By Ian #2 Fan W (213.123.43.56 - 213.123.43.56) on Monday, April 15, 2002 - 07:33 pm:

Frances deserves a page to herself! She only had one record released on Motown's Soul label but WHAT A RECORD!

Before I discovered this website , she told me she met two guys named David Meikle and Graham Finch visiting Detroit. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I found who owned and contributed to the site! Well a big feather anyway! She even sang for them!

Frances won a competition staged by Motown at the famous Fox Theatre and judged by Berry Gordy himself. Amazing enough until she told me that a certain Ronnie McNeir came second! She won a year's recording contract with Motown and was given "Keep On Loving Me" and "Fight Fire With Fire" which was released on Soul 35020 in March 1966. Motown then took up two more years' options but Frances asked for a release as they wouldn't let her work elsewhere.

She then recorded a couple of songs for Eddie & Raynoma Singleton who had returned from Washington after Shrine. One of the songs was called "Lady In Waiting". She also recorded at least one duet with Gino Parks - a version of Marvin & Tammi's "For Your Precious Love". Unless you, dear and knowledgable reader, know differently, none of them was ever released. Gino had a single, "Nerves Of Steel" recorded on Crazy Horse!

More recently, Frances met some guy who asked her to sign a copy of one of these recordings. Was it you? And in what form did it exist? I thought of Rob Thomas and Andy Rix - Rob put me in touch with Andy, a good friend of Eddie & Ray. Andy told me that Motown had lined up another record for Frances to sing (drool, drool). He didn't know of any released product of Frances' collaboration with Eddie Singleton but mentioned that Eddie certainly had a tape or two of Detroit artists recorded by himself!

Frances would love to have a copy of any of these recordings! And so would I! Can anybody help?

All this folks, and I'm still her #2 fan!

By Ian W (213.122.5.172 - 213.122.5.172) on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 08:54 pm:

Has anyone heard the Marvelettes unissued (I think) version of Frances' song called 'I've Been Loving You'? There's also an instrumental backing track of the song seems to be doing the rounds too!

By john lester (213.122.193.240 - 213.122.193.240) on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 09:12 pm:

That info comes from the acetate......it appears to indicate that the producer assigned the track to the Marvelettes and there is date stamped on that acetate too

I am not convinced that the Marvelettes put their vocal on that track...

By acoooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 03:10 am:

Ian - that night with Frances at Bomac's was great. Did you know that she offers tours around Detroit, pointing out historical buildings etc?
Graham

By Ian W (213.122.123.118 - 213.122.123.118) on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 09:34 pm:

John, I think I read in Chatbusters that there was a Jobete 10" acetate which contained the Marvelettes' track. I've just had a look at the database and the number is given as JD327. Others on the same acetate were Ron Wakefield - 'Call Me Irresponsible', Four Tops - 'I'll Take Care Of You', Vandellas - 'Now And Forever', 'Take Me In Your Arms', Shorty Long - 'Lonely Boy', Sammy Turner - 'The House I Live In' and The Headliners - 'We Call it Fun'. If it exists, it sounds wonderful! As for the instrumental, is it a pressing or a true release? I think it's on the Bari label (too good to be true).

Graham, I e-mailed David when I first found the site and he mentioned about the tours. If I ever get the chance to go to Detroit, I'll be on that tour!

By john lester (213.1.135.40 - 213.1.135.40) on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 09:38 pm:

First things first

IAN W.......I cannot believe you have not gone to Detroit to kiss the ground that you worship so much.

Guys, we need to work on Ian W...

Secondly, Bari is not a legitimate release.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 09:47 pm:

If it's own-up time.. I've never been to the Motor City either. (Sadly, only in spirit.)

By Ian Book Me On The Ferry W (213.122.123.118 - 213.122.123.118) on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 10:07 pm:

Group therapy then! I'm s**t scared of flying for starters. BUT I did ask my missus if she'd let me go to Detroit in September for the reunion of reunions! She laughed at me, then said if I would fly to Detroit, then I could possibly take the family somewhere on hol. I have been to St. Ives though!

By Marilyn (67.217.184.166 - 67.217.184.166) on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 11:19 pm:

Ian-
Frances was on a tv show that Larry Dixon had about very early 70s called "Club Mello". I met her at a record collector's show again just a few years ago. Nice lady!
Yes,you DO need to come to Detroit.
Marilyn

By john lester (213.122.198.139 - 213.122.198.139) on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 06:42 am:

Ian and Ritchie..

Well, what can I say, we have two grown up dedicated SOUL lads here and you BOTH haven't been to Detroit. As my mum used to say..you two need your heads bashing together.

Pick up that BL***Y phone and book the ticket. NOW!!

Ian W......scared of flying!! When you get on that plane, you will kick yourself for not doing it years ago....even I am scared of heights but this is a whole lot different to going on the the Big Wheel at the fair.

Chatbusters is organising a special event in November...why not make it then, you will be with lots of other like people..

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.96.205.134 - 213.96.205.134) on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 09:44 am:

anyone interested in meeting ralph terrana and myself outside tera shirma in april 2003 is more than welcome!

john lester is right. try and make the effort.

it is such a special place.

p.s. see you soon marilyn.

By john lester (213.1.137.150 - 213.1.137.150) on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 08:04 pm:

April 2003.....!!!

If I can work out my schedule to give me some free time, I would really like that....I really would.....

To be honest, I feel like you guys are getting to be real close chums..

By Ian W (213.122.183.151 - 213.122.183.151) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 10:31 am:

We're all close friends now! You don't know how much I'd like to visit the hallowed city. If I could overcome the fear, and persuade the missus to let me visit, "I'll Be There".

I showed the above messages to Gail, but she hasn't relented yet!

Ian

By john lester (213.1.131.142 - 213.1.131.142) on Saturday, April 20, 2002 - 10:42 am:

Ian...look at it this way, just tell yourself you are gonna do it and then forget about it.

When the day comes to go....take your walkman and turn the volume up loud..

Honest mate, you wont regret it, I can assure you...and you just HAVE to get to the Museum soon to meet Mrs Edwards - Esther is just one hell of a lady to talk to and you ought not to leave it too long before deciding to go...

Gail....you tell Ian to stop acting like a big girl's blouse!!!!

Ritchie - don't think you have got away lightly either, you're next for the insults!!

By Frances Nero (67.38.95.120 - 67.38.95.120) on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 03:32 am:

To all who are interested, I'll have a new recording soon. It's not the Motown formula but it good. I just want to mention that I love and appreciate anyone who is a fan. You have to really love someone to spend your hard earned money on them. For everyone who purchased Footstteps and Keep On Loving Me I want to sincerely thank you!

By john lester (213.1.131.84 - 213.1.131.84) on Saturday, May 25, 2002 - 01:48 pm:

Ian W

The Velvelettes track "Love Is Good" was so nearly a Frances Nero tune.

Wonder if Frances can pinch her nose to sound like...errr!!

By biggray1 (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 12:42 pm:

Hi everyone,just found this forum and must say i am very impressed!! all you guy's know your motown. I am a big fan of motown and hve collected vinyls for 35 years and have France Nero's 45 in my collection,she sure is one hell of a singer!! Berry must have had a brain relapse when he did'nt sign Frances up to a long contract!! I feel the lady would have become a Star and gone to higher things! well let me tell you to me she is a star,like so many artist's that was cast to one side by the like's of Gordy etc. God Bless you Frances and keep up the good work. Graham Dexter.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.1.190.7 - 213.1.190.7) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 01:05 pm:

welcome to the forum graham.

By phillysoulman (64.12.101.162 - 64.12.101.162) on Monday, May 27, 2002 - 05:00 pm:

Ditto, from Bobby Eli

By biggray1 (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 09:01 am:

Hi Guy's many thanks for the warm welcome,i have recently read a message in this file from a Ian W and he mentions a Data base for the motown etc releases! were can i get this from!! any one help!! I have read numerous books related to this music and require more input!!! Iam currently looking through my Lps and have found an Lp by O C Smith-Love Changes-#6019ML,The copy i have is a promo,did this get a general release!! some nice tracks and as the hallmark of H B Barnum who produced the work.The release date is from 1982 and sounds very fresh,must say i have not played this album for some years and i am very impressed!! anyone eared this album!! Graham.

By Ian W (213.122.28.84 - 213.122.28.84) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 09:32 pm:

Hi Graham

I've kept a database of all Motown & Detroit records I've ever come across in books, mags and sales lists. I thought it was quite well stocked until I read some of the items on the Forum from the other contributors! They must use IBM mainframes to hold the data! Then there is the phenomenal memory of Mr Eli himself!! They all mention labels, artists etc. that I've never heard of. Also new, unreleased Motown tracks are revealed, it seems, almost every day. The weekend before last, Alan Pollard played a couple of 'em at out local soul 'do'. Thanks, Alan!

There are a couple of websites that list Motown singles. I'll try to dig them out later. There's also a site that lists millions of US soul albums, with track listings. 99.99% of all Motown albums are there (if not more) - www.bsnpubs.com - there, at least I remembered something!

Ian

By Ian W (213.122.28.84 - 213.122.28.84) on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - 09:33 pm:

John, ooooooooh!

By biggray1 (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 11:36 am:

Hi every one,many thanks Ian for the info,i will be looking at the for-mentioned website later. Nice to see my old mate Alan Pollard mentioned in these messages,for your infomation Alan and his good freind Steve Foran run a Great soul night up there in Stockport,i have attended this venue and my last visit was the last one,quality music with all flavours of soul to keep every one happy. I do know that Alan has a good record collection because we exchange tapes&cds,some of the unreleased Motown tracks that Alan suplys on these tapes blow me away,to many to mention but i love em!if anyone cares tape swop etc i am willing to ablige.I have now purchased a cd re-writer so if you send a tape then you get a cd in return! much better than tapes me thinks.
Martha Reeves on breakfast Tv today,she was promoting the Dancing in the street tour,Edwin Starr and the Temps+Four Tops and the Vandellas in the line up,dates to be confirmed!! my she looked good!how old is she!! still i hav'nt eared here sing recently,the latest recording i have eared her sing is the Levine recordings wich are nice.Anyway Soulfans gotta go, work is calling.
have a nice day. Graham.