Happy Birthday to Ralph & Russ Terrana!

So, how do we feel about Stevie's work in the 80s?

I feel that the casual narrative is that he was part of the Motown machine in the 60s and had classic 60s Motown hits

In the next decade, he took control over his music and went on a streak of unparalleled creativity and talent [[I would put Stevie in the 1970s as a better run than any artist, at any time, in any genre, at the very least on the Mount Rushmore of greatest musical streaks)

Then in the 80s that creativity well seemed to dry up and he started churning out corny pop songs that his 70s self wouldn't have recorded in a million years

Is this a fair assessment?

I've seen "I just called to say I love you" listed as one of the worst hit songs of the decade, and worst song he ever did [[multiple times), with "Part Time Lover" not far behind

I'd say that Do I Do and Overjoyed stands proudly next to any of his 'classic' songs

And he gave the world Black Happy Birthday - Honestly what percentage of the time is it the version sung at black birthday parties? I’m taking the over at 70%

Hi everyone, I thought I’d make a thread about a band who are actually one of my favourites, Huey Lewis & The News. Although they made many an 80s classic, in most of their music you can hear their love of 50s/60s R&B and soul, including and especially Stax and Motown.

Their 1994 LP Four Chords & Several Years Ago was a cover album of 50s and 60s R&B songs, including a nice rendition of Shorty Long's "Function At The Junction"…



And here’s my favourite, the very Motown-esque "Stuck With You"… :cool:



Any other fans out there? :D

Kinda, sorta overlooked at the time [[probably due to the swerve from disco to smooth jazz/quiet storm) this has become a favorite, and perhaps the favorite lp from this wonderful singer. Here's the opening cut 'Thinking Right'. Wow does this lp hold up 42 years [[gulp!!) later -

Thanks to a couple of reminders here and there.......most recently a nice tribute today from Soul Tracks.........we can perhaps pause to remember the stunning Phyllis, who left us so tragically 27 years ago last week.

Considering that many of our icons have recorded and performed well into their 70s and even 80s, it makes you stop and think about how much more of her talent she could have shared with us, and might still be sharing, if she had not been overtaken by her mental illness.

If you have not done so, pick up a copy of the box set, which will help you remember [[or I guess in some cases "discover") her vast talent. I think that set can be found if you shop wisely for well under $50 US funds.