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  Kdubya (paladin) 1-Arriviste Username: paladin Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 206.185.64.23 |
Since the rueful showing of Motown 45, I thought about one of the groups that should have been bigger and that group was Switch. This group recorded on the Gordy label and were exceptional musicians and singer/songwriters in their own right. Unfortunately ego's, drugs and group disharmony scuttled one of the most talented bands of their era. Bobby Debarge had one of the most mellifluent tenors I have ever heard. His vocal range on the song You & I was unparalled. Greg Williams and Philip Ingram were stand outs in their own right. Jermaine Jackson was actively involved in the group and penned some of their hits, most notably "Calling All Girls". Looking back over their meager catalogue, they were a self contained band who split their studio time between lush ballards and light funk recordings. Eriely similar to the Morris Day/Jimmy Jam/ Terry Lewis rock/funksters The Time. Clearly , Switch was the preeminent vocal group and the Time the superior band, but I can see where if Switch had stayed together, they possibly could have laid the blue print for the Time ? Any takers, any opinions ? I dunno maybe The Purple One was a fan of Switch ? They were a great group and I'll never forget them, but Motown did ! PS: during their hey-day The Time was the absolute snizzet. From "Cool to Jerk-Out" these are my boys and I love me some fishnets...although they appear to be relegated to "Groundhog Day" shows I still enjoy the show, yes it's long in tooth but Cool is still C-O-O-L........... Kdubya | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 962 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
The main difference is that Switch were some very good singers, though their music was somewhat lightweight. Morris Day was not a technically gifted singer, these brothers were just so funky that it was ridiculous. | ||
Don (don) 4-Laureate Username: don Post Number: 165 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.77.34.127 |
Hi Kudubya, Both group's in their era's we're ahead of the pack. At least that's what I think. | ||
Gil (gil) 2-Debutant Username: gil Post Number: 11 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 192.44.136.113 |
The Time were better musicians with a larger catalog. It didn't hurt that Prince ghost-wrote (and played) a large amount of their stuff. Switch was better vocally. Bobby DeBarge was something special. He emoted extraordinarily well. | ||
drums (drums) 1-Arriviste Username: drums Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 155.91.6.72 |
Hello all, It is funny that Prince had access to such great musicians, but in reality, PRINCE literally played EVERYTHING on the first two Time albums. According to www.prince.org in many threads, the Time albums are outtakes of Prince songs that he deemed to funky for his own group, so since he owed Morris Day some mysterious favor, he let him have those songs. You can actually hear Prince singing and talking on a lot of those songs too. He is the waiter on Chili Sauce & Chocolate, the guy that Morris threatens on The Walk, and many other spots. Anyway, I still think "Prince" when you speak of the Time. That is my rant of the day  D | ||
Destruction (destruction) 2-Debutant Username: destruction Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 69.139.236.125 |
KW, I never saw a connection between these 2 groups until you pointed it out. I remember having several Switch fans in a group that I was tutoring for the SAT. One of them asked if there was a comparable group from "my" time. For some reason, the first group I thought of was Black Ivory. The Time were funky, but IMHO they were one of the tightest playing bands this side of the Jb's....and as Purple Rain showed, fun to watch. Somebody get me a mirror. | ||
Lady Mystique (ladymystique) 5-Doyen Username: ladymystique Post Number: 350 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 216.37.228.106 |
They both were hot! I have all of The Time's albums...BTW Morris and Jerome were on Eve recently and to me Morris still looks good! Switch's ballads, IMO, were their strongest points...Bobby's falsetto soared on those jams! | ||
Kdubya (paladin) 2-Debutant Username: paladin Post Number: 19 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 206.185.64.23 |
Thanks all of you for your responses. I am a big fan of both groups. I met Terry Lewis in a club in Chicago one night and I asked him about the Time and their hot video for Jerk Out and he said it was funny because they really couldn't play the smaller venues as depicted in the video because they play so loud. IMHO they were one bad ass band. Oh yeah, Drum I hear you and I am well aware of the Purple Ones influence, but the gist of my post was had both of these groups been able to stay together who knows what peaks they would have reached. The members of Switch were very "Rico Suave", and the Time well those boys were just cool. Additionally when I saw these groups live they not only brought excellent musicianship but great eneregy and fun to their performance. Something that is curiously absence from a lot of groups today. One other thing I have been on several posts/discusssion groups and although you hear about the great tenors(Eddie Kendricks,Damon Harris,Glen Leonard,Ron Banks,Clyde McPhatter,Russel Thompkins,Philip Bailey etc) Bobby is always left out and I think thats a shame. He could hit notes in the stratosphere...........may he rest in peace. Kdub | ||
Lady Mystique (ladymystique) 5-Doyen Username: ladymystique Post Number: 358 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 198.26.122.13 |
I agree Kdub...especially on I CALL YOUR NAME and I WANT TO GET CLOSER. Love those ballads! | ||
DyvaNaye (westside314) 6-Zenith Username: westside314 Post Number: 415 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 209.212.74.216 |
I was living in North Carolina when '777-9311' came out and Im telling you we KILLED that song down there....the TIME had a good following in the southern states...a sound that was fresh and new for dance music at the time.., But I would not even pit them agains SWITCH. The Time presented 'club-dance music appeal, funky funky, shake your pants stuff'...and Switch was, IMO made up to have pretty boy appeal. They were a good group as well but it appeared to be more about 'romance and slow dance' than 'shake your pants'...The Time wanted the girl to get with them because the 'chick' might have been missing out on something...lol... | ||
Kdubya (paladin) 2-Debutant Username: paladin Post Number: 22 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 206.185.64.23 |
That was an error with the title of the post. Please read my intro post again. I was simply saying that one begat the other....hmmmmm seems to me that Morris fit right in with that pretty boy Switch persona.....maybe a bit more exaggerated. Overall two great groups who for whatever reason never got as big as they should.You know DyvaNaye, I think I know you from another life............by the way 777-9311 had one of the greatest vocal and gee-tar intros I have ever heard. You know where Morris says ...Hello Grace..........and the female says my name isn't Grace.........I think it was only released on vinyl........I'll talk at ya'll soon...... | ||
drums (drums) 1-Arriviste Username: drums Post Number: 8 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 155.91.6.72 |
Hi Kdubya, I agree. In fact what was the last real R&B band to come out? I havent seen one in a few years! Except for the band that kicked ass on the Grammy's and I dont remember the groups' name! (The lead singer played the guitar thingy sitting down?) They were good! Drums | ||
Destruction (destruction) 2-Debutant Username: destruction Post Number: 26 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 199.173.225.21 |
Drums, That band was Robert Randolph and The Family Band. I was so impressed that I not only bought their latest, but also picked up the CD where they backed the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. Thx again John Dixon....wherever you are. |
