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04-30-2023 05:08 PM

Bobby Darin - Motown Years 1970 to 1973

In the late 60s and early 70s Motown signed several well established acts but then sort of took their eye off the ball resulting in frustration. True that a lot was happening at once with the move to LA and entering the film industry with "Lady Sings The Blues". Nevertheless there were some fantastic tracks from artists such as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Bobby Darin and to a lesser extent Sammy Davis Jr and Lesley Gore.

Thankfully, in the case of Bobby Darin, material that had long been vaulted has been made available over the years - mainly thanks to Joe Marchesse & co [[e.g. Andy Skurrow) who've made it possible for these tracks to see release on CD. The Real Gone CDs have wonderful liner notes as well and are well worth looking up. In particular, "Another Song On My Mind" includes a great resume of Darin's Motown career - much of this can still be seen on the Real Gone website -

https://theseconddisc.com/2011/02/16...-motown-years/

You can see the full CD artwork here -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...57668721459480

And here are the covers for Darin's Motown albums / CDs

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...in/dateposted/

Please advise of any errors

BOBBY DARIN MOTOWN DISCOGRAPHY

Recorded - 6 February 1971 Live at The Desert Inn [[Renamed “Finally” but still unreleased at the time)

M1183 – 17 April 1971
A Melodie
B Someday We'll Be Together

M1193 – November 1971
A Simple Song Of Freedom
B I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

M1203 – 2 June 1972
A Sail Away
B Hard Headed Woman

M753 ALBUM AUGUST 1972 – Bobby Darin

M1212 – Promo 3 November 1972 [[withdrawn)
A Average People [[mono)
B Average People [[stereo)

M1212 – 3 November 1972 [[probably a bootleg)
A Average People
B Something In Her Love

M1217 – 20 November 1972
A Happy [[Love Theme From "Lady Sings The Blues")
B Something In Her Love

Bobby Darin died 20 December 1973

M813 ALBUM February 1974 – Darin 1936-1973

PR4 [[PROMO EP) - 1974
A1 If I Were A Carpenter
A2 Moritat [[Mack The Knife)
B1 Blue Monday
B2 Happy [[Love Theme From "Lady Sings The Blues")

MW3014 – 1974 [[UK & EU)
A Blue Monday
B Moritat [[Mack The Knife)

M5185 ALBUM July 1981 – Darin 1936–1973 re-issued with 5 tracks having different mixes.

MCD09070MD CD 1987 – Live At The Desert Inn [[first ever issue)

MOTD -5185 CD 1989 – Darin 1936–1973 first issue on CD.

3746351852 CD 1991 – Darin 1936-1973 CD re-issue

NTD-6509-2 CD 2005 – Live At The Desert Inn [[re-issue / remaster / 2 extra tracks “Work Song” and “Beyond The Sea”.

RGM-0440 2xCD 6 May 2016 – Another Song On My Mind [[Real Gone Music)

RGM-0714 CD 13 July 2018 – Go Ahead And Back Up [[Real one Music)
Today 07:50 PM
Today 05:43 PM

Does Gen Z Know 50s & 60s Motown?

This gives me more hope for the future of Motown! Make sure you expose younger folks to Motown as much as you can. Good music transcends generations when they know about it. Let some of the inaccuracies in the video slide and take it for what it is, young folks reacting to great music and hopefully keeping it alive for another generation.

Today 05:38 PM

Phillip Mitchell interview by Heikki.

Heikki did a definitive 3 part history of 'Prince' Philip Mitchell and in depth interviews. This is the link to the second part of Heiiki's interview in which he covers Philip's work with Archie Bell.
https://www.soulexpress.net/princeph...hell_part2.htm
Today 04:55 PM

Favourite string intros

How about we share our favourite string intros, perhaps giving the reasons why. Here's a couple from me.

You're All I Need To Get By - Marvin and Tammi. This string intro sets the scene to start a song where a crescendo progresses to a splendid end.

Getting Ready For Love - Diana Ross. The strings bring great excitement to a lovely upbeat song.

Please share your favourites.
Yesterday 05:46 PM

“Tighten Up” singer Archie Bell ailing in Houston medical facility

Info from SoulTracks.com:


Legendary Houston singer Archie Bell, the leader of the vocal group Archie Bell & The Drells, is currently hospitalized in a Houston nursing facility. Bell’s health has been a challenge since his 2021 stroke, but today on his Facebook page, Bell's team posted the following message:
Thanks to all the messages to Archie. Archie is still in a facility from his medical condition. He sends his love to all. He said to always remember, to Tighten Up! Keep Archie in your thoughts and prayers.

Archie Bell & the Drells was one of the most enjoyable [but often overlooked] dance groups of the late 60s and early 70s. While their funky Texas [and later Philadelphia] sound was often overshadowed by the music coming from Detroit and Memphis, their contribution to the musical landscape of the time was significant -- and always funky.


Archie Bell was born in Henderson, Texas, but moved as an infant to Houston. He began singing in the church choir by the time he was ten, and as a teen he formed the Drells [made to rhyme with Bell] with friends Willie Parnell, James Wise and Billy Butler. The group wona number of local talent competitions and received an introduction to popular DJ Skipper Lee Frazier, who helped them put together their first recordings. One of these, 1968's "Tighten Up," was recorded just before Bell went overseas on military duty. Beginning with the line "Hi everybody! I'm Archie Bell of the Drells from Houston, Texas," the funky dance cut [reminiscent of the sound James Brown was popularizing at the time] became a local favorite and was picked up for national distribution by Atlantic Records. "Tighten Up" turned into an international smash. Surprised by the record's success, the group hurriedly recorded the much awaited accompanying album while Bell was on leave from the military.


Around this time the group met with hot young songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and became the an important foundation for Gamble & Huff's fledgling production empire and, later, their Philadelphia International Records label. Songs like "I Can't Stop Dancing," "Showdown" and "Do the Choo Choo" established Archie Bell and the Drells as one of the premiere dance groups of the late 60s and early 70s. The hits became more sporadic as the decade wore on, though the group scored big on the Soul charts with "I Could Dance All Night" and "Let's Groove." Ultimately, Gamble & Huff's focus on younger artists and their growing corporate empire left the Drells a second tier act at PIR and the group faded from sight after landing one final moderate hit, 1979's "Strategy."


The Drells broke up in the early 80s, but Bell continued on as a solo artist and then with a reconstituted set of Drells, playing the oldies circuit. By the mid-90s, Bell was solo again, singing his classic hits at venues in the U.S. and internationally, and playing a number of charity concerts to benefit other, less fortunate artists.

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Ralph Terrana
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