Motown Treasures

Goodness Eric, where did you read that? These are the only version listed on DFTMC.

Green Grow The Lilacs (Ronald Miller) published Stein & Van Stock 01-Dec-67

The Festivals; recorded N.Y. ; produced by Jerry Ross ; arranged by Chuck Sagle

11-Jul-72; 45 (S): Gordy G 7120F A [promo]
11-Jul-72; 45 (S): Gordy G 7120F A [promo]
11-Jul-72; 45 (M): Gordy G 7120F A [cv]
1994; CD: Sequel NEM CD 678 Ain't Nothing But A House Party [UK]
10-Dec-13; CD (S): Hip-O Select B0019213-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12B 1972 [stereo promo version]
10-Dec-13; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0019213-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12B 1972
Joe Harnell; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 27-Aug-69 ; produced by Harry Balk, Dave Van DePitte ; arranged by Dave Van DePitte

25-Sep-69; 45 (M): Motown M 1154 B [reissued on Motown 1161]
Dec-69; LP (S): Motown S698 Moving On!!
13-Jan-70; 45 (M): Motown M 1161 B [previously on Motown 1154]
2000; CD: JHCD 06 Moving On!!
06-Dec-07; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0010270-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9 1969
Jonah Jones; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 28-Aug-68 ; produced by Henry Cosby

Mar-69; LP (S): Motown S683 Along Came Jonah
Ronald Miller; recording details unknown

May-68 [acetate]; LP (M): Q HEM-0277/8-FNLL
The Originals; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 14-Jan-69 ; produced by Ronald Miller, Tom Baird ; arranged by Tom Baird ; [lead C.P. Spencer]

06-May-69; 45 (M): Soul S 35061 A
Jul-69; LP (S): Soul SS716 Green Grow The Lilacs (retitled Baby, I'm For Real)
1992; CD: Motown MOTD 5462 Baby, I'm For Real
06-Dec-07; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0010270-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9 1969
Soupy Sales; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 26-Nov-68 ; produced by Ronald Miller

21-Jan-69; 45 (M): Motown M 1141 B [1st pressing]
21-Jan-69; 45 (M): Motown M 1141 B [2nd pressing]
Apr-69; LP (S): Motown S686 A Bag Of Soup
06-Dec-07; CD (M): Hip-O Select B0010270-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 9 1969

Thanks Eric. I wonder if it's still in the vaults and if so why was it not included in the Anthology?

Pity. Thanks Paul.

In fact further investigation reveals that it was going to be a Marvin and Tammi duet - Tammi's vocals were laid and Ron Miller demo'd for Marvin, Ron's vocals were wiped out by the horns of the JJ version and Tammi by the eventual BG's that appeared on the JJ version another case where for the sake of a piece of tape Motown denied us with a possible classic

I love the vocal version by Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations

Grape

Well, Roger, that was a peculiar ending, I'll agree.

I had it in my head that the only vocal version was a "live" take, so well done Grape for finding that. It's a nice song.

That "woo woo" backing vocal reminds me of something, can anyone else hear it?:-



SWI

Thanks for that forensic examination, Paul.

You can't help shaking your head in wonder at what might have been.

I've always been curious about Jonah Jones' For Better Or Worse. It was clearly meant to be a vocal number, yet the first version is an instrumental by the trumpeter. Could this have been another instance where a recorded vocal was erased?

SWI

Emmm looking at the two versions they are recorded VERY close together only a couple of weeks before them but alas no vocal from Jonah although I have to say from what I've heard from Mr Jones he has the voice for a trumpeter
I do love this track though and it makes me wonder why no other versions are about - it would have made a great Marvin and Tammi coupling although by then she was already very ill.