By freddyflat5 (67.25.215.37 - 67.25.215.37) on Tuesday, April 09, 2002 - 03:55 pm:

For my money, the best blue-eyed soul singer of the era was, of course, Scott Morgan of the Rationals. I always felt that, had the band stayed more on a soulful tack, and went a little less rock, and dare I say, political, theyd've been in much better stead.

By Joe Moorehouse (64.12.101.172 - 64.12.101.172) on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 02:14 pm:

A very great band--too bad Bob Crewe ruined their one LP so completely, but the A-Square and Cameo stuff is all first-rate. They were pals with Deon Jackson, who wrote a song for them (Little Girls Cry) that I don't think he ever recorded himself. Does anyone know of this song by Deon?

Also, their version of Respect supposedly inspired Aretha to cover it, and they do a great take on Eddie Holland's Leaving Here (though the shorter re-recording of it on Cameo is far inferior to the A-Square original).

By recordboyusa (208.61.5.193 - 208.61.5.193) on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 05:24 am:

I too am a fan of the early Rationals. "Respect" on Cameo was one of the first records I ever bought!

Rationals trivia: the band recorded two different songs with the same title! -- "I Need You", written by the Kinks (on A-Square), and "I Need You", written by Carole King & Gerry Goffin (on Capitol)!

Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com

By Joe Moorehouse (205.188.197.37 - 205.188.197.37) on Friday, April 12, 2002 - 01:17 pm:

Hi Jeff.

Right you are about the two songs called I Need You. Both are on A-Square, with the Goffin-King song picked up by Capitol after it became a regional hit--very confusing when browsing sale lists! I think the Goffin-King song is one of the greatest blue-eyed-soul ballads ever recorded. Steve Correll's background scream about three minutes into it still gives me chills thousands of listens later. Their version of the Kinks' I Need You is quite rare.

Lead singer Scott Morgan still lives in Ann Arbor and performs regularly in the U.S. and Europe.

By Fred Saxon (204.210.5.240 - 204.210.5.240) on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 06:11 am:

Joe:
I'm not so sure Bob Crewe ruined the Rationals Album. It may have been ruined in the studio. I was the producer on the album. Crewe wasn't even there. And if you notice it says Produced by Fred Saxon, "In association with The Rationals and Robin Seymour enterprises", or something like that. There were a lot of people putting their input into every tune on that album. I remember being frustrated in the way things were going during the session as well as not getting the sound I wanted out of the studio. It was recorded at Artie Fields, not the most funky sound in Detroit.
Fred Saxon

By Joe Moorehouse (152.163.206.192 - 152.163.206.192) on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 01:50 pm:

Hi Fred.

Thanks for the note! I guess I've always held Bob Crewe responsible because he was an easy target, and I thought he was trying to turn them more into a pop band than a soul-garage band, which is where their strengths lay. My fault for basing opinions on preconceived notions, I guess. It's always seemed odd to me how brilliant their singles are, and how ordinary the LP is. The material isn't especially strong (though they do a great cover of Handbags and Gladrags) and their performances just don't seem up to snuff. Do you remember anything about the band? Were they happy with what was going on in the studio?

By John Bauer (152.163.204.68 - 152.163.204.68) on Tuesday, May 14, 2002 - 09:37 pm:

I remember a 3 track recording on 1/2 inch tape by the Rationals stored at United Sound Systems when I was there in the early 80's. Someone told me it was one of their bigger albums. If so, it was recorded during the short time that there were 3 speakers in studio A and each track corresponded to a speaker. It was recorded on an Ampex machine built for the purpose. I believe Jim Vitti was the engineer, but I could be wrong. If you send me e-mail, make sure the subject is clear or I will delete it without reading it.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.150.194 - 213.122.150.194) on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 07:44 am:

Nice to see someone on here who worked at United.

Welcome to the forum John.

You sound as confident about e-mail as I do right now!

By Frank Shively (165.247.189.79 - 165.247.189.79) on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 06:31 pm:

Deon did "Love Makes The World Go 'round".

Freddie email me your number.

Frank Shively

By Davie Gordon (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Saturday, June 15, 2002 - 12:30 pm:

Here's the URL for writer Richie Unterberger's
site where you can read lots of transcripts of
interviews he's done including an interview
with Scott Morgan

www.richieunterberger.com

go to the site map then scroll through the list
of transcripts then click on "Full transcript of
interview with Scott Morgan"

By Robin (4.35.185.100 - 4.35.185.100) on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 10:59 pm:

I just caught this site----thanks to my buddy and long time friend---Freddy Saxon.I'm pretty bad at this e-mail stuff.Would love to hear from you-----if you still remember me.Robin Seymour.www.opp.prod.@verizon.net.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 11:04 pm:

Hi Robin

Does this answer your question...?

By mhc (172.147.167.72 - 172.147.167.72) on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 11:12 pm:

Nobody who was alive and young in the Detroit area would fail to remember Robin Seymour. Your show was great; I watched it almost every day. Of course I was already in the habit of watching channel 9 at that time of day because of Jerry Booth and Larry Sands.. A couple years ago I got hold of a VHS tape of an episode of "The Lively Spot" with The MC5, 4 yr. old Lucky Peterson, a few seconds of Little Milton, and others. It's very cool. Anyway, welcome to the board.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 11:27 pm:

Robin Seymour,
It's been WAY to many years! How are you and welcome to the forum.
Ralph Terrana

By George Katsakis (205.188.195.190 - 205.188.195.190) on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 11:38 pm:

Does anybody remember a recording by Scott Morgan, "16 With a Bullet" on Juke Box Records?

By Sue (205.188.200.148 - 205.188.200.148) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 12:11 am:

I remember that record George ... it was great. I think I even wrote about it. What were you wondering?

P.S. Robin Seymour -- jeezo like we wouldn't remember. I just want to know, are the shows available on videotape, and where?

Dave Prince told me all the Club 1270s were taped over at Channel 7. Too sad. They actually had Frank Zappa on that show ...

By Ed Wolfrum (165.247.228.133 - 165.247.228.133) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 12:30 am:

Hello John Bauer:

The Rationals sessions done at United were done by Danny Dallas and they were 1/2 inch-4 track sessions done on a Scully 280A recorder. Studio C had a seperate monitor arrangment, with four 604C's, driven by Altec 60 watt tube power amps, right over the console. (Not Great for stereo monitoring.) Although United had a 3 track Ampex with a highly Jim Siracuse modified 350 like 300 transport prior to that, the Rationals came after that era.

The control room then was where the John and the overlook (where the pay phone was) to studio C,the big room. Later, post Siracuse family, this was called Studio A.

Bill Beltz and Les Cooley built a total CLASS A solid state board, (PRE NEVE) after the Tube board (Langevin) was sold to Rainbow, later to become Terra Shirma. This was long before Jim Vitti was at United. Jeep was Danny's client and stayed with him when he went to Pioneer. Danny did a number of sessions over there for Jeep.

Hello to Fred and Robin!!! I miss you both!

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 03:50 am:

Hey Robin!
How are you? Welcome to the Forum...once you visit you can never go back! You'll run into friends you haven't talked to in years...like ME! The last time we saw each other was in '98 at the last Motor City Records/Radio Reunion! Don't you visit Detroit anymore? How's your sister? Please give me a call, or at least an e-mail (click on the numbers above my name). I spoke to Fred about a month ago, but unfortunately, I woke him up, so we really didn't spend a long time on the phone! Hope all is well with you.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.158.75 - 213.122.158.75) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 08:04 am:

A big welcome to Robin Seymour.

Another milestone for SoulfulDetroit.

David

By Davie Gordon (213.18.222.34 - 213.18.222.34) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 11:12 am:

Hi Robin,

Welcome to the group - you'll find visiting this
site totally addictive as you'll come in contact with people you haven't seen in years.

By Lynn Bruce (64.233.239.172 - 64.233.239.172) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 11:33 am:

I can still hear your radio theme song in my head,Bob Bobin with the Robin.If anyone would have some great behind the seane stories it would be you,thanks for all those great years in Detroit radio and T V.If your willing we,d be honored to hear some of them
Best of Luck
Lynn Bruce

By Sue (205.188.192.39 - 205.188.192.39) on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 02:44 pm:

Last year I asked Aretha if she'd heard the Rationals' version of "Respect" and she said no, it was Otis Redding's version she knew, that's why she did the song.

Being glued to a radio for my childhood and teen years, it was the Rationals version I was first aware of ...then Aretha's.