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Author Topic: Songwriters  (Read 5809 times)

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Songwriters
« on: June 18, 2020, 03:05:07 am »
Helen and Kay Lewis wrote a staggering amount of classic Motown songs. Here's just a sample:-

JUST WALK IN MY SHOES - Gladys Knight & the Pips
HAPPINESS IS GUARANTEED - Martha & the Vandellas
I SEE A RAINBOW - Edwin Starr & Blinky
FAREWELL MY SUMMER LOVE - Michael Jackson
BABY BABY - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
THIS LOVE STARVED HEART OF MINE (IT'S KILLING ME) - Marvin Gaye
MY WORLD IS CRUMBLING - Brenda Holloway
CHOO CHOO TRAIN - Little Lisa
WHERE WERE YOU - Brenda Holloway

I am wondering how long the sisters were active at Motown.

In 1977 their JESUS TAKES ME HIGHER was released by Tata Vega.
In 1981 Billy Preston released their LAY YOUR FEELINGS ON ME.

Were these old songs, waiting for somebody to record them, or were the sisters still a part of Motown in those years?

Anyone know?

SWI

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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2020, 07:10:57 am »
This is from All Music. No mention of the length of their Motown tenure.

The Lewis Sisters Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio ... | AllMusic
Explore The Lewis Sisters
AllMusic · allmusic.com
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2020, 05:07:08 am »
This is one of several non-Motown recordings composed and produced by the Lewis Sisters:-



According to Discogs, it dates from 1967.

SWI
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2020, 05:10:46 am »
And this one is by Little Lisa - calling herself Lisa Miller (or Lise Miller) here - also released on the Canterbury label in 1967:-



It's a Christmas tune. Anyone like it?

SWI
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2020, 10:19:02 am »
Yes Eric, as Christmas songs go in June it's really OK :)
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2020, 12:57:43 pm »
In Graham Betts' MOTOWN ENCYCLOPEDIA entry for the Lewis Sisters, is this sentence:-

"THIS LOVE STARVED HEART OF MINE they wrote with Al Wilson in mind and he did record it but Hal and Marc were unable to get him a deal with Motown."

So, Al Wilson was another artist who nearly made it through those Motown doors.

Does his version of the song exist anywhere?

SWI
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2020, 02:01:55 pm »
Lots of songs listed in the "Jobete Catalog" with additions from the "Supplement" from April to June 1967 marked ***:-

LEWIS SISTERS

Baby Baby

Can’t Figure It Out – with Frank Wilson

Don’t Let Me Off The Hook

Happiness Is Guaranteed – with Ivy Hunter

He’s An Oddball – with Hal Davis

High Upon A Somewhere Hill

I Don’t Want What’s Left Over

If There’s Any Love For Me

I’ll Always Take You Back

I’ll Walk Alone In The Streets

I’m Crying Cause Summer’s Here

It Ain’t Gonna Bother Me

Just Walk In My Shoes

Look At Me

Many Good Times

My World Is Crumbling

Oh How I Wish You Were Mine

Once In My Life

Sea Shell

She’ll Do Him Good

Shy Shy Girl

Stop All That Chatter

The Go Gang – [Kay only] with Maceo Jackson & Hal Davis

Tick Tock Goes The Clock

Watch It

When A Girl Falls In Love

Where Were You

World Of Make Believe

Can’t Hold The Feeling Back***

Can’t We Be Strangers Again***

I Can’t Erase The Way I Feel***

This Love Starved Heart Of Mine***

----
Presumably, there are no released versions of some of these songs.

SWI
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2020, 03:34:35 pm »
Thanks Eric, as you say I'm pretty sure that some of these songs don't exist.
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2020, 11:08:06 pm »
I was disappointed not to find Balloons, as I've heard good things about that song from our pal Ivor (and others who wish to remain nameless).

Was wondering if some of these may have been recorded away from Motown.... but I suppose DFTMC would have picked them up.

SWI
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2020, 12:02:53 pm »
Quote from: Silly Wasnt I on June 18, 2020, 03:05:07 am
Helen and Kay Lewis wrote a staggering amount of classic Motown songs. Here's just a sample:-

JUST WALK IN MY SHOES - Gladys Knight & the Pips
HAPPINESS IS GUARANTEED - Martha & the Vandellas
I SEE A RAINBOW - Edwin Starr & Blinky
FAREWELL MY SUMMER LOVE - Michael Jackson
BABY BABY - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
THIS LOVE STARVED HEART OF MINE (IT'S KILLING ME) - Marvin Gaye
MY WORLD IS CRUMBLING - Brenda Holloway
CHOO CHOO TRAIN - Little Lisa
WHERE WERE YOU - Brenda Holloway

I am wondering how long the sisters were active at Motown.

In 1977 their JESUS TAKES ME HIGHER was released by Tata Vega.
In 1981 Billy Preston released their LAY YOUR FEELINGS ON ME.

Were these old songs, waiting for somebody to record them, or were the sisters still a part of Motown in those years?

Anyone know?

SWI

Can't say Eric but I do know Scherrie Payne recorded a version of "Lay Your Feelings On Me" for her unreleased Motown solo album.

Ivor
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2020, 06:20:04 am »
SUPPLEMENT TO BASIC CATALOG
July to September 1967 +++

HELEN LEWIS & KAY LEWIS

Here Are the Pieces Of My Broken Heart+++

How Am I Gonna Make It+++

I’m Not Your Clown+++


Not familiar with that last title.

SWI
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2020, 05:22:16 pm »
I wonder if 'I’m Not Your Clown' was perhaps a working title for something else. Again no mention of the lost 'Balloons' track.
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2020, 12:25:02 pm »
"Balloons" is wonderful; shame it's been lost.

Ivor
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2020, 03:13:57 am »
You know Ivor - in all y time looking through paperwork and sifting through vaulted material I've never seen any evidence let alone heard Balloons - are you sure it's a bona fide Motown track and not an outside production?
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Re: Songwriters
« Reply #14 on: August 12, 2020, 11:55:58 am »
Well, all I can tell you is Paul i had it on one those old bootleg tapes (on which  there was no track information) but all the other tracks were definitely Motown as a lot of them appeared, in decent sound quality, on "COM1".  If memory serves me right the track was discussed in the old "YTF" fanzine years back.


Just to change the subject slightly, wasn' t there supposed to be a "COM5" in the works?

Ivor
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