Songs that deserved the A-side treatment

[bradsupremes]

What are some Motown songs you feel should have been given the A-side treatment, but were either ignored or shelved?

Here is my list of songs:

Do I Love You [[Indeed I Do) - Frank Wilson
If You Ever Get Your Hands On Love - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Going Down For The Third Time - The Supremes
That'll Be The Day - The Temptations
Spellbound - Martha & The Vandellas
Baby Hit And Run - The Contours [[Billy Gordon lead version)
Love Feels Like Fire - The Four Tops
All I Do Is Think About You - Tammi Terrell
Suspicion - The Originals
I'll Set You Free - Diana Ross & The Supremes
I Can't Go On Sharing Your Love - The Isley Brothers
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Jimmy Ruffin
Shoe Leather Expressway - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Poor Little Rich Girl - The Marvelettes
I Got Heaven Right Here On Earth - The Temptations
Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music - The Supremes
I Love The Man - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Save Some Room In Your Heart For Me - Martha & The Vandellas
Let Love Live [[A Little Bit Longer) - The Velvelettes
Why [[Must We Fall In Love) - Diana Ross & The Supremes and the Temptations
It's My Time - The Mynah Birds
I'm Stuck On You - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
You Gave Me Love - Diana Ross & The Supremes
I Want You Back - David Ruffin

[tamla617]

going down for the third -time for sure

i dont know why i love you -stevie wonder

at last - marvin gaye

ungazeba [[what ever)unite the world-temptations

bless you [[b side here) martha reeves etc.

there must be a load,but i cant remember!

[mr soul]

I could never understand why the Temptations "Ball of Confusion/It's Summer" was not at the very least a double A side [blows the A side away imo.] & when it did get it's day in the sun, it was a vastly inferior version.

[rovereab]

My initial thoughts:

Do I Love You [[Indeed I Do) - Frank Wilson
I Got A Feeling - Four Tops
Since You've Been Gone - Four Tops
Going Down For The Third Time - Supremes
There's No Stopping Us Now - Supremes
I'm Gonna Make It [[I Will Wait For You) - Diana Ross & The Supremes
We'll Be Satisfied - Marvin & Tammi
This Poor Heart Of Mine - Marvin & Tammi
Suspicion - Originals
Head To Toe - Smokey & The Miracles
More, More, More Of Your Love - Smokey & The Miracles
When I'm With You - Supremes & Four Tops
Let's Make Love Now - Supremes & Four Tops
Give Up - Diana Ross
All I Do Is Think About You - Tammi Terrell
Everybody Needs Love - Marvin Gaye [[would need an edit - a cut from 4:16 to 5:16 would be good)
Feel All My Love Inside - Marvin Gaye [[perhaps with the erotic noises removed!)
Right Before My Eyes - Four Tops

Eamonn

[roger]

Bradsupremes ..

"Why [[Must we fall in Love)" by DIANA ROSS/SUPREMES/TEMPTATIONS did get the "A" side treatment in Britain, with "Uptight" as the "B" side, but it didn't exactly hit the heights of success, stalling at #31 on the U.K. chart. Tamla-Motown then decided to flip it over and "Uptight" was promoted as the "A" but with no success. Pity, as I like both sides equally.

Tamla617 .. "Bless You" by MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS was the "A" side in Britain .. TMG 794 .. even got to #33 on the U.K. chart, so i think you must be mixing it up with something else.

My own personal list of U.S. "B" sides that could have become "A" sides ..

EDWIN STARR .. "My Weakness is You" .. [[ can't even remember what the "A" side was without looking it up )
FOUR TOPS ... "The Key" .. [[ never even a single in Britain )
FOUR TOPS .. "Where Did You Go" .. [[ fantastic double header )
SUPREMES .. "Whisper You Love Me Boy" .. [[ better than "Nothing But Heartaches" IMHO )
ISLEY BROTHERS .. "Behind A Painted Smile" .. [[ became a huge hit in Britain as an "A" side )
MIRACLES .. "Choosey Beggar" [[ could have been a follow up to "Going to A Go-Go" )

Roger

[ron]

i dont know why i love you -stevie wonder

'I don't know why' was the A side when originally released in the UK, with 'My cherie amour' as the B side. Tony Blackburn started to play 'My cherie amour' on his breakfast show on Radio 1 which eventually resulted in the single being re-released and re-promoted with 'My cherie amour' as the A side. Apart from the catalogue number TMG690 A and B, you could tell if it was a re-issued single as 'I don't know why' had been retiltled 'Don't know why I love you', hence the occasional confusion over the correct title for this song in the UK.

[theboyfromxtown]

Velvelettes-The Boy From Crosstown
Velvelettes-He's The One
Velvelettes-Twilite Time
Velvelettes-Let Love Live

[roger]

'I don't know why' was the A side when originally released in the UK, with 'My cherie amour' as the B side. Tony Blackburn started to play 'My cherie amour' on his breakfast show on Radio 1 which eventually resulted in the single being re-released and re-promoted with 'My cherie amour' as the A side. Apart from the catalogue number TMG690 A and B, you could tell if it was a re-issued single as 'I don't know why' had been retiltled 'Don't know why I love you', hence the occasional confusion over the correct title for this song in the UK.

"I Don't Know Why" was originally the "A" side in the U.S. too and even made #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 [[ and #16 R&B ) before the record was "flipped over" and "My Cherie Amour" became the "A".

Roger

[westgrandboulevard]

theboyfromxtown


My money would have been on 'He's The One'......

[jeff9nyc]

Mother Dear - The Supremes
5:30 Plane - Jean Terrell and the Supremes
From Head to Toe - The Miracles
I Can Never Recover - Scherrie Payne and the Supremes

[stephanie]

Xtown I guess all of the Velvelettes singles should have been A sides huh..LOL

[westgrandboulevard]

stephanie

I bet xtown would say even the A sides should have been double A sides, lol!!

[stephanie]

Hey westgrand I sent you a message. Xtown has a love affair with that group and Im glad he knows Cal so he can report back everything we say. Not much to tell because nobody says a bad word about the Velvellettes.

[jboy88]

The Isley Brothers- It's Out of the Question
Marvin & Tammi-How You Gonna Keep It
The Supremes- Time To Breakdown
Gladys & the Pips- I Know I'm Losing You
The Temptations- Fan The flame, Two Sides to Love
The Four Tops-Reflections, Stranded on the Road of Love

[paladin]

Temptations:

Everybody Needs Love
He Who Picks a Rose
Who You Gonna Run To
Born to Love You
Just another Lonely Night

Miracles:

Swept For You baby
Fork In The Road
Be My Love

Four Tops:

Sad Souvenirs
Love Feels Like Fire

Bobby Taylor & Vancouver's:

Fading Away

Originals:
Dont Change me Now [[ You may not like the Change)

[theboyfromxtown]

Hey westgrand I sent you a message. Xtown has a love affair with that group and Im glad he knows Cal so he can report back everything we say. Not much to tell because nobody says a bad word about the Velvellettes.

WGB and Stephanie

I still tread very carefully though! I'm an easy target!

Many consider their recordings to be of the highest quality and fell that they ought to have been marketed more extensively. However, the ladies freely understand the mechanics of the industry at that time and are very accepting of the situation. The Velvelettes still work, because people still want to see them in concert and for that, they are all genuinely very happy.

[westgrandboulevard]

theboyfromxtown...

You forgot to mention that, after several decades, the ladies of The Velvelettes are all still the original members...which makes the group even more remarkable.

If they were loved back in the day, they'll be revered for it these days!

[tamla617]

roger
BLESS YOU!i knew there was something odd about that when i typed it!i got bless you on a b side.but on reflection it was a "re-release" as a b.over here. was it forget me not on the A?and i have it on gordy and that IS an A [[i think!)
ron
this one always confuses me too,and in the mists of time all i ever remember is the b side version of the 7".'cos thats the one i ended up with.

[drewschultz88]

Did "Why When Love Is Gone" by The Originals ever get an A-side release? I could listen to that song all day long. Love the Isley Brothers' version, but The Originals' take on it has such a groove.

[roger]

Did "Why When Love Is Gone" by The Originals ever get an A-side release? I could listen to that song all day long. Love the Isley Brothers' version, but The Originals' take on it has such a groove.

One of the "Cellarfull of Motown" collections has a "single mix" of "Why When Love Has Gone" by THE ORIGINALS on it, which suggests that it was intended as a 45 at some stage, but it certainly was never released. Pity, as I thought it had real potential when I finally heard it.

Roger

[theboyfromxtown]

Roger

I'm not totally convinced that the existence of a single mix automatically means that it was intended as a future 45 release. More like "hoped for"!

*smile*

[stephanie]

Definitely the Supremes Its Time to Break Down! It had a great groove and it was hip at the time I always thought of it as being ahead of its time like Marvin's - Whats Going On? .....What a shame this was not an A side single.

[arrr&bee]

Most of smokey's b sides...sorry is a sorry word,fading away-the temps...your love's amazing-the four tops...with a child's heart-stevie.

[144man]

I don't think the Supremes ever recorded a track better than "Ask Any Girl".

[nabob]

stephanie posted
Definitely the Supremes Its Time to Break Down! It had a great groove and it was hip at the time I always thought of it as being ahead of its time like Marvin's - Whats Going On? .....What a shame this was not an A side single.

Although this song received very little radio play on the west coast, I heard it many times blaring from dorm rooms on my campus and at other schools.

[MotownSteve]

There are at least three songs on Best of the Fantastic Four that I feel could have been hits: To Share Your Love; You Gave Me Something [[And Everything's Alright); Just the Lonely.

[Motown Eddie]

Here's some of my Motown era favorites that I feel should've been the "A-Side Treatment"
1. The Monitors-"Number One In Your Heart"
2. Liz Lands-"Keep Me"
3. Brenda Holloway-"I'll Be Available"
4. The Miracles-"All That's Good"
5. The Temptations-"Just One Last Look"
6. The Supremes-"Going Down For The First Time"
7. Martha & The Vandellas-"One Way Out"
8. Marvin Gaye-"I'll Take Care Of You"
9. Stevie Wonder-"Angie Girl"
10. The Miracles-"Would I Love You"

...And that's just the tip of the iceberg.......

[paladin]

There are at least three songs on Best of the Fantastic Four that I feel could have been hits: To Share Your Love; You Gave Me Something [[And Everything's Alright); Just the Lonely.

I agree instead of the regional hits they were. They were extremely popular in the Chicago- Detroit- New York corridor. In fact most of the ones you list were released on the Ric-Tic label as A sides, before being compiled by Motown.

As Long as I Live, Man In Love and You Gave Me Something & I've Got To Have You, were pretty popular records the first time around....lol...

[tmd]

Two songs not mentioned, that are truly excellent- the Four Top's

Left with a Broken Heart- off their first album and Just Losing You- Smokey and the Miracles- off Special Occasions. If you have not heard either one of these songs, go to U tube and listen to them. I believe it is the melodies that makes both songs special, but of course Levi and Smokey do excellent vocal work as usual.

[alcestermotown]

Supremes - He's All I Got

[Motown Eddie]

Some more Motown era favorites that should've been given a shot at the charts;

1. "Baby A Go-Go"-Barbara McNair
2. "I Think We Can Make It"-The Miracles
3. "What Am I Going To Do Without You"-The Temptations
4. "Court Of The Common Plea"-Marvin Gaye
5. "Knock On My Door"-The Marvelettes
6. "Third Finger, Left Hand"-Martha & the Vandellas
7. "Mother Dear"-The Supremes
8. "Rocks In My Bed"-The Four Tops
9. "Drop In The Bucket"-Mary Wells
10. "Throw A Farewell Kiss"-The Velvelettes
11. "It's A Desperate Situation"-Marvin Gaye
12. "Mr. Misery"-The Miracles
13. "Baby Hit And Run" [[Billy Gordon version)-The Contours
14. "Don't Let True Love Die"-The Supremes
15. "Last Call"-Jr. Walker & the All Stars
16. "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers"-The Marvelettes
17. "No More Tearstained Makeup"-Martha & the Vandellas
18. "Any Girl In Love [[Knows What I'm Going Through)"-The Supremes
19. "After You Put Back The Pieces [[I"ll Still Have A Broken Heart)"-Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
20. "I'm Gonna Make It Up To You"-Kim Weston
21. "Trapped In A Love Affair"-Brenda Holloway
22. "The Boy From Crosstown" [[A Cellarful of Motown! Vol. 3 version)-The Marvelettes
23. "Let's Talk It Over'-Marv Johnson
24. "Love A Go-Go"-Stevie Wonder
25. "Sombody's Waiting For Me"-The Contours
26. "It's All Your Fault"-The Supremes
27. "Every Time I See You I Go Wild"-Stevie Wonder
28. "Lucky, Lucky Me"-Marvin Gaye
29. "Starving For Your Love"-The Four Tops
30. "Last One Out Is Brokenhearted"-The Temptations

[robb_k]

Tears From A Woman's Eyes-Temptations
All I Do Is Think About You - Tammi Terrell
Suspicion - The Originals
Crying In The Night-Monitors
Cry-Majestics
All I Have Left Are Memories-Sammy Turner & Serenaders
Tears, Nobody and a Smile-Serenaders
In The Neighborhood-OR-On The Avenue-Jimmy Ruffin
A Woman Won't Do Right-Shorty Long
Any Girl In Love-Kim Weston
I Should Have Known Better-Marvelettes
Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde-Versatones
Love Woke Me Up This Morning-Brenda Holloway
Crying Time-Brenda Holloway
The Touch of Venus-Patrice Holloway
Keep Stepping and Never Look Back-Carolyn Crawford
So Glad You Chose Me-Marv Johnson [[USA market)
Mama Please-Velvelettes
Pretty Little Angel-Little Stevie Wonder
Remember Me-Creations
More, More, More of Your Love-Miracles
Like A Nightmare-Ann Bogan & Andantes
Words-Majestics
A Fvor For A Girl-Brenda Holloway
Knock On My Door-Marvelettes
Honey Boy-Mary Wells
Come Spy With Me-Miracles
He Don't Care About Me-Miracles
I've Got A Right To Cry-LaBrenda Ben & Beljeans
One Block From Heaven-Mary Wells
The Grass Seems Greener-Marvelettes
In The Dark-Creations
Don't Be A Fool-Stay In School-Brenda Holloway
Ain't No Place Like Motown-Velvelettes

[RossHolloway]

Can I - Brenda Holloway

[the sound of young america]

Just Losing You - Smokey & The Miracles.

A lovely melody and lyric.
A Mickey Stevenson penned classic. I can not really think of any other artist on the roster that could have sung it other than Smokey.

Could it have been considered as a single? It was held over from summer '66 and would have been a shoe in on either Away We A Go-Go or Make It Happen but only saw the light of day 2 years later on Special Occassion. I wonder if it was ever presented at the weekly meeting and lost out to a competing track? I can not see it as merely an afterthought.

[ExGuyParis]

Supremes:
There's No Stopping Us Now
Everything Is Good About You
Agree, Stephanie, on Time to Break Down - haunting & powerful - awesome backing track, harmonies, guitar work
Agree with many on Going Down for the Third Time
Bill, When Are You Coming Back [speaking of which - is the mono alternate vocal available on CD?]

[arrr&bee]

How about the drop dead georgous[soulmate-the temps].

[tamla617]

bump........

[jeff9nyc]

Supremes:
Bill, When Are You Coming Back [speaking of which - is the mono alternate vocal available on CD?]

Yup. On the pink box set.

[jeff9nyc]

"He's All I Got"– the Supremes
"This NIght Was Made for Love" – the Marvelettes
"One Way Out" – Martha and the Vandellas
"The Shadows of Society" – the Supremes
"I'm Gonna Make It [[I Will Wait For You)" – the Supremes
"Abraham, Martin and John" – the Miracles
"I Got a Feeling" – the 4 Tops

[randy_russi]

"Ask Any Girl" was B side to "Baby Love" and also on the WDOLG lp. Then it appeared
on the More Hits lp.
"Mother Dear" was also on More Hits and was considered for a single. They performed
it twice on TV--Dean Martin and Red Skelton.

Almost any Mary Wells B side could've been the A side. Other Mary recordings
that could've been A sided--Everybody Needs Love, Whisper You Love Me Boy,
When I'm Gone, which probably would've been if Mary hadn't left the label.

Marvelettes--This Night Was Made For Love from the "pink" lp.