By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

I'm going to show my ABSOLUTE ignorance here.
My brother went to the Detroit Funk Bros. concert, and didn't remember Shorty Long. Bear in mind he's 10 years behind me, so he asked me who Shorty was. Except for "Here Comes The Judge", I drew a blank.
Someone fill in the holes for us?
Thanks in advance.

By medusa9e (66.73.8.25) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 01:13 pm:

"Funtion at the Junction", a nice rhythmic, soulful dance tune

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 01:18 pm:

Douglas,

Don't delay - go and order Shorty's UK issued
"Essential Collection" CD - you're in for a real treat.

"Judge" may be what Shorty's best known for but
it's one of his lesser singles, wait till you
hear the bluesy original of "Devil With The Blue
Dress On", "Night Fo' Last", "Function At The Junction" and one I hadn't heard myself until I got the CD a brilliant '65 B-side "Out To Get
You". Then there's album only tracks like "Don't
You Mess With My Weekend" and "Here Comes Fat
Albert" - guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Try checking CDNow.com - they usually have
sound samples you can hear before deciding on whether to order a CD.

Trust me, it's a great CD and I rather envy you
hearing those gems for the first time.

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 01:20 pm:

But I seem to recall references to Shorty as either a producer, writer, or keyboard player. Right?

By dvdmike (12.84.97.140) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 01:23 pm:

He was called Shorty because he stood 5" 1". His "Devil With The Blue Dress" was covered by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 01:58 pm:

Douglas,

He was all three - he wrote a lot of his own material

Davie

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 02:52 pm:

Didn't realise he died in'69.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I appreciate it when you folks take me by the hand and lead me on. A nicer bunch of people I couldn't ask for.
Any more information would be appreciated.

By RJ Spangler (205.188.209.16) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 04:35 pm:

Yeah, I really dig his "Devil with a blue Dress"! Very cool! -RJ

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

Before his Soul releases he did three 45's for the Tri-Phi label

Tri-Phi 1006 A Shorty Long "I'll Be Here" Jan-62
B "Bad Willie"

Tri-Phi 1015 A Shorty Long "I'll Be Here" Aug-62
B "Too Smart"

Tri-Phi 1021 A Shorty Long "What's The Matter" Feb-63
B "Going Away"



This is "Shorty" in his more early bluesy way...

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 06:21 pm:

Function At The Junction was a big hit in the east.

By Bill (81.144.158.6) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 08:30 am:

Didn't he also do a version of "Chantilly Lace"?

By Soulpuss (24.102.217.36) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 09:10 am:

Lookout for his version of "Whiter shade of pale" and "Call on me".

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 04:43 pm:

All his Soul singles

Shorty Long Soul 35001 A "Devil With The Blue Dress"
Shorty Long Soul 35001 B "Wind It Up"
Shorty Long Soul 35005 A "It's A Crying Shame"



Shorty Long Soul 35005 B "Out To Get You"
Shorty Long Soul 35021 A "Function At The Junction"
Shorty Long Soul 35021 B "Call On Me"
Shorty Long Soul 35031 A "Chantilly Lace"
Shorty Long Soul 35031 B "Your Love Is Amazing"
Shorty Long Soul 35040 A "Night Fo' Last (Vocal)"
Shorty Long Soul 35040 B "Night Fo' Last (featuring Shorty Long on the organ)"
Shorty Long Soul 35044 A "Here Comes The Judge"
Shorty Long Soul 35044 B "Sing What You Wanna"
Shorty Long Soul 35054 A "I Had A Dream"
Shorty Long Soul 35054 B "Ain't No Justice"
Shorty Long Soul 35064 A "A Whiter Shade Of Pale"
Shorty Long Soul 35064 B "When You Are Available"

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 05:31 pm:

It should be noted that there's another Shorty
Long who also happened to be a pianist.

He recorded in the fifties on Valley and RCA
- he's a country artist who did some session worl for Elvis Presley.

"Our" Shorty only recorded for Tri-Phi and Soul

By nikki (24.46.200.124) on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 09:30 pm:

Shorty Long aka Frederick Earl Long???

Nikki
http://www.harmonytrain.com

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.9) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 09:57 am:

Shorty's version of Chantilly Lace was a stormer and had some brilliant fills from James Jamerson. In fact, it was the record that made me realise what a genius he was. I bought Shorty's album (Judge) in the sixties and the Essential CD is rarely silent. He was a favourite with the Funks, too, I believe.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 11:52 am:

Nikki,

Yes, that's his real name.

By John Lester (81.132.38.252) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 01:48 pm:

When I was at the Funk Brothers concert in New York...I was really surprised to hear them do Here Comes The Judge. I have always been a BAD-D-D Shorty fan ever since the 60's and so often I have seen this man overlooked. So when it came to getting the Funks autographs', I asked them - why a Shorty Long song? They told me that of all the Motown artists, Shorty was one of the most special.

It pleased me immensely that the Funks remembered Shorty at their concert.

By spinninwheel (12.27.0.127) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 02:40 pm:

Died under mysterious circumstances in a boat accident; was one of the only Motown artists allowed to produce his own recordings; the following quote according to All Music Guide:"The late Earl Van Dyke, Motown's session pianist, says Shorty used to come in and say, "Today we ain't playing nuthin' but funk, if you don't feel funky, take a drink of this," and then he'll reach in his coat and pull out a bottle of liquor."

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 02:53 pm:

No wonder the Funks loved Shorty so much....
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Kegtapper (64.24.81.100) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 03:05 am:

Also Shorty Long recorded 2 LP's
HERE COMES THE JUDGE SS-709 Soul
The Prime of Shory Long SS-719 Soul [released NOV 1969]

He had recorded 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' earlier in the month of Jun 1969 .
--- --- --- ---
Fredrick Earl Long

b 5/20/1940 Birmingham, AL
d.6/29/1969 Belle Isle [Detroit], MI

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.48.238) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 04:27 am:

Apart from all the great and magic dancers
that Shorty gave us that are all listed above,
I was absolutley and still am to this day,totally blown away when I first heard his stomping and absolute unbelievable unissued track of
'Come Back To Me'.

As I am a big fan and still have his uptempo dancers that were once big favourites on the all-nighter scene,
when a friend called with the Acetate of the above mentioned 45,
it took me back to the good old days of when we were hearing rare and obscure dancers for the first time.

And on its first spin,
just had me,hook line and sinker(as Roy Wright once sang).
This is what its all about for me when a disc is spun totally unknown to me at that time,and after the first few licks has said it all.

That Motown family sure knew how to
copp a groove(as bobby wells sang).

Mooooooooove ya feeeeeeeet
to the sound of the beeeeeeeeeat!

mel.

By John Lester (81.132.3.14) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 05:49 am:

Are you sure that is the correct title Mel?

By John Lester (81.132.3.14) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 05:49 am:

Are you sure that is the correct title Mel?

By RD (63.188.32.57) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 07:45 am:

One of the Five Quails, who recorded for Harvey Records, once told me that he was at the recording company the day Shorty Long recorded an unreleased and undiscovered duet with Anne Bogan.

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.51.179) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 08:18 am:

John,
I am not 100% sure that the above title is correct or not.
That is and was all I ever got to know it as.
That may well of just been taken out from the Lyrics and thrown onto the Label.
Do you know of anything that relates to this John,
I assumed that it was out on some sort of compilation cd by now.
As it was well over 3 years ago when I got to hear it.I will mooch around and do a bit of asking,but I am sure that someone will know.

I have a few old tapes of unissued material that are still not(as far as I am aware)out in any form as yet.
If anyone can please shed any light on the title for me and John,it will be very appreciated.

John,
if you are not familiar with that title,then it goes without saying that it most probably wont be the original.
Many thanks
mel.

By Greg C. (209.71.79.212) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 11:21 am:

Shorty Long died in a boating accident in the Detroit River in 1969. A large freighter moved past a small fishing boat Shorty was occupying sending a huge wave over causing Mr. Long's boat to capsize. Unfortunately, being so far out in the deep water and unable to swim to shore/safety, Shorty drowned.

Motown released a second album on him shortly thereafter entitled "The Prime Of Shorty Long."
Kinda sad..another artist with a lot of potential
who Motown really never got behind.

By Scratcher (65.132.78.207) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 04:12 pm:

Some people who grew up with Shorty in Birmingham, AL are surprised he drowned. They say he was an expert swimmer and as a young adult worked as a lifeguard. But he may have been too far out or stunned by the capsizing to swim to shore.

By John Lester (81.132.3.14) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 04:21 pm:

Could this be the Temps track - could it be Eddie Kendricks with Paul Williams.

Mel......give me some lyrics

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 04:26 pm:

FUNCTION AT THE JUNCTION IS A CLASSIC,AND WHILE WE'RE HERE CAN ANYONE NAME THE ANSWER SONG TO FUNTION AT THE JUNCTION?

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.38) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 04:49 pm:

John,
just gave it a quick blast,
starts with a heavy uptempo beat
then Shorty comes in singing

'People wondering
whats wrong with me,
Wondering why
I'm all alone'

'Why it should'nt
be hard to see,
I'm so tired of
Living in Misery'

More lyrics follow then the main
chorus line is
'Thats why I Keep on
Singing,
I Want my Baby to
Come back home to me'.

A short break lyrically in the middle
and a heavy Brass and Horn section flies in
with Shorty then giving out a
short loud Laugh
before it goes back into the 4 beats to
the bar uptempo beat.

Hope this helps you John.
if we dont have any luck,
then I will play it in full and write all the lyrics etc down.
cheers
mel.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 05:11 pm:

Mel,

I think that's "Baby Come On Home" - I'll play
it later and let you know

Daie

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.38) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 05:17 pm:

Nice one Davie,
I bet it turns out to be a popular track by him.
mel(Turning red just in case).

By John Lester (81.132.3.14) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 05:26 pm:

Mel

Davie is right!!

It's on The Prime of Shorty Long LP. That LP cover was also red!!! And it also went on This Is Northern Soul Volume 2CD

Robert White played a big part in that track

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.84) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 10:11 pm:

John/Davie,
can you tell me any more.
When did the album come out?
Was it not an unissued track?

I Do have complete Motown etc listings
of singles and albums,but am not as deep into the material as your fine selves are.

Its the same with the various Detroit Material,as I have been a collector of the well known 45s etc that I got to hear at the various clubs over the years.

Its certainly great to be in the company of
all the 'clued up'personel that are able and willing to pass there knowledge on.

Hats off to one and all.
mel(aka.the Learner)

By soulboy (213.105.242.198) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 06:26 am:

Listened to the 'essential' album, love it, seriously funky and completely different to anything else.

By FrankM (81.152.61.52) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 10:27 am:

Shorty's version of Chantilly Lace was a stormer and had some brilliant fills from James Jamerson. In fact, it was the record that made me realise what a genius he was. I bought Shorty's album (Judge) in the sixties and the Essential CD is rarely silent. He was a favourite with the Funks, too, I believe.


I agree . He takes Jerry Lee Lewis's Chantilly Lace and turned it into something else. One of the funkiest motown artists and he did seem to bring the best out in the Funk Brothers. The instrumental version of Night Fo' Last was a big play on the UK soul scene.

BTW just listening to Richard Searling interviewing Sidney Barnes on JazzFM from teh West Midlands. Something about when Chess studos closed kids were rolling tape reels down the street.

By RD (63.188.33.138) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 10:35 am:

"Chantilly Lace" was originally done by the Big Bopper. I always like Shorty's version too but for reasons unknown Motown never included it or Long's first Soul release on his two albums. The Prime of Shorty Long had some good songs that could have been hits had Motown issued them and not "Whiter Shade of Pale."

By John Lester (81.132.0.222) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 10:44 am:

Mel

Baby Come Home To Me

It was the second track on the second side of the album "The Prime Of Shorty Long"

Issued on STML 11144 in May 1970

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.49.93) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 11:17 am:

John and everyone,
many thanks for all the info.
mel.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.30.85) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 12:18 pm:

Shorty Long may be short in length but had one of the most soulful voices at Motown during the 60�s� Here�s a scan of the tracks on the �Here Comes The Judge� album�



� and here�s �The Prime Of�� tracks



� a double CD �Complete Shorty Long� with all his Tri-Phi / Soul releases and not released tracks would be great! HW on Motown please!

By medusa (66.73.0.180) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 03:33 am:

Question!! Didn't Shorty Long record a song entitled~"(hey hey) it's gonna be a showdown"?

By acooolcat (61.58.181.126) on Friday, May 09, 2003 - 07:50 am:

No, that was Archie Bell.
Graham

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 08:36 am:

Has "Chantilly Lace" by Shorty Long ever been released on CD? I need a CD quality track for my radio station. I can only find the 45 in my collection.... Strange, it was not included in the "Essential Collection"... It's an essential track!

Lars

By RD (63.188.33.86) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 08:50 am:

Not to my knowledge, Lars. "Chantilly Lace," along with his singles on Harvey and Gwen Fuqua's label, appears to be the forgotten. I still have the original 45.

I haven't check Dead Dog Records lately but they're supposed to listing a Parts II of Harvey/Tri-Phi recordings. The first consisted of all the Spinners, The Five Quails, Challenger III's tracks along with cuts by Harvey and Loe and Joe. I hear the second will include tracks by Shorty Long and others, including a duet with Shorty and Anne Bogan.