'I Wanna Be Where You Are' by Thelma Houston - did she ever record it?

[ivyfield]

I've already checked iTunes and various torrent sites. I saw her sing it opening for the Four Tops in the mid 70's and just assumed she'd also gone into the studio and laid a version down [[it was certainly great live) so can anyone tell me? If I can't get the answer here then I give up!

[MIKEW-UK]

She certainly did..... I have it.....on this album

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Motow...elease/1551963

[ivyfield]

Oh Man! Thank you soooo much. You've been a big help! Stoned Love, Steve. Don't suppose you could email me an mp3 of the track could you? 70sMotownFan@gmail.com

[randy_russi]

Vicki Anderson used to sing this on stage and I wished she'd recorded it as she did it VERY well!

[MIKEW-UK]

Steve, I would be happy to do so...... It might be a few days, as I have to wade into the vault and start opening boxes to find it! Remind me if you don't see a response from me in the next week!

Mike

[mysterysinger]

We need a Thelma Anthology!

[MIKEW-UK]

Randy, I can't produce Vicki Anderson singing the track,
but I can provide her daughter doing it. Carleen Anderson [[with Paul Weller). Will this do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YryuaLcleU4

Cheers Mike

[luke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTWaU15taTo Ms Beyonce singin it--nice-though I wish shed just stand still and sing it!

[mysterysinger]

This is a great song - I seem to like any version of it especially Jose Feliciano.

[randy_russi]

MIKEW-UK, thank you so much!!! She sounds soooooo much like her mother! Do you know Carleen? I haven't spoken
to Vicki in about 6 or 7 years and she's no longer living near Stone Mountain, GA. However, the last time we did speak
she said Carleen had stopped communicating with her and Bobby [[Byrd). She said they didn't know why, but always
pray for her. I certainly hope that is not still the situation as Vicki and Bobby were lovely people. I hope Carleen
was there for Vicki when Bobby passed on.
Anyway, once again, it sounds really good and I am astounded at how much Carleen sounds like Vicki.
James Brown always said Vicki Anderson was his favorite singer and we know he was a great judge of good talent.
Again, thank you for posting!

[MIKEW-UK]

Randy I don't know her, but she is an honorary brit...

http://www.carleenanderson.net/

How's about a replay of the composer's own version.....it's only fair and it is a great version - first posted by midnightman on the forum just over a year ago..

http://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread...-Where-You-Are

[jaybs]

The only two tracks I have on MP3 are The Jackson Five with Ask The Lonely and The Commodores with Forever Came Today, it made a good album, I remember the Thelma concert well, would love to hear the track!

[MIKEW-UK]

I'm working on it......

[jaybs]

I'm working on it......

Cheers!

[ivyfield]

<center><a href="http://www.zwani.com/graphics/thank_you/"><img src="http://images.zwani.com/graphics/thank_you/images/423.gif" alt="zwani.com myspace graphic comments" border=0></a><br><a href="http://www.zwani.com/graphics/thank_you/" target="_blank">Myspace Thank You Graphics</a></center>

[MIKEW-UK]

<WadING/ThrOugH/"lOts"/Of dUSty/bOXes/'hOping/tO/"locaTe/iT/'soOn>

[mysterysinger]

I also caught a show with Thelma Houston and The Four Tops at Manchester Odeon on 3rd November 1972. Thelma certainly sang her new record which was "No One's Gonna Be A Fool Forever". I'd love to know all the other songs she sang that night. Here's my programme.

[ivyfield]

OMG! I have that programme too! Thelma sang barefoot in a sky blue flowing to and loose pants. She was STUNNING!!!

[masterblaster]

I also caught a show with Thelma Houston and The Four Tops at Manchester Odeon on 3rd November 1972. Thelma certainly sang her new record which was "No One's Gonna Be A Fool Forever". I'd love to know all the other songs she sang that night. Here's my programme.

I too was there at the Manchester Odeon. First concert I ever went to. Remember having mixed emotions when I read in the programe that Thelma Houston had signed to Motown but the Four Tops were leaving to join Probe records [[ABC Dunhill). I do remember Thelma's performance though, particularly her new release and I think she included some of the "Sunshower" album in her set including "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Do remember her wearing a dress that swooped up at the front with trousers underneath. Great night!!

[kenneth]

I too was there at the Manchester Odeon. First concert I ever went to. Remember having mixed emotions when I read in the programe that Thelma Houston had signed to Motown but the Four Tops were leaving to join Probe records [[ABC Dunhill). I do remember Thelma's performance though, particularly her new release and I think she included some of the "Sunshower" album in her set including "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Do remember her wearing a dress that swooped up at the front with trousers underneath. Great night!!

I've never heard "Sunshower." Wasn't it produced by Jimmy Webb? How does it hold up today, and how does it compare to the Supremes' Jimmy Webb album?

[mysterysinger]

Sunshower is an absolute classic of an album. In my opinion - Thelma's best! It is still available on a CD that includes the rest of her Dunhill recordings and I would recommend it very highly indeed. I'll probably provoke a furore here but The Supremes Jimmy Webb album doesn't come close to Sunshower.

[MIKEW-UK]

DAFT PRICE! GET IT WHILE YOU CAN!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Best-Of-...836946&sr=1-74

[mysterysinger]

Sunshower is worth a tenner of anybody's money on Amazon.......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunshower-Th...4859856&sr=1-1

[kenneth]

Sunshower is worth a tenner of anybody's money on Amazon.......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunshower-Th...4859856&sr=1-1

I will definitely be buying 'Sunshower' based on the comments here as well as the great Amazon reviews. I'm also planning to buy one of the greatest hits packages. I just thought I'd mention for those who care, I think the only one with extended versions of "Don't Leave Me This Way" and her other dance cuts is the "20th Century Masters" collection which has a photo of Thelma on the cover in some kind of hoodie which almost looks like a shroud!

[jack020]

I am amazed by the asking price of Breakwater Cat/ Never Gonna Be Another One: it has only been released 18 months ago!
Glad I bought it then...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breakwater-N...sim_sbs_m_h__5

[mysterysinger]

Some Thelma albums

[masterblaster]

I will definitely be buying 'Sunshower' based on the comments here as well as the great Amazon reviews.

You will not be disappointing. I purchased the album when it was re-released on Motown, apparently Thelma asked motown to reissue the album when she signed to the label. Favourite track on Sunshower is "Mixed-up Girl", absolutely love it and thought at the time it deserved single release.

[kenneth]

You will not be disappointing. I purchased the album when it was re-released on Motown, apparently Thelma asked motown to reissue the album when she signed to the label. Favourite track on Sunshower is "Mixed-up Girl", absolutely love it and thought at the time it deserved single release.

I thought I remembered its being released as part of the 1980s reissues series. That's why I thought it was a Motown album. Yes, I have ordered it based on what you and others have said and I'm very anxious to hear it. It's great discovering a previously undiscovered album [[even if it was only undiscovered by me), one of the most fun things about listening to great music.

[MIKEW-UK]

ivyfield / Steve,

I am knee deep in boxes searching for Thelma's version of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" In the hunt, I came across the album with Jose Feliciano's version........ I notice mixed by Russ Terrana

http://mikew-uk.podomatic.com/entry/...10_42_10-07_00

[REDHOT]

Thelma Houston was the first female singer ever,at Motown to get a GRAMMY,i love her voice.
Please stay positive

[thommg]

ivyfield / Steve,

I am knee deep in boxes searching for Thelma's version of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" In the hunt, I came across the album with Jose Feliciano's version........ I notice mixed by Russ Terrana

http://mikew-uk.podomatic.com/entry/...10_42_10-07_00

Not trying to hijack the thread but I would love to have Jose Feliciano's Motown albums on cd. I'm surprised they haven't shown up yet.

[MIKEW-UK]

Not Motown, but if you like Jose, you might like this - saw him do it live two years ago - fab!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYNIKL5n-y4

[mysterysinger]

Fully agree with the request to release the Feliciano Motown albums on CD. His version of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" was the first I heard, I think, and it has his style stamped all over it. Great track.

On here too of course:

[motony]

yes, but by the time Thelma Houston got a grammy Rock/Soul was an acceptable art form by the grammy establishment. It was NOT when Mary Wells [[the first Motown nomination) and Martha Reeves[[the 2nd for Heatwave).

[ivyfield]

Fully agree with the request to release the Feliciano Motown albums on CD. His version of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" was the first I heard, I think, and it has his style stamped all over it. Great track.

On here too of course:

And I think Scherrie did background vocals on the track & album for him...

[marv2]

Happy Birthday to Thelma Houston today, May 7th!

[Constantin]

I am amazed by the asking price of Breakwater Cat/ Never Gonna Be Another One: it has only been released 18 months ago!
Glad I bought it then...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breakwater-N...sim_sbs_m_h__5

Worse here :-)
http://www.amazon.es/Breakwater-Neve...sim_sbs_m_h__5

[jack020]

Breakwater Cat is one of my favorite Thelma albums!

[stephanie]

Sunshower is a delight! I had it on cassette and got the CD today! Im telling you any vocal student should study this album I love the way Jimmy Webb works with Jean Terrell and Thelma Houston. The orchestrations are grandiose and this album along with the Supremes that he produced are a case in vocal study. I wish I could sing and interpret lyrics like these two. Its not boring it will make you happy and I find her more satisfying than Dionne Warwick.

[stephanie]

Im shocked she did Save the Country on Soul Train!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYRNa...eature=related

[MIKEW-UK]

OK, Ivyfield / Steve, sorry for the delay, I have finally unearthed the album MOTOWN SUPERSTARS SING MOTOWN SUPERSTARS and have posted Thelma Houston's version of "I Wanna Be Where You Are" [[ I also posted all other tracks on that album). Follow this link - http://mikew-uk.podomatic.com

/

[jaybs]

Mike "Good Things are Well Worth Waiting For" and Thelma this sunny Monday morning made it even more special! Thanks

[RossHolloway]

Talk about a Monday Morning Revelation. That is a hot track by Thelma Houston. First time hearing that song by her, as well as most of the other songs that are on your blog, sans the Vandellas track. Thanks for posting them for all of us Mike.

[jack020]

Thanks Mike!

[MIKEW-UK]

JAYBS, ROSS, JACK020, glad you liked them, and thanks especially for letting me know I wasn't posting them entirely in vain!

For the record, Junior and Thelma are the most played tracks, each has 31 plays. Not very much is it, for very rare Motown stars of this stature. I guess the audience is fading away

cheers Mike

[westgrandboulevard]

Mike

Thanks from me, too....and yes, 31 plays for each does seem very low.

Even here on SDF, there is a relatively small total of 1926 members, of whom only 245 are 'active'

I'm beginning to feel that if all the people throughout the world who are keenly interested in Motown were to gather together, they could easily be seated in quite a modest sized venue.....

[MIKEW-UK]

The most played are those tracks by The Hearts Of Stone - 48 plays per track....

One of my personal all time favourite tracks is Bathing In Love's Waters by Paul Kelly..... so sad it has only got 15 plays to date.... it's a fabulous track with arrangements by Gene Page and even if my vinyl copy isn't in great shape, and given the restriction on mp3 file size, it still has immense quality....take a listen and let me know what your opinion...

http://mikew-uk.podomatic.com/player...23_53_23-07_00

lot of Motown personnel on the credits -

Arranged By, Conductor – Gene Page
Artwork By [Art Direction, Design] – Lockart
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Dennis, Charolette Jones, Julia Tillman*, La Carol Jackson*, Lorna Maxine Willard*, Patricia Lee, Paul Kelly [[3), Venetta Fields
Bass – Scott Edwards [[2), Wilton Felder
Concertmaster – Harry Bluestone, James Getzoff
Congas – Paulinho Da Costa
Copyist [Music Preparation] – George Annis
Drums – James Gadson
Engineer – Greg Venable, Howard Steele
Guitar – David T. Walker, Ray Parker, Jr.*
Keyboards – Gene Page, Reginald 'Sonny' Burke*, Sylvester Rivers
Percussion – Jack Ashford

[jack020]

I remember seeing the album when it came out, but never heard it: beautiful song and one of my favorite arrangers Gene Page!

[MIKEW-UK]

Thanks Jack, with your comment , it managed to gather another 9 plays, and stagger up to a total of 24 plays. Miserable - a terrific vocalist, a cast of thousands on the record, the cream of musicians, arrangers and a knockout performance.... i guess people's taste has just moved on