The Prime of Shorty Long SS 719.

[Roger Polhill]

I`m a big Shorty Long fan and loved "Here Comes The Judge" but I had trouble enjoying "The Prime Of". It just didn`t hit me like the "Judge" I found it a bit of a drag because of the 2 openers "I Had A Dream" and "A Whiter Shade Of Pale".It brightens up after those two and I loved the rest.
I decided to burn a new copy opening with "I`m Walkin`", "Memories Are Made Of This" and then "I Had A Dream" which really stood out as the classy song it is. I buried "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" second to last.
I wonder any of you had the same experience accessing this now great album. Could the original line up contributed to it`s poor sales. Any views?

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Roger, I doubt if John Q. Public has ever even heard of Shorty Long, unless they remember his version of "Here Comes The Judge" which competed for AM Radio airplay with Pigmeat Markham's version.

Speaking for myself, I never cared whether each new Motown LP release started out with a slow track or an uptempo track. I knew that all of Motown's latest tracks would be super-special, and I was rarely ever disappointed.

[snakepit]

I don't like "whiter shade of pale" by anyone...such a drag.
But the rest of the LP is fine by me...I love Shorty Long, and a full comprehensive CD collection would be welcome.
What about it ACE?

[woodward]

A "rare" thread on the MF about Shorty Long.

I have the KENT CD Here Comes Shorty Long - The Complete Motown Stereo Masters CDTOP 369. This collection includes his two albums with bonus tracks all in stereo. If you don't have this great CD, I would suggest you make an effort to get one. The longer one waits the scarcer it will be to locate.

[danman869]

I don't like "whiter shade of pale" by anyone...such a drag.
But the rest of the LP is fine by me...I love Shorty Long, and a full comprehensive CD collection would be welcome.
What about it ACE?

From Kent in 2012, this may be the closest [and only] collection we'll ever get to "a full comprehensive CD collection" by Shorty Long. I was thrilled to get it all those years ago!

https://www.discogs.com/release/3780...Stereo-Masters

[Graham Jarvis]

Shorty Long was a fantastic artist, sadly lost his life whilst fishing with a long friend, their boat crashed on the "Detroit Michigan River" on June 29 1969. Shorty was fishing mad [& his Pal], along with his Motown music. We missed him so much, he had been making his superb music for Motown from 1964 to 1969 since we lost him.

I have around seventy tracks of Shorty Long's I also have a number of Shorty's Tri-Phi records [Berry Gordy had finally took over Tri-Phi Records 1961-63 to Motown] and one from "45 K-Son 7285 1958" [fantastic], the rest mostly Motown and a few more Motown acetates 1964 & 1965.

Shorty has always been a great artist as one of the greatest "Motown Masters"

Shorty Long: [45 K-Son 7285 1958 "Redstone John & You're Tearing Me Up"]

[snakepit]

Yes that Kent CD is great...but a FULL compilation with unissued tracks would work really well

[BayouMotownMan]

Shorty Long was a much beloved Motown artist who unfortunately enjoyed very little commercial success. This despite the fact that he was so versatile and accomplished.

The Prime of Shorty Long was nothing more that a tribute to him after his sudden death. Motown truly mourned him. At his funeral Stevie Wonder placed a harmonica in his casket. The album itself is simply tracks sitting in the vaults that Long had completed. The lp itself had minimal sales.

Motown had a long standing policy of capitalizing on an artist not only at their demise but moreso when they left the company. When Mary Wells signed with Atco, Gordy rushed out Vintage Stock to capitalize on this. When The Miracles, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin left the label Motown issued At Their Best sets to cut into their sales on the new labels they signed to. Same with Thelma Houston and Tata Vega.

[snakepit]

Here's an unreleased track from 1965, and has a very unusual lyric/story that is strange for a Motown song of the period.
I love it, but can see why Motown didn't release it...because of the subject matter.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpQ--K...VpbGVlbg%3D%3D

[paul_nixon]

Here's an unreleased track from 1965, and has a very unusual lyric/story that is strange for a Motown song of the period.
I love it, but can see why Motown didn't release it...because of the subject matter.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpQ--K...VpbGVlbg%3D%3D

Nothing very much left it anything...

[Roger Polhill]

I`m pleased to hear that there are Shorty Long fans around. I lap up any unreleased tracks that show up and I am hoping that the unreleased "Old Love Never Dies" will happen at some time it`s an update on "I Wish You Were Here". I just found that "The Prime Of" was a bit sombre on the opening 2 sides and felt that it would have been better accepted with an up tempo track.After all Shorty was known for more party like sons a la
"Judge" and "Night Fo` Last".

[pj1]

Here's an unreleased track from 1965, and has a very unusual lyric/story that is strange for a Motown song of the period.
I love it, but can see why Motown didn't release it...because of the subject matter.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpQ--K...VpbGVlbg%3D%3D

It will receive an official cd release at the end of March:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/hit-run-more-motown-guys

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I love Shorty Long's Motown recordings. Party tracks like "Function At The Junction" and "Don't Mess With My Weekend" are hard to resist, and ballads like "Another Hurt Like This" and "I Cross My Heart" are among Motown's prettiest. Andantes fans won't be disappointed, as the girls are featured on several tracks throughout. Shorty's recorded output is top-notch Motown at its finest! It's unfortunate that his recordings didn't get the required airplay to make them hits:


"Function At The Junction"
https://youtu.be/dfy5uN_wt3A?si=s-NiuxNc3mI0np4E


"Don't Mess With My Weekend" [[Alternate Version)
https://youtu.be/LjP69YEC90s?si=tTc46GAuo4xyWVwE


"Another Hurt Like This"
https://youtu.be/7BwQpAlHkZs?si=63Nyh3cV5Z4L-XSt


"I Cross My Heart"
https://youtu.be/Fsb3KO_e_gw?si=M7OiukEashT2b9qG

[paul_nixon]

It will receive an official cd release at the end of March:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/hit-run-more-motown-guys

I wasn't counting tracks released as downloads as unreleased when I said there was little or nothing left...

[snakepit]

It will receive an official cd release at the end of March:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/hit-run-more-motown-guys

Yes..i've ordered my CD..can't wait

[Stax_of_Motown]

Cannot understand why "Chantilly Lace" and it's b-side "Your Love Is Amazing" weren't included on the album, 2 of his finest tracks in my opinion, far superior to most of the album tracks. Also disappointed "You Love Is Amazing" was not on the Kent CD, was it because of no stereo version?
Also, slightly off topic, was "Night Fo' Last" unique in having the instrumental version on the b-side?

[snakepit]

I've played a number of Shorty Long tracks on my radio show. More to follow.

[copley]

Shorty Long was a fantastic artist, sadly lost his life whilst fishing with a long friend, their boat crashed on the "Detroit Michigan River" on June 29 1969. Shorty was fishing mad [& his Pal], along with his Motown music. We missed him so much, he had been making his superb music for Motown from 1964 to 1969 since we lost him.

I have around seventy tracks of Shorty Long's I also have a number of Shorty's Tri-Phi records [Berry Gordy had finally took over Tri-Phi Records 1961-63 to Motown] and one from "45 K-Son 7285 1958" [fantastic], the rest mostly Motown and a few more Motown acetates 1964 & 1965.

Shorty has always been a great artist as one of the greatest "Motown Masters"

Shorty Long: [45 K-Son 7285 1958 "Redstone John & You're Tearing Me Up"]

The artist who recorded the above mentioned single is not the Motown Shorty Long!

http://https://www.discogs.com/artis...-Long-3?page=2

[Graham Jarvis]

There are three "Tri-Phi Records" all listed as Shorty Long.

Tri-Phi 1006 Jan 1962 "I'll Be Here & Bad Willie" [Maybe not so sure Shorty?]
Tri-Phi 1015 Aug-1962 "I'll Be Here & Too Smart" [Shorty ?]
Tri-Phi 1021 Feb-1063 "What's The Matter & Going Away" [Shorty ?]

Shorty's "45 K-son 7285 1958 Record" his first singing is spot on as per all of the Motown records, may never be he or someone else may never know!

[P.S. the discogs artists, don't work]

[copley]

https://www.discogs.com/artist/887756-Shorty-Long-3

https://www.discogs.com/artist/394654-Shorty-Long-2

The 1958 record is definitely the other Shorty Long.

[Roger Polhill]

I`m with Graham on this copley. There is nothing I can find to suggest that this is the country singer. He didn`t record in Alabama to start with and there are no references that I can find to link him with K-Son records. Also the lyric mentions Detroit and Alabama which ties in with our Shorty. Ok the vocal isn`t too obvious but he was probably trying to sound white. Sorry if I seem to be critical [[I`m not) but it sounds more like our Shorty than the other.

[paul_nixon]

'I am hoping that the unreleased "Old Love Never Dies" will happen at some time it`s an update on "I Wish You Were Here".


Actually it's the other way around I Wish You Were Here is an update on Old Love Never Dies there are 4 years between the two recordings

[Roger Polhill]

The country Shorty was born in Reading PA. in 1923 which would make him 35. He was at the prime of his career I`m sure that he would not have gone to Birmingham Alabama to record for a obscure label. Besides he sounds nothing like the singer of this song. Our Shorty was born in Birmingham on 20.5.40. making him 18 at this time. Are you suggesting that there was another Shorty Long in Birmingham at this time? Have you listened to the B side "Tearing Me Up".
Re "Old Love Never Dies" I was aware that it was an earlier version I just made a mistake.

[Roger Polhill]

Have you heard "Tearing Me Up" Paul ?

[pj1]

And then, there's this:

https://rcs-discography.com/rcs/sear...e&key=long7000

[Roger Polhill]

Pj1 if you think that the country Shorty is the singer of "Redstone John" you`ve got your ears on back to front!

[pj1]

Pj1 if you think that the country Shorty is the singer of "Redstone John" you`ve got your ears on back to front!

I didn't say that I think it is country Shorty Long. The site I reference thinks it might be the country Shorty Long. In an earlier post, you stated that you found no references linking him with K-Son Records. I found 2 that list this single in country Shorty Long's repertoire. I chose to post one of them.

[Roger Polhill]

Oh if I had been you I would have listened to him first and you would have noticed that he more of a bluegrass singer. Sorry If I offended you as I have so much respect for you.
I just can`t believe that there would be 2 singers in Birmingham with the same name at the same time.

[paul_nixon]

I have to eat a large slice of humble pie - it most certainly is our Shorty so rather than amplify my previous denial I will delete it - so apologies all round - it was when I played the flip that the pieces fell into place.

[Roger Polhill]

Big thanks to Graham Jarvis as it was his mention of "Redstone John" that got us here and the great Shorty Long will have two more songs to his legacy.

[Graham Jarvis]

I have been a big fan of "Shorty Long" for many years.
I have pulled a few of "Motown Books" to find Shorty Long and one of them is "Sharon Davis - Book", other than a one small sentence at least I'm pleased there's something.

No other real books and details as to any "Shorty" and seem that there is no mention to him. The other great book from "Adam White with Barney Ales" [From April 2015] they neither had any mentions as to Shorty, it's nothing wrong but just a shame. Be great if anyone can find any more details for him [Please].

If not books, then any other documents from 1969/70 onwards would be grateful [I accept it might be difficult?]

[I have around seventy tracks from Shorty from any & all over many years]

[lockhartgary]

I'm sure many of you have seen this but it's worth rewatching:

[Graham Jarvis]

Thanks for this, I appreciate it having seen it several times, it's a good one.

However we [I] never seem to see anything from his previous life, his work, his familie, photo's etc, and many other things. Maybe there might be others that Shorty might have well known? so sadly after we lost him, so young.

[mysterysinger]

From Graham Betts Motown Encyclopedia [[paraphrased) -

Shorty Long was born Frederick Earl Long in Birmingham, Alabama on 20 May 1940. He worked as a DJ in Birmingham and afterwards went out touring with The Ink Spots, subsequently moving to Detroit in 1959. He eventually signed with Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi label and released 3 singles. On 29 June 1969, he and his friend Oscar Williams died in a boating accident.

From Discogs
"I'll Be Here / Bad Willie" 1962
"Too Smart / I'll Be Here" 1962
"Going Away / What's The Matter" 1963.

Motown singles
It's A Crying Shame [[The Way You Treat A Good Man Like Me) / Out To Get You 1964
Devil With The Blue Dress / Wind It Up 1964
Function At The Junction / Call On Me 1966
Chantilly Lace / Your Love Is Amazing 1966
Night Fo' Last / Instr 1967
Here Comes The Judge / Sing What You Wanna 1968
Whiter Shade Of Pale / When You Are Available 1969
Ain't No Justice / I Had A Dream 1969

Motown Albums
"Here Comes The Judge" 1968
"The Prime Of Shorty Long" 1969

Detroit Free Press 30 June 1969
https://www.newspapers.com/article/d.../?locale=en-GB

[mysterysinger]

From the Family Search website -
in the 10 April 1950 Census - 9 year old Frederick Earl Long was living in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama with his Grandma, Minnie Haney [[widowed born 1888), Minnie's daughter - Mozelle Sanders aged 26 years and Mozelle's husband, Coleman Sanders, aged 38.

Mozelle [[Mozell Thelma Haney Sanders Long) was Shorty's Mother.

[Roger Polhill]

Thanks, Graham and Gary. And Mystery you can now add "Redstone John" / "Tearing Me Up" 1958 to your list.