John Florez on Friends/Distinction, 5th Dimension, Hues Corp., Freda Payne and more

[dylan]

John Florez is probably best known for producing The Friends of Distinction and The Hues Corporation. He has recorded/posted a 12-part series on Youtube called, "Diary Of A Record Producer." 'Lots of great behind-the-scenes stuff. As well as talking about the work he produced, he delves into the politics involved when dealing with record companies.

Here's part 8 on The 5th Dimension and Johnny Mathis. He speaks about Clive Davis sabotaging The 5th and yet how upstanding the group was when it came to a publishing deal he had with them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue_f_ZyVXB0&t=633s


All of his clips are great. Here are a few selected links.
Forgive me- I still haven't figured out how to post embedded links...


Diary Of A Record Producer: Part 1 - Welcome To Hollywood! [[Friends of Distinction)
[[The"Grazin' in the Grass" album cover was a mistake; "Going in Circles" wasn't slated to be released- and when it was, it was originally the B-side to "Let Yourself Go.")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wqMAdKAr90


Diary Of A Record Producer: Part 2 - Willie Hutch and more
[[The problem with promoting Willie)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_luKkf-BZ0


Diary Of A Record Producer: Part 3 - Goodbye RCA, Hello Bell Records
[[John almost worked for Motown)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbujrREg5xM


Diary Of A Record Producer: Part 5 - Freedom for the Stallion and Rock the Boat
[[How "Rock the Boat" was saved by a new arrangement)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWwA-zZ--yQ


Diary Of A Record Producer: Part 10 - Helen Reddy, Freda Payne, Linda Carter
[[Working with Freda on "Red Hot")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAXiaPIh3ds&t=935s

[Boogiedown]

thank you thank you Dylan for this link. What great stuff, exactly the kind of thing I treasure, first hand accounts of how record making went down.

I've listened to your first two links thus far , fascinating stuff about how an unknown kid producer took an unknown act, Friends Of Distinction, to gold record success , just to have it fall apart needlessly.

Always loved the song HARLEM by the Fifth Dimension and loved learning about it. Hoped it'd be talked about and it was. Thinking about it now, of course the tough song was too big a departure from what the group was known for and so it failed , with some programmers returning the record broken!!!



I almost weep in my yearning to hear Marylin McCoo do I HONESTLY LOVE YOU . What a shame.

Can't wait to hear John Florez recount the ROCK THE BOAT story!

thank you thank you !

[sansradio]

I, too, am really enjoying these. Mr. Florez is very compelling; the stories are priceless. Thanks!

[dylan]

Hi Boogiedown,
You're so welcome. Yeah, I could eat this kind of stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and then ask, "May I have more, please?" [[smile)
Another interesting thing about "Harlem": Creative Source's version was released as a single during the same time. It was taken from their second album, "Migration," on Sussex [[Bill Withers' home label at that time). The late Ron Townson was their manager. 'Don't know who decided to cover it first. The song already had an interesting history- it was Bill Wither's first single, however, it was over-shadowed by its B-side, "Ain't No Sunshine."
Here's the Creative Source version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1mFKQzxYm4

I feel the same way about hearing the 5th's take on, "I Honestly Love You." Heck, I'd love to hear their rehersals too!

[dylan]

Hi snasradio,
You're very welcome. I'm glad that he decided to share his stories and memories. A year ago he posted a clip in praise of his favorite producer, the great Thom Bell:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S8Y88GHoOM

On this one, he shares his thoughts on how he would have produced Karen Carpenter's solo album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfTIEU3CtY0

[splanky]

Wonderful and educational thread...I was drawn to it as soon as I saw
mention of The Friends Of Distinction [[still miss Jessica Cleaves very
much) but enjoyed much more. Freedom For The Stallion by Hues
Corp was/still is a gorgeous track that rarely gets heard or discussed
these days...Need more stuff like this round these parts...Thank you
dylan for this thread....

[theboyfromxtown]

I dont get it. James Jamerson was on Rock The Boat. But JJ never got a mention.

[theboyfromxtown]

Apparently it wasn't JJ on that record.

[TomatoTom123]

I’ve only watched the Willie Hutch one and it was absolutely fascainting! I’ve never even listened to his pre-Motown albums and it was still fascinating. I’m gonna have to find them now. Thanks for sharing dylan... I was actually unaware of John's work... I’m not now!

[RTA6226]

Thanks Dylan. The 5th Dimension are my favorite group and I enjoy reading about them. Is there anything else about them from Mr. Florez or anywhere?

[marv2]

thank you thank you Dylan for this link. What great stuff, exactly the kind of thing I treasure, first hand accounts of how record making went down.

I've listened to your first two links thus far , fascinating stuff about how an unknown kid producer took an unknown act, Friends Of Distinction, to gold record success , just to have it fall apart needlessly.

Always loved the song HARLEM by the Fifth Dimension and loved learning about it. Hoped it'd be talked about and it was. Thinking about it now, of course the tough song was too big a departure from what the group was known for and so it failed , with some programmers returning the record broken!!!



I almost weep in my yearning to hear Marylin McCoo do I HONESTLY LOVE YOU . What a shame.

Can't wait to hear John Florez recount the ROCK THE BOAT story!

thank you thank you !

Loved that song!

[dylan]

Hi RTA6226,
Prior to his "Diary Of A Record Producer" series, John Florez posted this clip which covers the same ground as his other clip on The 5th but adds a few more details:

The inside story of Clive Davis and The 5th Dimension:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rrqM8nCkCo&index=38&list=PLPUyncym-jc_pkLtthq9qfBrCLEVjC5_e&t=0s

Also, 5th Dimension adjacent...
Inside the Studio: The Rise and Fall of the Hues Corporation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwfHiEhuyJc&index=33&list=PLPUyncym-jc_pkLtthq9qfBrCLEVjC5_e&t=0s