Motown Treasures

There's a reference about Freda and Gordy here which says;

"Gordy penned four songs for Payne, including “Father Dear” (with Billy Davis) and “Save Me A Star” (with Gwen Gordy and Janie Bradford). These were cut at Detroit’s United Sound circa 1957-58, with hopes to lease them to a record company".

https://www.adampwhite.com/westgrandblog/freda-gold

We can get an idea as the 'Father Dear' was recorded by the Miracles with Claudette doing a great job on lead;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JePPyrDorU

'Save Me A Star' ended up being recorded by The Supremes IN 1961 with Florence on lead, who kills it with a high belter note at the end;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zq_cYB6NZQ

Still, the Freda versions would be a great addition to Motown treasure box if they ever get a release.
 

Paul

Thanks for the responses.
Does anyone know any details about Rick James fourth and final brief stint at Motown in the 1990’s?

He recorded 4 songs at Motown after Warner Brothers didn’t work out.  These were released in 1994’s ‘Bustin’ Out - The Best Of Rick James’ - a compilation which was co-produced by Rick.

The new recordings were;
‘Serious Love (Spend The Night)’, ‘Divine Love (So Fine)’, ‘Down By Law‘ featuring Don Jagwarr, and a cover of Norman Connors ‘Starship’.

On another note, there are multiple places which state Rick James had the 1960’s alias at Motown as ‘Terry Johnson’. But Terry “Buzzy” Johnson (of The Flamingos) was brought to Motown as a songwriter/producer/solo artist by Smokey Robinson (1964-1974).

However, there is a Rick Johnson who played (additional) synthesiser on Luther Rabb’s ‘Street Angel’ album released on MCA in 1979. The album was recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios in North Hollywood and produced by Motown arranger/producer Sam F. Brown III. It featured Motown session singers, Ivory Davis and Pat Henly (Smokey Robinson’s 70’s/80’s albums), and The Street Angels guitarist, Robert Palmer, went on to record sessions for Motown recordings.

There are seemingly no other credits for Rick Johnson on other recordings. Could this have been Rick contributing on other non-Motown people’s tracks in that Stevie Wonder kind of way? 1979 was a busy year but that could be Rick playing on ‘Seattle's Disco Groovin' Tonight’ or ‘Square Dance’.

Cheers

‘Divine Love (So Fine)’ gives shout outs to the Rick James creative empire and legacy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUbpfncqFyA

Luther Rabb ‘Square Dance’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F5QqGRYS8s

Hey guys thanks for the replies and apologies for the delay in responding.

No one tops the Andantes achievements for their time, and arguably since. There are The Blackberries and The Waters who performed seminal work, and others of course.

There sure was a little Andantes shuffling around in the early years. In 1962 they were the Beljeans to LaBrenda Ben, and in 1963 they were The Darnells with Gladys Horton on lead. Pat Lewis of The Adorables did some backing sessions at Motown with the Andantes in 1966. In 1968 Ann Bogan and The Andantes were “The Marvelettes” on the aptly-titled ‘I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can’ on Tamla. Phew, the many hats of Hitsville.

I was honoured to meet Louvain Demps once, and asked her about their crazy daily recording roster. My guess with the Andantes is that Motown didn’t want them to blow up as that would mess up a working formula. However, if their Andantes single became a smash, they could send out Ann Bogan (and other session singers) as the Andantes. Seems it was far simpler to just keep them in-house and in Detroit (bar Marlene Barrow replacing Florence Ballard in The Supremes a few times).

The Andantes were officially credited in 1963 on Amos Milburn’s ‘I’ll Make It Up To You Somehow’ on the Motown label, and LaBrenda Ben’s ‘Just Be Yourself’ on the Gordy label. In some ways, both aptly titled as well! I’m not sure if there are any other releases where they are credited by name?

And yes, a Liz Lands album would/would’ve been awesome, there’s definitely enough recordings. All the 17 LaBrenda Ben recordings together would be a pretty amazing album too. Both great vocalists who could do with more credit and recognition.

Amos and LaBrenda with the Andantes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVTygfdFufI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygXDzwXFpHE

 

Greetings all - Apologies if this has been discussed before (I couldn’t find a post on this).
‘Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James’ was an insightful documentary on an incredible yet troubled musical mastermind. Can anyone help shed more light on The Mynah Birds Motown sessions between 18-26 January 1966 recorded for an album...

We’ve had the joy and pleasure of 5 recordings; 1966’s  ‘It’s My Time’, ‘I’ll Wait Forever’, ‘Go On And Cry’, ‘I’ve Got You (In My Soul)’, and the 1967 re-recording of ‘It’s My Time’. 

In the Rick James documentary and in other interviews, The Mynah Birds drummer, Rickman Mason, says they recorded “24 hours a day” over a few days, and that there were 6-8 1966 recordings. Given Motown’s norm of 3 songs an hour, this would seem to make sense?

John Taylor’s widow Carolyn has five separate song-writing contracts signed by Rick James and her late husband for Jobete Music, dated 18 January 1966;
“We Gotta Go”, “Don’t Change Your Mind” and “Pretty Words”.

Rickman also states in the documentary (and interviews) that the 1966 recording sessions had drop-ins by Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Tammi Terrell. He says that these artists joined in the sessions but are not identifiable on the 4 released recordings. Could there really be 1966 recordied takes with The Mynah Birds and those artists?! It would be a dream to hear Neil Young harmonise with Tammi Terrell… or The Supremes backing Rick… or the first collaboration with Smokey pre ‘Ebony Eyes… or Stevie adding piano….

This is how I understand it went down:
1965 - Demo backing track for ‘No Greater Love’ produced by Harvey Fuqua.
1966 - The above 4 released recordings with Mike Valvano and R. Dean Taylor.
1967 - Re-recording of ‘It’s My Time’ - anyone know the musicians?
1968 - 2 other unreleased recordings; ‘Masquerade’ and ‘Fantasy’.

Does anyone know more on these unreleased Rick James & co recordings? And what other Motown artists may have been at - and contributed to - the sessions?

Thank you!


In the meantime... here is the 1967 It's My Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ItUWwXbJ4

True. Not so good for the talent but it's given us a lifetime of surprises and treasures we can appreciate decades later

Celebrating Motown Backing Vocals
(apologies if this has been done before)

From The Rayber Voices and inhouse angels The Andantes, Motown had a longstanding family tradition of vocal groups backing other artists;
The Love-Tones, The Vandellas, The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Originals, The Spinners, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Undisputed Truth, The Jackson 5 - all can be heard accompanying other solo artists recordings.

Later came The Blackberries, Third Generation (later Wonderlove), The Waters. Patrice Holloway, Syreeta, Táta Vega, Teena Marie could also be heard individually adding their voices to the background vocals. Motown had the greatest lead and background singers during their history. We know Merry Clayton was part of the ensemble on ‘Someday We’ll Be Together’.

This thread is to celebrate your favourite backing vocals and hopefully find and share some raritier and lesser-known recordings.

Starting where it all began, here are Barrett Strong and The Rayber Voices in 1960 with the appropriately named ‘Whirlwind’ - who knew what the next 60 years was going to bring us!;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaognaFJ1DM

Thanks. Yeh i agree The Marvelettes could have evolved into a whole new vibe just like The Supremes managed. I read the interview where Ann said her voice was bringing something different so it took time to get the perfect blend and by the time they all gelled it was all over. Another missed opportunity for sure! 

There's some good tracks on the Major Lance album like the smooth disco-soul 'How My Love Goes' and versions of Harry Belafonte's 'Troubles'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nugeBLOGdJo

Some trivia: Major Lance's duaghter, Keisha Lance Bottoms is the 60th mayor of Atlanta, Georgia!

Back to the topic - there's also the Gil Askey & Lee Holdrige version of 'Let's Go Back To Day One' from the Mahogany soundtrack - Sounds like the vocalist could be Gloria Jones?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4N9UoUcr1w