[REMOVE ADS]




Results 1 to 38 of 38
  1. #1

    The Marvelettes - Motorcity Sessions

    Hi

    I was sorting through some old vinyl the other day and came across the Marvelettes 'Now' album. I was reading the liner notes and it credited the Marvelettes as being Gladys Horton, Wanda Young, Jackie Holelrman and Regina Hollerman. The Best Of album released by Motorcity Recordings lists Jean McLean and Echo JOhnson as the other two Marvelettes. Did these two ladies record with either Gladys or Wanda [[they recorded their vocals seperately), or did they tour? I was also surprised at the volume of material the group recorded for Motorcity, enough for two albums, and then some!

    All in all, I like the Motorcity sessions by the group, in whichever incarnation.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,706
    Rep Power
    184
    I've often wondered those quesitons, too. I own both CD's and have enjoyed them for what they were....the last things that Gladys and Wanda ever recorded. I've brought those CD's up here before....and got nailed. I'm ducking this time, too!
    Last edited by blueskies; 01-24-2013 at 12:50 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    9,279
    Rep Power
    519
    I wonder if any of the ladies named [[besides Gladys and Wanda) actually recorded at all. The NOW album gives an additional background vocal credit to the Andantes, so I thought they might have done the whole thing. But I'm just speculating.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,706
    Rep Power
    184

    Last edited by blueskies; 01-24-2013 at 03:26 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    9,279
    Rep Power
    519
    The two ladies in the center on the NOW album cover are also shown on the cover of the 12-inch HEY WHAT'S YOUR NAME. The same photos are used.

    The two ladies with Gladys on THE VERY BEST cover are shown [[along with Gladys and Wanda) on the 12-inch for HOLDING ON WITH BOTH HANDS. The one on the right is now known as the dance artist Pepper MaShay.

  6. #6
    I can't even bare to look at the covers. The contents are even worse but then anything to do with Levine is IMHO 100% crap! Sorry if I sugar coated it

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,706
    Rep Power
    184
    Oh come on copley....tell us how you REALLY feel!

  8. #8
    smark21 Guest
    In her book, Bettye Lavette said her experience with Ian Levine was largely positive because at least he paid.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    11,248
    Rep Power
    291
    I remember seeing another cover with four-Gladys, Wanda and two others -maybe a 12 inch. I always thought it was Echo Johnson--I guess the one Reese mentioned--not sure if Paper Mache is one of them. Getting confused.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,706
    Rep Power
    184
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TV9Gmrnmbo

    Other than Gladys, don't know who these other two women are....if they sang on the Motorcity recordings or not?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    6,829
    Rep Power
    388
    Quote Originally Posted by tamlaUK View Post
    Hi

    I was sorting through some old vinyl the other day and came across the Marvelettes 'Now' album. I was reading the liner notes and it credited the Marvelettes as being Gladys Horton, Wanda Young, Jackie Holelrman and Regina Hollerman. The Best Of album released by Motorcity Recordings lists Jean McLean and Echo JOhnson as the other two Marvelettes. Did these two ladies record with either Gladys or Wanda [[they recorded their vocals seperately), or did they tour? I was also surprised at the volume of material the group recorded for Motorcity, enough for two albums, and then some!

    All in all, I like the Motorcity sessions by the group, in whichever incarnation.
    It may be a spelling error on MotorCity's part, but the singer on the "Very Best of" is actually Jean McClain [[not Jean McLean), better known [[as mentioned below) as Pepper Mashay.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,706
    Rep Power
    184

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    164
    Rep Power
    160
    I realize this is an old thread, but after reading Gladys Horton's book, I now have a renewed interest in the Marvelettes.

    Does anyone have a complete list of the tracks the Marvelettes [[whoever they were at the time) recorded for Motorcity?

    I have the "Now" album and a CD comp of their Motorcity work that feature some different tracks, but I am unsure if I have all of their Motorcity work.

    Can anyone share a list?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    2,098
    Rep Power
    253
    As I recall Ian Levine was determined to record the Marvelettes with Wanda despite the warnings he got from everyone about her condition. Kim Weston was instrumental in getting Wanda cleaned up enough to do the sessions. She sounds like her old self on Holding On With Both Hands and When You're Young And In Love but has a difficult time with other tracks like Don't Mess With Bill and Magician to name a few.

    She appeared on one of the first reunion shows in Detroit and there is a video of her doing Don't Mess. I was told by those in attendance that she started rambling incoherently toward the end of the video and had to be escorted off stage. It was obvious to Levine and all concerned that any kind of future appearances or tours were out of the question for Wanda.

    As far as the backing vocalists I'm pretty sure these were ladies Gladys chose and they were interchangeable through the years.

    My memory is vague on this now perhaps someone on the board from Detroit who was there can supply additional info.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    4,300
    Rep Power
    334
    Most of the material is just ho-hum and the backgrounds so very pedestrian, especially the incessant drum machine on each and every track, but it was gratifying to see Wanda perform again, albeit briefly, and especially more so to me as I had just read Raynoma Gordy's account of how Kim Weston helped "rehabilitate" Wanda to get her in shape for the recording sessions. Certainly, "Holding On With Both Hands" harkened back to the Marvelettes in their heyday. It was actually a very good song. And certainly Gladys' voice hardly showed any signs of wear and tear; what a phenomenal singer she really was, very underrated IMHO.

    So all in all, while I rarely if ever play these recordings, I am grateful that Wanda at least got a last moment in the sun after so many years when she must have felt the world had moved on and forgotten her.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    4,300
    Rep Power
    334
    Quote Originally Posted by luke View Post
    I remember seeing another cover with four-Gladys, Wanda and two others -maybe a 12 inch. I always thought it was Echo Johnson--I guess the one Reese mentioned--not sure if Paper Mache is one of them. Getting confused.
    I'm not sure if that name was the result of dictation or if you meant it to be funny, but you are hilarious either way!

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    169
    Rep Power
    115
    The 2 additional girls on the first singles were Echo Johnson and Jean McLean then later Jackie & Regina Holleman. Gladys went through many bg singers in her live shows and said she had to deal with unpleasant ego problems.

    Ian Levine genuinely loved The Marvelettes. He went to so much trouble to get Wanda back in the studio and painstakingly record her line by line to create a performance. The video clip has been lovingly edited and refashioned by him to create a beautiful lasting tribute. The raw footage at The Pontchartrain is sad, Wanda wanders on happily inebriated and the longer she sings the more she loses her thread. The Monitors performing bg look on in pity and horror until her sister lovingly leads her off. Ian with Kim Weston’s help moved heaven and earth to give Wanda one last chance. Gladys’ book testifies how possessed Wanda could be. But oh, that voice; like Irish coffee on a frosty night.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    9,279
    Rep Power
    519
    I really liked Wanda's HOLDING ON WITH BOTH HANDS and thought her lead on JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME was good as well.

    It was only listening to the remakes of DON'T MESS WITH BILL and MY BABY MUST BE A MAGICIAN that I thought maybe they should have been left alone.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    4,675
    Rep Power
    308
    Quote Originally Posted by BritishTony View Post
    The 2 additional girls on the first singles were Echo Johnson and Jean McLean then later Jackie & Regina Holleman. Gladys went through many bg singers in her live shows and said she had to deal with unpleasant ego problems.

    Ian Levine genuinely loved The Marvelettes. He went to so much trouble to get Wanda back in the studio and painstakingly record her line by line to create a performance. The video clip has been lovingly edited and refashioned by him to create a beautiful lasting tribute. The raw footage at The Pontchartrain is sad, Wanda wanders on happily inebriated and the longer she sings the more she loses her thread. The Monitors performing bg look on in pity and horror until her sister lovingly leads her off. Ian with Kim Weston’s help moved heaven and earth to give Wanda one last chance. Gladys’ book testifies how possessed Wanda could be. But oh, that voice; like Irish coffee on a frosty night.
    most interesting.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Posts
    4,092
    Rep Power
    242
    I liked quite a few of Ian Levine's Motown-Artist productions, including The Marvelettes. The only thing I found annoying was Wanda's newfound pronunciation of the word "Bill". How and why did "Don't Mess With Bill" become "Don't Mess With BEEEILL"? Had Wanda not interjected that strange new pronunciation, I would have actually enjoyed her new Motor City recordings. But "BEEEILL ruined it for me.
    Last edited by Philles/Motown Gary; 01-15-2023 at 03:50 AM.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Posts
    1,215
    Rep Power
    153
    Maybe Wanda got the pronunciation of "Bill" from the Intruders song "I'll Always Love My Mama" where one of the guys mimics his mom taking him to task for his foolishness?

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    3,983
    Rep Power
    351
    As a starter to the original question, tracks on the 2 albums above are listed below. There will undoubtedly be others and The Marvelettes were also part of The Motorcity All Stars.

    Worth noting that several of "The Very Best" series got re-released on Pickwick/Hallmark with sleeve notes by our very own Grahm Betts. You can see The Marvelettes one here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...57691401088473

    The Marvelettes "Now!"

    01 Don't Mess With Bill 3:47
    02 Secret Love Affair 4:15
    03 Just In The Nick Of Time 4:01
    04 My Baby Must Be A Magician 3:49
    05 You Bring The Love Into My Life 4:02
    06 Too Many Fish In The Sea 3:10
    07 Holding On With Both Hands 3:37
    08 Beechwood 4-5789 3:06
    09 Used To Be A Playboy 3:48
    10 When You're Young And In Love 3:00

    The Marvelettes "The Very Best"

    01 Make It Right 4:04
    02 Blame It On Yourself 4:14
    03 Ride The Storm 4:45
    04 Secret Love Affair 4:45
    05 Right Away 4:02
    06 For The Rest Of My Life 3:43
    07 Just In The Nick Of Time 3:57
    08 Bad Case Of Nerves 4:40
    09 My Wheel Of Fortune 4:23
    10 When You're Young And In Love 3:01
    11 Pushing Too Hard 4:22
    12 Time Has A New Meaning 4:17
    13 Holding On With Both Hands 3:33
    14 We're Gonna Stay In Love 5:07
    15 You're My Remedy 3:36
    16 All Things Abide 4:56
    17 A Special Feeling 4:06
    18 Universal Love 4:15

    Some More


    Motorcity Memories
    Don't Forget The Memories

    Motorcity Beach Music
    The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game

    The Best Of Motorcity Volume 3
    Getting Into Motion

    12" single
    Hey What's Your Name?
    Last edited by mysterysinger; 01-15-2023 at 05:20 PM.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    9,279
    Rep Power
    519
    I have a cd of Motorcity material that was released on the Life Time label. It is titled WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE.

    In addition to recordings already listed above, it also includes the recordings GETTING INTO MOTION, DON'T FORGET THE MEMORIES, and a remake of THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME.Name:  MARVELETTES.jpg
Views: 600
Size:  86.7 KB
    Last edited by reese; 01-15-2023 at 05:31 PM.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    4,300
    Rep Power
    334
    @reese,

    Did that version of "Hunter" have Wanda singing lead? I'm guessing it didn't, as it wasn't on the "Now!" LP, and I doubt Wanda ever recorded for Levine again after that.

    K

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    4,300
    Rep Power
    334
    Quote Originally Posted by Philles/Motown Gary View Post
    I liked quite a few of Ian Levine's Motown-Artist productions, including The Marvelettes. The only thing I found annoying was Wanda's newfound pronunciation of the word "Bill". How and why did "Don't Mess With Bill" become "Don't Mess With BEEEILL"? Had Wanda not interjected that strange new pronunciation, I would have actually enjoyed her new Motor City recordings. But "BEEEILL ruined it for me.
    Picky, picky, picky!!!

  26. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    9,279
    Rep Power
    519
    Quote Originally Posted by kenneth View Post
    @reese,

    Did that version of "Hunter" have Wanda singing lead? I'm guessing it didn't, as it wasn't on the "Now!" LP, and I doubt Wanda ever recorded for Levine again after that.

    K
    Wanda was on lead.

  27. #27
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    4,300
    Rep Power
    334
    Quote Originally Posted by reese View Post
    Wanda was on lead.
    Oh, I'm surprised. Thanks!

  28. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    9,279
    Rep Power
    519
    Quote Originally Posted by kenneth View Post
    Oh, I'm surprised. Thanks!
    I was, too. Before I answered your question, I had to pop the cd in and take a listen, as I had not done so since I bought it and couldn't remember if it was Wanda or Gladys.

  29. #29
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,798
    Rep Power
    350
    Quote Originally Posted by reese View Post
    I have a cd of Motorcity material that was released on the Life Time label. It is titled WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE.

    In addition to recordings already listed above, it also includes the recordings GETTING INTO MOTION, DON'T FORGET THE MEMORIES, and a remake of THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME.Name:  MARVELETTES.jpg
Views: 600
Size:  86.7 KB
    "Getting Into Motion" is a track I still frequently play.

  30. #30
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    1,973
    Rep Power
    229
    does anyone know where Ian Levine got all his money?

  31. #31
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    3,983
    Rep Power
    351
    Quote Originally Posted by motony View Post
    does anyone know where Ian Levine got all his money?
    This may help a little bit https://allfamousbirthday.com/ian-levine/

  32. #32
    Quote Originally Posted by motony View Post
    does anyone know where Ian Levine got all his money?
    Ian Levine had two big hits in 1983/84 with Miquel Brown's So Many Men, So Little Time and Evelyn Thomas's High Energy that sold a combined 9 million records. Ian blew all the money on Motorcity Records and was close to have his house repossessed by 1992 when the project finally collapsed because the records were not selling. Many of the artists who would later complain about royalties seem to conveniently forget this aspect. Ian was only saved from bankruptcy because he got to produce Take That.

  33. #33
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    4,675
    Rep Power
    308
    Yep Ian gave 100% of himself to make those projects happen.
    Regardless of my personal lack of fondness for these recordings ,as they are very reflective of the musical times they were recorded in , when fakery of musical sounds ruled and was considered acceptable…even desirable.
    Not Ian’s fault, he was working with the methods of the time…. and their cheapness likely made his ambitions feasible.
    He is the stuff that legends are made of. His fulfilling of his lofty ambitions, [WHO could imagine successfully reaching out to Motown’s forgottens and offering them each a chance to rise again…. Who actually does that?]
    Few can boast such accomplishments, his labor of love.
    On my list of personal heroes, well done Levine !
    Last edited by Boogiedown; 01-30-2023 at 01:53 AM.

  34. #34
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,798
    Rep Power
    350
    Quote Originally Posted by soren1974 View Post
    Ian Levine had two big hits in 1983/84 with Miquel Brown's So Many Men, So Little Time and Evelyn Thomas's High Energy that sold a combined 9 million records. Ian blew all the money on Motorcity Records and was close to have his house repossessed by 1992 when the project finally collapsed because the records were not selling. Many of the artists who would later complain about royalties seem to conveniently forget this aspect. Ian was only saved from bankruptcy because he got to produce Take That.
    It wasn't just his house that was in danger of being repossessed, but also his recording studio. In his aim of getting out product on every conceivable artist with a Motown connection in such a short timespan, he let his heart overrule his head.

  35. #35
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    927
    Rep Power
    187

    Ian Paid???

    Quote Originally Posted by smark21 View Post
    In her book, Bettye Lavette said her experience with Ian Levine was largely positive because at least he paid.
    There is a YT interview with a obviously very troubled and delusional Liz Lands....she claims to have documentation her recordings for Motorcity were big hits and she never got paid from Ian...certainly, he must have told the artists "I am financing the sessions...you will be paid if the project is successful...here is a invitation and opportunity for you if you choose to take it and join us" or something to that effect...Supposedly, he did pay some artists advances....Even most of the bigger names were fortunate enough to be considered at this point in their lives....no one was knocking for years...

  36. #36
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,798
    Rep Power
    350
    I can't think of any of his Motorcity tracks that would have generated enough sales to clear an advance except for "Footsteps Following Me", and that didn't even end up on one of Ian's labels. Maybe "All Over the World" would have.

  37. #37
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    101,510
    Rep Power
    1338
    I think Ian Levine was once quoted as saying that, in attempting to keep the project alive, all rights to royalties from 'Footsteps Following Me' had to be waived....and 'none of us made a penny off it'......

  38. #38
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,798
    Rep Power
    350
    Ian Levine's bread and butter came from writing and producing boy bands such as Take That, Seventh Avenue [[who morphed into Big Fun), Bad Boys Inc, Upside Down, Worlds Apart, Brother Beyond, Gemini and Optimystic, some of whom had greater success outside the UK.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

[REMOVE ADS]

Ralph Terrana
MODERATOR

Welcome to Soulful Detroit! Kindly Consider Turning Off Your Ad BlockingX
Soulful Detroit is a free service that relies on revenue from ad display [regrettably] and donations. We notice that you are using an ad-blocking program that prevents us from earning revenue during your visit.
Ads are REMOVED for Members who donate to Soulful Detroit. [You must be logged in for ads to disappear]
DONATE HERE »
And have Ads removed.