It Moves Me - The Complete Eddie Holland Recordings 1958-1964

[keith_hughes]

3923

Ace Records are delighted to announce “It Moves Me - The Complete Eddie Holland Recordings 1958-1964”, which is scheduled for release in January. This is a two-CD set [[the first such in Ace’s specially-licensed Motown series), and, as the title states, it contains the complete recordings up to 1964 of the man who went on to become a member of the most successful songwriting team of the 1960s after Lennon and McCartney – Holland, Dozier and Holland.

Following an extensive trawl of the Vaults, we’ve included everything that we’ve been able to find that Eddie Holland recorded for Mercury, United Artists, Motown – and the tiny Kudo label, where Eddie appeared under his brother Brian’s name on a commercial for Cadillac Club “Nature Boy” wine. As well as all the released material and recordings which didn’t pass the Motown Quality Control auditions, we’ve included home recordings, alternate versions, and studio demos for artists such as Kim Weston and the Four Tops.

The set contains 55 tracks; 30 of them have never till now appeared [[legitimately) on CD, and 18 have never been released in any form before, and are known only to fans still cherishing their hissy, stretched collectors’ tapes from the 1980s. And even those folk have some surprises coming, we hope.

The story of Eddie’s recording career is narrated in the booklet by the man himself, in an exclusive interview with Ace Records for this collection. And a few of his wry comments are included in the Track Notes, which, as is usual with Ace/Motown releases, provide an insight into every track in the set. The booklet also contains rare pictures, snippets from record magazines of the era and a huge number of label scans, including one of a commercial copy of the rarer-than-rare Motown 1026.

Enormous thanks are due to Mr Harry Weinger of Universal Music, whose idea the project was, and who has helped us through innumerable “sticky patches” along the road to release. And thanks are due also to other readers of this Board who supplied us with memories, pictures, and – in a very few cases – their rare records, where a tape source could not be found.

Watch this space for announcements of more Ace/Motown releases in the not too distant future!

And now, the track list:

Disc 1 – The Singles

1. LITTLE MISS RUBY Mercury 71290 [[1958)
2. YOU [[YOU YOU YOU YOU) Mercury 71290 [[1958)
3. [[WHERE’S THE JOY?) IN NATURE BOY Kudo 667 [[1958)
4. SHOCK Kudo 667 [[1958)
5. MERRY-GO-ROUND Tamla 102 [[1959)
6. IT MOVES ME Tamla 102 [[1959)
7. BECAUSE I LOVE HER United Artists 191 [[1959)
8. EVERYBODY'S GOING United Artists 191 [[1959)
9. MAGIC MIRROR United Artists 207 [[1960)
10. WILL YOU LOVE ME United Artists 207 [[1960)
11. WHY DO YOU WANT TO LET ME GO United Artists 280 [[1961)
12. THE LAST LAUGH United Artists 280 [[1961)
13. JAMIE Motown 1021 [[1961)
14. TAKE A CHANCE ON ME Motown 1021 [[1961)
15. YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GOT Motown 1026 [[1962)
16. LAST NIGHT I HAD A VISION Motown 1026 [[1962)
17. IF CLEOPATRA TOOK A CHANCE Motown 1030 [[1962)
18. WHAT ABOUT ME Motown 1030 [[1962)
19. IF IT'S LOVE [[IT'S ALRIGHT) Motown 1031 [[1962)
20. IT'S NOT TOO LATE Motown 1031 [[1962)
21. DARLING, I HUM OUR SONG Motown 1036 [[1963)
22. JUST A FEW MORE DAYS Motown 1036 [[1963)
23. BABY SHAKE Motown 1043 [[1963)
24. BRENDA Motown 1043 [[1963)
25. I'M ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN Motown 1049 [[1963)
26. I COULDN'T CRY IF I WANTED TO Motown 1049 [[1963)
27. LEAVING HERE Motown 1052 [[1963)
28. JUST AIN'T ENOUGH LOVE Motown 1058 [[1964)
29. CANDY TO ME Motown 1063 [[1964)
30. IF YOU DON'T WANT MY LOVE Motown 1063 [[1964)

Disc 2 – Rare And Unreleased

1. ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS Previously unissued [[2012)
2. BASHFUL KIND Previously unissued [[2012)
3. RAIN AND THUNDER Previously unissued [[2012)
4. HAPPY DAYS Previously unissued [[2012)
5. I'M SO GLAD I LEARNED TO DO THE CHA-CHA Previously unissued [[2012)
6. TRUE LOVE WILL GO A MIGHTY LONG WAY Motown LP MT604 [[1962)
7. GOTTA HAVE YOUR LOVE Motown LP MT604 [[1962)
8. A LITTLE BIT OF LOVIN' Motown LP MT604 [[1962)
9. LOVE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT Previously unissued [[2012)
10. DAY DREAMER Previously unissued [[2012)
11. SO GREAT IS MY LOVE Previously unissued [[2012)
12. TWIN BROTHER [Version 1] Previously unissued [[2012)
13. TWIN BROTHER [Version 2] Motown CD 882 4009 [[2010)
14. WELCOME BACK Previously unissued [[2012)
15. [[LONELINESS MADE ME REALIZE) IT'S YOU THAT I NEED Motown CD B0003619-02 [[2005)
16. I'M GRATEFUL Previously unissued [[2012)
17. HEART BROKEN, HEART BREAKER [[AND THE CLOCK) Previously unissued [[2012)
18. YOU'RE SWEETER AS THE DAYS GO BY Previously unissued [[2012)
19. IT'S BEST TO BE SURE Previously unissued [[2012)
20. HAPPY GO LUCKY Previously unissued [[2012)
21. TOO LATE TO CRY Previously unissued [[2012)
22. PRETTY LITTLE ANGEL FACE Previously unissued [[2012)
23. TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS [[ROCK ME A LITTLE WHILE) Motown CD 982 9297 2 [[2005)
24. I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU Previously unissued [[2012)
25. JAMIE [Stereo Version] Motown LP MS614 [[1966)

[kenneth]

Awesome set, and I am thrilled to be the first to say so on this thread! So many are waiting for this one. Great cover and beautiful photo of Eddie also!

[144man]

Thanks, Keith. With Eddie Holland, the Marvelettes and Earl Van Dyke, it's going to be a great start to 2012.

[mysterysinger]

Great stuff!

[mr_postman]

Thank you so much, Keith and everyone else bringing this project to fruition. Being a big fan of Eddie Holland, this is a dream come true. What a beautiful picture [[I'm loving the artwork and the overall design of the Ace/Kent Motown-sets so far) and what an appetizing tracklist! Can't wait to get my hands on this. 18 unreleased songs? Unbelievable! I wonder if LOVE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT is the same song David Ruffin and The Temptations recorded so memorably?

A question about the tracklist, am I right to assume this set will include only 45 mixes of tracks that appeared on both singles and on the Eddie Holland Motown LP? Does anyone of these tracks appear in a unique mix or unique version on the LP?

[Roger Polhill]

I`m fizzin`! Let`s hope that the Mayan calendar predictions are bullshit as I want to be thrashing this release. Many thanks Keith and Ace.

[psychedelic jacques]

Excellent news, Keith. This is the set i've been looking forward to for ages.

Two questions: [1] are all the unreleased tracks from the Motown vaults rather than the earlier labels, and [2] are any of the other 'a' sides apart from 'Jamie' in stereo?

thanks.

[RossHolloway]

Great write up and the cover work/photo is quite nice. I'm looking forward to this release. Does anyone know if Eddie Holland recorded any music AFTER 1964?

[144man]

He cut some tracks in the 80s for the various artist promotional album for HDH, "Yesterday, Today and Forever". I don't have the album with me, so I can't name them at the moment. They don't particularly sound like Eddie.

[irv milne]

is the track "action speaks louder than words" the same as david ruffin's on checkmate

[the sound of young america]

Keep 'em coming.

The Contours "It's so Hard Being a Loser" [[the unreleased album) combined with a round up of all the unreleased recordings from 1966-67 [[inc those catalogued as Dennis Edwards) would be an interesting project. Maybe a bit too much to ask given the recent release of their earlier material I know.

[Roger Polhill]

What a great suggestion sound.

[robb_k]

3928
I thought Eddie recorded a few unreleased recordings for Motown in 1965. I thought I remember hearing them, and being surprised he was still recording so late. I thought that "Take Me In Your Arms" was one of them. I thought I remember seeing a recording date on that from early 1965. If so, shouldn't the CD title read 1958-1965?

[johnny_raven]

Robb, I believe his vocals were recorded in October, 1964.

[Bingo]

nobody does it better than ace

[jaybs]

Would Ace not consider releasing an album on another thread the one by Caston & Major, I still feel it is a superb album and one never released on CD and still could sell and attract new fans and listeners.

[motown01]

I can't wait!

[144man]

The Holland-Dozier CD "The Picture Never Changes" on HDH includes the Eddie Holland Invictus track "Where Did We Go Wrong?" both in solo form and as a duet with Eloise Laws.

The tracks by Eddie on the 1980 promo, "Yesterday Today and Forever" [[Jobete PRO #9) were:
Reach Out I'll Be There
Only You [[Can Love Me Like You Love Me)
I Can't Go On Living Without Your Love
You're My Driving Wheel
You Gave Me Something to Believe In
Let Yourself Go
Magic Touch
Run for Cover.

[johnny_raven]

I've been looking for a copy of that promo for years

[tomato tom]

Will have to get this one! And the suggestion about Caston & Majors would be fabulous. I, for one, think its one of the real LOST Motown albums...Paulo xxx

[motown01]

What's the story with the 'Yesterday, Today, Forever' promo? Is this album available anywhere, are the tracks online?

[keith_hughes]

didn't find anything recorded later than October 1964, Robb ... when "Where Did Our Love Go" hit #1, Eddie's recording career was OVER - a deliberate decision ...

yes, Irv, "Action" was also recorded by Bobby Darin as well as David Ruffin.

[irv milne]

now that should be interesting to hear ,cant wait for this set .

[MIKEW-UK]

Available for pre -order on Amazon.co.uk £16.47 Jan 30 release

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moves-Me-Complete-Recordings-1958-1964/dp/B006J9I5Z8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326886975&sr=8-1

[Kamasu_Jr]

3923

Ace Records are delighted to announce “It Moves Me - The Complete Eddie Holland Recordings 1958-1964”, which is scheduled for release in January. This is a two-CD set [[the first such in Ace’s specially-licensed Motown series), and, as the title states, it contains the complete recordings up to 1964 of the man who went on to become a member of the most successful songwriting team of the 1960s after Lennon and McCartney – Holland, Dozier and Holland.

Following an extensive trawl of the Vaults, we’ve included everything that we’ve been able to find that Eddie Holland recorded for Mercury, United Artists, Motown – and the tiny Kudo label, where Eddie appeared under his brother Brian’s name on a commercial for Cadillac Club “Nature Boy” wine. As well as all the released material and recordings which didn’t pass the Motown Quality Control auditions, we’ve included home recordings, alternate versions, and studio demos for artists such as Kim Weston and the Four Tops.

The set contains 55 tracks; 30 of them have never till now appeared [[legitimately) on CD, and 18 have never been released in any form before, and are known only to fans still cherishing their hissy, stretched collectors’ tapes from the 1980s. And even those folk have some surprises coming, we hope.

The story of Eddie’s recording career is narrated in the booklet by the man himself, in an exclusive interview with Ace Records for this collection. And a few of his wry comments are included in the Track Notes, which, as is usual with Ace/Motown releases, provide an insight into every track in the set. The booklet also contains rare pictures, snippets from record magazines of the era and a huge number of label scans, including one of a commercial copy of the rarer-than-rare Motown 1026.

Enormous thanks are due to Mr Harry Weinger of Universal Music, whose idea the project was, and who has helped us through innumerable “sticky patches” along the road to release. And thanks are due also to other readers of this Board who supplied us with memories, pictures, and – in a very few cases – their rare records, where a tape source could not be found.

Watch this space for announcements of more Ace/Motown releases in the not too distant future!

And now, the track list:

Disc 1 – The Singles

1. LITTLE MISS RUBY Mercury 71290 [[1958)
2. YOU [[YOU YOU YOU YOU) Mercury 71290 [[1958)
3. [[WHERE’S THE JOY?) IN NATURE BOY Kudo 667 [[1958)
4. SHOCK Kudo 667 [[1958)
5. MERRY-GO-ROUND Tamla 102 [[1959)
6. IT MOVES ME Tamla 102 [[1959)
7. BECAUSE I LOVE HER United Artists 191 [[1959)
8. EVERYBODY'S GOING United Artists 191 [[1959)
9. MAGIC MIRROR United Artists 207 [[1960)
10. WILL YOU LOVE ME United Artists 207 [[1960)
11. WHY DO YOU WANT TO LET ME GO United Artists 280 [[1961)
12. THE LAST LAUGH United Artists 280 [[1961)
13. JAMIE Motown 1021 [[1961)
14. TAKE A CHANCE ON ME Motown 1021 [[1961)
15. YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GOT Motown 1026 [[1962)
16. LAST NIGHT I HAD A VISION Motown 1026 [[1962)
17. IF CLEOPATRA TOOK A CHANCE Motown 1030 [[1962)
18. WHAT ABOUT ME Motown 1030 [[1962)
19. IF IT'S LOVE [[IT'S ALRIGHT) Motown 1031 [[1962)
20. IT'S NOT TOO LATE Motown 1031 [[1962)
21. DARLING, I HUM OUR SONG Motown 1036 [[1963)
22. JUST A FEW MORE DAYS Motown 1036 [[1963)
23. BABY SHAKE Motown 1043 [[1963)
24. BRENDA Motown 1043 [[1963)
25. I'M ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN Motown 1049 [[1963)
26. I COULDN'T CRY IF I WANTED TO Motown 1049 [[1963)
27. LEAVING HERE Motown 1052 [[1963)
28. JUST AIN'T ENOUGH LOVE Motown 1058 [[1964)
29. CANDY TO ME Motown 1063 [[1964)
30. IF YOU DON'T WANT MY LOVE Motown 1063 [[1964)

Disc 2 – Rare And Unreleased

1. ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS Previously unissued [[2012)
2. BASHFUL KIND Previously unissued [[2012)
3. RAIN AND THUNDER Previously unissued [[2012)
4. HAPPY DAYS Previously unissued [[2012)
5. I'M SO GLAD I LEARNED TO DO THE CHA-CHA Previously unissued [[2012)
6. TRUE LOVE WILL GO A MIGHTY LONG WAY Motown LP MT604 [[1962)
7. GOTTA HAVE YOUR LOVE Motown LP MT604 [[1962)
8. A LITTLE BIT OF LOVIN' Motown LP MT604 [[1962)
9. LOVE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT Previously unissued [[2012)
10. DAY DREAMER Previously unissued [[2012)
11. SO GREAT IS MY LOVE Previously unissued [[2012)
12. TWIN BROTHER [Version 1] Previously unissued [[2012)
13. TWIN BROTHER [Version 2] Motown CD 882 4009 [[2010)
14. WELCOME BACK Previously unissued [[2012)
15. [[LONELINESS MADE ME REALIZE) IT'S YOU THAT I NEED Motown CD B0003619-02 [[2005)
16. I'M GRATEFUL Previously unissued [[2012)
17. HEART BROKEN, HEART BREAKER [[AND THE CLOCK) Previously unissued [[2012)
18. YOU'RE SWEETER AS THE DAYS GO BY Previously unissued [[2012)
19. IT'S BEST TO BE SURE Previously unissued [[2012)
20. HAPPY GO LUCKY Previously unissued [[2012)
21. TOO LATE TO CRY Previously unissued [[2012)
22. PRETTY LITTLE ANGEL FACE Previously unissued [[2012)
23. TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS [[ROCK ME A LITTLE WHILE) Motown CD 982 9297 2 [[2005)
24. I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU Previously unissued [[2012)
25. JAMIE [Stereo Version] Motown LP MS614 [[1966)

I'm really looking forward to this release. Eddie Holland was my parents' favorite male vocalist in 1963-1964. They still spin his Just Ain't Enough Love and Baby Shake. Really tough sounding records!

[caliluv]

Just Ain't Enough Love has always been a favorite of mine. The Andantes sound real good on this too. I wish I could get my hands on a stereo copy of it.

[kenneth]

I know the Stereo mix of "Leaving Here" isn't on this set, but I wonder if anyone knows if the version on "Collection of 16 Original Big Hits Vol. 2" [[the only volume on Tamla in the US) was a remix, or a rerecording. A few of the selections on that set were newly recorded such as "I'll Have to Let Him Go," by the Vandellas. I always loved the mixes on that LP, so I'm curious about the Holland.

[keith_hughes]

The stereo mix of "Leaving Here" *IS* on this set, I apologise for the omission! I think this set is now shipping, hope you enjoy.

[kenneth]

The stereo mix of "Leaving Here" *IS* on this set, I apologise for the omission! I think this set is now shipping, hope you enjoy.

That's fantastic! Can't wait to hear it on this great set.

[robb_k]

4186
He recorded "I'm So Glad I Learned To Do The Cha Cha, which was recorded by Herman Griffin as a Berry Gordy Production near the end of 1958 for Carmen Murphy's House of Beauty Records. It was the first Jobete Music song. I wonder if Berry had Eddie sing the demo for Herman, or if Eddie just recorded t later after Tamla was started? What is the recording date for Eddie's version?

[scanspeak]

Brilliant! Where can I buy it?

[psychedelic jacques]

Does anyone know if stereo mixes exist for any of the other A sides, apart from Jamie and Leaving Here?

[keith_hughes]

Robb, no date on the reel, but we've guessed it as 1958, so likely a demo for Griffin. PJ, no other stereo masters that we've found.

[robb_k]

4189
I'll be curious to find out if "ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS" is the song recorded by Mable John, or David Ruffin. The Mable John song was published by Jobete Music [[Motown 1960), and the David Ruffin was Fidelity Music [[Berry & Gwen Gordy & Billy Davis - probably 1960 or 1961). Can you tell me which one it is, Keith?

[keith_hughes]

It's the song covered by David Ruffin, but, before that, it was covered by Bobby Darin on his first LP. Darin monkeys about with the lyrics & arrangement somewhat, but Ruffin stays fairly close to the original.

[booty]

Despatched today from Amazon.co.uk ... Should be with me Monday - Can't wait!

[motown_david]

I received my copy in the post yesterday morning and it's been playing again and again and again since then. I can't believe what a great voice Eddie had - musical, a lovely vibrato and with perfect diction. The CD booklet is to die for. Keith Hughes has intrerviewed Eddie, who was very honest in his views of the tracks and he adds the usual great, informative annotations to the track listing. The unreleased songs are, on the whole, of great quality and I'm surprised in one way that many of them we never released. Eddie does make it clear though that he didn't like the bus travel to and from gigs and that his writing career was more important in every way. Once those Supremes' hits the charts, that was it for him as far as performing was concerned. I was also delighted to hear the Vandellas on backing vocals on "I'm On The Outside Looking In". Roz and Annette had told me already that it's them. The Andantes are all over the place though and are heard on the majority of the bvs. Keith, this is the best Ace / Motown release yet and you are to be congratulated in every way. along with the rest of the team at Ace and Universal, especially Harry in NYC. Keep 'em coming please. I long to read what the next project is.

[nabob]

Amazon US has the set for $ 29 on a February 7th release;

Deep Discount is selling for $ 21 with release on the same day [Deep Discount offers free shipping on orders over $ 15];
http://www.deepdiscount.com/cd/HOLLANDEDDIE-IT-MOVES-MECOMPLETE-RECORDINGS-1958-64

CDWow is selling for $ 31 with release on January 31st, but orders come from Hong Kong and can take a month or more to arrive in the US.

I haven't been following the thread. Please forgive me if any of the information has been previously presented.

[psychedelic jacques]

Official release day today - best price is The Hut & Zavvi, both at £14.45. Mine is now ordered.

[tomato tom]

Got my copy today. Superb. Thanks Mr Postman. And of course, all those involved in producing this wonderful collection.

[144man]

Got mine yesterday at HMV. Excellent.

"You're Sweeter As the Days Go By" made me smile.

[Kamasu_Jr]

Got mine yesterday at HMV. Excellent.

"You're Sweeter As the Days Go By" made me smile.

Excellent collection. I can hear why Eddie Holland was my parents' favorite singer. Is that the Supremes backing Eddie on Brenda. It sure sounds like a young Diana Ross on the fade.

[Roger Polhill]

Mine arrived yesterday and I can`t stop playing it. Many thanks to all involved. Can`t wait for Shorty.

[thisoldheart]

grovin' to the previously unreleased "pretty little angel face" [[a probable follow-up to marvin gaye's "can i get a witness". also, love the early and very different arrangement of "[[loneliness made me realize) it's you that i need"!

[arjayvee]

Has anyone noticed that Track 21 on Disc 2 is not "Too Late to Cry"? My copy has a version of "I Like Everything About You" and then a different version of it three tracks later. So where is "Too Late to Cry"? Does this mean we do not have "The Complete Recordings" of Eddie Holland after all?

[arjayvee]

"You're Sweeter as the Days Go By" [[Disc 2, Track 18) is an early version of "You're a Wonderful One."

[Roger Polhill]

"Too Late To Cry" is explained in the booklet. I`m filing it as "I Like Everything About You" version 1.

[arjayvee]

Thanks, Roger. Might have helped if I'd read the booklet before I posted, eh? I will delve into it now. :)

[kenneth]

What a beautiful piece this set is. I haven't played it yet, but I'm very excited about the notes and the photos in the booklet. Someone has quite a rare Holland collection which we are now able to share, with lots of photos of rare 45s, acetates and of course the rare "Jamie" LP. Perhaps these came from Mr. Holland himself? Anyway, great looking set!

[oldiesmusicfan]

I love this set! I had hoped to be able to get rid of the Marginal Eddie Holland collection, but the last two tracks on the Marginal CD are not on this set. Both are kind of odd, Come On Home being just an instrumental and What Goes Up Must Come Down is all spoken lyrics. Any information on either one of these tracks, such as recording dates?

Also, Welcome Back is 2:14 on the Marginal CD and 2:49 on the It Moves Me set. I have to listen some more to hear exactly what the differences are besides the time. Maybe the 2:14 version is one of the unmixed versions referred to in the It Moves Me booklet?

On a side note - he sure sounds a lot like Jackie Wilson on a lot of his songs. Is anyone else hearing this?

Oldies

Editing to say I just realized that What Goes Up Must Come Down is on TCMS 1963, Disc 13, but listed as by Holland-Dozier instead of Eddie Holland. I don't particularly care for the song, but at least it's a better and legitimate copy of it!

Editing again [[!) to say that Come On Home is also on that same TCMS 1963 Disc 13, also as Holland-Dozier. Goodbye Marginal CD!

[Roger Polhill]

The 2 tracks are Holland And Dozier credits from 1963.

[oldiesmusicfan]

Thanks Roger. I did edit my post to reflect that as soon as I posted it! Spoke too soon before checking out my "list." Any information on the differences in the "Welcome Back" tracks?

Oldies

[Roger Polhill]

Sorry oldie I can`t bear to play the Marginal version as it`s so poor. Eddie has always been likened to Jackie Wilson I imagine Berry Gordy would have thought Eddie could do Jackie`s demos for him.

[zani57]

The Second Disc blog had this post --

http://theseconddisc.com/2012/02/23/from-motown-to-the-bay-area-the-apollas-absolutely-right-and-eddie-hollands-it-moves-me-the-complete-recordings-1958-1964-available-now/ [[http://theseconddisc.com/2012/02/23/from-motown-to-the-bay-area-the-apollas-absolutely-right-and-eddie-hollands-it-moves-me-the-complete-recordings-1958-1964-available-now/)

[RossHolloway]

That is a terriffic write up on Eddie Hollands release...now it makes me wonder of Lamont Dozier or Brian Holland ever recorded any songs at Motown.

[Roger Polhill]

Ross, Lamont did record on Melody 102 "Dearest One" / "Fortune Teller [[Tell Me)"

[theboyfromxtown]

The rumour was that Lamont recorded as James Reddick after Anna Melody etc. I've been trying to think of that name all day and it's just come to me.

You could have also mentioned "Benny the Skinny Man"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WC9JYcW7w0

but the completists would SCREAM back at you with "Popeye"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9M62yKl3p4&feature=related

The story is a thread in itself!

[Roger Polhill]

The A. side was "Let`s Talk It Over" but Anna is not really Motown.

[theboyfromxtown]

The A. side was "Let`s Talk It Over" but Anna is not really Motown.

Hmmm.....what do you mean by that?

[honest man]

Hello John i think he means its Anna records pre Berry Motown, cheers

[theboyfromxtown]

I stopped separating them when I discovered that although the music would be issued on different labels, it was still coming out of the studio at Hitsville USA. But I am happy to accept how Roger views it.

Is the Velvelettes 45 on IPG not really Motown then? It has the Velvelettes and Stevie Wonder but IPG was not part of Motown.

Would I collect it if it was Anna, IPG, Chess, United Artists or any other label....then for me, the answer is YES.

[Roger Polhill]

Fair enough boy, you are right I was just being pedantic. I have all those labels in my collection. Now can you answer my Mary Wells thread. Regards Roger.

[robb_k]

4463

Sorry oldie I can`t bear to play the Marginal version as it`s so poor. Eddie has always been likened to Jackie Wilson I imagine Berry Gordy would have thought Eddie could do Jackie`s demos for him.And that is absolutely what he did!4464

[kenneth]

I finally got a chance to sit down and listen to this release. What a great job Ace did on it. The music is very well mastered, the sound quality excellent, and the booklet is full of rare photos and ephemera. Another outstanding set for the ACE UK guys.

Wasn't the Berry Gordy anthem something like, "We Couldn't Get Along Without You," with different lyrics from a Supremes [[I think) song? Really, what would we do without the crew at Ace and Hip-O? I doubt any of this stuff would have come out!

Seriously, if anyone's holding off on getting this set I urge you to do so. It's really outstanding.

[robb_k]

4617
Lamont recorded with The Romeos on Fox and ATCO Records in 1957-58. He recorded for Anna Records in 1958-59 [[as a member of The Voice Masters), and 1960 as a single artist [[actually backed by The Voice Masters). He then went with Billy [[Roquel) Davis to Chess Records [[to Run Chess' Detroit division [[Check-Mate Records). Lamont recorded 2 records for Check-Mate in 1960-61), before oining Motown in early 1962 and recording for Motown's Mel-O-dy Records subsidiary.

[bobkayli]

I'm a bit late on this one but would just like to add some words about this wonderful set. Through the recorded material it follows an important timeline in the development of the Motown Sound. In the early days Motown was following the trends trying to leave it's mark. Eddie clearly is intended as a Jackie Wilson sound-alike with traces of Sam Cooke.
As it develops on both the released and unreleased material, you can hear the Motown Sound as we know it evolving. the funk brothers musicianship, the handclapping and development of a Motown rhythm and beat as well as the lyrics in the songs. You hear already the practice of recycling lyrics for later songs which Motown employed. You're a Wonderful One and Can I Get A Witness clearly owe their origins to work included on this cd. Eddie also develops as an artist with a voice as sweet as a nut and superb phrasing.
With the benefit of hindsight, the set finishes just as the sound as we know it started so, with the benefit of hindsight, is a perfect demonstration of a work-in-progress.
These cd's have already been given quite an airing and will stay close to my cd player for some time to come.
The liner notes are also top notch with a lot of excellent detail. I would add the following comments to add to that detail:
1 Eddie Holland's fulsome praise of what Berry Gordy did at the time would be agreed to by most on this site. It does however sound a bit jarring when knowing about his subsequent acrimonious split from the label and the lawsuits that followed. Time is obviously a great healer.
2 Contrary to what is stated in the notes, Leaving Here was released in the UK at the time. It featured on the excellent R&B Chartmakers Volume 3 EP on Stateside. Eddie's picture is on the cover. This fabulous ep also featured Marvin Can I Get A Witness, Martha & co with Quicksand and the Darnells Too Hurt To Cry.
3 A further UK release shortly after was Just Ain't Enough Love on R&B Chartmakers Volume 4 EP. Again Eddie's photo is on the cover. Also on this EP are the Supremes Run, Run, Run, Contours Can You Do It and the Tempts The Way You Do The Things You Do.
4 Leaving Here and Candy To Me were also included on the French LP The Big, Big Sound From Detroit Rhythm & Blues on Columbia released at the time. Eddie's photo is also on the cover. This 12 track compilation LP also includes a list of the musicians playing on each song. The sleeve notes talk about the Gospel influence on Leaving Here. This incredible LP also features Sammy Ward You've Got To Change, the Darnells Coming Home, Kim Weston Love Me All The Way as well as more well-known tunes.
5 Just Ain't Enough Love is also included on another 14 track French compilation LP Tamla Motown Sound on Tamla Motown released in late 1965. The timing of this suggests that Motown were still interested in Eddie's singing career some time after he stopped recording. This suggests that maybe the decision to stop recording was not as definitive as Eddie indicates in his comments. Maybe the mists of time have blurred his view on this.
6 Although I don't have a copy, I believe If Cleopatra Took A Chance was released with a picture sleeve in Belgium in 1963.
Hopefully my comments add something to this wonderful set.

[jsmith]

From the ..... now not a lot of people know that ... bag ......
The Prestatyn Soul Weekender team were in discussions with Eddie to perform at their weekender 3/4 years back [[Gwen Owens who works for the Hollands in LA had told them what a great event / crowd it was) .... anyway he was up for coming over to perform ....
BUT the UK team wanted him to sing his old tracks, whereas Eddie wanted to sing a selection of his big hit compositions .... the two parties couldn't come to a compromise agreement & the proposal fell through [[mores the pity).

[bobkayli]

Prestatyn has always been a bit particular. I remember Bobby Taylor not being allowed to sing Does Your Mother Know About Me when he appeared there. I know it's not Northern Soul but this is that guys signature song.

Eddie Holland would have been fantastic to see even if he sang the phone-book. A missed opportunity I feel. Eddie certainly doesn't need the money I guess so you'd have to take him on his own terms pretty well.

When I was last in Detroit a couple of years ago, Clay McMurray was telling me about a recent recording session he had done with Eddie as a singer. Does anyone know if anything has ever come of that?

He joked about Eddie complaining about being told by Clay to sing faster and higher than Eddie wanted to and Eddie telling him that he was a bad producer. They fell about laughing when Clay reminded Eddie that this was exactly what Eddie used to do to singers when he produced thirty years before.

[theboyfromxtown]

I can't understand why so many people love Eddie's recordings but he doesn't care for them. It makes no sense to me.

I would have been happy hearing him singing whatever he wanted to sing.

Why don't they try again.

[jsmith]

RE: Why don't they try again.
...... COZ, Britannia Hotels now own Pontins & they will only reinstate the twice yearly soul weekenders if the costs are more than halved but the receipts can be increased !!!
So for that to happen there would have to be 1 / 2 live acts at most [[probably singing over backing tapes NOT a live band) but then Britannia want a guarantee that just as many soulies [[3000+) will attend & that they will spend even more than they did at the old weekenders ........ I fear Britannia managers live in dreamland !!!

[bobkayli]

The old Prestatyn weekenders had already become very expensive. It was working out more expensive than a weekend in a top hotel. Given that we are talking about a Pontins Holiday Camp out of season, the week-ends were losing touch with reality. We stopped going as a result.
Reading what you say above, it doesn't sound like they'll be returning to the calendar any time soon.
We make do with the Bridlington Weekender in June. Even if there's no live music and some of the djs play some over-obscure stuff. The countryside around Bridlington is amazing so we combine the good bits of the week-ender with some stunning walks.

[jsmith]

........ The countryside around Bridlington is amazing
Lived there for 3 years in the 70's; it was GRIM then out of season & its much worse now.
The missus even used to work at Brid Spa [[ I got her the job as I was a Civil Engineer with the council there & they owned / ran the Spa).

[Motown4Ever518]

I received and played the set today and really enjoyed it! As far as sounding like Mr. Wilson, I don't see it as a negative, there was only one original, and Mr. Holland does appear to be heavily influenced by him, but overall I was very impressed with his singing.

The one thing that struck me was how good some of the songs were/are, the songs covered by the 4 Tops songs, I enjoy by them, but the songs are just flat out good. They have stood the test of time. The classics we all know about, but some of these songs were really good.

Ace did an outstanding job with this one, especially getting feedback from the artist, keep up the good work mon amis!

[bobkayli]

........ The countryside around Bridlington is amazing
Lived there for 3 years in the 70's; it was GRIM then out of season & its much worse now.
The missus even used to work at Brid Spa [[ I got her the job as I was a Civil Engineer with the council there & they owned / ran the Spa).

My wife comes from Brid but left around 1970.
The Spa looks a treat since it's been refurbished. The town is a holiday town but even out of season the beach is amazing. In any event the Northern Soul week-end is in June so we get the summer weather. The walk up to Brampton Cliffs and Danes Dyke with the puffins and other sea birds is special. Sewerby is a good afternoon out, I could go on but I think the place is what you make it.

[honest man]

Bridlington sounds a lovely place, hoping to get tickets very soon for the weekender, looking forward to it,by the way does the doo get a good attendance, cheers.