Yes Ralph we go way back, I have always been a fan of yours and your brother, I remember setting in with you guys at the Metropol in Canada, always a good time.
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Yes Ralph we go way back, I have always been a fan of yours and your brother, I remember setting in with you guys at the Metropol in Canada, always a good time.
Yeah, I remember the Metropol. We were so young then, Tommy.
Tom, it is a Holiday weekend so things might start a little slow. The questions will come. Look in from rime to time. You have loyal fans here.
Yow!!!!! It's so awesome to have you here! I have been a great fan ever since I bought that Motown Anthology CD. Right now on YouTube, you've gotten nothing but glowing reviews for your singing. What is really nice though, is that I think the majority of comments are from people like myself- you're a "new" Motown artist and the discovery is pure joy. Plus, many of us were either born around the time you were at Motown or even years later so yours is a timeless gift.
I'd love to hear your recollections of that day of the March, but also, what was it like working with Robert Staunton and Robert Walker? You recorded quite a few of their songs and a lot of people wish there had been more because you really aced those songs. "You're Something To Talk About" is a particular fan favorite.
Again it's great that you're giving us your time and I'm going to have to try very, VERY hard not to deluge you with more questions!
I would like to address the lyrics to Baby I Miss You. I had nothing at all todo with writing lyrics or melody of any of the songs on my Motown CD. None of us were encouraged to take part in the writing process. Berry had his writers and for the the most part, that was it. I just sang every thing that Berry asked me to.
Merry Christmas old pal. I look at you joining us as an exceptional Christmas present.
Hi waiting, watching,etc. I want to thank you for the kind words on my singing, it is music to my ears. Thank you.
staunton@ walker has 5 songs on my CD. 1- small town girl, one of my favorites. 2- she’s a living doll. 3- talk about a good feeling. 4- our own private world. 5- you’re something to talk about. I loved those guys, they were so easy to work with.
Ralph, thank you for that wonderful sentiment, you are one of the best my man.
I think everyone knows that "Baby I Miss You" was written by William Stevenson, and there are no stones being thrown. If there is one thing every Motown fan knows, it's that EVERYTHING, including the songwriting was done by others, everyone hired to concentrate on doing one thing and doing it well. We know artists were basically expected to sing a song as is and often according to a singer demo. That's why your singing is appreciated, because it retained a quality that was still original and expressive. I remember someone said about Billie Holliday that she was so good because she could take a song that wasn't the most spectacular and make it sound like something you WANTED to hear. I've noticed at Motown, two people could sing the same song and yet one could make even the dullest song sound like a hit. For me, had I been a teenager back then, I think I would have bought "Baby I Miss You" solely because of your performance of it.
Wow. This is incredible. Thank you so much for taking time out on your Christmas to come here and field some questions. Thanks Ralph for making this happen. It's very special to hear from people who were around for some of the things we idolize today. Merry Christmas!
Hi Mr. Good. If you see this, I always wanted to know about your group, the Tabs. Did Motown want you as a solo artist or did the guys just decide they wanted to move on? The band sounded good but I was thinking maybe Motown felt since they had Jr. Walker & the All Stars doing something similar, maybe Berry Gordy felt there was a better chance with you as a solo artist.
Welcome Tommy.
It's wonderful to have a Motown artist that fans can reach out to.
I love your CD as it gave us the chance to officially hear these tracjs that Motown passed on.
I had " Baby I miss you" on a 45 many years ago...a treasured import for us UK collectors.
I too am intetested in Staunton and Walker, such a shame that they didn't stay at Motown for a longer period, as they produced some great tracks.
My favourite of yours though is "Gotta get away".
I couldn't believe it upon hearing it on a.bootleg tape years ago...stunning ...Smokey really got it right on that tune. What a shame he didn't produce more on you.
Great to see you on here.
Happy New Year.
Hi Tommy and welcome to the Forum - you have a lot of fans here including from the UK as you will know. I wondered how you came to work with Smokey Robinson and what that was like. Why, oh why, was "I've Gotta Get Away" not released at the time - were you ever given any indication? Did Smokey select you for that track or write it especially for you? What did you do after your time at Motown expired?
Hi waiting,watching etc. on the day of the march [[ original march )I was peeking out the window and getting nervous. As it got closer to my being called out to sing I got calmer and thought I’m going to sing this song as good as I possibly can. On that day I thought I did a good job.
Comparing the re-enactment march to the original there was almost no nervousness, I had a ball, it was much more than I expected. Phil did a great job throwing the march together, I am very grateful to everyone who took part.
Berry came to the Duchess lounge on 7 mile and vandyke to see and hear me, he asked me if I would like to sign a contract to Motown, I of course said yes. He came back several times once with Dianne Ross. He had written Bad Bad Baby. I had also met him at his apartment to work on bad bad baby. it’s a blue’s tune. a white guy singing the blue’s at Motownbut we did it, I still like hearing it to this day. it was the first song I. Worked on.
I love hearing about that! Kinda makes it feel like being there! It seems like things were a lot more about the fun of the business back then. The protest was one of the most unique things I've read Motown's marketing strategy. The even greater thing is that even though it was one moment back then, apparently it carried some weight because all these years later you can still read about it online. People like me who weren't yet born ate still discovering it. Really nice to hear you had a great time and that Phil has the great idea to do it!
I think it says a lot that Berry personally wrote the song for you. Reading what you said about your being white and singing a blues song reminded me of the song he did with Chris Clark, "Do Right Baby, Do Right, " because that was a blues tune as well. I think he got really excited when he found singers like you and Chris who could really sing those songs well. A bit like Elvis- the guy had a voice that carry the blues well- more so than Pat Boone [[whom I actually like.) I can definitely hear why Berry was excited about signing you to Motown.
Hi Tommy, amazing to have you here!!! I'm another fan from the UK [and another Tom! :cool:]. My question would be… what’s your favourite recording from your time at Motown? :)
Just heard from Tom. He was having a small glitch. Stay tuned.
Well gang, Tommy seems to have disappeared. I'm not sure what happened. I have tried to reach out but no luck. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Snakepit, Paul, I think that someone not sure of who, could have erased the vocal and then recorded his voice. My guess is Ivy.
Tom, good to see you.
Ralph, Again ,I apologize for not getting this, I can read my posts but they are at the bottom of the thread.I have answered at least 6 requests so far.
Yeah, that is the way it works.
You could hit "reply with quote" and that will show the members question in the box before you respond underneath it.
Stay tuned, we may have gotten the bugs out. Tommy should be here soon.
Ralph, thanks for helping me out.
Glad to help Tom. Welcome back.
Good to talk to you also.)
If anyone can find my version of [[ just ask the lonely ) my bet is on my good friend Paul Nixon.
Hi Mr. Good. I've seen videos of you at live performances- did you ever more or less stop singing or have you always been out there at various shows? By the way, I'm currently hooked on "She's A Living Doll" and "My Love For You". Yow! Those are great!
Hi waiting, watching, your support feels great. Thank you. My participation started with the weekender 2 in Northampton. It was an amazing event. Singing with Bobby Tailor and Chris Clark and Pat Lewis and many others made .me want to be a part of these shows. The weekender 2 was 10, 11 years ago. I’m going to be 86 years old this coming January 14th. Not ready to stop yet.
Don't ever stop, Tom.
Just amazing
86! That's awesome! The great thing is that nowadays you really don't have to stop. I was telling a friend yesterday about how people age much, MUCH differently now than before. It used to be that people would say, well I'm such-and-such age now so I can't do this anymore but I think nowadays people are saying that's ridiculous! If you enjoy doing something, DO it. When I was in my 20s, I met a man once on my job and in the course of conversation he told me he was 85 and still scuba diving. I thought that was so cool because it was telling me age doesn't have to make me give up having fun! I still remember that guy's words. Your voice is as good as back then so it's excellent you're having fun and sharing that fun with the fans!
Tommy it would thrill me to the stars and back to find your version...20 years we have been searching ..the shame is that so far there is no TG vocal to be found. Where it should be is that version they released as you on Motown Treasures which we know to be Ivy No who sings it there in a Tommy Good fashion possibly as a guide for you, paperwork though shows you did a lead but it's not on that tape where it should be. Funnily enough I was in New York at Christmas still talking about your version. We haven't given up all hope but the chances are getting smaller by the year. If it's there we'll find it...so Tommy do you remember doing a lead?
Has anyone ever heard an acetate or a cassette of a Tommy vocal on "Ask The Lonely"?
Apparently not.
Perhaps I should ask the lonely?