Author Topic: Forgotten & underrated (Read 240 times)

humboldt · « **on:** May 20, 2020, 09:17:12 pm »

I have a special fondness for Jr. Walker who seems to be rather forgotten & underrated by many Motown fans. He recorded so may great singles. His sax playing was instantly recognisable as was his somewhat rough & ready vocals. Here's a fav instrumental of mine. Only got to #50 US and came between 'Road Runner' & 'How Sweet'.

Roger · « **Reply #1 on:** May 21, 2020, 10:40:54 am »

Actually "Cleo's Mood" preceded "Roadrunner" in 1966 John … and it was a revived track from 1962 to boot, having first come out on a Harvey 45 before the label was bought up by Motown!! Great record anyway and one of my favourite JW instrumentals.

I think my all time favourite JW instrumental has to be this one …

Roger

humboldt · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2020, 10:47:49 am »

'Sweet Soul' should have been the 'a' side instead of 'Come See About Me'. I've never noticed this before but he is channeling Albert Ayler on this one.

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2020, 02:22:17 am »

My favourite Junior Walker instrumental is this one:-

It's an HDH written and produced number recorded in 1966 - and one wonders if there had been plans to record a vocal version by one of HDH's other artsits.

SWI

humboldt · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2020, 05:35:00 am »

Very possibly Eric, perhaps on the Four Tops!

Roger · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2020, 08:09:36 am »

I suspect that "Nothing But Soul" is better known than you might imagine SWI, as it was put on the "B" side of their first "proper" UK hit … the perennially popular "How Sweet It Is". The TMG was one of those releases that seemed to be on catalogue for eons and I remember eventually getting a brand-new copy some time in the mid '70s

https://www.45cat.com/record/tmg571

Roger

McMotown · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2020, 12:33:58 pm »

Not an instrumental but still a great funky track that was shelved until the Cellar Full Of Motown series

humboldt · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2020, 04:49:08 pm »

Great choice McMotown, shades of 'Road Runner' of course. Remained unissued for 45 years!

Mikep5 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2020, 06:44:21 pm »

When we finally got the long overdue box set on Jr, I was just so happy. Im still enjoying it. Listening to it really puts his body of work from his peak years into perspective. At times
he displayed the funk groove of James Brown, but Jr really had class. His covers of pop songs and some Motown classics, where transformed into a new song, reminding me of how good Levi Stubbs did it with the 4 Tops. I love Jr's Cover of the Supremes Come see about me. Has anyone noticed noticed that the arrangement on that track is the same as the Original's version on Motown sings Motown treasues ? Only difference is they speeded it up for Jr and added more texture to perk it up. Jr got it just right. I thought I was the only one who loved the flip side just as well. Sweet Soul. He really blows the house down when he hits that high note.

humboldt · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2020, 07:15:40 pm »

Jr. of course had an album called 'Blow The House Down' released in 1983 but it was not up to his usual standard.

https://www.discogs.com/Junior-Walker-Blow-The-House-Down/release/2326721

Silly Wasnt I · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2020, 07:06:11 am »

This is the other Leonard Caston produced track by Junior Walker.

Love this and wish Caston and Walker had done a lot more together.

SWI

humboldt · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2020, 07:54:21 am »

Indeed Eric it's a great track and Caston & Walker were a good match.

Motown Treasures

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