony]

real cool, man.

[smooth]

Hi Dennis

Informative blog with great Motown Historical information.

Thanks for the education!

Abraham Smooth Wilson

[edafan]

wonderful info

edafan

[midnightman]

Wow, I didn't know Janet got involved in a J5 track!

Also interesting to note: Dennis Coffey confirmed Stevie did play drums on "It's a Shame"...

[thommg]

Hello everyone. I have decided to write a blog series on my website about the Motown and other artists I have worked with. You can access it here. I hope you enjoy it. Dennis Coffey

http://denniscoffeysite.com/category/blog/

This is great, Dennis. Thanks for posting. By the way, I loved your book. It was quite informative!

[thomas96]

Thanks, Dennis. Always love to hear what you remember.

[ralpht]

Hi Dennis,
Good to see you posting. Nice blog.

[RossHolloway]

Thanks for sharing your memories and history, very impressive blog.

[dennis_coffey]

Two new posts - Golden World and Impact Records.

[theboyfromxtown]

Keep them coming Dennis.

[soulwally]

It's certainly fascinating stuff from Dennis. It's the first time I've ever seen a photograph of Ed Wingate. What became of him after Berry bought his company?

[ralpht]

Ed Wingate did a lot of recording at my studios[[Tera Shirma) after he sold GW. He may have been using the Ric Tic label at this point, but I don't quite recall.

[ralpht]

Dennis,
Great stuff on your blog.

[robb_k]

Ed Wingate did a lot of recording at my studios[[Tera Shirma) after he sold GW. He may have been using the Ric Tic label at this point, but I don't quite recall.
8779
He did some recording at Terra Shirma when he was operating the New Ric Tic Records [[Blue/Green label), and also, after that label ended, and he and JoAnne were leasing their productions to Columbia.

[robb_k]

It's certainly fascinating stuff from Dennis. It's the first time I've ever seen a photograph of Ed Wingate. What became of him after Berry bought his company?
8780
After 1968, the second sale to Motown, Ed Wingate and JoAnne Bratton still produced some recording sessions and lesed the masters to Columbia , and had one more release by a new Golden World Records in 1971 [["Stompin' Crazy legs" by The modern Times. After Golden World and Ric tic were sold. Ed was busy with his other businesses. He owned a few hotels, a car rental agency, a real estate office [[business) and another business or two. He was a major businessman in The Black Community in Detroit. Unlike Berry Gordy, the music business was always a sideline to him, rather than his main occupation.

[soulwally]

Thanks, robb_k and ralpht.

[imnokid]

Dennis, nice blog. No mention in your sessionography yet of the Bettye LaVette Karen 45s. That wah wahed out Let Me Down Easy is a funkbomb! ;-)

[dennis_coffey]

Thanks. I remember recording with Bettye back in the day but am not sure what songs I played on until I hear the record. I did get the chance to talk to Bettye and her husband in Philadelphia when I received the Funk Brother Pioneer Award from the R&B Foundation. Chuck Bartels, the bass player who worked for Bettye on the road plays with my band every Tuesday night at The Northern Lights Lounge in Detroit. I have just posted a blog on my site about me recording with Wilson Pickett in Muscle Shoals. Check it out.

[imnokid]

Dennis, I believe that you & babbit are on these. I think she said the drummer was Andrew something? BTW, I'm Bettye's husband! lol

Ticket To The Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApOum671CK0

Let Me Down Easy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ruhlkoh6LY

What Condition My Condition Is In
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFSvyTIyGho

A Little Help From My Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ekg4DpdzFk

Hey Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDthC79sdWk

Almost
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yvId_nYDXQ

[dennis_coffey]

Nice to meet you again. The drummer was probably Andrew Smith. He and Babbitt were close friends and both of them went on the road with me when Scorpio was a hit.

[dennis_coffey]

I listened to those tracks and it brought back a lot of memories working with Ollie McLaughlin, Dale Warren, Sonny Sanders and Bettye. Those are great funky records. Mike Theodore and I did some arrangements for Ollie back in the day. The session ended before we could get one of the songs done. Ollie would call me and tell me we owed him one arrangement. I would tell Ollie to book the session and we would deliver it. He never really got the chance to do it. We had a packed house again last night at the Northern Lights Lounge in Detroit. Chuck is a great bass player. I opened up for Rodriguez in Birmingham and London this spring. They were sell out crowds up to 5000 people. We had a blast!

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. I have posted another blog. This one is on me working with Ringo Starr.

[dennis_coffey]

Hi folks. I have posted a blog on me working with Rodriguez on my website.

[dennis_coffey]

Hello. I have added a post on The Dramatics to my blogs.

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. I have a new blog post on my website of me and Kid Rock at SXSW.

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. I just posted a new blog on working with Holland, Dozier, and Holland.

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. I have posted two new blogs on me playing with The Roots Band on the Jimmy Fallon Show and me attending a Sound Garden concert and hanging out with them backstage.

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. I posted two new blogs including live videos. Check them out.

[Soul Sister]

Good information, Dennis. Nice website.
Thanks for sharing.

S.S.
***

[theboyfromxtown]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJEPs732LY

[dennis_coffey]

Great Video! I had forgotten how talented Del was. I co-wrote and recorded Move it On Over with him. The first million seller I ever played on was Handy Man by Del. The last time I spoke to Del was at a club he was appearing at in NYC. Del didn't know I was in the audience and recently had an album out with Tom Petty. A lot of the songs he did that night I had played on. His encore song was Move it On Over. I went back stage and hung out with him after the show. He used to tell me the Beatles were his opening act in the UK. He was a great artist!

[stephanie]

I am a HUGE Del Shannon fan! Dennis I didnt know you co wrote Move it on Over I first heard that song in the 80s! The album Drop Down and Get Me [[his comeback with Sea of Love) was awesome and its good to know that you were on that the music was good. Very talented falsetto and ahead of his time. Really miss him and his music.

[stephanie]

Please watch the Scorpio clip a lot of young people can learn from this master! Dennis Coffey you are the man!

[dennis_coffey]

You can see an interview I did here in Detroit yesterday morning.

http://m.clickondetroit.com/news/uniquely-detroit-dennis-coffey/31071434

[Cosmic Truth]

Denis, do you plan on doing an article on your experiences working with Norman Whitfield?

[dennis_coffey]

I am working on it now.

[dennis_coffey]

Here is my blog on Norman Whitfield. http://denniscoffeysite.com/norman-whitfield/

[dennis_coffey]

Here is my blog on Jimi Hendrix. http://denniscoffeysite.com/jimi-hendrix/

[imnokid]

dennis
I am enjoying your blog. Keep up the good work!

[midnight johnny]

Dennis....thanks so much for posting this important and fascinating information!!

[dennis_coffey]

Here is the story of why I did not tour with The Funk Brothers. http://denniscoffeysite.com/to-be-or-not-to-be-a-funk-brother/

[alanh]

Dennis - thanks so much for starting your blog and sharing your experiences with us....and also for keeping us up to date with your new postings here on SDF. Fascinating information and history.

[dennis_coffey]

I had the chance to work with Don Was at Concert of Colors. http://denniscoffeysite.com/don-was/

[dennis_coffey]

Hear is blog about me doing my first recording session at the age of 15. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-first-recording-session-dennis-coffey/

[MIKEW-UK]

Hi Dennis, great blog! If you don't have a copy of I'm Gone, there is a copy for sale on ebay right now for $9.99!! Surprised to see the musician credits on the label, as musicians rarely were credited until years later.
9246http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MI-rockabilly-Vic-Gallon-Im-gone-Gondola-1414-LISTEN-/380621797815

[dennis_coffey]

Hi Mike. Thanks for the info. I bought the record yesterday and they are sending it to me. I have one copy but a backup copy is always good.

[dennis_coffey]

Here another blog on my second recording session at Fortune Records with some great pictures! http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-second-recording-session/

[imnokid]

nice. Dennis, if I may offer an observation. People may be more apt to comment if they didn't have to sign name and email everytime they want to comment. It's stopping MY lazy ass! lol... Maybe make a way to keep someone who has previously commented stay signed in, like on this forum?

[Cosmic Truth]

I really enjoyed reading about you working with Norman Whitfield, Dennis.

[dennis_coffey]

Making music and money in Detroit. http://denniscoffeysite.com/lots-of-music-to-be-played-lots-of-money-to-be-made-part-one/

[dennis_coffey]

I remember a lot of good times working with The Royaltones at Bay Shores in Somer's Point, NJ. http://denniscoffeysite.com/bay-shores-in-somers-point-new-jersey/

[dennis_coffey]

Here is my blog of my earliest recordings as an artist while I was in the army. http://denniscoffeysite.com/discovered-my-first-recording-as-an-artist-dennis-coffey/

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. Here is another blog. http://denniscoffeysite.com/lots-of-music-to-be-played-lots-of-money-to-be-made-in-detroit-and-at-motown/

[dennis_coffey]

Here is my latest blog. I found some early records Mike Theodore and I produced on YouTube. http://denniscoffeysite.com/lots-of-money-to-be-made-in-detroit-music-part-three/

[dennis_coffey]

Here is another blog of me recording my first album "Hair & Thangs". http://denniscoffeysite.com/detroit-music-played-money-made-4/

[dennis_coffey]

The name Paul Parrish came up on an interview I did with the BBC last Saturday so I wrote a blog about him. http://denniscoffeysite.com/paul-parrish/

[dennis_coffey]

Hello everyone. Here is a new blog about Mike Theodore and I producing Lonette McKee. http://denniscoffeysite.com/lonette-mckee/

[dennis_coffey]

I just got back from the Les Paul 100 Year celebration at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC. Some great guitarists were playing at the event to honor Les Paul. I put a video of Joe Bonamassa on my website. http://denniscoffeysite.com/all-star-les-paul-100th-anniversary-celebration/

[MIKEW-UK]

Dennis, thanks for your blog. It's terrific!
I have been listening to the complete Invictus recordings collection for a few months now and am curious and interested in your opinions. I always felt I could tell the difference between a Motown and an Invictus recording, even though Holland Dozier Holland were present on both labels, composing and producing.
Invictus to me always had a more sparse, bass and guitar led sound, and although sometimes horns and even strings were added, the fundamental platform was always bass, guitars and drums. Dennis Coffey, Tony Newton, Ray Parker, Zachary Slater and Mckinley Jackson seemed to be the foundation of the majority of the recordings. My question is - did Invictus set out to emulate the Motown sound, or was the intention to provide its own distinctive sound with the sparse clattering guitars, heavy bass and generally less sweetenings? Was this by design, or was it perhaps due to less money available to provide the rich orchestrations provided by cash rich Motown?. Or was it simply down to the studios and their ambient sound and recording equipment?

regards Mike

[MIKEW-UK]

If I wasn't clear, this recording exemplifies what I was trying to put over to you.... it's too gritty and metallic for Motown....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBxaj9N-DIg

[dennis_coffey]

Hi Mikew. Peanut played bass on most of those recordings. HDH hired Motown Sound Engineer Lawrence Horn to be part of their operation. In the beginning some of those early HDH recordings were done at Tera Shirma with some of the Funk Brothers but they still probably had Lawrence Horn doing the engineering. I was always in the rhythm section not the control room but Ralph may be able to tell you more about those sessions.

[dennis_coffey]

Hi Folks. I finally got a chance to play guitar on a record in a Quintin Tarantino movie. Mike Theodore and I produced a record on Rodriguez called "Hate Street Dialog". It is in the new Tarantino movie coming out in December called "Hateful Eight". The song was written by Mike Theodore, me, and Gary Harvey. I am playing a guitar solo on my guitar using a Hammond Condor Unit. http://denniscoffeysite.com/dennis-coffey-plays-guitar-solo-in-new-movie/

[ralpht]

Dennis,
Lawrence die NOT engineer any of those early sessions. The engineer was Milan Bogdan.

Congratulations on the movie deal, Dennis. That is quite an achievement,

[dennis_coffey]

Thanks, Ralph. I knew you would know the answer. Hey back in the day I got to work with James Burton, the guitarist who played with Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley. http://denniscoffeysite.com/james-burton/

[ralpht]

Dennis,
Remember when we were playing in Somers Point and staying at that motel? I was in the pool one day and struck up a conversation with another road musician who was telling me he was getting involved with this group in Muscle Shoals. Real nice guy. Turned out it was a young [[like us at the time) Steve Cropper.

[55Motown]

Nice to read the news about the movie Dennis!

[dennis_coffey]

Ralph, I finally met Steve when we received our Funk Brothers Pioneer Awards at the R&B Foundation Event in Philadelphia.

[dennis_coffey]

Hi Everyone. Wes Montgomery was one of my guitar heroes. I heard him many times at the Drome Lounge in Detroit. I also got to know him and started playing jazz because of him. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-wes-montgomery/

[phil]

Great article Denny, thanks ! And the concert is fabulous !

[dennis_coffey]

Thanks Phil. Two of Rodriguez's daughters, Sandra and Eva came down to Northern Lights last Tuesday and invited Millie and me to attend the concert at the Fox Theater Sunday night featuring Brian Wilson with Rodriguez as the opening act. We are looking forward to it.

[kenneth]

I really enjoyed reading about you working with Norman Whitfield, Dennis.

Yes, I love the records with Norman Whitfield. Dennis, you really made these records jump out at you from the opening chords, especially I'll never forget hearing "Friendship Train" for the first time, and then realizing it was Gladys Knight and the Pips. That blew me away.

It was when Motown finally started crediting some of its musicians on their LPs that I learned your name as well as several others. I believe you played on another of my all time favorites "What It Is," by Undisputed Truth. I loved that entire album, "Face to Face With the Truth" so much from start to finish. So much great guitar on that LP, especially on the deconstruction of "What's Going On."

Did you ever play with George Clinton, either on Parliament or Funkadelic? I have to think you must have. Didn't you in fact record for Westbound as did Funkadelic in their early days?

[dennis_coffey]

I did play that solo on Smiling Faces and that album. I also played on I Want to Testify with George and the first Funkedelic album. George and I both received Heroes and Legends Awards in LA in 2009. We had breakfast the next day and talked about old times.

[kenneth]

I did play that solo on Smiling Faces and that album. I also played on I Want to Testify with George and the first Funkedelic album. George and I both received Heroes and Legends Awards in LA in 2009. We had breakfast the next day and talked about old times.

Just want to clarify. I was talking about the UT's second album "Face to Face with the Truth," and its single "What It Is." I'm pretty sure you meant you played on that entire album, but just like to know for sure. But good to know you also played on their first LP as well.

Thanks!

[dennis_coffey]

I am not sure I played on that album unless they have me listed in the credits. I was playing on so many albums back then that it is hard to remember each one.

[dennis_coffey]

I have been writing about some of my guitar heroes. Pat Martino is one of them. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-pat-martino/

[dennis_coffey]

Another one of my guitar heroes George Benson. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-george-benson/

[detmotownguy]

Congratulations on the movie gig! Look forward to hearing the song.

[dennis_coffey]

I will be playing August 19-22 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe. http://denniscoffeysite.com/back-at-the-dirty-dog-jazz-cafe/

[dennis_coffey]

I added some videos to my blog on the first time I used my special guitar effects at Motown. http://denniscoffeysite.com/motown-guitar-effects-use/

[dennis_coffey]

I shared some YouTube clips. http://denniscoffeysite.com/motown-artists-worked/

[dennis_coffey]

Wilson and me back in the day. I played on "Don't Knock My Love" with Wilson. http://denniscoffeysite.com/wilson-pickett/

[RobertZ]

Wilson and me back in the day. I played on "Don't Knock My Love" with Wilson. http://denniscoffeysite.com/wilson-pickett/

Great piece of music; thanks for your contribution to it!

[MIKEW-UK]

Dennis,

I assume you played on both these versions, given your history on Wilson's album and the Hot Wax label??


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw1ZHMqfiiE

[MIKEW-UK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKWPMM6_G9I

[dennis_coffey]

Hi Mike. It sounds like me on those records. I can't remember every song I did because I played on 18 sessions a week at three or four songs on each session in Detroit and in LA. That is at least 54 songs each week. One year I was on three records in the Billboard top ten and ten records in the top 100 every week. Those were the days. I enjoyed every minute of it which is why I still play all the time. I got the chance to work with with great musicians, artists, and producers and was trained at Motown to make great records. It doesn't get any better than that.

[dennis_coffey]

I shared some videos on the records I played on at Golden World. http://denniscoffeysite.com/golden-world-ric-tic-records/

[dennis_coffey]

Here are some YouTube videos relating to this post. http://denniscoffeysite.com/twirl-impact-records/

[dennis_coffey]

I added some videos to this post on The Dramatics. I added some videos to my blog on The Dramatics. http://denniscoffeysite.com/dramatics/

[dennis_coffey]

Here are some videos of songs I played on produced by Norman Whitfield. http://denniscoffeysite.com/norman-whitfield/

[dennis_coffey]

I have added a video of a song by the Royaltones that I co-wrote back in the day. http://denniscoffeysite.com/bay-shores-in-somers-point-new-jersey/

[dennis_coffey]

I added some videos on my second session blog. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-second-recording-session/

[dennis_coffey]

I found some videos of me with The Royaltones and The Volumes. http://denniscoffeysite.com/lots-of-music-to-be-played-lots-of-money-to-be-made-part-one/

[robb_k]

Hi Mikew. Peanut played bass on most of those recordings. HDH hired Motown Sound Engineer Lawrence Horn to be part of their operation. In the beginning some of those early HDH recordings were done at Tera Shirma with some of the Funk Brothers but they still probably had Lawrence Horn doing the engineering. I was always in the rhythm section not the control room but Ralph may be able to tell you more about those sessions.
10473

Hi Dennis,
We've got a thread on The Motown Forum talking about this very subject: The difference between the sound of Motown's and the other Detroit Soul labels' instrumental sound of recordings even when The Funk Brothers and other Motown or ex-Motown session players were most of the players on the non-Motown recordings. I hope you and Ralph will contribute to that thread.

[dennis_coffey]

I was always a big fan of Chuck Berry. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-chuck-berry/

[ralpht]

Dennis,
I wouldn't let Lawrence touch any of the equipment. The engineers for HDH were Milan Bogdan and Russ Terrana.

[dennis_coffey]

Hi Ralph. That is good info. I had Milan master one of my albums last year. Many years ago, when I spent a few days in Nashville, Milan offered me some office space and a telephone at his mastering lab and said he would introduce me to his contacts in Nashville. I decided to go back to Detroit instead. He was a great sound engineer and nice guy. Milan also asked me to produce a session on a group he had recorded at Tera Shirma. I had to ask him what a producer does. He explained to me what he wanted me to do and I did it.

[dennis_coffey]

I was a big fan of Jimmy Reed.http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-jimmy-reed/

[dennis_coffey]

I was a big fan of Billy Butler and Bill Doggett. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-billy-butler/

[marv2]

Wilson and me back in the day. I played on "Don't Knock My Love" with Wilson. http://denniscoffeysite.com/wilson-pickett/

Now that was my JAM! back in the day. Incredible, explosive record. Cooks from beginning to the end.

[dennis_coffey]

Hi Mike. "Peanut" was the bass player on most of the HDH sessions. I was the only Funk Brother. I think HDH couldn't get the Funks except for me. Harry Balk at Motown called me into his office one day and told me to stop doing sessions for HDH. I told him he had me mixed up with the other Funks who were under contract with Motown. He told me if I continued to work for HDH, Motown wouldn't call me. I told him I was a free agent and worked for anyone who paid me. Motown didn't call me for two weeks and then I was back doing sessions every day and no one said anything about me working for HDH again. HDH had the money to record records they wanted to record. They had Capital and Buddah Records paying for it. The musicians were not Motown guys and the studio was not Motown. HDH were also still growing as producers and writers. This might have made the difference between the sound of HDH and Motown.

[robb_k]

The musicians were not Motown guys and the studio was not Motown. HDH were also still growing as producers and writers. This might have made the difference between the sound of HDH and Motown.
10767
Yes. The Musicians being mostly non-Motown musicians was a small factor in the sound being different. But H-D-H still evolving their sound at that time, AND, most importantly, HDH using a different studio from Motown A or B, and the different equipment and sound engineering methods used were the biggest factors.

Back when Ed Wingate was using MOSTLY current moonlighting Motown musicians, together with a few ex-Motown musicians, the sound of Golden World/Ric Tic recordings was still very noticeably different from the sound of Motown recordings. Even Motown recordings made at Golden World Studio before the transfer to Motown, sounded different from Golden World and Ric Tic recordings just before the sale to Motown. Motown used different equalizers and other equipment in different ways from those of The Golden World engineers [[and the same held true for HDH's engineers).

[dennis_coffey]

http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-chet-atkins/

[dennis_coffey]

Mike Theodore and I found and produced Jim Gold and The Gallery. http://denniscoffeysite.com/jim-gold-and-the-gallery/

[dennis_coffey]

Mike Theodore and I produced this album and Tom Moulton did the mix on CJ & Company. http://denniscoffeysite.com/c-j-company/

[dennis_coffey]

http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-guitar-heroes-kenny-burrell/

[dennis_coffey]

Mike Theodore and I discovered Rodriguez and recorded his first album. His story is told in the movie "Searching for Sugar Man". http://denniscoffeysite.com/rodriguez-2/

[dennis_coffey]

This is a Cambodian group I co-produced at Rust Belt Studios. http://denniscoffeysite.com/the-cambodian-space-project/

[dennis_coffey]

My first Gibson guitar was a Brydland. http://denniscoffeysite.com/my-first-gibson-guitar-a-byrdland/

[dennis_coffey]

My Gibson 355 is one of my favorite guitars. http://denniscoffeysite.com/%EF%BB%BFmy-gibson-355-guitar/

[ralpht]

Dennis,
My brother, Russ, played a 335. One he glommed onto that guitar he never looked again for a replacement. Today it hangs on his wall. Probably still has the strings he had on it when we were all playing Somers Point, New Jersey.

[dennis_coffey]

I still use my Gibson Firebird guitar http://denniscoffeysite.com/me-and-my-gibson-firebird-guitar/

[dennis_coffey]

I used my Gibson ES-345 in LA. http://denniscoffeysite.com/me-and-my-gibson-es-345-guitar/

[dennis_coffey]

http://denniscoffeysite.com/me-and-my-gibson-es-335-guitar/

[dennis_coffey]

My Gibson L4 is great for a warm jazz sound. http://denniscoffeysite.com/me-and-my-gibson-l4-guitar/