Worst Motown Covers

So encouraged by a post regarding Just Another Lonely Night thought it might be a bit of lightearted relief to see a list of your favourite worst Motown covers - they might even be someone else at Motown covering Motown who knows?

SoulTracks.com:

Just in time for the holidays, Mitchell and company give us the upbeat single, “Christmas Fun.” Kicking off with a Merry Christmas greeting from each member [a la the famous hellos on the Floaters’ classic, “Float On”, which was co-written by Mr. Mitchell!], the Emeralds waste no time declaring that Christmas is a fun, joyous occasion with family and friends.

Read full article here:
https://soultracks.com/first-listen-...christmas-fun/

Soul Tracks.com:

A lot of musical history went into the making of Honey Cone’s cover of the Eurythmics’ 1983 hit “Here Comes the Rain Again.” First, this is the first Honey Cone record in more than 50 years since Shelly Clark, Edna Wright and Carolyn Willis were topping the charts with songs like “Want Ads” and “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show.” The current version of one of the great female groups from the late 1960s and early 70s includes original member Shelly Clark along with Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Brune.

Secondly, there is a historical connection between Honey Cone and Eurythmics lead singer Annie Lennox. The late Edna Wright, founder and original member of Honey Cone, recorded and performed with Lennox as a session artist. Wright is also the sister of another legendary lead and backing vocalist, Darlene Love. Clark is the wife of Earth, Wind and Fire bassist Verdine White, who along with the band’s drummer John Paris and Neal H. Pouge, produced Honey Cone’s remake of “Here Comes the Rain Again.”

Read full article here:
https://soultracks.com/first-listen-honey-cone-rain/

[CD1]
1. The World Is A Ghetto
2. Southern Part Of Texas
3. The Cisco Kid
4. So
5. All Day Music
6. Don't Let No One Get You Down

[CD2]
1. Lotus Blossom
2. Gypsy Man
3. Band Intro
4. Intro To Slippin' Into Darkness: Lee Oskar
5. Slippin' Into Darkness
6. Me And Baby Brother
7. Shizuoka Chant
8. Where Was You At

Amazon USA
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP7WD3SW/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon Canada
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DP7WD3SW/?tag=imwanca-20

Amazon UK
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DP7WD3SW/?tag=imwan-21

In 1965, Motown producers Wm. "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter composed the hauntingly-beautiful ballad, "Just Another Lonely Night". Since then, it was recorded by 4 different Motown artists as follows:


1) THE TEMPTATIONS [[Recorded in 1965)
Producers: Wm. "Mickey" Stevenson & Ivy Jo Hunter
Backing Vocals: The Andantes
Track included on "Temptin' Temptations" LP/CD
https://youtu.be/Qy5OLFhN5xc?si=ndAyrK1k21-6vQmH


2) BRENDA HOLLOWAY [[Recorded in 1966)
Producers: Wm. "Mickey" Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter & Jeffrey Bowen
Backing Vocals: The Andantes & The Originals
Track included on "The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway" CD
https://youtu.be/uGpHFq1Dt8s?si=BX0IKaTdNz4g-b0Q


3) LEVI STUBBS [[Originally recorded in 1965 by The Temptations)
Producers: Wm. "Mickey" Stevenson & Ivy Jo Hunter
Backing Vocals: The Temptations [[1965)
The Andantes & Four Tops credited as being added in 1967, although I have yet to recognize any Tops' vocals)
Track included on Four Tops "Fourever" CD Box Set"
https://youtu.be/KMTY8GeyMMI?si=rNDGX3DhYcecY9sv


4) THE FANTASTIC FOUR [[Recorded in 1969-1970)
Producer: Clay McMurray
Arrangers: Wade Marcus & Paul Riser
Backing Vocals: The Andantes
Track included on The Fantastic Four's "The Lost Motown Album" CD
https://youtu.be/oleCzHg4CYI?si=ezSnKqRy-HoJO_GM


WHICH VERSIONS ARE YOUR FAVORITES?

List them in the order of preference [[your favorite -- of course -- being #1!)

I'll get the ball rolling with my personal favorites:

1) BRENDA HOLLOWAY
2) FANTASTIC FOUR
3) THE TEMPTATIONS
4) LEVI STUBBS w/THE TEMPTATIONS

From Freda’s Threads account. Apologies for low-rez quality:
Attachment 21732