Category: music

Norman Whitfield

Grapevine, War, Car Wash


Surely, my initial appreciation for songwriter Norman Whitfield came at that juncture in the career of Motown’s Temptations in 1968 when David Ruffin, the lead vocalist on “My Girl” and most of the hits up to that point, left the group and was replaced by Dennis Edwards.

At the same time, Whitfield became the exclusive producer for the group and implemented what he freely admitted that he stole from Sly Stone: the multi-lead singer motif, best exemplified by the hit “I Can’t Get Next To You,” number 31 on this list. Also, he, along with Barrett Strong (who incidentally sang the first Motown hit, Money), wrote virtually all of their hits: “Cloud Nine,” “Psychedelic Shack,” “Ball of Confusion,” “Just My Imagination,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” to name just a few of the “psychedelic soul” tunes.

Tunes

But in fact, Norman wrote or co-wrote tunes for the early Temps (“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep”) and many others:

Bright Lights, Big City by Jimmy Reed

I Heard It Through The Grapevine. This is the Pips version, which went to #2 in 1967. Rumor has it that it was covered later to even greater effect.

He Was Really Saying Something – the Velvelettes

(I Know)I’m Losing You  – the Temptations

Too Many Fish In The Sea – the Marvelettes

Needle In A Haystack– the Velvelettes

Not to mention:

Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) – Marvin Gaye

Too Busy Thinking About My Baby – Marvin Gaye

Smiling Faces Sometimes

War – Edwin Starr

Car Wash – Rose Royce

Norman Whitfield died Tuesday, September 16, at the age of 67. He suffered from complications of diabetes and had recently emerged from a coma, The Detroit Free Press reported.

Whitfield, with Barrett Strong, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. They won the Grammy in 1972 for best R&B song for the Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” Whitfield won another Grammy in 1976 for best original TV or motion picture score for the hit “Car Wash.”

Motown great Smokey Robinson called Whitfield “one of the most prolific songwriters and record producers of our time. He will live forever through his great music.”

Birthday songs

My birthday is March 7, so in honor of my unbirthday, here are the #1 Billboard songs on my birthday.
2008 … “Low” by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain – don’t know what this is
2007 … “This Is Why I’m Hot” by Mims – don’t know
2006 … “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt – even I know this one, and in fact managed to become sick of it
2005 … “Candy Shop” by 50 Cent featuring Olivia – don’t know
2004 … “Yeah!” by Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon – heard this song a couple times, but wouldn’t say I KNOW it
2003 … “In Da Club” by 50 Cent – ditto
2002 … “Ain’t It Funny” by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule – don’t know
2001 … “Stutter [Double Take Remix]” by Joe featuring Mystikal – must have heard it, but not sticking to the brain
2000 … “Amazed” by Lonestar – ditto
1999 … “Believe” by Cher – classic Cher histrionics
1998 … “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion – real histrionics. And I own it.
1997 … “Wannabe” by Spice Girls – fluff. Spice Girls didn’t offend me; I just didn’t much care.
1996 … “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men – this song was number 1 for something like 16 weeks. It showed up on JEOPARDY! when I was on in 1998, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember the title. (I kept thinking One Fine Day, but I knew THAT was wrong. Category was Songs By the Numbers for $200.) When the Regis Philbin-hosted Who Wants to be a Millionaire was on, I think it was involved in a $250,000 clue. Oh, the song itself? It’s OK. I like the B2M harmonies.
1995 … “Take a Bow” by Madonna. Not remembering.
1994 … “The Sign” by Ace of Base. Annoyingly catchy.
1993 … “Informer” by Snow. Heard, don’t recall.
1992 … “To Be with You” by Mr. Big. Don’t know.
1991 … “Someday” by Mariah Carey. All of Mariah Carey’s songs from a certain period sound exactly the same to me.
1990 … “Escapade” by Janet Jackson. I like Janet actually, but this was pretty lightweight.
1989 … “Lost in Your Eyes” by Debbie Gibson – heard it, not remembering.
1988 … “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. Actually, I’ve probably heard more often in the 21st Century than at the time. Meh.
1987 … “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Never was a big Bon Jovi fan. Own none of their albums. It was as good a song as they did, I suppose.
1986 … “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister. Recall liking this, but I’d need to hear it again.
1985 … “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon. It became popular to dump on the Spudwagon, but it’s no worse than that corporate rock sound of any number of songs of the era.
1984 … “Jump” by Van Halen. My fondness probably comes from David Lee Roth on the video.
1983 … “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson. Classic tune. Own.
1982 … “Centerfold” by J. Geils Band. I always liked the storyline. Own.
1981 … “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbitt. Dopey.
1980 … “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen. Lesser Queen; still, I used to try to imitate it. Own.
1979 … “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Anthemic. Still, I still hear Jim Carrey do Tony Clifton, singing “I Will Surveeve” in the Man on the Moon movie. Own.
1978 … “(Love Is) Thicker than Water” by Andy Gibb. Andy Gibb was born on March 5, 1958 (and died March 10, 1988). You’d think I’d remember a big hit from a fellow Piscean, especially a dead one, wouldn’t you? I really don’t.
1977 … “Love Theme from ‘A Star Is Born’ (Evergreen)” by Barbra Streisand. Like Barbra’s voice. What can I say? Oh that the movie was filmed in part at the Union College campus in Schenectady, NY, which gives it special props. Own.
1976 … “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” by The Four Seasons – guilty pleasure, for sure. Own. (n.b., I see that some people don’t believe in guilty pleasures. OK.)
1975 … “Have You Never Been Mellow” by Olivia Newton-John. Dopey song, pleasant voice. Own.
1974 … “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks. Hated this song. Its sing-songy verse, its pretentious lyrics.
1973 … “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack. Saw Roberta sing this live. A fan. Own.
1972 … “Without You” by Nilsson. For some reason, when he wails “Can’t li-i-i-ive…” it always gets to me, as though he really WOULD die. Own.
1971 … “One Bad Apple” by The Osmonds. This especially annoyed me, this faux Jackson Five song.
1970 … “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel. Beautiful instrumentation, practically tear-inducing singing by Artie. Own.
1969 … “Everyday People” by Sly & the Family Stone. My first favorite Sly song. Why CAN’T we all get along? Own.
1968 … “Love Is Blue” by Paul Mauriat. A lovely instrumental. Own.
1967 … “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone” by The Supremes. I’m not much on people talking in songs. This is a rare exception. “You stripped me of my dreams…” Own.
1966 … “The Ballad of the Green Berets” by S/Sgt. Barry Sadler. I hated the politics of the song, yet had a grudging admiration for its unambiguous sincerity. It did inspire a truly dreadful 1968 John Wayne/David Janssen film that I saw at the time.
1965 … “Eight Days a Week” by The Beatles. The verse is pretty basic, but the chorus with the brief a cappella bits is nice. Own.
1964 … “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles. The chorus and verse are good energy. But it’s the bridge that really makes it work. Own.
1963 … “Walk like a Man” by The Four Seasons. I was ten at the time, and a guy singing “walk like a man” in that register just cracked me up, I’m afraid to admit. A greater appreciation came later. Own.
1962 … “Hey! Baby” by Bruce Channel. I have at least three versions of this song, but I’m not particularly remembering his take.
1961 … “Pony Time” by Chubby Checker. Only vague recollection.
1960 … “Theme from ‘A Summer Place'” by Percy Faith. Another pretty instrumental. Own.
1959 … “Venus” by Frankie Avalon. Liked this, actually, in spite of myself.
1958 … “Don’t/ I Beg of You” by Elvis Presley. Like Don’t; not remembering the other. Own.
1957 … “Young Love” by Tab Hunter. The Sonny James version of this same song also went to #1 in 1957, and I like it a lot, but I don’t know the Tab Hunter version at all.
1956 … “Lisbon Antigua” by Nelson Riddle. Don’t know.
1955 … “Sincerely” by The McGuire Sisters. Lovely harmonies. Think Andrews Sisters or Lemmon Sisters. Own.
1954 … “Make Love to Me!” by Jo Stafford. Don’t know.
1953 … “Till I Waltz Again with You” by Teresa Brewer. Don’t know.
ROG

ROG

Songs That Move Me: #1

1. God Only Knows – Beach Boys.
Ultimately, a song I know a lot about, from Brian and Carl Wilson praying before the recording to Brian’s obsessive orchestration. It’s Beach Boys and it’s beautiful.

I’ll tell you how strong it is. Its use as the ending of the movie Love Actually probably raised the movie’s enjoyment from a B-minus to a B-plus.

There are two things that really seal the deal for me picking this particular song. One was when I went to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in May of 1998 and came across the tribute to Carl Wilson, who had died a few months earlier. Coincidentally, there was also a tribute to another Carl who had recently died, Carl Perkins. Quite moving.

The other factor was listening to the Beach Boys’ 5-CD boxed set, which has a 9-minute version of “God Only Knows,” the first 6 of which is rehearsal, but the last 3 of which is a phenomenally beautiful rendition, ending in classic Beach Boys vocalese, which I hope sees the light of day as a separate release someday.
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There are all sorts of artists whose music I enjoy, from James Brown to Led Zeppelin, the Police to the Talking Heads, who I enjoy immensely, yet somehow didn’t make this particular list. If I do it again – don’t hold your breath on that! – I will make a point of seeking other artists.
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The Royal Guardsmen are finally going to England “After our hopes were dashed more than forty years ago, one of our desires has come to fruition.” Readers of this blog may recall a spirited but friendly debate I had with the Guardsmen’s drummer over the release of their song Snoopy Vs. Osama, which had a far more serious tone than the Snoopy vs. the Red Baron songs of the 1960s. Even though we disagreed, I’ve been wishing John Burdett and the group well, and even subsequently got hold of an RG greatest hits collection. Maybe it’s because the group and I have the same initials.
ROG

ROG

Rock Meme: Robert Plant


Here’s an old meme I found, which I’ll use to celebrate Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant’s 60th birthday.
Artist/Band: Robert Plant (b. 8/20/1948)
Are you male or female: Poor Tom
Describe yourself: Dazed and Confused
How do some people feel about you: Your Time Is Gonna Come
How do you feel about yourself: Fool in the Rain
Describe what you want to be: Ten Years Gone
Describe how you live: Trampled Under Foot
Describe how you love: Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Share a few words of wisdom: Hey Hey What Can I Do
I was going to use songs from the Honeydrippers or solo Plant, if I had to, but Zeppelin titles filled the bill.

One of my favorite LZ songs, Communication Breakdown

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss doing another song about communications breakdown, Please Read The Letter, from my favorite album of 2007

Tosy found this Yahoo! list of the 20 greatest albums ever based on sales, staying power, and acclaim; FOUR are by Led Zeppelin, three of which I own.

A happy birthday to Robert Plant.
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John Hiatt turns 56 today. Little ambiguity about what He’s communicating:

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Isaac Hayes‘ birthday would also have been today, but he died 10 days shy of his 66th birthday. Since SamuraiFrog posted Walk On By recently, I thought I’d pick another song from the album Hot Buttered Soul, Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic.

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I was sad to hear of the passing of Jerry Wexler. His participation at Atlantic Records helped create the sound of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Sam and Dave and many others. He worked with artists as varied as Bob Dylan, Dusty Springfield, Dire Straits, and Santana.
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Photo: Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation at the Green Man Festival – 18.08.2007. [Source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/90336485@N00/1205952170/ Robert Plant by Ella Mullins on flickr.com] |Date=August 18, 2007], used per Creative Commons
ROG

ROG

BOOK REVIEW: Freddie and Me

I wasn’t a big fan of the rock group Queen. I do own their Greatest Hits album on vinyl, but that’s it. But Mike Dawson was a HUGE fan. In his comic book autobiography, Freddie and Me: A Coming of Age (Bohemian) Rhapsody, Dawson talks about how his upbringing in England and eventually in the United States was heavily integrated with the music and the lives of Freddie Mercury and his band. This wasn’t just the background music in his life a la the movie The Big Chill; these tunes were core elements that affected the decisions he made throughout his early years.

The book is funny, and occasionally sad; it’s specifically personal, yet has a universal sense as well. For instance, when he notes how much he hated those Queen fans-come-lately who only knew “Bohemian Rhapsody” as the result of the movie “Wayne’s World”, it sounds like any number of comic book, art and music fans I’ve encountered over the years.(I think this speaks to Tosy’s feelings about the overplayed title tune of this book. If you’re a big fan of the group Queen or, oddly, George Michael, you’ll almost certainly love this book. If you’re a big fan of any musician or artist, you will certainly relate to the passion upon which Dawson draws.
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Coincidentally, Freddie and me is one of several items for sale at ADD’s graphic novel sale.
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Go to this episode of Coverville and hear the rare Michael Jackson/Freddie Mercury demo to the Jacksons’ hit “State of Shock” that ultimately featured Mick Jagger on guest vocal.
ROG

ROG
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