By David Meikle (81.130.211.124) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 03:50 am:

Listening to Barbara Lewis in the car this morning, singing "Ask the lonely",it struck me that a list of artists covering Motown songs would be interesting.

Fire away please!

By acooolcat (61.58.181.63) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 04:03 am:

Here are a few Detroit cover versions of Motown songs;

Since I Lost My Baby - The Perfections (Drumhead)
You Keep Me Hanging On - Black Nasty (Tank)
All I Need - L J Reynolds (Black Lady)

Graham

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 10:59 am:

SINCE I LOST MY BABY,LUTHOR..MY GIRL[FORGOT THE GROUP]..OOH BABY,BABY,LINDA RONSTAT.

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:17 am:

Hello everyone,

My choices are:

Just My Imagination: Lilio(sp?) Thomas

Money- The Flying Lizards

Uptown Festivial- Shalamar

You're All I Need To Get By- Aretha

Tribute to Stevie Wonder- Stars on 45

Creepin- Luther Vandross

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)- James Taylor

I Heard It Through The Grapevine- CCR & Zapp

Carl Carlton- Baby I Need Your Lovin

Peace!

By Eli (151.197.6.175) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:21 am:

I cant help myself...Donnie Elbert
Heaven must have sent you...Bonnie Pointer
Would I love you...Len Barry
Grapevine...Michael Mc Donald
Since I lost my baby...Luther
Ill be there... Mariah C.
You made me so very happy...BS&T
For once in my life... Tony Bennett

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:37 am:

For Once In My Life:

Rance Allen
Paul Anka
Ken Arlen
Patti Austin
Roy Ayers
Shirley Bassey
Madeline Bell
Tony Bennett
Cilla Black
Michael Buble
Kenny Burrell
Glen Campbell
Vikki Carr
Ray Charles
Roy Clark
Vic Damone
Bobby Darin
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Kiki Dee
Desmond Dekker, Desmond
Percy Faith
Dionne Farris
Melissa Ferrick
Ella Fitzgerald
Erroll Garner
Robert Goulet
Buddy Greco
Joe Harnell
Gene Harris
Human Beinz
Etta Jones
Jack Jones
Tom Jones
Steve Lawrence
Enoch Light
Mantovani
Dean Martin
Curtis Mayfield
Carmen McRae
Matt Monro
Peter Nero
Esther Satterfield
Jimmy Scott
Vonda Shepard
Frank Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
O.C. Smith
Spiral Staircase
Sylvia Syms
Bobby Troup
Bobby Vinton
Dionne Warwick
Andy Williams
Jackie Wilson
Nancy Wilson

AND THERE ARE MORE COVER VERSION, I AM SURE!!!!

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:38 am:

Here's a great question:

Does anyone know who recorded "For Once In My Life" first? Who's version would be considered the original??

By Soul Sister (65.43.167.42) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:41 am:

Hey Motownboy, you forget Jimmy Scott on that song from his CD "Lost and Found" all songs recorded 1969 & '72.
S.S.

By Eli (151.197.6.175) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 11:56 am:

I believe that Stevie was first.
Ron Miller co wrote the song and was the first Motown song to be published by their new Ascap company, Stein and Van Stock.
Berry named it that because he thought that it sounded like an old line established company which has been around for years.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.184) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:02 pm:

It's not widely known but "For Once In My Life" was first recorded and released by Jean DuShon on Chess Records.

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:05 pm:

Hello everyone,

The Tempts did a version on their "Mellow Mood" LP & Paul Williams is singing lead. I thought theirs was first since the LP was released in '67. It was said that BG loved Paul's version of the song.

Peace!

By Scratcher (65.238.127.184) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:21 pm:

Duson's version came out a few months before Stevie's and was doing well in Detroit. Ron Miller sought Jean out to do the song because, as he said, he wanted a more professional voice to interpret it. It came out on Cadet, a subsidiary of Chess.

By Charmedes (142.165.109.239) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:08 pm:

"Strangers in the night" as performed by the Supremes - a high gloss performance

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:41 pm:

Hey Everyone -

Put your thinking caps on..

I do know that "For Once In My Life" was written in 1965.....It definitely wasn't Stevie Wonder (1968)or the Temps (1967) who did it first.

The earliest I can think of is either Tony Bennett in late 1965 or early 1966 and the Four Tops and Barbara McNair each in 1966.

I thought someone out there might have some "inside Detroit" knowledge on the first recorded version and/or the first released version - which may or may not be the same one!!!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 01:58 pm:

motownboy:
According to Berry Gordy's autobiography, "For Once In My Life" was first recorded by Tony Bennett.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 02:21 pm:

Here are some Motwn Covers:

The Sweet Inspirations-Chained (Marvin Gaye) & Just walk in my shoes (Gladys Knight & The Pips)

Aretha Franklin-Reach Out & Touch Somebody's hand & You're All I need to get by, Until you come back to me (That's what i'm gonna do), Ain't nothing like the rela thing.

The Honey Cone-Ooh Baby Baby

Sherrick-Baby, I'm for real

Margie Joseph-Stop! In the name of Love & My world is empty without you

Donny Hathaway-What's going on

By Soul Sister (65.43.167.42) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

Kev-Go;
I thought the same thing! Tony had a big hit with that song which is when JB added it to his show.
S.S.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 02:31 pm:

Jackie Wilson - For Once In My Life & You Keep Me Hanging On

Chi-lites - Inner City Blues

Barbara Acklin - You've Been In Love Too Long

Ike & Tina Turner - A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Every Day)

Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels - Devil With A Blue Dress (used in medley with Good Golly Miss Molly)

Aretha Franklin - Tracks Of My Tears (from her Soul '69 album)

Otis Redding - My Girl

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 02:46 pm:

According to SITSOM, Stevie's "For Once In My Life" sat in the can for a few years before it was released. Where's Harry? He would have access to recording dates.

By Scratcher (65.238.128.229) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 04:25 pm:

According to this Dushon recorded the song in 1966 that was quite a bit before Wonder not a few months as I previously posted. Tony Bennent didn't record the song until 1967.

While at Chess, DuShon recorded "For Once in My Life." This was the original recording of the song and was so good, it was picked as Spotlight Record of the Week by Detroit's WXYZ radio in 1966.

http://www.mnblues.com/review/2002/jeandushon802-rmc.html

By Thommygirl_70 (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 04:36 pm:

This is a good topic! There are sooooooo many. There can just be a list of the songs motown artists covered from each other as well as a listing of songs that have been covered by *each* individual motown artist. It seems like just about everyone from all musical genres has done a motown song. I was listening to the radio the other day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers had done a cover of Stevie's Higher Ground.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

Steve:
Stevie's "For Once In My Life" was recorded two years before it was released in 1968. According to Stevie's boxed set that was released in 1999, Stevie wasn't too keen on cutting "For Once.." in the first place and it was shelved until the
tune gained a new life thanks to many versions that were released prior to Stevie's (including Paul Williams' killer version from the TCB television special).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 06:06 pm:

Thanks Kevin. I bet by 1966 Stevie was starting to cut some of his own material by that time and didn't want to be labeled with a would be showtune. He certainly didn't slack off on the performance...I think it's one of his (& the Funks) greatest performances.

-Steve

By Scratcher (65.238.127.82) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 06:39 pm:

The erroneous information posted here about "For Once In My Life" is astonishing. Stevie Wonder didn't record the song until January 1968. The first Motown artists to record the song was either Barbara McNair or the Four Tops depending on the date since both cut the song in 7/66. Jean Dushon's original preceded both McNair and the Tops'.

By ErikT.O. (64.228.108.81) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 07:19 pm:

"What's Going On?"- Les McCann, his hot hot hot double live lp from Montreux in 1971 (Atlantic) has recently been issued on cd, this is a truely stellar performance & I sort of wander if Pete Townshend was inspired the opening track which sounds a lot like the middle of "Who Are You" (1978)...
Some more Motown covers- The Who-
Leaving Here
Heatwave
Dancing In The Streets
Rolling Stones-
Just My Imagination
My Girl
Hitch Hike
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
J Geils Band- Where Did Our Love Go?/
I'll come up with more later, I just realized I have to leave now...

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.10) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 09:46 am:

I heard Ron Miller in an interview say he was initially horrified with what the Funks and Stevie had done to his slow ballad. Stevie did do some of this kind of material 'straight' - I have a version of 'If I Ruled The World', but they certainly tore up 'For Once In My Life'.

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 12:45 pm:

I agree with Scrathcer that it is amazing how much erroneous has been posted about "For Once In My Life."

Scratcher, you mentioned a version by Jean DuShon on Chess Records, do you have a release date or recording date for that version?

The earliest RELEASED versions I know about are from Barbara McNair on her "Here I Am" LP released November 1966 and the Four Tops' version on their "Hello Broadway" LP in January 1967. The Temptations' first released version was on the LP "In a Mellow Mood" - November 1967. Tony Bennett's was recorded in July 1967 (not 1965 as I said above) and released on the LP titled "For Once In My Life" - Columbia LP CS 2773 (Mono) 9573 (stereo) in December 1967.

http://home.earthlink.net/~steveja7/Bennett/Bennett65.html

It has been mentioned on the Motown Message Board that the earliest known recorded version was done by Connie Haines in 1965, but was not ever released....

SO does anyone know of a version released before November 1966 when Barbara McNair's was released??

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 01:05 pm:

More covers....

Never can say Good-bye-Isaac Hayes

If this world were mine-Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn

Your Precious Love-Al Jarreau & Randy Crawford

Since I lost My Baby-Luther Vandross

By the cool jerk (151.203.13.27) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 02:02 pm:

Twist and Shout- The Beatles

By Scratcher (65.238.127.48) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 02:25 pm:

Hey MotownBoy, I never heard about that Connie Haines' recording but it's interesting; must have been just a demo or scratch session though cause it doesn't show up on any documented Motown sessions.

The Four Tops and Barbara McNair both recorded the song sometime in July 1966. I don't have the exact dates of either. McNair's as you posted came out before the Tops' but I don't know if it was recorded before the Tops' rendition. Dushon's original beat both to the marketplace on Cadet Records and was played in Detroit.

Ron Miller had just signed with Motown as a writer and knew Dushon (raised in Detroit) as a trained vocalist in the Nancy Wilson mode; in fact, both Dushon and Wilson were managed at one point by John Levy; Dushon's version is how Miller had envisioned the song being done.

Some of the old time Detroiters here probably know Jean Dushon by her real name, which I can't think of now.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.48) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 02:34 pm:

MotownBoy, to answer your question more succintly: Jean Dushon's version was out on Cadet prior to 11/66 and made a local chart.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 02:35 pm:

Scratcher & motownboy:
In Berry Gordy's autobiography, he said that the first artist to have a hit single with "For Once In My Life" was Tony Bennett. Otherwise, other Motown artists recorded it prior to Bennett.

Why do people get sooooooooo bent out of shape when folks make mistakes out here....

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Scratcher (65.238.127.48) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 02:39 pm:

KevGo, that clarifies that. Berry said the first artist to have a HIT single on "For Once In My Life" was Tony Bennent, which is right.

However, the question somebody brought up was who recorded the original version not who had the first hit with the song.

By motownboy (67.117.46.60) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

Kev & Scratcher, it's all cool to me... I am learning quite a lot from yours and everyone's input.....

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 02:02 pm:

Ooh Baby Baby - Five Stairsteps, Escorts, Marlboros, Perfect Blend, Linda Ronstadt, Magnificent Seven, Laura Nyro

Agony and Ecstasy - Barbara Mason

Forever - Barbara Mason, Tabulations

Where Did Our Love Go - Brenda and the Tabulations

Oh Be My Love - Barbara Lewis

Fork In The Road - Rebbie Jackson

I Want A Love I Can See - Jennifer Love Hewitt(YES, that brazen girl).

Neither One Of Us -Superbs

My Girl - Whispers

Baby I'm For Real - After 7

Can I Get A Witness - Dusty Springfield

Jimmy Mack - Laura Nyro and Labelle

My World Is Empty Without You - Post-Motown Mary Wells

Shop Around - Captain and Tennille

By LG Nilsson (213.89.29.190) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 02:12 pm:

Hi folks,

I don’t know if this record is well known here, but this is a great cover. Motown meets Philly!



This label, Jay-Walking, also has some great Detroit productions.

Lars

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 05:55 pm:

Please Mr. Postman-The Carpenters

By Des (217.42.9.44) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 06:01 pm:

Came up with a coupla "late entries" :
Terry Callier - Just My Imagination
Grover Washington,Jr. - Mercy,Mercy Me & Inner City Blues
Japan - I Second That Emotion
Des

By Charmedes (142.165.104.110) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 06:30 pm:

Money (that's what I want) - Beatles
You keep me hanging on - Vanilla Fudge
Mercy mercy me - Ottmar Liebert
Inner city blues (make me wanna holler)-Etta James
You made me so very happy - Blood, sweat & tears
Jimmy Mack - Charity Brown
Baby I need your loving - Johnny Rivers

By Larry (68.164.129.66) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 03:16 am:

Lars,

For me, Soulfuldetroit would not be the same w/o your gorgeous scans. Thanks yet again for sharing.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.29.190) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 03:21 pm:

Larry,

Thanks for the nice words… A much underrated singer is Alvin Robinson. I don’t think he recorded more than about ten singles or so, but he never did a bad track. His “Down Home Girl” is a classic. 1968 he cut “Baby Don’t You Do It”, earlier recorded by Marvin Gaye.



This cover is a real killer! His voice is so deep and bluesy. If you have not heard this guy before I really recommend checking him out. Alvin sadly died in 1989.

Lars