By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

HEY ELI,QUICK QUESTION,DID YOU EVER HAVE A RECORDING SESSION THAT EVEN THOUGH THE ARTIST WAS VERY NICE AND THERE WAS NO EGO ISSUES,BUT THEY JUST COULDN'T GET THE SONG RIGHT NO MATTER HOW MANY TAKES YOU DID?AND HOW MANY TAKES BEFORE YOU SAY IT AIN'T HAPPENING?THANKS.

By Eli (151.197.37.64) on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 - 11:54 pm:

I have been very fortunate to have worked some great singers and musicians in my day and I have never really had a problem for I always keep the vibe alive for when there is tension there is no results.
Too many producers are uptight and nervous wrecks and do not know the psychology of working with singers and musicians.
Having a "high and mighty" attitude will get you nowhere.
I have always kept it light and happy and always do whatever it takes to keep the studio aesthetically pleasing and therfore the end result will shine.

By Scratcher (65.133.219.130) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 07:20 pm:

Bobby, what happened to the Delfonics? Major Harris and Randy Cain wasn't with William Hart on recent concerts and a PBS telethon. The new guys were OK but didn't have the same impact.

By MickD (217.44.216.8) on Saturday, March 15, 2003 - 07:57 pm:

Bobby,
I've just read your contribution to the Twenty Grand Webisode. You spoke of an instrumental album you were invited to sit in on by Mike Terry. Did this album ever see the light of day? Any info on this would be great.

Regards

MickD

By Fred (68.42.204.224) on Sunday, March 16, 2003 - 09:11 pm:

Mr. Eli I have loved your music for many years, and would like to know what ever happened to the group Impact, which featured Damon Harris who used to sing with the Temptations. I loved the album and recently while looking at the linear notes I saw that you did everything on this album. Please give us some insight on this project, as a new visitor to this website I would like to thank you for all the great music throughout the years.

Yours Truly,
Fred

By Eli (151.197.41.153) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 10:39 am:

Mick D..
When I was in Detroit I met Mike Terry and he invited me to the then brand new Tera Shirma studio B just several buildings away from the original studio A.
This is where I first met Bob Babbitt, Eddie Willis, George Mc Gregor and Johnny Griffith.
Mike was doing aan album of Motown instrumental covers plus the Delfonics LaLa.. at the time.
We also did Aint nothing like the real thing and a few others.
I spoke to Mike in recent months and he does not know if it was released or not nor does he remember the name of the "act" that Columbia used, but I do remember seeing in Billboard that Aint Nothing was released as a single.

It might have been something like the Detroit Connection or that kind of name.

Fred.. Thank you for being a fan of my music.

The Impact sessions were some of my favorite and most memorable ones.
Candles were lit and the Tempts spirit prevailed.
Tower of Power did some of the horns both in Philly and SanFrancisco.what a gas that was!!

Atlantic knew not what they had and just did not have the forsight to appreciate the groups lineage and the possibility of future greatness.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 10:50 am:

Mick D,
Re: The Mike Terry sessions. Bobby and I determined that this album had possibly the first ryhtym sessions to be recorded in the new Studio B.

By Eli (151.197.41.153) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 11:13 am:

A novice in the Temple of sound and soul!!

By Eli (151.197.41.153) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 11:16 am:

The sessions I believe were February'68.They predate the opening of Sigma later that year in August! I believe that Record Plant also opened in '68.
Great year for studios.

By MickD (217.44.216.101) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 05:32 pm:

Bobby, Ralph,
thanks for the reponse, it's appreciated.
So correct me if I'm wrong, I am looking for an album of Motown Instrumentals, on Columbia or one of it's subsiduaries, recorded at Tera shirma in 68, using Messers Eli, Babbit, MacGregor, Willis and Griffith. Probably produced and Arranged by Mike Terry, possibly goes under the title of the Detroit Connection and it's highly likely it's as hard to find as rocking horse s**t.

To say this sounds interesting is an understatement. Yet another I have to add to the list.

I'll have a word with some of the collectors in this neck of the woods to see if they can shead any light on it. I'll let you know if I come across any further info.

p.s. If one day, for instance, you are doing a bit of spring cleaning and you just happen, by luck, to stumble across a copy laying around, I'll be more than pleased to take it off your hands ;o)

Cheers

MickD

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, March 17, 2003 - 06:44 pm:

Good luck with your search Mick. Keep us informed.