Motorcity "DIVAS" And Other Fun Releases! - Philles/Motown Gary

I'm really happy to see the first 'Divas' set featured on this thread....

One reason, it includes Betty Kelly's 'Giving Me The Runaround'.

Playing it right now. One of the sweetest, poignant Motorcity tracks, which has, to my ears, a wistful, sad charm all of its own.

What makes it so attractive is the female chorale harmony of the background vocals, carefully blended with Betty's gentle vocal ...and the light, theremin-like woodwind sequence which drifts in and out, lending distinction to the background.

I remember originally finding this on the 'Summer Swingbeats' album....and indeed, there is a summer sound to it. A real favourite. :)

Glad you like it, Roger! "DIVAS [[Vol. 2)" is on its way! Should arrive later this week. I'll share it when the time comes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Philles/Motown Gary

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VARIOUS ARTISTS
"Motorcity - Performed By The Former Stars Of Motown [[Vol. 1)"
Label: Going For A Song
GFSO 4901
Release Date: Unknown


1) MOTORCITY ALL-STARS - "Motown Revue"
[[Ingram-Barry)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/TzUJ4HqaBbQ

2) EDWIN STARR - "Walking In Rhythm"
[[Perry)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/qZgPih25-nw

3) THE MONITORS - "Tears Of A Clown"
[[Cosby-Robinson-Wonder)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/0eUrG7crVPQ

4) FRANKIE GAYE - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
[[Whitfield-Strong)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/CassDXSK_Cg

5) KIM WESTON - "It Should Have Been Me"
[[Whitfield-Stevenson)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/Flz7tXdYnVU

6) SYREETA - "Reflections"
[[Holland-Dozier-Holland
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/mnb--gfgoHw

7) THE VELVELETTES - "He Was Really Saying Something"
[[Whitfield-Stevenson-Holland)
https://youtu.be/mBDnowUOa4I

8) THE SUPREMES - "Crazy About The Guy"
[[Levine-Wagner-Moy)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/FV_i6_Pw4Ck

9) FRANCES NERO - "Do You Know Where You're Going To"
[[Masser-Goffin)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/XS_uogiF4nw

10) SYLVIA MOY - "My Cherie Amour"
[[Cosby-Moy-Wonder)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/O799e2Q1tqs

11) MARV JOHNSON - "I Was Made To Love Her"
[[Cosby-Hardaway-Wonder-Moy)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/lGeG82LOiTg

12) BARBARA McNAIR - "For Once In My Life"
[[Murden-Miller)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/bQp_4RmFGf0

13) THE MIRACLES - "Love Machine"
[[Moore-Griffin)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/WHcQ5wRZ9iU

14) THE SUPREMES - "Hit And Miss"
[[Levine-Laurence)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/U5fUlq7Kv0M

15) SHERRI TAYLOR - "What A Difference A Day Makes"
[[Grever-Adams)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/-hegdUH49rA

16) Sammy Ward & Sherri Taylor - "Reunited"
[[Fekaris-Perren)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/U-5t2_H712c


NOTE: At this time, there is no Volume 2 of "Motorcity - Performed By The Former Stars Of Motown" available.

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It took me a while to realise I did not already have this release.:rolleyes:

I now have Vols. 1-4 collection, and for a very reasonable price.

Playing it now. The sound quality does seem noticeably better than even some other releases which I already felt to be good.

Maybe that tag line 'Dolby Surround' has something to do with it....

Quote:

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Gary:
[NOTE: SLAM Records didn't even bother to capitalize the letter "o" on credits for duets with The Originals, thus referring to them as "the originals".]

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I wonder if they were trying to make the buyer think that "with the originals" meant the cuts were blended with the original Supremes....

That's a perfectly valid reason for wondering, Boogiedown....

And if this was a betting situation, a perfectly valid reason for putting good money on it!

In addition to the mistakes already mentioned ['Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours' being credited to The Supremes, and 'Band Of Gold' to Syreeta] it also has to be said that the presentation of artist credits on the 'Going For A Song' set is regrettably less than professional.

Several spelling errors, which could have easily been prevented if someone had just checked......

Motown Revue [but spelled Review on original releases]
Francis Nero;
The Marvellettes;
'Mr Postman';
Ronnie McNair;
Were Incredible..and with no name check for Ronnie McNeir;
Barbara Randolf
Betty Levette
On The Rebound - no credit for Brenda Holloway
I'm Gonna Run Away With You.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boogiedown

I wonder if they were trying to make the buyer think that "with the originals" meant the cuts were blended with the original Supremes....

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A misunderstanding on their part such as that had occurred to me, too, Boogie. Who knows what they were thinking. Whether it was ignorance on their part, or outright con-artistry by using a photo of Motown's Diana, Mary & Flo, as they did, I wouldn't put anything past them. Shame on SLAM!

Boogie & Westgrand, whichever the case may be, I'm surprised that Motown didn't raise holy Hell with SLAM and make them take it off the market.

Gary, it could well have been noticed at the time, but maybe no-one then alerted whoever was administering Motown copyright?

As with all our lives....while we often think about something, then doing something about it can be a quite different matter haha

[Thought for the Day: "It is never too late to be what you might have been"]

Which reminds me of something I had not thought about in decades, regarding misrepresentation....

Back in the late 60s/early 70s, my sister borrowed an album from a friend.....by a reggae artist, and which featured Motown songs.

There was something plainly wrong with it. I can't remember just now if the title and lyrics were correct, but other songwriter names were being credited....or different lyrics were being used.

Whatever it was, I went to the reference library and found the relevant address for Motown copyright here in the UK, and wrote straight away.

Received a prompt response, commenting that they had checked, were in full agreement, and expressing their thanks for bringing it to their attention.

They confirmed they would ensure that any royalties would now be directed to the correct parties, and thanked me again.

There may perhaps have been subsequent legal action....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Philles/Motown Gary

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VARIOUS ARTISTS
"Motorcity - Performed By The Former Stars Of Motown [[Vol. 4)"
Label: Going For A Song
GFSO 4904
Release Date: Unknown


1) SYREETA - "Band Of Gold"
[[Dunbar-Wayne)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/ixxpdPj3NE0

[NOTE: This is inadvertently mislabeled as by Syreeta when the artist is clearly Freda Payne.]


2) FIFTH DIMENSION - "Love Hangover"
[[Sawyer-McCloud)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/9sFbf3BPrQo

3) MARY WELLS - "My Guy"
[[Robinson)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/tnjo6m_HORc

4) BETTYE LAVETTE - "Jimmy Mack"
[[Holland-Dozier-Holland)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/km0HKFr4K3I

5) HATTIE LITTLES - "Touch Me In The Morning"
[[Masser-Miller)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/PCKt_StJy1o

6) BILLIE CALVIN - "Wishing On A Star"
[[Calvin)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/HHsQAmk9rKk

7) JIMMY RUFFIN & BRENDA HOLLOWAY - "On The Rebound"
[[Levine-Trench)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/FAbvoDGcerg

8) THE SUPREMES - "Love Child"
[[Sawyer-Taylor-Wilson-Richards)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/Fx9P4mNLLq8

9) JOHNNY BRISTOL - "What Does It Take [[To Win Your Love)"
[[Bristol-Fuqua-Bullock)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/viAl_SLZ57I

10) MOTORCITY ALL-STARS - "The Way You Do The Things You Do"
[[Robinson-Rogers)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/7awLIhBbTb4

11) FRANKIE GAYE & KIM WESTON - "You Ain't Livin' 'Til You're Lovin' "
[[Ashford-Simpson)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/Lb2IllApNso

12) FREDA PAYNE - "Memories & Souvenirs"
[[Starr-Levine)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/gEKYKSTv1lQ

13) FRANCES NERO - "I'm Gonna Run Away With You"
[[Berns)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/DGLzKKZWUsA

14) THE MARVELETTES - "When You're Young And In Love"
[[McCoy)
https://youtu.be/Se7wUDpLjzg

15) THE SUPREMES - "Nathan Jones"
[[Caston-Wakefield)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/mAV8ZAM8U44

16) SAMMY WARD - "Part-Time Love"
[[Bradford-Wylie)
Producer: Ian Levine
https://youtu.be/-t-qH2lRRF4

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Bettye LaVette's 'Jimmy Mack' is now playing here, and so just sharing this thought, in case there is anyone left who has not yet spotted it...

Those background voices must surely be Rosalind and Annette....

I have to guess that the lead vocal was originally intended for Martha...and the track would have featured on the 'Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Motorcity album' that never was......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Philles/Motown Gary

Hey Thom! It's been ages, Stranger! Are you referring to "The Best Of The Supremes Featuring Scherrie Payne, Jean Terrell, and Lynda Laurence: Live And More" [[Produced By Steve Weaver)?

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Scratch the above, Thom. It finally sunk in that you're referring to a Mary, Scherrie & Susaye release. Just another senior moment here!

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Gary, it has taken me a while to actually find the release I was talking about. And I was pretty wrong about everything! It's not a live album at all. It's called Songs In The Name Of Love. It features a photo ph Susaye, Mary & Scherrie on the cover. The same photo also appears on the back of the CD and is the picture under the disc. Inside there is a very bad bio of the group. It claims to be the current version of Mary Wilson and the Supremes but, in fact, is a voice I've never heard before singing all the songs. At first you might think it's Sundray Tucker, but the voice has an even sweeter, lighter sound. It's very wearing. Arrangements are not quality! Anyway, I scanned a few pages and am posting.
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I don't blame you, Thom. Everything you've described regarding the music and the unknown singer would annoy me, too. It's a nice photo of Mary, Scherrie, and Susaye, though.