By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 05:48 am:

When I interviewed singer Rose Battiste she told me she's cut some sides at Motown in the early 1970s. She said the producer's name was Larry Brown - but this name doesn't mean a thing to me (sorry Larry).
One of the songs she remembered recording was called "Our Favorite Melody" - which she said had already been released on a Jimmy Ruffin album. Can anyone confirm this?
TIA, Graham

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 02:34 pm:

Graham,
I'm not sure of all he might have produced, but I knew Larry Brown very well. He was a very nice soft spoken guy.

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 05:38 pm:

Graham,

You might know Larry Brown better as Laurence Brown - he usually worked in partnership with
George Gordy and / or Elgie Stover. I'd have to check this but he goes back a long way - I'm pretty sure he had a single on Checkmate.

By Bob Olhsson (68.53.120.100 - 68.53.120.100) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 06:14 pm:

I had forgotten the name but the man WAS unforgettably nice!

Recording many of the vocals for that Jimmy Ruffin album made me a big fan of both of them. I also can't forget William Witherspoon and James Dean.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 06:25 pm:

bob

what can you tell us about the latter two.

i always noticed their names on motown 45's years ago. but i don't think i've ever seen a pic.

By phillysoulman (64.12.97.13 - 64.12.97.13) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 06:46 pm:

In the 70's, I produced some songs for Jimmy Ruffin for Epic records, some of which were by Dean/ Weatherspoon, and some of mine.
There was a regime change at CBS, and unfortunately, the stuff was never released!!!
I had some fun time with Jimmy. I have studio pics to come at some point.

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 06:57 pm:

David,

did you mean you wanted to know more about
LAurence Brown and Elgie Stover or Dean / Weatherspoon ?

D/W are the most underrated of all the Motown
writing teams - it's only when you see their songs listed you realise just how many gems
they were responsible for

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 07:07 pm:

davie

dean/weatherspoon wrote for edwin starr/jimmy ruffin/supremes/tammiterrell/marvelettes/monitors

yes it's them i'd like to know more about.

By Ian W (213.122.35.238 - 213.122.35.238) on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 - 11:34 pm:

Graham

Album is Soul SS-727 - Jimmy Ruffin - The Groove Governor

Ian

By Lester (213.122.196.145 - 213.122.196.145) on Friday, February 22, 2002 - 11:41 pm:

Jimmy's "Our Favourite Melody" was also issued on a Soul 45 35092.

In And Out Of My Life on Martha was Lawrence Brown....Martha redemmed herself with me after that Jackson 5 type song "Bless YoU2

By pgunn (208.165.184.253 - 208.165.184.253) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 12:57 am:

I agree with Davie G; Dean and Weatherspoon were the most underrated of the "lesser" Motown writing teams. "Lesser' being lesser known, not lesser in talent.

D&W would be there with the great Stevenson/Hunter team and the solid Fuqua/Bristol team.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 01:01 am:

welcome pgunn.

comments jlester please.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 01:08 am:

Guys

Can we add Joe Hunter to the "underrated songwriters circle"? Apart from the fact that he (co-)wrote two of my all-time faves: "Truly Yours" and "Behind A Painted Smile" - and other tasty tunes for the Isleys and Marvin Gaye - his input was always top-notch.

And, yes, I do agree about D&W!

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 01:11 am:

pgunn

Sorry - just realised you already listed Ivy Joe. (Maybe it's past my bedtime!)

By John Lester (213.122.204.212 - 213.122.204.212) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 08:25 am:

James Dean and William Weatherspoon.......wow...

These guys were the ones that kept the likes of HDH, Norman Whitfield and Smokey Robinson on their toes particularly in the mid 60's! All their work was top class and when they got the release, they proved how comparable they were with any of the other producers...even giving dear Ivy Jo a run for his money..

I still see tracks that are still not issued by them and it makes me wild to think that the surface has only been slightly touched...however, check out the soon to be issued Cellarful of Motown which is almost there...you will not be disappointed.

We talked about James Dean on another thread, William Weatherspoon (what a fabulous name) was also a name at the Invictus set up. I have something in the back of my mind that William was attached in some way to the family of Bob Bateman/Greg Perry/Edna Wright..I am sure I will be put right on that....

Check letters J1 (James Dean) and T (William Weatherspoon - why "T" I do not know!!)

Just a sprinkling of the work of Dean and Weatherspoon
When You're Young And In Love/Reachin For Something I Can't Have/Don't Make Hurting Me A Habit - Marvelettes
What Becomes of The Brokenhearted - Dennis Edwards
World So Wide, Nowhere to Hide/I've Passed This Way Before - Jimmy Ruffin
Cant Stop Now (Love Is Calling) Tammi Terrell
Its So Hard To Be A Loser-Jimmy Ruffin/Contours
Baby Hit and Run-Contours/Dennis Edwards/Joe Stubbs....yes 3 lead vocals
I'm Here Now That You Need Me- JJ Barnes/Dennis Edwards/Fantastic Four
Just One Teardrop- Barbara McNair
Thats The Night That Love Died- VELVELETTES/Elgins
Its All in The Game-Billy Eckstine...(watch for this shortly!!)

I have mentioned some Northern tracks!!!

My fingers would drop off if I have to mention them all...but I have added some food for thought there....you guys will know which ones I mean!!!

Now all we need to do is get them to come on the Forum!!!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 02:46 pm:

john

is there any chance of these records being released on cd? dennis/f4.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 03:14 pm:

And maybe one day Motown might actually acknowledge that JJ Barnes was once signed to them, now that Marvin's no longer around to object ;o)

Billy Eckstine - It's All In The Game (?)

I'm assuming this was a Dean & Witherspoon PRODUCTION - not a song they wrote themselves.

(If it is their composition, they cleverly used a pseudonym when they published it - in 1912!)

By John Lester (213.1.130.242 - 213.1.130.242) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 03:24 pm:

What a give away David....you were not supposed to SO blatant!!

The Fantastic Four had a whole album which didn't get issued...see the Motown Treasures CD for one track and a tiny weeny story on it.

Dean and Weatherspoon seemed to work on enough material for an album on a solo Dennis Edwards or Contours to be put together.

If there is a demand, I don't see why both would not be issued. However, is there a demand for these projects in terms of members of the public willing to part with their hard earned cash...that is the question?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 - 04:21 pm:

Maybe you could add an exclusive bonus track

- a Dennis Edwards duet with Britney Spears ;o)

That'd shift a few more copies to the masses!

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 08:18 pm:

As I was about to say before it all went pear-shaped.... (luckily, I saved it as a txt file)

But seriously folks....

I was wondering what the sales expectation requirement was for a CD reissue or "new" compilation to be considered a viable proposition. I suspect this is probably "classified information" but it'd be interesting to hear what (approximate) sales levels have been achieved on certain recent reissues, and whether they reached anticipated numbers. I suspect that no label - even one as large as Universal Music - is keen on releasing too many "loss leaders" and obviously, no commercial company is a not-for-profit organisation.

For all CD releases, there is obviously a minimum "break even" point before the title begins to make a profit. Back catalogue titles have arguably a longer shelf-life, most companies prefer instant profits, of course.

I also assume there's no way I can expect an answer to these questions, but I'd thought I'd air my thoughts anyway!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Wednesday, February 27, 2002 - 08:23 pm:

ady croasdell got back to me at the weekend re. possibly tackling a mike terry cd.

while he admires mike's work like everyone else, his difficulties lie in master tape collation etc etc.

By frag (152.163.205.48 - 152.163.205.48) on Friday, March 01, 2002 - 08:33 am:

This was exciting.I have wondered for years where Leon Ware and Larry Brown were. their probably wondering the same thing too as Gladys would say.
angelfrag@aol.comwhere is Angel now i am Angel the incense Lady.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 12:34 am:

I think the term serendipity...things found while looking for other things. Last night I was going through an old box of memorabelia looking for a Sunliner record, when I came across a cache of old slides. One of them is a pic of Larry Brown. I also have one of Michael Grace at the console and a full front on shot of Motown studio B's control room. I will have these slides made into prints and get them posted.

By john lester (213.122.196.218 - 213.122.196.218) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 06:05 am:

Wow!

By brianday@cwcom.net (212.137.222.44 - 212.137.222.44) on Sunday, April 21, 2002 - 07:41 pm:

john lester i gather you are responsible for the great job uni are doing on motown reissues ,i bought the originals album (essential collection)
a great album .some questions on the track2 your the one ,the lead voice is on the left channel whilst all other vocals are on the right ,was this because the track was layed down for other artists to use ,also on the other track i will will wait for you its starts a bit like still waters,
was the recording date close to it ,and who is playing that wonderful soulful jazzy piono in the background? on any future release of hard to find
can you include, whyd you lie by the originals
i played this to a freind who had been used by a fella and she just burst into tears with the shear emotion and words of the song,i know the originals are coming to england but iam gigging on that date ,will someone get them on a exstended
tour with some dates in the south of england?they are truly one of motowns most under estimated groups along with undisputed truth and bobby tayler who thought sounded even better on ian levines sessions ,any news of the ric-tic back cat coming out on uni?

By john lester (213.122.202.171 - 213.122.202.171) on Sunday, April 21, 2002 - 11:18 pm:

Brian...

...that accolade you heaped on me is really not deserving at all...Richard Searling did the Originals compilation...and I still haven't bought it yet...but I will do...

I need some time to check out the other bits on info but I will not be able to tell you who played that jazzy piano on that track

California Sunset needs to be issued in its original format...that album is a masterpiece.

Ric Tic and Golden World re-issue....we have to persuade Ralph first cos we gotta get him to write the sleeve notes!!! How can you have a Golden World compilation without the Sunliners
main man!! LOLOL (Ralph, looks like that's two beers I gotta buy for you..and yeah, I know, they ahve to be cold ones!)

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 01:01 pm:

John,
I'd be honored. Two beers is my limit anyway.

By brianday@cwcom.net (212.137.255.48 - 212.137.255.48) on Friday, April 26, 2002 - 09:41 pm:

i quite agree with you calafornia sunset should be realeased ,because its as you say a masterpiece
hopefully soon, another album done by the team hdh
and lamont etc
was on atlantic by margie joseph but unfortantly
i dont know the name or tracks on it ,as i only heard of it last year