By Buckster The Funkster (209.220.229.254 - 209.220.229.254) on Thursday, June 20, 2002 - 07:12 pm:

Does anyone know if there is a CD or boxed collection availabe that carries "Detroit, Michigan" by The Fabulous Peps? Also, might there be one that has "I Care About Detroit" by William "Smokey" Robinson and the Miracles?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, June 20, 2002 - 07:34 pm:

Hi Buckster

You can find the Peps' Detroit Michigan on a UK released compilation CD "Wheelsville Wonders" on Goldmine GSCD 134.

The Miracles track has appeared on a compilation, (but only one of those box sets that we penniless mere mortals can only dream about!) It's on the 4CD boxset "35th Anniversary Collection".

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Thursday, June 20, 2002 - 07:35 pm:

I love 'Detroit, Michigan' but I've only heard it by Ronnie Love.

It is/was available on Goldmine Cd GSCD93.

The Fabulous Peps are on the same cd singing 'With these eyes'

Ritchie might have a copy?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, June 20, 2002 - 07:42 pm:

Affirmative, David (to borrow a word from Bobby.) Personally I prefer the Ronnie Love version, but that's just a matter of taste.

Buckster - if you care to contact me off-board, I can help you out with the Goldmine CD.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Thursday, June 20, 2002 - 07:43 pm:

Woops Ritchie

I have heard it by the Peps!

By Mark Speck (65.58.50.10 - 65.58.50.10) on Friday, June 21, 2002 - 12:08 am:

I have "I Care About Detroit" on a CD of dubious origin that I picked up for five bucks at a record show here in Cleveland. The dealer who had it is from Detroit and she had quite a few copies made.

The CD is called "Motown's Big $ Rarities Volume 4". Here's the track list:

Frank Wilson--"Do I Love You"
Frank Wilson--"Sweeter as the Days Go By"
Chris Clark--"Do I Love You"
Marvin Gaye--Interview (Detroit Free Press)
Marvin Gaye--"The Teen Beat Song"
Supremes--Interview with George Alexander
Supremes--"The Only Time I'm Happy"
Smokey & Miracles--"I Care About Detroit"
Willie Horton--"Detroit is Happening"
Brenda Holloway--"Play It Cool, Stay in School"
Christine Schumacher with the Supremes--"Mother You, Smother You"
An important message from Barney Ales
Originals--"Young Ideas"
Originals--"Young Train"
Temptations--"I Truly, Truly Believe" (1st version; withdrawn)
Rick, Robin & Him--"Copper Kettle" (withdrawn single)
Debbie Dean--"Why Am I Lovin' You"
Danny Day--"Please Don't Turn the Lights Out"
Paul Petersen--"Chained" (withdrawn alt. mix)
Dalton Boys--"I've Been Cheated"
Soupy Sales--"Muck-Arty Park"

HTH

Best,

Mark

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, June 21, 2002 - 12:23 am:

Mark,
You have some vintage stuff there.

By Buckster The Funkster (209.220.229.254 - 209.220.229.254) on Friday, June 21, 2002 - 03:12 pm:

Thanks to all for the info. I'll see if Richie can help me out.

--Buckster The Funkster

By Willy (64.27.214.115 - 64.27.214.115) on Friday, June 21, 2002 - 03:23 pm:

I Care About Detroit is also on a CD by
the Miracles called Rarities, on the Marginal
label (yeah of dubious origin).

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, June 21, 2002 - 05:35 pm:

By the way...Buckster and Willie...welcome to the forum.

By Willy (64.27.214.115 - 64.27.214.115) on Friday, June 21, 2002 - 06:30 pm:

Thanks, for the welcome, I always loved the site.
It's cool to read and contribute to the postings.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, June 21, 2002 - 06:34 pm:

Willy,
That's what we're here for pal.

By John Lester (213.122.204.149 - 213.122.204.149) on Sunday, June 23, 2002 - 08:05 pm:

Mark

Let me know when that seller comes back into town......

By Mark Speck (65.56.217.41 - 65.56.217.41) on Monday, June 24, 2002 - 03:27 am:

Don't know if she's been back here in Cleveland, John. She was a regular at the Parma record show, which isn't being held anymore (the promoter was a former Clevelander who moved to Ann Arbor, Steve Petryszyn, but he decided not to do those shows anymore).

I doubt that she's been to any of the Fairview Park shows, which are being held more frequently now that the Parma shows are finished.

Best,

Mark

By David Flynn (213.122.202.201 - 213.122.202.201) on Monday, June 24, 2002 - 05:58 pm:

Can anyone confirm as to whether a Tamla label 7" promo exists, as opposed to the Standard Groove copies, of "I care about Detroit". I've only ever seen dubious photocopies of said item.

Flynny

By John Lester (213.1.135.26 - 213.1.135.26) on Monday, June 24, 2002 - 10:00 pm:

NO Tamla copy

That Tamla 54144 was a joke - a mock up - and I am old enough to know who was behind it all!

It was a photocopy of the Standard Groove record and a Tamla 45 from the time.....

By Dave Fleming (62.253.128.6 - 62.253.128.6) on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 10:10 am:

Hi all here`s a scan of the "The Peps" 45..

Cheers
Dave f....

By michael (205.188.198.29 - 205.188.198.29) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 04:19 am:

Anybody know the names of the members of the Fabulous Peps, if they're still around and finally, their whereabouts? Who cut "Detroit, Michigan" first?

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 04:48 am:

The Peps were Ronnie Abner, Thomas Hester and Joe Harris, who later joined The Undisputed Truth. There was also a guitarist named "Little" Charlie Heardon who was also refered to as a Pep.
Thomas Hester was also known as Tom Storm; he still lives in Detroit, as does Ronnie Abner. I'm not sure where Joe is now.
The original version of Det. Mich. was recorded by Ronnie Love (Ron Dunbar, of Invictus).
Graham
PS. I just love that D-Town label!

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 08:00 am:

BTW, the writers of "Detroit, Michigan" were Tony Clark (The Entertainer) and Mack Rice. Whose names are on the above scan?
Graham

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.158.75 - 213.122.158.75) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 08:20 am:

The name C Bell comes up on a lot of these 45's.

Worked a lot with Rudy Robinson.

Who was C(ara?) Bell?

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 09:58 am:

A few people have told me that she was Mike's mother.
Graham

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.34 - 213.18.222.34) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 11:07 am:

The name "C Bell" crops up on nearly evrything issued on Mike Hanks' various labels

By C. Bell/Eric (64.159.102.75 - 64.159.102.75) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 08:16 pm:

Melvin Davis mentioned to me that C. Bell was a fictitious writers name that Mike Hanks used to say, "Give a little to C. Bell." I thought that was pretty cool so I adopted the name from one of, if not my favorite group of Detroit labels.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 08:29 pm:

I was going to ask you about that!

By michael (205.188.192.36 - 205.188.192.36) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 07:22 pm:

Melvin Davis! Could someone give me a brief synopsis of his career...I'm ashamed to say I know nothing about him beyond the incredible "I Won't Be Your Fool." How 'bout a discography.