By TD (152.163.197.193 - 152.163.197.193) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 12:24 am:| By TD (152.163.197.193 - 152.163.197.193) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 12:24 am: |
I just got back from the Who concert in Hershey Pa., and I thought that this was an appropriate title for this thread.
What us Motown junkies want to read is the biographies of all these Motown alumni that are participating in this forum. I thought I knew a lot about Motown- golly I wrote my senior high school term paper on the history of Motown. Now that was almost 30 years ago and I have learned a great deal since then.
But having said that, I discover this forum and realize how little I know.
I have been reading comments from Ralph,Mike,Bob,Gary ect. and although I am picking up bits and pieces, I really don't know exactly what their roles were with Motown.
So as a plea from your devoted fans, please tell us about your time with Motown and some of your major contributions.
Please do not be modest-just the facts.
You all deserve to be immortalized.
Thanks
TD
| By HW (68.37.217.106 - 68.37.217.106) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 02:00 am: |
a chuckle from this end - the forthcoming new expanded edition of 'The Who Songs My Generation' includes several Motown covers... but I digress...
| By Ralph Terrana (Ralph) (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 02:19 am: |
TD,
Harry Balk and Ralph Seltzer brought me to Motown to run the studio operations. Until I was hired the various studio support groups ( recording engineering, technical engineering, library services etc ) were all seperate departments. My position would not alter the department head status of these sections, but everything would run through my office which allowed us to make decisions regarding the studios from a central perspective. To sweeten the deal, they threw in a producer's contract which would allow me to do a lttle producing when time permitted.Needless to say, my days were incredibly long. As Bob Ohlsson mentions in another topic, you kind of get caught up in the whole deal and eventually lose any kind of life but that which existed at Motown. It was a far from dull life style but we all paid some sort of price for it I think.
| By TD (152.163.207.189 - 152.163.207.189) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 03:24 am: |
Ralph
Thanks for responding. What were the years that you were with Motown?
Obviously I have been reading that your brother Russ was also there.
I looked at the index at the back of Barry Gordy's autobiography and noticed that your brother was mentioned by Barry on page 295.
I also noticed that Mike Mclean was mentioned several times by Barry Gordy, and I quote " I hired a young technical genius named Mike Mclean . He slowly rebuilt our equipment".He made all of the producers and engineers take classes from him on how to operate it-including me"
High praise indeed.
It almost sounds as if Mr. Gordy is implying that from a technical aspect that Mike created the "Motown Sound".
TD
| By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 02:24 pm: |
TD,
I was at Motown from late 1969 to mid 1975 when the company moved to L.A. At that time I made the decision to leave Motown.
Motown's success was an exotic brew of many talents. Artists, writers, producers and engineers. Mike McLean was certainly prominant in the company's success. From a technical standpoint he was always striving for what he termed " The Hot Set-Up". And generally he would find what he was looking for.
| By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 02:27 pm: |
And forgive me for failing to mention the Funk Brothers. Without them it's possible that very little would have happened.
| By TD (65.210.112.50 - 65.210.112.50) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 07:16 pm: |
Ralph
Can you pass on the word to the other Motown alumni to give us their bio.
Thanks
TD
| By John Lester (213.1.129.50 - 213.1.129.50) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 08:29 pm: |
and that includes Russ........
That brother of your is an elusive one...I am biding my time waiting for him to tell me a few things..like why was that party intro used on BOTH I can't Get Next To You AND Psychedelic Shack.
That reminds me.....I need to ask our Dennis C what part he is playing on "Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down"...that is an intro to beat intro's
| By Dennis Coffey (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 09:18 pm: |
Hi TD. My story is in my new book released in London and soon to be released in the US, called Guitars, Bars, and Motown Super Stars. If you want me to answer specific questions, I will do my best.
Dennis
| By Dennis Coffey (205.188.209.48 - 205.188.209.48) on Friday, August 02, 2002 - 09:42 pm: |
Hi John. How are you doing? I went and got the Puzzle People album and listened to the intro on Don't Let the Jones Get you Down. It sounds like me on Wah Wah and low strings like the part in I Can't Get Next to You. It also sounds like Eddie Willis and probably Joe Massina on there as well.
Dennis
| By John Lester (213.1.132.55 - 213.1.132.55) on Saturday, August 03, 2002 - 09:02 am: |
Dennis
When "Jones's" came out, I bought an import US Gordy copy (it wasn't issued here in the UK as a 45!!) and I used to listen to that intro over and over again...I am sure it lasts for a good 30 seconds...fabulous. I used to think I had died and come back from heaven when I played that song.
I just looked at it that ancient 45...it's a bit white from too much wear! A sign of "money well spent".
| By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Saturday, August 03, 2002 - 01:07 pm: |
Hey John, that's what music is about, enjoy it. When I was first learned how to play guitar I used to do the same thing.
Dennis
| By soulboy (213.105.242.198 - 213.105.242.198) on Saturday, August 03, 2002 - 01:37 pm: |
Dennis
In your book you made several references to Eddie Willis as being one of the funkiest guitar players you ever met.it seems like you spent a lot of time with him, in the early days at least. On the tempts 'i can't get next to you' and 'jones, was he the guy who did the 'chicken scratch' type of guitar sound??
From what you mentioned in the book he must have been extremely clever at improvising fills and riffs without written music. How did he manage to do this when working in a high pressure envoironment like the 'snakepit'
| By Dennis Coffey (152.163.207.51 - 152.163.207.51) on Saturday, August 03, 2002 - 05:13 pm: |
Hi Soulboy. Eddie was known for his "Chicken Scratching". That was one of his things. That was him on the lot of the Tempts records. Eddie was originally from Mississippi and has moved back home (southern funk). I also did a lot of sessions with Eddie before Motown so I worked with him a lot. He is also featured on the cover of my book with me during the "Got to Pay the Price" session at United Sounds Studio. I didn't hang with Eddie like I did with Jamerson but Eddie is still one funky guitar player and nice guy as well. As far as your last question, how did he manage to do it? The same way we all did. We practiced to gain mastery of our instruments and "let er rip!" Once I got familar with the routine at Motown, I had more fun and laughs than stress, although the truth of the tape and your performance was always lurking in the backgound during playback for the unwary!
Dennis
| By TD (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 03:34 am: |
Dennis
Thanks for responding. I appreciate hearing from you. Your accomplishments are well known. I was looking for bio infomation from the guys and gals who worked behind the scenes.
PS
But since you asked for questions, I noticed your name mentioned in August issue of MoJo-regarding you involvement with the Floaters masterpiece- "Float On"- what was your memory of this?
Thanks
TD
| By Lynn Bruce (64.233.239.172 - 64.233.239.172) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 12:24 pm: |
Dennis Coffey:It seems like younger people sometimes don,t realise the hours& hours good musicians sat in their homes practising,while their friends were out playing ball or cruising around.They want to be a big rock guitar player without paying their dues"wood-sheddin"
Lynn
| By soulboy (213.105.242.198 - 213.105.242.198) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 12:57 pm: |
LYNN
You are right!I think the trouble today is people opt for the easy route to achieve success,this today means drum machines,sequencers,and samplers.
What we get is music devoid of any character or soul.It's just the way things are unfortunately.
As dennis says to be succesful you used to have to practise your instruments the long and hard way. in days gone by there was just no option.
| By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 01:02 pm: |
Hi TD. Bernie Mendleson asked me to help him during the Floaters session at Pac 3 with the arrangements. The guitar player was trying to manually get the same sound as I had on the Dramatics "In the Rain". He looked like he needed some assistance so I hooked him up to my Echo Plex to help him achieve that sound. I think I played on some songs and conducted others that day.
Dennis
| By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 01:07 pm: |
Hey Souboy. I think Joe Massina and I both used to practice eight hours a day to learn how to play because we loved the music and the instrument so much. My question is when all the existing samples are sliced and diced and all the musicians have good paying day jobs, where will the new samples come from? You can only combine samples so many ways. Someone has to actually create new music to sample from.
Dennis
| By soulboy (213.105.242.198 - 213.105.242.198) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 02:00 pm: |
DENNIS
Interesting revelation about the level of practicing you guys put into the work,determination and application is what it is really all about.I don't think people realise this,instead they prefer to think of their heroes to be 'natural talents', when the truth is a little more mundane.
I see your point about sampling,maybe one day 'real music' will make a return, but on the other hand it may be something quite different that will generate the music of tomorrow,especially if you consider the advances in computer software and hardware that have occured in the last couple of years.
We can only hope that if a does change happen it will have the same impact that Motown and other's had during the 60s.
| By Sue (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 04:18 pm: |
I've yet to see computer software that can duplicate the feel and soul of a real human being playing a non-electronic instrument.
| By Gabriele (213.45.200.84 - 213.45.200.84) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 06:14 pm: |
Hi Dennis,
I like a lot that PUZZLE PEOPLE album and I'm really fascinated by the way the Funks played "Little Green Apples",the groove,you know...
I wonder who played guitar on the intro of this song,which is really cool too.
| By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 07:55 pm: |
So Mike is where I got infected with "the hot setup" as a standard part of my vocabulary!
Unfortunately I have yet to see a musician, studio or engineer who can afford to work as cheaply as a computer. Money is why so much contemporary music sucks. It's not ignorance, it's pure greed and you can feel that vibe right in the music.
The record and radio industries have BOTH been eating their young by using automation rather than allowing a new generation of talent to learn how to perform.
| By TD (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 08:03 pm: |
Hi Bob O
I just read your article- "Nowhere to Run".I feel like I now have a better idea on what you contributed to Motown. but any more info would greatly be appreciated. This thread is dedicated to the Motown Alumni.
Thanks
TD
| By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 08:18 pm: |
It's funny Bob.� I still use the term " the hot set-up " also. I guess a little of Mike lives in each of us.
| By Sue (205.188.209.48 - 205.188.209.48) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 09:23 pm: |
Yeah but Bob ...
Don't you think by using computers instead of people the biz is being short-sighted -- if it sounds worse, people aren't going to buy it. In increasing numbers.
| By soulboy (213.105.242.198 - 213.105.242.198) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 09:55 pm: |
Sue
Personally i see your point about computers,but
1. There is no accounting for people's poor taste in music these days.
2. Computers are not going to be dis-invented any more than the atomic bomb-they are here to stay.
3. As Bob O say's it's a cost driven thing, and that to multi-national coperations IS the bottom line.
It does seem a little negative, i agree but only a major shift in attitudes among the powers that be can save us from this mediocrity.
| By Sue (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 11:41 pm: |
soulboy,
But my point is -- ultimately it's NOT a smart economic decision, because people are not buying CDs in droves -- and it isn't just because they're burning music off the 'Net.
It's like American radio, they're programming schlock beamed in by satellite from the corporate office because it's cheap, but they're doing it to a smaller and smaller audience, so ultimately what is the more economical thing to do, make good music (which costs), or cut the corners and have the public yawn?
| By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 11:50 pm: |
Sue,
Lawyers, accountants and salespeople BY DEFINITION are short sighted!
People AREN'T buying it. The number of different new titles selling a million or more is WAY down from what it once was. A very few titles are selling more than ever however the amount being spent promoting these is unprecedented. An interesting exception has been the "Oh Brother" soundtrack which has been hanging in the top of the charts for over a year with virtually no airplay or promotion. It's the real deal even if not the very best example of it.
| By Sue (205.188.209.48 - 205.188.209.48) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 12:07 am: |
Exactly, Bob!
The radio stations keep cutting costs to match their dwindling listenership, instead of being bold and trying to figure out how to appeal to as many as possible.
I saw some incredible figures about the percentage of new CDs selling anything at all -- it's pitifully small.
| By djdetroit (212.65.19.125 - 212.65.19.125) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 08:38 am: |
Hi,
I don't think it's right just to blame the computer (and their users) for poor music!
There had been poor and short sightet music
and ideas in the past, like "the Monkees"
in the 60s, the 70s European Disco area or
the very poor New German Wave we had in
the beginning of the 80s (you are lucky that
you don't know anything about it outside Germany).
There are some really talented musicians out there
making intelligent and skillful music using computers. Take the "Beastie Boys" for instance, they really know what they are doing.
Mixing there own talents with samples from the past and mentioning one of there hereos (Dennis
Coffey) in one of there songs!
But I know, that the majority of producers is just thinking about fast pay off!
But don't you think that some producers in the sixties wouldn't have jumped on that computer
train too if available???
| By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 10:06 am: |
DJD
To be honest, I'd rather sit and listen to a Monkees album than a CD of mindless 21st Century robotic drivel - sorry, Dance Hits 2002. At least they had decent production values, good songs from professional writers - like Boyce & Hart and Neil Diamond, and the cream of the West Coast session musicians. And didn't Neil Sedaka and Carole King sing some of the backing vocals? Pure manufactured Pop it may have been, but made with quality. Daydream Believer beats at least 95% of this week's chart content by a mile, IMO!
| By soulboy (213.105.242.198 - 213.105.242.198) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 10:21 am: |
Ritchie
I agree with you on that, not just the monkees but i'd rather listen to almost ANY band of that era rather than some of the nonsense around today.
It's not an just issue i have with today's R&b it's the whole standard of popular music.
| By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 01:36 pm: |
Looking back, I remember the bad rap Disco was getting in it's time. Now I listen to it and in reality, it was very good. It was arranged music played by good musicians.
| By Sue (205.188.209.48 - 205.188.209.48) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 01:53 pm: |
I agree, Ralph. K.C. just had the best beat, "Get Down Tonight" -- I'm there.
"Daydream Believer" -- a perfect little pop song.
DJ, it's great that the Beastie Boys pay homage to Dennis C., but is anybody going to be sampling the Beasties' stuff years from now? To sample and be derivative, you have to have a body of work to take from. They're not producing their own great breaks ...
| By the count (63.212.151.234 - 63.212.151.234) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 04:19 pm: |
Man like where we going here?I only have half power due to a power outage last night,so I'am home from work today.Just like to visit the forum sometimes and view whats new.Now my wife is mad because she thinks with only half power i could crash something here.But I"am mad now also because of what is being said in a few things on this thread.I hate the computer generated music,but it makes me believe what has been going on in our music industry,is that their computers crashed while producing their sound,and they knew ,hey,we have a hit here,no talent but get this group to go live and perform and to make millions,take their clothes,put them in a food prossesor,and put them back on,jump around and bite some snakes head off on stage,or perform some sexual girations,and we have a million bucks group here overnite.Back in the real days of rock and roll,weather,MOTOWN,R&B,DOO-WOP,SOUL,INSTRMENTALS,etc.,what you seen is what you heard with the exception of the SYNTHESIZER.Today it's what you hear is not what you see.I just took a break because i'am pi--ing myself off here,sorry.But I'am trying to stay with the talent theme here and thats what this forum was designed upon.ALL OUR DETROIT ROOTS AND TALENT.Somewhere else on this forum someone mentioned MUTZIE.I have so damm many records and albums(to many)I dug through my many never opened or played section and came across MUTZIE.HOLY S--T,holding it in my hand right now reading the credits ,please listen to this,E"MUTZIE"LEVERBURG---Guitar &vocals--Mark White--Drums,Barry Levenburg--Bass,Andee Levenburg-Organ,NICK PALISE-Alto and soprano sax&flute,DAVE KOVARICK-tenor sax,Chuck Feger-tenor sax&flute,Bob Cowart-tenor sax,flute&oboe,Fred Boldt-bass sax,baritone sax,bass clarinet.Produced by THEODORE and COFFEY,Arrangements by,THEODORE and COFFEY,Engineering by,THEODORE and DOMBROWSKI,Tera-Shirma Recording,DET.MICH.--Distributed by,BUDDAH RECORDS,A THEO,COFFEY PRDUCTION.Now the thing here is, here are the motown heros,right here in my hand,even have played with these KATS,and met them along the line at the early days of the record hops,where we all hoped to be disovered and be a star of some sort.Well these KATS payed their dues and hand no artificial sound ,and thats what made them the stars that they are,WHAT YOU SEEN IS WHAT YOU GOT,and we are lucky to have them here with us to honor and BRAG about.Looking at the front of the album,I see MUTZIE,I cant believe all this is comming from him,but how many times have you heard somebody say,wow,you dont look anything like you sound,or the first time you heard yourself on a tape recorder,you all saidTHAT DONT SOUND LIKE ME,well thats exactly how you sound to us,and that is you,so the thing is dont computer generate your sounds and try to be a new generation.The heros and talent were made with their GOD givin talents,they are right here on this site.The human voice was the first musical insturment,not the COMPUTER.I was never into drugs or ever will be so after listing to MUTZIE,it took me sometime to figure out what he meant by,"Have you met MRS.JONES,not the little old lady who lives down the street".What a great sound on this whole album,especially with the head phones on,WOW,am I high here?You guys are the BADDEST MOFOS and your what makes this site what it should be.My group never got the privilidge to be with the MOTOWN people to ever record on,but the record hops were the places to be and we played them all,and had the oppertunity to be a part of those MOTOWN people who were performing that particular nite,so we were blessed to have been next to them,so as the TEMPS.sang,I CANT GET NEXT TO YOU,well you can, be what you have worked so long for and you know you are the stars you have became,its all the fans who appriciate the the real talent and thats who made the million seller records for all.All my life I've been looking for an ECHO,an ECHO to our sound,a place to sing in harmony,a place we almost found.This is why I really love to visit this site because its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.Sorry to have bored or anyone.This was not intentional,but if i made you laugh,or cried,or even mad at me ,then you forgot about your problems,and that was intentional.LOVE Steve "The Count"
| By Lynn Bruce (64.233.239.172 - 64.233.239.172) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 05:08 pm: |
Naw,man you cool. And I second that emotion.
May your drum sticks never warp & your heads never crack!!!!
Lynn
| By TD (65.210.112.50 - 65.210.112.50) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 09:16 pm: |
Hey
Lets keep the biographies coming- we really want to know who the unsung heroes of Motown are.
TD
| By Dennis Coffey (64.12.97.11 - 64.12.97.11) on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 09:45 pm: |
Hi Gabriele. The intro to Little Green Apple sounds like two written parts. It's probably Robert on the low string and Joe or me ringing chords. When the song starts, it sounds like three guitars. I remember the session and it sounds like me playing backbeat. It sounds like Robert playing rhythm backed by Joe.
Dennis
| By djdetroit (212.21.166.254 - 212.21.166.254) on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 07:42 am: |
Ooops, didn't meant to offend anybody!
I really adore the real played music
(@the count - and it was actually me mentioning "Mutzi" I love this record!!!!!),
but the thing I wanted to point out is,
that I don't think that there is a lack of
skillfull musician in present time!
But it's hard to sort them out, that's true!
And I'm playing guitar, and I'm playing doing
blues and rock, but I also use my computer
to generate artificial sounds to try something
new and adding it to it! And I even add samples
to it - I think it's the right blend which
makes the wiskey ;-)
Darin
| By djdetroit (212.21.166.254 - 212.21.166.254) on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 07:43 am: |
Ooops, didn't meant to offend anybody!
I really adore the real played music
(@the count - and it was actually me mentioning "Mutzi" I love this record!!!!!),
but the thing I wanted to point out is,
that I don't think that there is a lack of
skillfull musician in present time!
But it's hard to sort them out, that's true!
And I'm playing guitar, and I'm playing doing
blues and rock, but I also use my computer
to generate artificial sounds to try something
new and adding it to it! And I even add samples
to it - I think it's the right blend which
makes the whiskey ;-)
Darin
| By Lynn Bruce (64.233.239.172 - 64.233.239.172) on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 07:25 pm: |
People bitched when Dylan went electric at the Newport Jazz Festival,they bitched when soul&rock outsold Patti Page, the Maguire Sisters,the Inkspots.They probably bitched when singers started using amplification with electric mikes.If you look at guitar add-ons in the last 40 years It,ll make your head spin.I can,t stand playing electric drums,as you can,t do a good crackin rim shot for a back-beat or other little nuances,but whenever I sit in on a set, I really like the uniform sound I get.We can,t stop progress,we can only explain how we did it,and how difficult it was to get a good driving sound without gizmos that younger musicians take for granted nowdays.
I,m looking forward to what the future holds.(Elmore James ,Les Mcann,&Cannonball Adderly still rule though).Of course this is only my opinion.
(And I ain,t one to gossip so you ain,t heard this from me.
Lynn
| By Dennis Coffey (152.163.189.129 - 152.163.189.129) on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 11:01 pm: |
Hey Lynn, one thing is for sure. You can't stop change or go back in time. What we have for music and where we are in time is here and now. We have to live with it. The future of music will be interesting considering so much music is available free on downloads.
Dennis
| By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 01:50 am: |
I think it's one thing to complain about change but quite another to be complaining about boredom. I'm tired of hearing warmed over, intellectualized, wimpy sounding imitations of the past created in sequencers. I'm also tired of overblown, contrived vocals that that no Motown producer would have accepted from an artist for a minute.
There's a big difference between quality and style. Many would have us believe that low quality is a legitimate style but I've got to disagree. Many people are nostalgic for various styles however there's nothing more exciting to most of us than a brand new style. I just haven't heard one in a long time. And I'm really not that hard to please, there are singers around this town who can have me in tears within a couple verses. The problem is that they aren't getting recorded...
...yet!
| By Davie G (213.251.161.56 - 213.251.161.56) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 03:38 pm: |
Bob,
You're so right about the current vogue for
overblown vocalising , Mariah Carey and that
girl who trio whose name escapes me, the group
who did "I'm a Survivor", "Bootylicious" and
so on.. spring to mind.
A few months ago the local radio station in
Glasgow were playing this ridiculous version
of some Bee Gees song (Emotion)where the girl was
wailing up and down the scale presumably under
the impression that this was "soulful"
My initial thoughts were that if, say, Wanda Young
had done that at at a Marvelettes session she'd have been told in no uncertain terms to stick to to the tune or to come back when she knew the words of the song
God, you know when I think of the state of
current music I really can't be bothered wasting
my energy criticising it - I'd much rather listen
to something from the sixties when human beings
played and sang, when a group could make six
albums in the time it takes current groups to do one, and when a Miracles album track like "I'll
Take You Anyway That You Come" had more musical
and lyrical ideas in three minutes than most
current acts can manage in a whole album.
AM I just getting old ? ... nooooooooooo
| By Lynn Bruce (64.233.239.172 - 64.233.239.172) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 04:56 pm: |
Davie G.: Old no.Perceptive yes.
| By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 07:44 pm: |
Davie G
I'm currently developing an 18 year old female singer that I feel shows a lot of promise. In the middle of a recording session one night she started singing the song we were working on in the mode of that mindless soul you were discussing. I stopped the tape, looked at her, and very sternly said " Don't ever do that in this studio again! " And she hasn't.
| By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 07:59 pm: |
Good for you Ralph ! - you're doing her a big
favour as otherwise she'll just end up sounding
like everybody else.
There are far too may producers who think that
every singer they work with is another Aretha
what they just don't understand is that Aretha
is a consummate musician who knows just when
to turn on the power, when to cool it down and
to pay attention to the lyrics - after all
they're supposed to be communicating something
meaningful not just warming up their vocal chords
End of rant - now just don't mention drum
machines to me : - )
| By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.154 - 136.1.1.154) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 08:12 pm: |
The discussion of musicians & singers caught up in histrionics and things that have nothing to do with music makes me think of a discussion I had a while ago abouth synth bass. In the late 70s/early 80s, people heard tracks like "Flashlight", and figured Parliament got that great groove with a synth bass so that must be the secret, let's start using it on everything. Unfortunately, they did not have Bernie Worrell playing a Bootsy-derived line with playfulness and great feel on their synth bass, and a lot of dull music ensued. 
Regards,
Ken
| By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 08:13 pm: |
Some wannabee promoter recently joined my Yahoo Classic Soul & Motown group and posted a spam message announcing "the latest R&B sensation" to hit the scene. The artist was described as "the new Usher".
I sighed with disbelief - Otis, David, Eddie, Paul, Jackie, Marvin, Sam, and all the other greats who have gone on to their rewards must be looking down with deep sadness and disbelief at today's standards of "greatness".
| By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 08:28 pm: |
The Fox Network is currently running a show here called American Idol or some such nonsense. It's basically a talent show and for those who have not seen it I recommend you don't.
| By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.154 - 136.1.1.154) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 08:37 pm: |
There is a certain amusing irony about parading a bunch of singers and having Paula Abdul sit in judgement of them. Unfortunately, an appreciation for this irony does not seem to be what is driving the successful ratings for this show. Oh well, at least they are not miming.
Regards,
Ken
| By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 08:52 pm: |
From what VERY LITTLE I have seen of the stupid show, the only credible person on it is the British record producer who isn't afraid to be truthful to some of the mindless so called " talent " on that piece of crap. Not that I'm being judgemental or anything like that.
| By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 09:53 pm: |
Of course the British record producer is the person who has agreed to produce the winner.
| By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 09:56 pm: |
Just some idle curiosity from this side of the Atlantic - who is this "British producer" on the American show?
| By Mark K (213.122.97.28 - 213.122.97.28) on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 10:15 pm: |
Ritchie
The british producer is the one and only Simon Cowell! who was one of the judges on the UK Pop Idol show earlier this year.
I think he also is the manager/producer of the winner and runner up in the British show.
Cheers
Mark K
| By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 10:22 pm: |
OK, Mark - thanks. I'll take your word for it. I didn't watch the UK show, which is probably why I've never heard of him. ;o)
Come back, Monkees - all is forgiven!
| By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Friday, August 09, 2002 - 07:43 am: |
If you watch 'Rise' on channel 4, on Thursday mornings, you will see a clip of the programme and they speak to Simon on the phone about the performances. There is one female singer who is really good - she will go far, in my opinion. With this profile she cannot go wrong. Her voice sent shivers down my spine when I heard and saw her perform. She really does have the type of quality that meets my expectations in a singer. It sounded as though she had been performing for years and did not need to anymore. It all came so naturally. I would rather see a programme like this, that that awful Big Brother crap. The only reason I know about it, is because we bring the feed in from the States when it is live on the air early morning, for the Rise programme. My last shift was overnights and I saw it then.
| By TD (205.188.197.168 - 205.188.197.168) on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 02:49 am: |
Hey does anybody have any good stories about Barney Ales-Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Motown. I don't believe that I have seen his name on this site? I know Berry Gordy talks about him quite a bit in his autobiography?
TD
| By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Saturday, August 10, 2002 - 09:42 am: |
TD if you use the search forum on your left and type in "barney ales" (with the inverted commas),
you will find him mentioned in 6 threads.
Thanks
David