By Julian (205.188.209.38) on Friday, April 04, 2003 - 03:06 am:

What type of music is this? It has an exotic feel to it.

(No silly replies, please.)

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 11:20 am:

HEY JULIAN,HOW CAN I IS JUST A GOOD SOUL ROCKER FROM THE SPINNERS,I AGREE IT DOES HAVE A DIFFERENT FEEL TO IT WHICH JUST ADDS TO IT'S APPEAL,GREAT SONG!AND BY THE WAY IF YOU HAVE IT CHECK OUT[SWEETHING]ANOTHER COOL ONE.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 12:21 pm:

This is a fascinating arrangement. The verse is in a gentle Latin groove, but the bridge is a tango. Somebody was in a definite South American mood when the Funks cut this one :o)

By Julian (205.188.209.109) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 01:13 am:

I've heard Marvin Gaye's "Sweet Thing" but not the Spinner's version, I believe. Is it on that Spinner's hits album that shows the hubcap? Same song?

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.98) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 01:19 am:

Is that really Marvin Gaye or is it really Freddie Gorman on both?
Any opinions
mel

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.53.139) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 02:03 am:

Whoooooooops,
what I meant to say was,
is that really The Spinners singing 'sweet thing'because whoever is on lead sure sounds a lot like Freddie Gorman.
Apologies for the Marvin Gaye mistake,that is definatley Marvin.
phew,I'm out-a-here!
mel

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 04:21 am:

Mel

I'd lay odds on its being Bobby Smith on lead. I'm not awar of Freddie G ever being a Spinner - though CP Spencer was for a while.

P.S. - parts 3&4 of Bob & Earl will be uploaded today :o)

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.52.67) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 11:44 am:

Ritchie,
for some reason I have got my records well mixed up,
its not 'sweet thing' I am thinking of at all but 'suspicion'.
Regards wether it is Eddie Holland or Freddie Gorman.
Apologies all round.
Looking forward to the final Bob and Earl.
mel.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 11:53 am:

Ah, a different kettle of fish entirely :o)
Pass - I'm no expert on the Originals! (Or much else?)

BTW, three or four more B&E pages yet to come, before it's complete.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 03:25 pm:

Mel,

Probably because in northern circles Freddie
Gorman's name is better known than the other
Originals he is continually being credited as
lead on damn near every Originals track.

Freddie is the baritone / bass for the group
- the main leads are usually C P Spencer,
Ty Hunter who both have high voices or Hank
Dixon who's the tenor lead. It's sometimes
difficult to pinpoint who's the lead on any
given track because the Originals, more than
any other group, do a lot of lead switching
in that different lines will be sung by different
people. If I'm not making myself very clear listen
to something like "I'm Someone Who Cares" and see
how many "leads" you can hear in one verse.

For my money the dominant singer on "Suspicion"
is the hugely underrated Hank Dixon - he's a lot
"tougher" sounding than C.P. I'll listen to it
again tonight but I doubt I'll change my mind ..

WHAT a group !

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 03:29 pm:

How to describe "How Can I" ? - I'd loved to have
have seen Billboard's singles reviewers try -
"lead warbles convincingly on gentle rocka-cha cha
beat smoothie, sure to attract spins and coin"


Davie

By Davie (193.122.21.42) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 03:32 pm:

Wow, my first emoticon !

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 03:52 pm:

In all my years, I can't actually recall hearing anyone "warble" ;0)

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.48.87) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 10:15 am:

Thanks Davie,
I'll go with you on that one mate.
mel(trying to warble)

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 10:35 am:

Davie.

Are you a betting man? If so, what odds will you give me on the other Originals

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

Hi John,

As a cautious Scot the answer's usually "no",
especially if I was so rash as to bet against
someone who's actually seen the group :-)

C'mon, tell us, who is it ???

"Suspicion"' is an absolute moster of a track
- how on earth it got shelved and the awful
"Good Night Irene" got issued is beyond me.

Davie

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 02:54 pm:

Good point, Davie. You really need an iron stomach for "Irene" (or maybe a Lead Belly?)

By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 04:07 pm:

Per a convo a couple months back w/ Mr. Gorman, Mr. Dixon, and Mr. Gaines, "Suspicion" is led by C.P. Spencer.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 04:36 pm:

Hey Nish!
Long time no see! Where have you been hiding?
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 04:46 pm:

Nish is only 21 0r 22 I think she is trying to stay that way..with all of the information she has you would think that she was 95 years old and you too KevGo!!! I am 41 I can remember being 12 years old and telling my moms friends all of the movies that Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland had been in and all about Judy's life they were flabbergasted. Im glad there are some of us left I got a book from the library yesterday about Desilu (you know the studio that Desi and Lucy started) and there was an 8 year old and a twelve year old giving the review on the book and I knew they had read other books on the subject from what they were saying. The 8 year old said I have read all of the Lucy books and blah blah and they wrote like a 25 year old. Im glad that kids these days are still in the making when it comes to film and music...
Stephanie

By John Lester (217.40.226.164) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 04:50 pm:

Davie

Ooooo - nearly got you there didn't I.

Nish tells it like it is......it's CP....

By the way, the ad libs on Paul Peterson's "A Little Bit For Sandy" is also C P Spencer.

By Nish (66.119.33.170) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 05:05 pm:

Kev, I was hiding under a pile of class outlines, exams, and all the other joyous things associated with law school. :-) The past month has been all about finals (I'm done, WOOHOO!) and this week is all about a writing competition. I'm officially a 2L and I have the battle scars to prove it!

Steph - YOU know your music, too! I mean, you're like the Flo Ballard know-it-all!

And John - I always thought it was CP on that song... he has this wild tenor that I just love. It's very distinct.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 05:46 pm:

John,

Almost .. but not quite

Damn, that's CP ?? That group are even more
versatile than I thought.

Actually that's not a smiley, it's me with egg
on my face. LOL

Davie

By John Lester (217.40.236.36) on Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 01:28 am:

Richard Searling played the Originals "Tear It On Down" the other Sunday. It's another one of those "everyone join in" songs, so that's your next Sunday sorted out..trying to work out who is singing the lead. LOL

By Ian W (194.75.129.2) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 07:34 am:

Wotcha John,

Can you receive Richard Searling's radio program now? I think he's interviewing one of the Velvelettes this weekend!

By MotownForever (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 08:38 am:

John:

Is the Originals' version of "Tear It On Down" the A&S tune recorded by both Martha & Marvin? As you may already know, it will be included in the upcoming 'Motown Connoisseurs, Vol. 2".

By John Lester (213.123.136.174) on Thursday, May 08, 2003 - 03:37 pm:

Ian W

Yes...Cal is supposed to be on the radio this Sunday - she needs organising sometimes, but I am sure we will get there in the end!!

Richard's show is on the internet these days!!

MotownForever (luv that name!) - Yes it is the same song.

By Ian W (194.75.128.2) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 07:43 am:

John, I'll be listening! Are you taking her to the Jazz FM studios? You might get a look-in for yourself! All the best!

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 09:36 am:

Ian W

Cal wil be at home on Sunday. However, she will be here in the UK next week. And where she may be - I won't be far behind!

Martha is also here next week too.

By Leoscasino (66.72.193.187) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 02:16 pm:

Paul Peterson of The Donna Reed Show, I can't find my keys, My Dad.....That Paul Peteron?

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

Yes, that Paul Petersen - he was signed to Motown
and had two single issued, one of them the first
version of "Chained" later a hit for Marvin Gaye

By Leoscasino (66.72.200.3) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 09:36 pm:

Amazing what I learn. God I love this forum!!!!!!!

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 06:19 am:

"A Little Bit For Sandy" by Paul Petersen was written and produced by R. Dean Taylor. "Chained" is a Frank Wilson creation. So is the B-side "Don't Let It Happen To Us".



I don't know much about Paul Petersen. I have not seen any "Donna Reed Show". It was not broadcasted in Sweden. And how come he ended up on Motown? Please let me know it all!

Lars

By John Lester (213.123.147.84) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 06:31 am:

Farewell Is A Lonley Sound is unissued on Paul Petersen or is it Peterson. The 45 Motown releases were not quite sure!

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 07:02 am:

John,

You are absolutely right about his name! I have not noticed that before� Thanks about the info of the not released Peters(x)n track too.



If the name has a Danish connection it is Petersen... If it is Swedish it is Peterson.

Lars

By RD (65.132.79.238) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 07:46 am:

Paul Petersen's "Chained" is a joke compared to Marvin Gaye's rendition. The Donna Reed show was a good wholesome family sitcom that also starred Shelly Fabares.

Motown recorded a lot of pop ish acts in the mid to late sixties and early seventies including, Bobby Breen, Vic Cardinal, Irene Ryan, Tony Martin, Martin and Finney, Sammy Davis Jr., Barbara McNair, Soupy Sales, Joe Harnell, Bobby Darin, Jerry Ross, Frankie Valli, the Four Seasons, and Dan the Banjo Man. All recorded unsuccessfully on the Motown label. With the exception of Barbara McNair, and the Four Seasons/Frankie Valli's tracks the stuff is so weak it hasn't been reissued or been included on any Motown compilation.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 08:13 am:

Re Dan The Banjo Man.. It was a licensed UK production that was a big hit in Europe (not in the UK though!) Certain European countries really went for it as this German chart suggests:

March 1974
1. Teenage Rampage - Sweet
2. Devil Gate Drive - Suzi Quatro
3. Dan The Banjo Man - Dan The Banjo Man
4. This Flight Tonight - Nazareth
5. Kansas City - Les Humphries Singers
6. Fahrende Musikanten - Nina & Mike
7. My Coo Ca Choo - Alvin Stardust
8. Tiger Feet - Mud
9. Juanita - Nick Mackenzie
10. Schwarze Madonna - Bata Illic

By RD (65.133.219.86) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 08:21 am:

I don't care for the banjos, accordians or bagpipes.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.48.182) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 08:22 am:

Theres a
Leon Peterson & The Melo-Dee's on Hob records(no.117)
and apart from 'Chained/dont let it happen to you' and 'a little bit for sandy/your loves got me burning'by Paul Peterson there is also a Hitsville acetate of 'Farewell is a lonely sound' by him.
mel.
PS
are the 2 peterson's in any way connected?

By RD (65.133.219.86) on Saturday, May 10, 2003 - 08:23 am:

Paul Petersen is white.