Songs that refer to group member names

**lockhartgary** · 08-19-2017, 01:22 PM

Hi all,
As we all know, "Back in My Arms Again" mentions Mary and Flo in the lyrics. The Marvelettes' "Too Strong to Be Strung Along" mentions Juanita. Are there more Motown songs that mention group members in the lyrics? There may be some that I simply cannot remember or that I don't know about at all.

**Motown Eddie** · 08-19-2017, 01:34 PM

Well there is "Fancy Passes" by The Supremes where Mary says "oh what a man you've got Diane".

**reese** · 08-19-2017, 01:42 PM

SIGNED GLADYS by Gladys Knight and the Pips.

The group name is mentioned in DANCE PARTY by Martha and the Vandellas.

**Motown Eddie** · 08-19-2017, 01:44 PM

One more; on Diana Ross & the Supremes' "Whistle While You Work", Diana addresses Mary & Flo by name to get them to "whistle".

**theboyfromxtown** · 08-19-2017, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Motown Eddie

One more; on Diana Ross & the Supremes' "Whistle While You Work", Diana addresses Mary & Flo by name to get them to "whistle".

Heigh Ho - Supremes

**theboyfromxtown** · 08-19-2017, 01:48 PM

A lot of the MPG duets have call outs to each duet partner.

**johnny_raven** · 08-19-2017, 02:01 PM

Baby You've Got What It Takes - 4 Tops & Supremes

**luke** · 08-19-2017, 03:03 PM

I can't remember which song but Levi sings "Jean " twice and not you've got what it takes"

**biggestfourtops fan** · 08-19-2017, 03:37 PM

"COME ON EVERYBODY, COME ON IN, MARTHA'S GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THE SWIM". The unreleased C'MON AND SWIM. On their 2013 singles box set on disc 3 on the LOST AND FOUND section.

**copley** · 08-19-2017, 06:37 PM

I Was Made To Love Her - 'Stevie' of course

I'm Glad You Belong To Me - Edwin Starr & Blinky - each other

**sansradio** · 08-19-2017, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by luke

I can't remember which song but Levi sings "Jean " twice and not you've got what it takes"

That was "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You."

**luke** · 08-19-2017, 06:43 PM

Thank you sans

**DJMoch** · 08-19-2017, 07:47 PM

And another Supremes one, Diana references them in "Shake":

Come on now, Florence, shake!
I said that's the way to do it, shake!
Come on now, Mary, shake!
Come on now, Supremes, and shake!

**lockhartgary** · 08-19-2017, 11:38 PM

You guys really know your stuff!

**sansradio** · 08-19-2017, 11:41 PM

The Jackson 5's "Hum Along and Dance" [["Play it, Tito!...Play it, Jermaine!")

**captainjames** · 08-20-2017, 02:16 AM

One more
TCB
Melvin says "Naw we are the Temptations now the Supremes are another thing." Or something like that.

**Zantellor** · 08-20-2017, 03:03 AM

It's not on Motown. On The First Choice cut Ain't He Bad The line is something like this. Hey Rochelle Do You know who his. No Ursula ,I don"t know

**luckyluckyme** · 08-20-2017, 05:14 AM

Up On the Housetop by the J5, Michael lists gifts each brother wants for Christmas.

**lockhartgary** · 08-20-2017, 08:15 AM

Just remembered J5's "Goin' Back to Indiana": "Ok Tito you got it!"
By the way, did Tito actually have it? That is, did he actually play on the session?

**paul_nixon** · 08-20-2017, 08:47 AM

And of course our very special girls, The Velvelettes sang about everybody on the label on Ain't No Place Like Motown

**Motown Eddie** · 08-20-2017, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by lockhartgary

Just remembered J5's "Goin' Back to Indiana": "Ok Tito you got it!"
By the way, did Tito actually have it? That is, did he actually play on the session?

Good question. I've read that no members of The Jackson 5 played their instruments on their studio recording at that time.

**Motown Eddie** · 08-20-2017, 10:52 AM

On The Temptations' "Friendship Train" [[from Psychedelic Shack), each member of the group is called out by name before taking their turn singing the line "ride, ride, ride on the Friendship Train" toward the end of the song.

**jbpintus** · 08-20-2017, 08:59 PM

"Temptations sing!" Says Rick James in SUPER FREAK and in STANDING ON THE TOP.

Stevie Wonder calls for the J5 to do the same in YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING.

Little Stevie Wonder refers to himself in HALELUJAH I LOVE HER SO.

Stevie and the Spinners are cited by Marvin Gaye in YOU'RE WONDERFUL.

LaBrenda Ben cites the Contours in I CAN'T HELP IT, I GOTTA DANCE.

The Commodores cite Marvin Gaye in NIGHTSHIFT.

Marvin Gaye thanks Stevie Wonder during PRAISE

JB

**DJMoch** · 08-20-2017, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by captainjames

One more
TCB
Melvin says "Naw we are the Temptations now the Supremes are another thing." Or something like that.

The whole sequence goes:

Tempts: Miss Diana, now the stage is yours, and the lovely Supremes...

Diana: Thanks to each and every one of you, you are dreams!

Melvin: No, Diana, we're the Temptations, the Dreams are another group!

**TomatoTom123** · 08-21-2017, 01:33 AM

Great thread lockhartgary! I can't think of any more examples [[than the ones that have been posted) but The Temptations-Four Tops duet "The Battle Song" from The Tempts 1983 Back To Basics album. Not sure if they sing any member names but they do say "can't top The Tempts" and "can't tempt The Tops" throughout the track.

**TomatoTom123** · 08-21-2017, 03:16 AM

Also, even though he's not a group, Stevie Wonder says "don't leave Steve" towards the end of 1974's "Please Don't Go" [[an amazing song)

**McMotown** · 08-21-2017, 04:01 AM

The Temptations from the Special Album - 'All I Want Form You'

Hey Otis what you want

Hey Melvin what you want
and so on

**Calv1971** · 08-21-2017, 08:25 AM

"Who'll take Mary's love, it's guaranteed for a lifetime"
Mary Wells - "Guaranteed for a lifetime"

**alexstassi** · 08-21-2017, 01:19 PM

during the fade of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", someone says "Otis"
think it's Dennis

**jbpintus** · 08-22-2017, 07:34 AM

The Temptations HURRY TOMORROW that closes their Masterpiece 1973 lp starts with : "Hey Damon!..."

A bit later in time but Boyz II Men lyrics include the group name. On KHALIL [[INTERLUDE) on their II album.
Each member's name is sung on the same album in ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
Their debut smash MOTOWNPHILLY includes two Motown group names : Boyz II Men and ABC.

Michael Jackson sang DEAR MICHAEL.

Smokey believes in Miracles in SWEET HARMONY.

Teena Marie is referred to Lady T in her own I'M A SUCKER FOR YOUR LOVE, and in a couple of other tracks as well.

Rick James and his Stone City Band open and close James' Come Get It with STONE CITY BAND HI! and STONE CITY BAND BYE.

Switch has a song called... SWITCH

A bit OT but three of Berry Gordy's children's names appear on the Supremes CHILDREN CHRISTMAS SONG.

The spoken intro to the J5 CHRITSMAS WON'T BE THE SAME THIS YEAR goes "Hey what's wrong with you Jermaine?"

And Patrice Holloway sang about STEVIE and "the boy of her dreams". OT I know but thought should be added to the thread anyway.

JB

**luke** · 08-22-2017, 09:10 AM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv64r8-qM5Q Don't forget the Avons! What a coincidence!

**RichyP** · 08-22-2017, 09:41 AM

As I recall, Jimmy and David Ruffin do some name calling on "Stand By Me" ?

**George Solomon** · 08-22-2017, 12:43 PM

"I'm A Winner" on Sugar N Spice - "so listen, Martha, don't you be no fool..."

"Love Twins" on Diana & Marvin - "I love you too, Marvin." Also, "take it from the top, Marv" on the alternate "Don't Knock My Love."

The Supremes & 4 Tops from Magnificent Complete Duets, Levi and Jean refer to each other often during "Hold On." Lots of names in the Supremes & 4 Tops songs including Mary and Obie and Jean and Levi in "You've Got What It Takes."

Diana Ross & The Supremes & Temptations: "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" Dennis: "sing to me Diane." "Try It Baby" Diana: "Hey Melvin..."

I had to jump in here ... I'm sure there are dozens more.

**RichyP** · 08-25-2017, 07:00 AM

Hasn't Stevie referenced just about everyone???
Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.
on "Sir Duke"
Bob Marley on "Jammin'"
Jeff Beck on "Lookin for another pure love"

and I wouldn't be surprised if you guys cant think of a lot more,
Ray Charles????

**TomBairdFan** · 08-25-2017, 02:00 PM

...and speaking of George Solomon, I was just playing his excellent 'Kim Weston - Greatest Hits and Rare Classics' CD on which Miss Weston emphatically urges her main squeeze to ''Rock KIM for a little while'' on ''Take Me In Your Arms [[Rock Me A Little While)''. Who could resist?!