By Vandelron (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 11:07 pm:

Heaven Must Have Sent U/Elgins;I'll Keep On Holdin On/Marvelettes; This Old Heart Of Mine/Isleys; I Got A Feeling /Barbara Randolph; almost everything by Ms Brenda H; Tear It On Down/Vandellas; Touch/Supremes; Thes Things Will Keep Me Loving You/Velvelettes; I'll Always Love u & Its a Shame/Spinners; Just A Little Misunderstanding-Contours.

By sdl (208.59.124.143) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 11:55 pm:

Wow - I can hardly belive that the Okasions were not African American Soul Brothers ;-)

"I'm a Girl Watcher" has always been one of my favorite songs and it was a favorite of my Dad's as well. He passed a few years back and all I could think of when I read the post saying the Okasions were white ---- well I wanted to call my Dad!!! Amazing! Just amazing.

I wanted some verification, so I just did some "googling" and found this link. Check it out.

http://www.14k.com/the_okaysions_biography.htm

The faces just don't seem to go with the music. Has anyone ever seen the group perform "Girl Watcher" live or know where I could find such a film? I would really love to see it.

Cheers

By MOTOWNBOY (12.158.230.250) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 12:36 pm:

One semi-obscure Motown ditty that I thought should have been a big hit and, to me, still sounds quite fresh is "My Smile Is Just A Frown Turned Upside Down" by Carolyn Crawford. Her understated, slightly melancholy vocal delivery is just perfect for Smokey's first-rate melody, lyrics, and production...

BTW, "Gril Watcher" is not a Motown song, though I do like it.....

By soulie dave uk (62.254.64.5) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 04:05 pm:

I have a record called "Boy Watcher" by Ginger Thompson (female). Its the same song as the Okasions version. Any idea's which come out first?

Motown songs that should have been top 10,
Crying in the Night/The Monitors
Now is the time for love/Marvelettes
Back Street/Edwin Starr
Agent oo Soul/Edwin Starr

and about 1000 others.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 04:07 pm:

Dave,

The O'Kaysions is the original - from '68. That Ginger Thompson record is a revival from '75 or
'76

By soulie dave uk (62.254.64.5) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 06:54 pm:

Thanks Davie, I would never have guessed the Ginger Thompson version was as late as 76. It sounds very 60's. I had it on a compilation LP, thought I still owned it but can't find it.
Regards.

By stephanie (64.63.221.181) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 09:55 pm:

One semi-obscure Motown ditty that I thought should have been a big hit and, to me, still sounds quite fresh is "My Smile Is Just A Frown Turned Upside Down" by Carolyn Crawford. Her understated, slightly melancholy vocal delivery is just perfect for Smokey's first-rate melody, lyrics, and production...>>>>
Sorry I think Forget about Me is much better and she was only 15 years old when she did it and wrote it.
Steph

By TonyRussi (68.18.48.42) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 04:43 pm:

If it were not for split air-play,both "You Lost The Sweetest Boy"#22 pop and "Whats' Easy For Two(is So Hard for One)"#29 pop by Mary Wells should have been pop top 10 hits."Whats' Easy for Two" was on the Hot 100 17weeks!

By motownboy (12.158.230.250) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 04:55 pm:

It's a shame that there aren't more tracks released by Motown for Carolyn Crawford. "My Smile is Just A Frown...." is one of the great unrecognized Motown classics of all time. "Forget About Me" is also good, yet she kinda sounds a little harsh or raw in certain parts, perhaps due to her young age at the time. I had no idea she wrote the song as well....

By TD (68.69.127.104) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

"Gonna Give Her all the Love I Got".
Should have been number one-great James Jamerson opening bass and excellent violins and of course the great singing by Jimmy Ruffin.

TD