By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 10:56 am:

HEY GANG,ANOTHER FUN THING ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS IS THAT SOMETIMES WHOLE SONGS ARE WRITTEN FROM JUST A PHASE OR PARTS OF A CONVERSATION THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MUSIC SUCH AS THE DUKAYS VOCAL WARMUP OF DU DU WHICH TURNED IN TO DUKE DUKE DUKE OF EARL,OR THE MIRACLES AND TEMPS JOKING AROUND WITH YOU GOT A SMILE SO BRIGHT,WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT ONE TUNED OUT.LET'S HEAR ABOUT SOME.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 11:07 am:

Smokey's "I Second That Emotion" came from a conversation with Al Cleveland who meant to say "I second the motion."

Jerry Butler said that "Only The Strong Survive" came from conversations he had with Gamble & Huff about how some people become more sucessful in life than others.

The Impressions' "It's All Right" came from Curtis Mayfield "running off at the mouth" (his quote, not mine) about what he wanted to accomplish in life while Sam Gooden & Fred Cash responded with words of encouragement ("..say it's all right...").
Otis Redding came up with "Mr. Pitiful" after a DJ criticized him for singing nothing but "pitiful" ballads.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Eli (151.197.41.249) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 11:12 am:

The way yo do...was written in a station wagon on the Pensylvania Turnpike between gigs.

OOh Baby Baby was an ad lib Smokey used to do at the end of Bad Girl.

In the Midnight Hour was a standard Gospel riff that Picket incorporated in to some ad libs.

The Monotones kick drum accent after the word "who" on Book of Love was put in because at a rehearsal a basseball came crashing through the window just at that moment and they liked the effect.

By radiogoon (198.208.223.35) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 11:57 am:

My original composition "The girl next door" was written after my guitar player asked me "Who's the new girl next door?" (Asking about our new neighbors) I guess I should give her a copy of the CD one day!

Dr. Z

By STUBASS (152.163.195.197) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 12:01 pm:

ANOTHER R&B CLASSIC: OK...HOW ABOUT MEL & TIMS "BACKFIELD IN MOTION"...TAKEN OF COURSE FROM A FOOTBALL (AMERICAN STYLE) PENALTY???...ALSO...BARRY WHITES "I'M GONNA LOVE YOU"...WHERE HE REPEATS THE POP SLOGAN OF THE TIME...."RIGHT ON... RIGHT ON"!!!..."WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET"...ALSO A POPULAR PHRASE OF THE DAY!!!...MANY MORE...BUT I GOTTA GO NOW!!!...STU

By Fred (205.188.209.38) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 04:54 pm:

"Hold On, I'm Comin'" was written after David Porter left the Stax studio during a break to go to the john. Everyone was ready to start again and he wasn't back yet, so they shouted for him to hurry. His yelled response became the title.

Fred

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

Worked out well then, Fred.... Just think - in a different set of circumstances, Sam & Dave might have had a hit called "There Isn't Any Paper".

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 07:44 pm:

Hey,Ritchie!
Didn't you know? "There Isn't Any Paper" was gonna be the b-side!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Sue (152.163.201.208) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 07:46 pm:

Kev,
Smokey told me once that he overheard someone say "I Second That Emotion" at the Hudson's in downtown Detroit, at Christmas time ...he tucked it away and made a song out of it.

There are many stories of course, in the naked city ...

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 07:53 pm:

Sue:
According to Smokey's autobiography, it was Al Cleveland who said "I Second That Emotion" when Smokey was having a conversation with a sales clerk at a local store (Hudson's, I gather)...
Kevin Goins - KevGo

(PS - What are you still doing out here? Aren't you & SisDetroit supposed to be out on a hot double date with Al Green & Teddy Pendergrass )

By dvdmike (12.84.41.138) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 09:39 pm:

One day Billie Holiday asked her mother for some money and was refused. After a short argument, Billie said "God bless the child that's got it's own" and walked out. I heard Billie say that in an interview, so I know it's true.

By dvdmike (12.84.41.138) on Friday, February 14, 2003 - 09:42 pm:

George Johnson once got into an altercation with another motorist after a near accident. While they were arguing, George said "get the funk out my face". But that wasn't what he meant to say.

By Mark Speck (65.56.62.210) on Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 03:35 am:

Interesting note regarding "Hold On, I'm Coming": it was certainly OK for Sam and Dave to say "hold on, I'm coming", but for some reason the Chicago group the Mauds, who covered the song a couple of years later, had the "I'm coming" part censored out of the song!

Best,

Mark

By Ritchie (62.254.0.8) on Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 07:38 am:

There's a terrible thought... Re-titled classic songs to comply with Political Correctness. (Shudders as he feels a new thread may be imminent!)