The Waters: Claim

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I think the water may have the Andantes because their recording history lasted much longer than the Andantes plus the Waters sang on a lot Motown recordings as well.

The Waters were reportedly on "Someday We'll Be Together", but what other Motown recordings were they on? You say there were a lot?

As long as we're on the subject, I've always been surprised that the Waters were allowed to record at Motown. Back in the '60s, unlike Sigma Sound Studios of the '70s, where any record company could send their artists to benefit from the Philly Soul sound, only Motown artists were allowed to record in Motown's studios. If that's true, how did the Waters get their foot in the door at Motown? Were they newly-signed to Motown in 1969, or were they an exception to the Motowners-only rule?

[rod_rick]

The Waters were reportedly on "Someday We'll Be Together", but what other Motown recordings were they on? You say there were a lot?

As long as we're on the subject, I've always been surprised that the Waters were allowed to record at Motown. Back in the '60s, unlike Sigma Sound Studios of the '70s, where any record company could send their artists to benefit from the Philly Soul sound, only Motown artists were allowed to record in Motown's studios. If that's true, how did the Waters get their foot in the door at Motown? Were they newly-signed to Motown in 1969, or were they an exception to the Motowners-only rule?

They were on most of Rick James recordings, Hi Inergy, Jean Carne, Mary Jane Girls those are the first that come to mind and plenty of others I'm sure.

[sansradio]

They were on most of Rick James recordings, Hi Inergy, Jean Carne, Mary Jane Girls those are the first that come to mind and plenty of others I'm sure.

They're credited on Diana's To Love Again LP as well.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

They're credited on Diana's To Love Again LP as well.

I wasn't aware of that, sans. So The Waters were with Motown during 3 decades: 1969 [[Diana Ross & The Supremes' "Someday We'll Be Together"; throughout the 1970s [[Rick James, etc.), and Diana's "To Love Again" in 1981. I hate to say it, but The Waters were with Motown longer than The Andantes!

Thanks for setting me straight on that.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

They were on most of Rick James recordings, Hi Inergy, Jean Carne, Mary Jane Girls those are the first that come to mind and plenty of others I'm sure.

Really? I did not know that. Thanks for the info., rod_rick.

[Motown Eddie]

The Waters were reportedly on "Someday We'll Be Together", but what other Motown recordings were they on? You say there were a lot?

As long as we're on the subject, I've always been surprised that the Waters were allowed to record at Motown. Back in the '60s, unlike Sigma Sound Studios of the '70s, where any record company could send their artists to benefit from the Philly Soul sound, only Motown artists were allowed to record in Motown's studios. If that's true, how did the Waters get their foot in the door at Motown? Were they newly-signed to Motown in 1969, or were they an exception to the Motowners-only rule?

According to the entry for "Someday We'll Be Together" on the Don't Forget the Motor City site, the song was recorded in Los Angeles and not at Motown's Studio in Detroit. This means they could've used any combination of musicians & vocalists at thier disposal in L.A. So that explains how The Waters appeared on "Someday We'll Be Together" without being signed to Motown Records.

[bradsupremes]

According to the entry for "Someday We'll Be Together" on the Don't Forget the Motor City site, the song was recorded in Los Angeles and not at Motown's Studio in Detroit. This means they could've used any combination of musicians & vocalists at thier disposal in L.A. So that explains how The Waters appeared on "Someday We'll Be Together" without being signed to Motown Records.

I think there is a mistake on DFTMC for this. The track was cut in Detroit with the Funk Brothers on June 13, 1969 and I believe it was intended for Junior Walker. All of the other recording info is unknown but it is likely Johnny Bristol took the track out to LA to have backgrounds and possibly Diana’s lead done out there. I always wondered where this claim the backgrounds were done by the Waters sisters originated from. In several track annotations it lists Julia and Maxine on backgrounds but it’s clear there’s more than just two women doing vocals.

There is an interview Merry Clayton did during the promotion of 20 Feet From Stardom where she says she was on the track with Clydie King, Venetta Fields, and Sherlie Matthews and specifically recalls Johnny Bristol asking her to sing soprano. And we know the Blackberries were being used frequently by Motown at this point, more so than the Waters were.

[Motown Eddie]

I think there is a mistake on DFTMC for this. The track was cut in Detroit with the Funk Brothers on June 13, 1969 and I believe it was intended for Junior Walker. All of the other recording info is unknown but it is likely Johnny Bristol took the track out to LA to have backgrounds and possibly Diana’s lead done out there. I always wondered where this claim the backgrounds were done by the Waters sisters originated from. In several track annotations it lists Julia and Maxine on backgrounds but it’s clear there’s more than just two women doing vocals.

There is an interview Merry Clayton did during the promotion of 20 Feet From Stardom where she says she was on the track with Clydie King, Venetta Fields, and Sherlie Matthews and specifically recalls Johnny Bristol asking her to sing soprano. And we know the Blackberries were being used frequently by Motown at this point, more so than the Waters were.

I see; I do know that Johnny Bristol had wanted Jr. Walker & The All Stars to record "Someday We'll Be Together" but Walker turned it down and Berry Gordy suggested that it go to Diana Ross for the final recording credited to her & The Supremes. While the backing track for the song might've been done in Detroit, it is possible that the vocals were done in L.A. Thus they could've used either The Blackberries or The Waters for the backgrounds [or they could've used multi-tracking using just Julia & Maxine to beef up the backing vocals].

PS: Wikipedia's entry on "Someday..." credits Merry Clayton, Julia Waters-Tillman and Maxine Waters Willard on backing vocals and The Funk Bros. along with The Detroit Symphony Orch. on instrumentation [so you're right; the backing track Was recorded in Detroit].

[Philles/Motown Gary]

According to the entry for "Someday We'll Be Together" on the Don't Forget the Motor City site, the song was recorded in Los Angeles and not at Motown's Studio in Detroit. This means they could've used any combination of musicians & vocalists at thier disposal in L.A. So that explains how The Waters appeared on "Someday We'll Be Together" without being signed to Motown Records.

Thanks for clearing that Up, Eddie. I had wondered about that for years. Now it all makes sense.