motown 45 favorites
pabloscooter
370 Posts
I vaugely remember a thread that may have covered this recently but when I try to search it, it's frank wilson thread for days, and junk about that madlib mixBut, I pulled out a few motown 45's I hadn't really thought about in a long time- couple of ones I've always kept and liked but rarely gave much play to, and rediscovered some nice songs I should play more often. Marvalettes- as long as I know he's mineFour tops- I'll turn to stoneGladys Knight- Everybody needs loveJunior Walker- Cleo's moodMary Wells- Whats easy for twoAnybody else have motown singles staying in the box (or heavy rotation)?
Comments
Sammy Ward and Sherri Taylor "Lover"
Marvin Gaye "One More Heartache"
P.J. - "It Takes A Man To Teach A Woman How To Love"
Dee Mullins - "Love Makes The World Go 'Round, But Money Greases The Wheel"
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie - "Funky Rubber Band"
Ozone - "Li'l Suzy"
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - "Doggone Right"
Dynamic Superiors - "Shoe Shoe Shine"
Gladys Knight & the Pips - "You Need Love Like I Do, Don't You?"
It's slightly different from the LP version but that diff makes a big diff
Gladys Knight - End of Our Road
Marvin Gaye - Chained
Underdogs - Love's Gone Bad
Miracles - Whole Lotta Shakin' In My Heart
Not to bust anybody's chops, but "Shoe Shoe Shine" was a huge hit in its' time, on the soul charts (where it went Top 20), so there's a reason why the album and 45 are relatively easy to find.
While it is hardly a "raer," I totally understand your point - the song is fairly lost to time. You almost never hear this song (or their other hit, "Leave It Alone") on dusties shows. And as far as I know, when Motown keeps reissuing their hits on different compilations, "Shoe Shine" doesn't turn up as much as "Baby Love" or "...Grapevine" or even "Brick House," probably because it never crossed over pop. Too bad - this was one of Motown's finest moments, and those are some BITTER lyrics to be coming from the pen of Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson! A lost classic for real.
The Dynamic Superiors are also known for having one of the first openly gay lead singers (Tony Washington) in soul music...Sylvester was around, too, but he didn't break out until a few years later.
bobby taylor & vancouvers - its growing
kim weston - thrill a moment
bunny paul - im hooked
please forgive me/bye bye baby - mary wells
when im gone/ive been good to you - brenda holloway
tracks of my tears/fork in the road - smokey and the miracles
I never heard of a gospel DS until I did some Googling and came across the Dynamic Soul Superiors, who are evidently from Detroit. The "Shoe Shine" Superiors were from DC, so probably not.
Yeah' Leave It Alone' is a killer tune that should get more attention IMO. The track realy builds up, and the horn stabs and vocal breakdowns always give me a buzz.... And co sign on the vocal ability of the group.
How many LPs did they record? I only ever seen the LP with L.I.A on it (which is one of my favoutire Motown covers too)
Four albums in all between 1975-77, all on Motown. One of these LP's, Pure Pleasure, was retitled Face The Music (and given a different cover).
peace,xavier
peace,xavier
cheers for the info.
now who's holding spare copies they wanna sell?
I swear the Motown pool of records seems to have dried up down under....
The album with the legs was from '75, and was their second - Pure Pleasure.
The first LP from '74 was self-titled and contained both "Shoe Shoe Shine" and "Leave It Alone". Had a painting of the group on the cover.
Most all Brenda Holloway 45s on Tamla, esp Just Look What You've Done/You've Made Me So Very Happy
Four Tops - Don't Bring Back Memories - Motown
Smokey + Miracles - If Your Mother Only Knew; Baby That's Backatcha - Tamla
Kim Weston - Helpless - Gordy
David Ruffin - Rode By The Place; You Can Come Right Back To Me - Motown
Eddie Kendricks - Date With The Rain
All Carolyn Crawford 45s on Motown
etc.