Bob and Marcia

[mysterysinger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF67IBYVPUU

[marv2]

Who are they?

[theboyfromxtown]

And more recently...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM52p6q5GaI

[arr&bee]

They're pretty bad, and i don't mean good.

[marv2]

They're pretty bad, and i don't mean good.

Were they ever associated with Motown?

[theboyfromxtown]

Motown picked up the track after it hit the charts in Europe..particularly the UK

http://voiceofthesufferers.free.fr/disco_simplified/1970_tamla_motown_ba_mg_01.jpg

[marv2]

Motown picked up the track after it hit the charts in Europe..particularly the UK

http://voiceofthesufferers.free.fr/disco_simplified/1970_tamla_motown_ba_mg_01.jpg

Great, thank you. I don't think I remember this version though.

[Roger Polhill]

For all you other completists the proposed album TS 283 "Young, Gifted And Black" is available on Trojan Records.

[mysterysinger]

Tamla single
9808

[booty]

Great, thank you. I don't think I remember this version though.

Like many Trojan releases, the UK issues featured a more "refined" sound than the original Jamaican versions. In this case the UK [[and the US released) versions feature added strings and a more melodic sound than the original local mix.

As for a scheduled album - I don't think so. The deal with Motown was for two tracks, "Young, Gifted & Black" & "Peace Of Mind". The album was never licensed for release by Motown.

[marv2]

Like many Trojan releases, the UK issues featured a more "refined" sound than the original Jamaican versions. In this case the UK [[and the US released) versions feature added strings and a more melodic sound than the original local mix.

As for a scheduled album - I don't think so. The deal with Motown was for two tracks, "Young, Gifted & Black" & "Peace Of Mind". The album was never licensed for release by Motown.

Thank you Booty. Wasn't Marcia Griffin one of Bob Marley's "I-Threes"?

[Bluebrock]

I love this version. It brings back fond memories of my late sister who bought the single. It was a big hit in the UK and continues to played regularly on the oldies stations. Never knew it was released by motown USA. Thanks for posting.

[roger]

The version without strings also got a UK release .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7KqyZiJPnY

Interestingly the bsn website Tamla LP Discography lists an unreleased BOB & MARCIA LP as scheduled for Tamla TS-283, I'm not sure that I believe them though, as the releases either side of that came out in 1968.

http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/tamla/tamla.html

Roger

[motony]

yes, Marcia Griffiths was an I-Three along with Rita Marley & Judy Mowatt. Marcia had a big hit in early 80's Electric Slide.

[theboyfromxtown]

I think the strings make that record. I find it hard to listen without hearing them in my brain.

Tony Blackburn picked up on the string laden version and hey presto...

[marv2]

yes, Marcia Griffiths was an I-Three along with Rita Marley & Judy Mowatt. Marcia had a big hit in early 80's Electric Slide.

Bingo! That's where i know her from! Thank you Motony. She did have a dance hit in the U.S. some years back. I have to look it up and come back.

[marv2]

This was her big solo hit in the US from 1989...."Electric Boogie"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97OtsR8L1NY

[honest man]

I think the strings make that record. I find it hard to listen without hearing them in my brain.

Tony Blackburn picked up on the string laden version and hey presto...A Brilliant song massive in UK 70 i think, played at youth clubs etc one of my brothers had the single on Harry if i remember right[though it was from Trojan]their follow up Pied Piper was also top 10, i still play both on my Trojan Chartbusters sets,they were the days hey,cheers.

[mysterysinger]

"Young, Gifted and Black" aka "To Be Young Gifted and Black" was written by Nina Simone and Weldon Irvine, Jr [[lyrics) and was inspired by Lorraine Hansberry's play of the same title. It was a big hit here in the UK by Bob and Marcia and I, for one, love it.

The pair, and Bob Andy solo, recorded several Motown songs such as "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", "The Onion Song", "Stay In My Lonely Arms" [[Bob) and "Ask The Lonely" [[Bob).

Marcia Griffiths has been referred to as the Queen of Reggae. She is certainly a beautiful lady with a voice to match.

[Roger Polhill]

Well done! Eagle eyes.
The version without strings also got a UK release .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7KqyZiJPnY

Interestingly the bsn website Tamla LP Discography lists an unreleased BOB & MARCIA LP as scheduled for Tamla TS-283, I'm not sure that I believe them though, as the releases either side of that came out in 1968.

http://www.bsnpubs.com/motown/tamla/tamla.html

Roger

[mysterysinger]

Not forgetting Elton John's early work as a session singer on cover versions for budget record label albums. Actually this isn't too bad!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1V9fX1qA2E

[theboyfromxtown]

That Elton John version was pretty good.

[westgrandboulevard]

I thought so, too.

And agreed, the very imaginative arrangement of the dancing strings [[violins, with at least one cello) sweeten the basic track, and make it much warmer, far more commercially attractive...much in the way Paul Riser would enhance a Motown track.

It went round and round in my head back in the day, too...and still does. The pizzicato 'plink, plink, plonk, plunk' phrase, and that repetitive little swirling riff, just propel the song forward.....:D

[mysterysinger]

Marcia Griffiths on her cover of "Band Of Gold".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bu-yfX_L6I