By dvdmike (12.84.7.133) on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 09:55 pm: |
I read somewhere that he arranged about 85% of Motown's hits from the '60s and '70s. When I met him in 1982, he said he didn't even know how many hits he arranged, but he did remember "My Girl", "If I Were Your Woman", "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" and several Stevie Wonder and Teena Marie hits. He came to Chicago to write some horn and string arrangements for a guy I knew. The stuff never got released, but he gave this guy a break on his fee and appeared to have a really good time during the sessions. That showed real class. I wish there were a complete list of Paul's arrangement credits. I've met a lot of people in the music industry and he ranks at the top.
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 10:31 pm: |
Paul is a very prolific arranger. I'm sure the list would be rather long.
By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 11:01 pm: |
(((((PAUL RISER))))) I have always loved the strings. Beautiful music. Paul deserves a big hug for his great work.
By John Lester (217.40.207.114) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 12:07 am: |
In my books, Paul Riser, IS the tops.
I buy ANYTHING where I see his name. From Aretha's "Integrity" to Bananarama and R Kelly!
By Common (209.2.55.142) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 10:11 am: |
It's great that he is still a household name after all these years. Wonder what his next project will be?
Peace!
By HW (12.110.192.128) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 10:40 am: |
He is supposedly working with Lauryn Hill.
JL mentioned R. Kelly. Paul Riser didn't just work with him, he arranged one of the biggest hits of the 90s, "I Believe I Can Fly." I will never forget the moment at a kid's birthday party, when that song was hot - just before cake, the entire party of six (seven?) year olds spontaneously started singing that tune.
Anyway, Riser is great. I am sure even he couldn't list everything. He says he'd have to HEAR everything to be sure.
By cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 11:57 am: |
Ashford & Simpson used Paul Riser extensively and that combination was beyond terrific. I had the pleasure of meeting him some years ago when he arranged some songs for the album of a friend of mine, Howard Porter. He seemed very enigmatic and could come up with ideas on the spot and under pressure. Unfortunately, the album was never released. But I remember how thrilled I was to meet him and how humble he was.
By Ed Wolfrum (69.3.250.148) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 12:04 pm: |
Paul Riser is one talented and humble man. A true talent and gift to the Detroit Music scene.
He also did many jingle, film (both theatrical and industrial) and commercial sessions for Artie and others.
By Common (209.2.55.146) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 02:33 pm: |
Hello everyone,
Thanks HW. His name seems to be on alot of artists' work, especially those at Motown. It's good to hear that he's still working. I wonder if he'll ever consider writing a book about his experiences with various artists. It would be a fascinating read.
Peace!
By John Lester (217.40.207.114) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 02:58 pm: |
Some of you people who have mingled with the likes of Paul Riser, Clay and our our own Terr(ana)ible twins. I envy you so much.
If Paul Riser writes a book......it would need to be the size of an encyclopeadia.
We need to get him on here...who's got a lead that we can follow up.
By Clay (66.73.188.14) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 07:15 pm: |
Paul Riser,
Is by far the most prolific arranger to arrive on the music scene in the last 30 yrs. He has a bit of MAGIC
in every arrangement he does. I've had the pleasure of working with him for a lotta yrs and If I had to make a top five list for arrangers it would go like this.
1.Paul Riser
2.Thom Bell
3.David Van-der Pitte
4.Tom Beard (Rest In Peace)
5.Ray Dewey
It's a shame that producers today don't have a clue
about hiring the caliber of music genius I noted
in my top5. It's true the trend has changed but people like the top 5 should be able to work forever in film and commercials. Peace
By dvdmike (12.84.19.192) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 08:19 pm: |
In terms of arrangers, let's give credit to Tom Tom 84, Bert DeCoteaux, Bobby Eli, Norman Harris, Riley Hampton, Sonny Sanders, Rene Hall, Horace Ott, Tom Sellers, H.B. Barnum, Gene Page, James Anthony Carmichael, Jack Faith, Bobby Martin, Sammy Lowe, and all the other terrific r&b, pop & jazz arrangers too numerous to name.
By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 08:58 pm: |
Paul...if you're looking for a Paul Riser lead....look no further than the beautiful Ms. "B"...Bettye Lavette. She's been a regular poster lately...so there shouldn't be a problem making contact.
By mhc (172.160.66.83) on Monday, January 06, 2003 - 09:17 pm: |
Let's not forget Jack Neitzche; his stuff was really beautiful, and he grew up somewhere in Michigan.
By Bank House (195.93.33.10) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 03:43 pm: |
If Paul Riser writes his life, we'd like to publish it
By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, January 07, 2003 - 11:50 pm: |
Congratulations Paul on the Funk Brothers, and Chaka's nomination.
By acooolcat (210.201.192.209) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 05:54 am: |
Sis - Paul arranged the Belita Woods' song (I Just Love You) that I recently put on a tape for you. Wonderful record.
Graham
By drums (63.242.208.176) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 09:21 am: |
Hello all,
Speaking of Paul Riser, he has a nephew that plays drums and piano for a variety of artists that span from George Duke to Michael Jackson to Bebe & Cece Winans to literally hundreds of other artists. Do you know who he is?
By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 11:43 am: |
Graham - Thank you. She is one of my brother's favorite songstress.
Drums - The name of the drummer is righ on the tip of my tongue. I saw him at Pistol's Wake. I fill find out and let you know.
By drums (63.242.208.176) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 02:42 pm: |
Ok. ok Ill tell you its.....(drum roll here)
Ricky Lawson!!
D
By drums (63.242.208.176) on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 02:54 pm: |
Ooops I meant to add his webpage for you guys to see:
www.rickylawson.com
Great drummer, nice guy and a good friend of mine!
D
By Keith Rylatt (62.252.200.20) on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 06:20 am: |
One of my top Disco records is `Haven't Stopped Dancin' Yet` by Gonzalez. It was recorded in England in '77 and arranged by Paul Riser. Did he come over here to do it , or will it have been done `internationally`? Also if he DID come over here surely there will have been more material?? Keith
By Allen (24.165.80.12) on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 11:41 am: |
Mr. Riser,
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for making me sound as though I knew what I was doing at the tender age of 21 on the Irons In The Fire LP. Sir, you are not only a magnificent musician, you're also a magician.
Allen McGrier
By Jim Vitti (68.60.97.20) on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 10:15 pm: |
Hello Clay and dvdmike,
Paul is a fantastic arranger and a super guy whom
I've had the pleasure of working with on many
sessions at United Sound. His body of work would
be almost impossible to list. He is a genius with
a magical touch.
I would also like to add a few names to your list
of talented arrangers:
Johnny Allen
Wade Marcus
Rudy Robinson
Jeff Steinberg
and don't forget the great Quincy Jones.
Recording their arrangements in that wonderful
studio "A" room at United was simply awesome.
P.S Dave's last name is spelled VanDePitt
Thanks - Jim
By John Lester (213.123.143.212) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 06:25 am: |
The 45's usually display an "e" at the end.
By Edgar (200.46.12.173) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 09:10 am: |
Wade Marcus, yes! I don't know much of his work, but what he did with "Someday We'll Be Together" is extraordinary. And Paul Riser, words are not enough to express the joy he can create in your anima!
By Scratcher (65.132.76.142) on Saturday, March 08, 2003 - 09:43 am: |
I have to question the post that Paul Riser arranged more than 85 percent of the Motown hits from the '60s and '70s. Where did this figure come from? Wade Marcus did an awful lot of arrangements at Motown during the '60s and H. B. Barnum arranged many of the Holland, Dozier, Holland songs. In fact, H.B. was HDH's favorite arranger. Jerry Long seems to have been Norman Whitfield's choice and David VanDepitte's name appears often. And lest not forget Jimmy Roach, Willie Shorter, and other less familiar names who also arranged some Motown hits.
By Greg C. (209.71.79.178) on Monday, March 10, 2003 - 09:30 pm: |
I had the opportunity to work with Paul Riser's brother, Aaron Riser back in the early seventies. Really nice guy with lot's of Motown stories.
By FLB (68.73.195.181) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 05:08 pm: |
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SPECIAL THANKS TO PAUL FOR LEAVING AT THE FORD HOSPITAL HIS BOOM BOX FOR ME TO USE IN 1997.I WAS IN A COMA.HE HAD FAITH THAT I WOULD PULL OUT AND I DID.GOD BLESS YOU PAUL. THANK'S ALSO FOR YOUR ARRANGING THE FOUR TOPS FIRST XMAS ALBUM,"XMAS HERE WITH YOU". MY TUNE WAS THE TITLE TUNE.
AGAIN "GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU. FRED L. BRIDGES
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 06:31 pm: |
Fred Bridges,
Welcome to the forum. It's good to have you with us pal.
By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 11:19 am: |
I am not sure thanks to all of my dead brain cells but I seem to remember Paul Riser doing some work on The Temptations "Sky's The Limit". As posted by someone earlier he did have a thing with strings. Smiling Faces could have been one of his many contributions, I'll have to check the album liner notes. By the way the other Motown arrangers mentioned were just fantastic, I was especially fond of Jimmy Roach and his work with Don Davis and Tony Hester after his Motown stint. Wade Marcus, HB Barnum, Willie Hutch were all superlative.
By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 11:32 am: |
TWO OF THE "TOP FLIGHT" ARRANGERS OF THE POST DETROIT MOTOWN ERA...WEST COAST "STUDS" OF THE 70'S AND 80'S...GENE PAGE AND BRUCE W. MILLER (OK...SO I'M BIASED)...BUT A LISTING OF HIS WORK IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY...WOULD PRODUCE THE THREAD OF A THOUSAND SILKWORMS WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK!!!...TEMPTATIONS...COMMODORES...ALL THAT SOLAR RECORDS STUFF...ROD STEWART...MCCOO AND DAVIS JR...AND MANY MANY MORE!!!...BRUCE SOMEWHAT MISSED THE DETROIT MOTOWN ERA...DUE TO HIS YOUTHFUL AGE...AND TRAIPSING AROUND THE GLOBE AS PAUL ANKA'S MUSICAL DIRECTOR...NOT TO MENTION THE OUTSTANDING TELEVISION WORK HE'S DONE OVER THE PAST 10 OR 15 YEARS!!!...BRUCE AND GENE WERE THE "GO TO" GUYS ON THE L.A. MUSIC SCENE...AND I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT BRUCE HAS THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR ALL THE ARRANGERS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THE ABOVE POSTINGS ON THIS THREAD!!!...STU(CAN'T EVEN ARRANGE MY SCHEDULE)BASS
By dvdmike (12.84.113.226) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 05:14 pm: |
Kdubya, Paul Riser did not arrange anything on the "Sky's The Limit" LP. Jerry Long arranged "Just My Imagination", all of the other songs were arranged by David Van dePitte.
By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 07:52 pm: |
David Van de Pitte...talk about a busy man in 1971..
Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On"
Temptations - "Sky's The Limit" (with his EXCELLENT arrangement of "Smiling Faces Sometimes"!)
...and that's just for starters....
Kevin Goins - KevGo
By Larry (12.141.160.25) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:20 am: |
An HW x-post from "The Mighty Funk Brothers" thread:
By HW (68.37.216.164) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 08:17 pm:
It's A Shame
Written by Stevie Wonder, Lee Garrett and Syreeta Wright
Produced by Stevie Wonder
Arranged by Paul Riser
Basic track recorded in Studio A, January 27 & 28, 1970
Vocals dubbed in April 6, 1970; horns overdubbed in Studio B, April 29, 1970
The finished version was issued as Spinners single V.I.P. 25057, June 11, 1970
#4 R&B, #14 Pop (U.S. Billboard)
By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:01 am: |
Thanks Larry. I saw the "It's A Shame" post on the Motown site and I asked about the session dates. That's the kind of stuff that interests me.
By buzz (216.244.18.124) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 02:46 pm: |
Yeah well. I was on a session in L.A and Paul came in and said he did'nt know me and promptly called and replaced me with a white musician that he did know . I will never ever forget his air of snooty - ness . One thing he did;nt know is that I too went to Cass Tech and can read fly shit just like him .I used to admire him as a talent but your talent only takes you as far as your spirituality .I hope the brother has found some humility .
By Scratcher (65.132.78.130) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 03:59 pm: |
Paul Riser is a great arranger but like Thom Bell at Philly International he gets too much credit for being "the arranger" at Motown, in Bell's case Bobby Martin was "the arranger" at Philly Int'l, and in Riser's case, Wade Marcus, H. B. Barnum, David Van Depitte, Jerry Long were all virtual equals.
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 04:14 pm: |
Buzz,
If you're an experienced session musician than you must realize that arrangers sometimes work more comfortably with musicians they are familiar with. I'm sure Paul meant no disrespect to your abilities. The fact that Paul ( a black man ) replaced you with a white musician speaks volumes for his inherent spirituality and sense of fair play.
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 04:16 pm: |
Scratcher,
you're right. Paul wasn't the only talented arranger at Motown. All the names you mentioned were there because they were good.
By ken Sands (67.72.196.118) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 08:14 pm: |
Hi Fred,
How are ya?
United Sound is on the way back to operation!!!
Stay tuned!!!
By kensands (67.72.196.118) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 08:18 pm: |
Hi Jim,
Paul Riser is my favorite Motown arranger with Dave Van De Pitte up there with him!
Don't forget to tell the group about United Sound,OK?
By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 09:47 am: |
Hi Ken. What's up with United, and are you involved?
By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 09:53 am: |
IT WOULDN'T SEEM LIKE A MOTOWN ARRANGEMENT UNLESS PAUL RISER WAS ON IT!
By DF (208.27.111.121) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 10:35 am: |
Check also Luther Vandross's first couple of albums, especially "Forever, For Always, For Love". The string arrangement on the title track is an alltimer. Classic. Peace.
By buzz (209.179.51.137) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 12:44 am: |
Listen ,I did plenty of sessions in detroit with Paul. it was deeper than all that . I am a very experienced musician all around .I have never doubted Paul's talent and would never say he's not a great person , but that happened to me at a time when it never should have .I recommended paul to Norman Connors and he made alot of $$ off of Norman .But , Alas , GOD forgives and I do too and we all have moved on with life . Do not ever trivialize any one in music ..I just know that he was one that I respected highly .It's done............peace
By Bs dat way (151.197.110.143) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 07:55 pm: |
Hey Buzz..
ZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!
By Fudge (172.152.138.24) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 06:33 pm: |
eeThanks, Paul. All thebest from the Dynamics.
By Edgar (200.46.12.136) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 06:41 pm: |
I got today a Japanese CD edition of Letta Mbulu's great 1978 album "Letta" on A&M, produced by her husband Caiphus Semenya, Herb Alpert and Stewart Levine. Paul Riser did all the horn and string arrangements, and Letta penned a song with Lamont Dozier.
By Eli (151.197.180.108) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 07:21 pm: |
Letta Mbulu...wow!!
Back in '79 for some reason when I did stuff for A&M,Herb wanted me to do an album on Letta.
He sent Letta and Caiphus to meet me at Sigma and I was working on Jackie Moore and they came in and listened.
I think that the type of music that I was doing did not fit into their format although if given the chance I would have done a great album with Letta with a hybrid of Afro- Philly soul.
By Edgar (200.46.12.144) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 11:57 pm: |
I don't doub it, Eli! With your talent and that voice, it would have been great. Besides, the formula Afro-Philly sounds very attractive.