By Des (217.42.9.44) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 07:30 pm:

Maybe this has been covered prior to my finding this Forum.
Can anyone elaborate on the fact that said Mr.Webb was,I understand,a staffer at Motown in the mid-60's.
I'd love to know more about this - if there's much to tell,of course.
Des

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 08:01 pm:

Des:
Jimmy Webb was a staff writer for Johnny Rivers Music during the mid-1960s - Marc Gordon (a former Motown producer for their West Coast office)was the professional manager for the company. Rivers Music published "Up Up & Away", "The Worst That Could Happen", "Paper Cup", "Carpet Man", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" among other songs by Webb.

In the late 1960s he had a publishing deal with Jobete Music. Jobete published "Galveston", "Didn't We", "Honey Come Back" & "Where's The Playground Susie" among others.

He also produced and arranged a wonderful (IMO) album by the Supremes in or around 1972 that contains a great song called "When Can Brown Begin" - the subject matter is race relations (he wrote the song). The album is called "The Supremes Produced & Arranged By Jimmy Webb".

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By westwinds (65.238.115.147) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 08:32 pm:

I never understood why the Supremes Jimmy Webb album wasn't more popular? Jean's vocals were chilling! Mary complained that Webb added The Blossoms on the backround vocals and didn't know why he felt that necessary. I think this was Lynda Laurence's only Supremes album.

By Des (217.42.9.44) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 08:35 pm:

Kev / I'm grateful for this info.I was a latecomer to fully appreciating Jimmy Webb and hadn't read a lot about him in the 70's/80's when I devoured most music publications.
Only in the 90's did I revisit his earlier solo albums and properly appreciate his 'classics'.
I had no idea of his linkage with Motown until early 90's when I read something in Mojo.
It came back to me tonight and I thought I'd throw it out here - where better to learn about such a linkage.
Thanks again.
Now,is that Supremes album on cd?

PS/ I'd recommend to anyone who loved his 'classic songs' to purchase Jimmy's cd "Ten Easy Pieces" Recorded in 95/96 in Toronto and,with the exception of a few added instruments/strings and famous friends on discreet backing vocals(Mike McDonald/Marc Cohn/Shawn Colvin),this is Jimmy Webb and piano singing his best known songs with soul.Truly memorable and emotional album.
Des

By dvdmike (68.72.174.100) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 09:11 pm:

Other Jimmy Webb classics:

WICHITA LINEMAN
MacARTHUR PARK

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, August 05, 2003 - 09:13 pm:

Des:
Only a few tracks made it onto the double CD antology of the Supremes 1970s material that was released here in the USA. "When Can Brown Begin" was one of the tracks that made it onto the CD.

Westwinds:
Jimmy Webb used the Blossoms on the session?!? If I was Mary I'd be ticked off, too!

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.192.24) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 12:15 am:

Des
not Motown
but I have the Original version of Shaine Martins 'I need you' which is by and was written by Jimmy Webb.
A great songwriter indeed.
mel.

By westwinds (65.238.58.19) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 08:51 am:

The Supremes Jimmy Webb album never made it to CD in total. If you check eBay, occasionally I've seen a CD-R of it available. If you listen to the backrounds, it sounds like the Morman Tablernackle Choir at times (a la Blossoms). I don't blame Mary for being ticked with him adding the extra vocals. I don't see why this was necessary, either. Mary and Lynda had pretty strong pipes! Whatever, I still like the music and it's worth owning if you can find it. Jean was in top form, that's for sure.

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.10) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 10:15 am:

I have memories of a superb version of Jumpin' Jack Flash I think by Thelma Houston arranged by Jimmy Webb for Motown.

By P.J. (209.166.148.228) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

Thelma Houston's 1969 "Sunshower" album contained beautiful renditions of Jimmy Webb compositions as well as a cover of 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'. It was originally released on the Dunhill label. When Motown undertook a massive re-issue program of classic albums in the 1980's, Thelma's "Sunshower" album suddenly bore a Motown imprint. This was probably due to the fact that at the time ABC and Motown both fell under the MCA distribution umbrella

By mc5rules (148.61.97.30) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 12:26 pm:

Before the inevitable Richard Harris bashing begins, I would like to pre-emptively admit that I'm a HUGE fan of his records...

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 12:43 pm:

Here are the songs from the Supremes album produced by Jimmy Webb, available on either The Supremes' Motown Legends Vol. 2 or 70's Anthology CDS:

M-756L - The Supremes - Supremes [11/72] (11-72, #129) I Guess I'll Miss The Man/5:30 Plane/Tossin' And Turnin/When Can Brown Begin/Il Voce De Silenzio (Silent Voices)//All I Want/I Keep It Hid/Paradise/Cheap Lovin'

The other 2 songs (to my knowledge), "Beyond Myself & Once in The Morning" are not on cd.

Pardon my ignorance, but what does "IMO" stand for?

Handsome

By P.J. (216.151.67.141) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 12:53 pm:

From the 1972 Supremes Produced And Arranged By Jimmy Webb album, several selections have made it to cd. Those most recently (in the Harry Weinger golden age of Motown re-issues) include 'When Can Brown Begin', 'I Keep It Hid', 'All I Want' and 'I Guess I'll Miss The Man' on the 70's Supremes Anthology; '5:30 Plane' and 'IGIMTM' on the 2000 Supremes cd box set. In addition,'Paradise', 'Tossin' And Turnin', 'Il Voce De Silenzo (Silent Voices)' are found on The 70's Supremes Greatest Hits and Rare Classics (1991). A budget release Motown Legends: Stoned Love/Nathan Jones (featuring a classic shot of Diana , Mary & Flo on the cover)
also includes 'Cheap Lovin'.
Perhaps someday, Motown will see fit to re-issue the Jimmy Webb album properly with bonus tracks.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 01:00 pm:

Handsome,
IMO is computer speak for In My Opinion.

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 01:04 pm:

Thanks Ralph.

P.J.-Would you agree with me about those other 2 songs...Once in the Morning & Beyond Myself not being available on cd?

Handsome

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 01:07 pm:

Didn't Jimmy Webb also produce/write an album for a young Stephanie Mills in the early 70's?

Handsome

By john c (12.2.233.107) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 02:59 pm:

Does anyone know what Jimmy Webb's up to now? He seemed to be a quiet and humble sort of guy on talk shows. I have his LP Land's End.

The popular Jimmy Webb song in the NW was Tunesmith which was recorded by the Bards and Springfield Rifle.

By Reese (204.152.13.4) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 04:02 pm:

Handsome,

Stephanie Mills' first Motown album was produced by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. I don't believe she did any work with Jimmy Webb, but I could be wrong.

By P.J. (216.151.67.112) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 04:12 pm:

Handsome,
I have never seen either of the 2 remaining titles on a legitimate cd, i.e., non-bootleg or cd-r.

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 05:36 pm:

Hey Reese!
How have you been? I believe you're right.

Thanks P.J.-We were cheated out of 2 songs, ha ha ha!

Handsome

By BandHouseDave (195.93.50.10) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:29 pm:

PJ:

Thanks for confirming the Thelma Houston. I didn't know about the Dunhill connection. Like so many great tracks I can just recall hearing it and where I heard it and these kind of vague connections. I believe it was Mowest label wise...?

By Stephanie (64.63.221.201) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:36 pm:

Jimmy Webb has a website jimmywebb.com and its pretty extensive. I emailed him and asked him a question once about the Supremes produced by Jimmy Webb and he told me he didnt remember to ask a fan....LOL Oh well at least he responded.
I will always feel that he did his best work with Glen Campbell,,,,
Stephanie
Kev Go lets go listen to some Galveston that is one of my favorite songs of Jimmy Webbs.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:47 pm:

PJ:
Thelma Houston was signed to ABC/Dunhill after Fifth Dimension manager Marc Gordon heard her sing in another project. Marc produced a couple of singles on Thelma for the label.

She then recorded the Sunshower album Jimmy Webb arranged & produced. After her stint with Dunhill she was signed to Mowest.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Des (217.42.15.145) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 06:58 pm:

I've just got settled after a VERY long day on the road(workwise).
I'm so pleasantly shocked to read so much information here -- thanks to all who contributed.
With all you who expressed,at worst,a love of JW's songs and doubtless have yr favourite covers of them - I'd reiterate his album (mentioned earlier by me) "Ten Easy Pieces".Some of you may be very very interested to hear his take on your faves. "Didn't We" is probably so well known in the hands of crooners that when you hear JW's version,you'd hardly believe the heart-rending beauty and simplicity he's brought back to his song.....I could say the same about all the tracks.
Thanks to all once again.....now I gotta catch up with all the rest of the Threads
See you later
Des

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 07:10 pm:

Stephanie:
I prefer Witchita Lineman and Up, Up & Away myself but I would'nt mind hearing Galveston again....
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By westwinds (65.238.58.143) on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 08:20 pm:

We pretty much know what Mary Wilson thought of the Webb album (ticked off he added the Blossoms). But, does anyone know what Mr. Webb thought of the recording sessions and of the album?

By HarchOhio (65.60.146.21) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 09:31 pm:

For a real Jimmy Webb experience, go get the Fifth Dimension CD "Magic Garden". All tracks but one are written by Webb. It's a terrific 1967 album, that I only discovered this year!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

Harch:
I have the 5th Dimension Magic Garden album on vinyl (released on Johnny Rivers' Soul City label)and it is indeed an experience! Great harmonies and the little "interludes" are cool, too.

Kevin "Paper Cup" Goins - KevGo

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 06:15 pm:

Always thought Jimmy Webb's WICHITA LINEMAN was a sad & powerfully haunting song; probably the most soulful tune Glen Campbell ever recorded. Would love to hear another singer ( a vocalist with both powerful pipes & sensitivity) someone of Luther's caliber tackle it. It could potentially become a hit again.

By HarchOhio (65.60.153.184) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 11:40 am:

There is a version of "Wichita Lineman" done by REM that I like a lot! Despite some of his eccentricities, REM's Michael Stipe is a fine pop singer (at times almost a crooner).

It's hard to find...on their "Bittersweet Me" CD single.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 06:07 pm:

moanman:
I'm with you regarding Glen's version of "Witchita Lineman".

Years ago, I was at a shop here in NYC called Downstairs Records where they had a turntable for auditioning records. I found an original pressing of Glen's single and put it on the turntable. Usually, a customer is only allowed a few seconds to check out the records but I was so caught up in the tune I let it play to the end and forgot to shut off the record player after my "seconds" were up. I apologized to the manager who said, "Don't worry - it was great to hear some real music for a change!"

As Mother Goins told me, great songs never go away...

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Mark Speck (199.182.98.121) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 10:09 pm:

"Tunesmith" was also recorded by Johnny Rivers on his "Rewind" LP. It's probably my favorite non-hit track of his.

Webb was also involved with the Audio Arts people as well. He was a member of the group Midnight Mail that cut an OK rock/soul track for that label called "I Can't Quit".

Best,

Mark