By STUBASS (206.135.204.2 - 206.135.204.2) on Tuesday, October 01, 2002 - 11:28 pm:

A LOT OF CONFUSION EXISTS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS JOE HUNTERS AFFILIATED WITH MOTOWN RECORDS. JOE HUNTER, IVORY JOE HUNTER, AND IVY JO (GEORGE) HUNTER. IVY JO IS AMONG THE NICEST GUYS YOU'D EVER WANT TO MEET. I HAVE ENJOYED HIS ACQUAINTANCESHIP BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY...HE USED TO HIT A MEAN TENNIS BALL, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN YEARS. HIS WORK ON THE VANDELLAS "DANCIN IN THE STREET", AND THE TOPS "JUST ASK THE LONELY", STAND OUT TO ILLUSTRATE HIS GREAT SONGWRITING SKILLS. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER HIS OWN TUNE " I REMEMBER WHEN"? ANYONE HAVE ANY GREAT IVY JO STORIES? I"D LOVE TO HEAR EM.

By David Meikle (213.122.66.140 - 213.122.66.140) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 03:45 am:

I can't tell you any stories but I do know of his involvement in one of my fav Motown songs "I'll always love you" by the Spinners.

Thanks Ivy Jo.

David

By Common (209.2.55.112 - 209.2.55.112) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 08:55 am:

I heard about Ivy Jo Hunter, but didn't realize there were three of them! Him & William "Mickey" Stevenson seem to have such great chemistry when they composed those songs. Didn't they also write "Loving you (is sweeter than ever)"? I love Marvin's version of this song. I know I've seen his name on other Motown songs, but can't think of them right now.

Peace!

By Millie (207.148.197.36 - 207.148.197.36) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 10:02 am:

I worked at Motown in the early 70's, and have a very funny story about Ivy Jo. I'd rather not post it here, so if you're interested in hearing it, please e-mail me.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 10:16 am:

I don't have a "story" but I'd like to comment that quite early in my Motown-listening, I sussed that any song with Ivy Hunter's name in it was worth more than a casual listen. As David suggests, the Spinners' I'LL ALWYS LOVE YOU is a cracker, but so are their I CROSS MY HEART, and the wonderful TRULY YOURS. And, let's not forget a pair of Isleys gems - MY LOVE IS YOUR LOVE (FOREVER) and the immortal BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE.

By Common (209.2.55.115 - 209.2.55.115) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 10:23 am:

Oh yeah, Ritchie! "Truly Yours" is a nice once indeed. I haven't heard the Spinners version but I love the Tempts version.

Mille, if you don't mind me asking, what job did you do while you were at Motown?

Peace!

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 11:38 am:

I've known the Spinners' cut of the song for years and years - so the Temptations' version is for me the interloper. It actually took me quite a while to "accept" it (would you believe...?) even with David on lead.

(Now if anyone can confirm who sang lead on Truly Yours and I'll Always Love You - that would settle another question raised elsewhere!)

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26 - 193.122.21.26) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 01:12 pm:

Ritchie,

I couldn't quite get used to the Temps. version
of "Truly Yours" either - probably the result of
having played the Spinners' version for the last
30 odd years. I know their first album is one of your all time faves - mine too. It's just soooo
comfortable - fine songs, fine singing, excellent
musicianship - it's one of those albums that creeps up on you unawares until I find that over
the years I've probably played it far more times
than albums that sold vastly more quantities.

I've always thought it was Billy Henderson
doing the lead but sometimes it's hard trying to figure out who's doing lead on a lot of Spinners'
tracks.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 01:25 pm:

Davie - spot on!

That album and I go back a long way. Jobs, houses, towns and wives have come and gone, but TML 11060 has always been with me! (One of the few catalogue numbers I actually know off by heart...) Now I have two copies after finally tracking down a US stereo copy - and no, I don't know for certain who sings lead on what. I just enjoy the group performances as a whole.

By Andy Rix (195.93.50.13 - 195.93.50.13) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 06:25 pm:

I think Ivy is one of the unsung Motown giants (I know there are lots) ... he has a gift that cannot be equalled by many & his name is a mark of quality,inspiration & perfection. His vocal is to die for & I would love to see some of his solo tracks issued. One of my all time faves is the Temts 'Last one out is broken hearted' which has got to be one of the best songs ever made ... you could just hear Ivy's 'sound' all over it ... his versions of 'Lonely girl' .. "it's a desperate situation' .. 'only a lonely man would know' & 'I'll always love you' are stunning. i got to meet him once & he was humility personified .. a genuine great guy. I have nothing but admiration for the man ... he's a genius

By Common (64.12.96.230 - 64.12.96.230) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 09:14 pm:

Is there any site where you can hear the Spinners' version? Any help would be appreciated!

Peace!

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 09:47 pm:

Hi Common,
While at Motown, I worked in sales and promotion, then Ralph Terrana rescued me and I began working for him which is where I met Bob Babbitt, and all the other wonderfully talented musicians who were still in Detroit then. A lot of the artists had already moved to Los Angeles by that time (1971-'72), but it was so magical just being in that BLUE building...taking the elevator everyday not knowing who would get on! I rode that infamous elevator with Edwin Starr, Smokey, Stevie, Marv Johnson (a real gentleman), Pops Gordy, etc., etc., etc.! Great memories. Sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on, but it was a wonderful time in my life.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 09:57 pm:

Millie,
Do you remember Gladys the elevator operator? ( these weren't automatic elevators folks ). What an absolute JOY she was. I loved getting on her elevator first thing in the morning. She always got my day started right.

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 10:01 pm:

Ralph,
Of course I remember Gladys the elevator operator! She always had a smile on her face...I remember one morning Edwin Starr was flirting with her and she was soooo embarrassed! Oh Ralph...where has the time gone!!
Millie

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 11:26 pm:

I'll never forget the blast of positive energy you always got from Gladys and from Mr. Nyx.

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26 - 193.122.21.26) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 07:40 am:

Andy,

I agree totally about Ivy Jo being a genius - one of ther things that strikes me about his songs is that there's always this really dark undercurrent
in the lyrics - "Danger - Heartbreak Dead Ahead"
seems typical. I can't think offhand of an
upbeat, in the sense of emotionally postive, Ivy
song - most of them seem to hint that no matter
how well things seem to be going in a relationship
disaster's just around the corner.

I'd love to hear that solo album he did for VIP
- was it ever actually released ?

I've been working on a listing on Ivy Jo's songs
- the number of classics that man's been involved in is incredible. A huge talent who
seems have just disappeared when Motown left for
L.A. The Impression I get from comments made in
Raynoma Singleton's book is that management, well
Ralph Seltzer, regarded him as a troublemaker
because he asked too many questions and that he
was effectively frozen out from getting his songs recorded.

Apart from his period with Ian Levine ( for my
money Ivy's "Storm Clouds" is one of the few
Motorcity tracks which can hold its own against
actual Motown tracks) the last time I say his name
on anything "new" was that lovely Curt Darin
single on Buddah and that's from 1976.

Ivy Jo - the lost legend. Hopefully he's still
comnfortable with the publishing royalties he gets
from endless reissues and covers of "Dancing In
The Street"
the

By jan (195.38.31.190 - 195.38.31.190) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 07:45 am:

which one of the hunters got captured by the game ?

By David Meikle (213.122.106.151 - 213.122.106.151) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 08:32 am:

Good stuff Davie.

If you ever feel like listing Ivy Jo's work on the web......

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.26 - 193.122.21.26) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 10:52 am:

David,

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHH !

I just spend two hours or so typing out a list
of Ivy's songs then discovered that it was twice
as long as the maximum size of post the board
can handle. I then managed to lose the whole
f**&%'n thing !

I need a coffee break - happy anniversary to
both you and Lowell - and to all the others
who contribute to the forum. Here's to many more years !

By David Meikle (213.122.44.77 - 213.122.44.77) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 11:10 am:

Davie

What to do in future is highlight what you have typed in then click copy.

A nice Ritchie tip.

We've all been there!

By Common (209.2.55.112 - 209.2.55.112) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 03:58 pm:

Millie, please ramble on. I enjoy reading & listening to stories! It sounds like you have some good ones! Must've been in awed to actually run into a Motown star one time or the other. Sounds like you've got some great memories there! :o)

Peace!

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 08:16 pm:

Hi Common!
Ok, you asked for them! Here are a couple of memories I recall as if they happened yesterday... Stevie Wonder used to get off the elevator on the 4th floor and whenver I would see him, he would ask me to walk him down to the Sales Dept. so he could see (?) how many of his albums had been sold that week! Also on the 4th floor, directly across from the elevators, was Smokey's office. Can't tell you how many times I'd get off that elevator and see him (his door was always open when he was in town) with a golf club in his hand putting into a little cup on the floor. The guy had class...always said "good morning, Millie"! Sigh...!! One day on my way to lunch (at the Flaming Ember for those of you who remember where the BLUE building was located), I ran into Eddie Kendricks. I'll never forget that day because he told me he was thinking of leaving the Temps to go out on his own. A year or so later, came "Keep On Truckin'". For all you women out there, he was absolutely adorable!! That's it for today, Common, I have to go write my memoirs now!!!!!
Millie

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2 - 206.135.204.2) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 08:36 pm:

MILLIE, THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR MEMORIES...GOOD STUFF, HOWEVER, MAYBE NOW YOU CAN SHARE AN IVY JO STORY OR TWO.

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 08:43 pm:

Well Stubass, let's see what Ralph thinks about that! I shared my one and only story with him today, and I'm not sure if it's appropriate for this forum. Ralph?????

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 10:19 pm:

I suppose it's ok Millie. After all it IS something Ivy Jo said. I should preface Millie's story with a description of Ivy Jo at this time. He always reminded me of some sort of mountain man in from the hills. He wore a lot of fringe leather etc and his hair was long and he usually wore some sort of Western looking hat. At least this is how I remember him. He also seemed to be somewhat of a loner. I nodded hello to him several times but I don't think we ever talked. I must admit, the man intrigued me. He was definitely different.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2 - 206.135.204.2) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 10:32 pm:

RALPH, YOUR DESCRIPTION OF IVY JO IS PRETTY ACCURATE, BUT TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM...HEY, THAT WOULD MAKE A GREAT SONG TITLE. IVY JO WAS ALWAYS CAUTIOUS AROUND NEW PEOPLE, BUT I CAN PERSONALLY TELL YOU THAT HE'S ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE YOU'D EVER WANT TO MEET, AND IN HIS OWN WAY, HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR. I CAN REMEMBER SITTING AROUND HIS BASEMENT WITH IVY, CURT DARIN...AKA GADSON...ROBERT WHITE, AND OTHERS AFFILIATED WITH US JUST LAUGHING OUR A*@#S OFF. SO COME ON MILLIE...LETS HEAR IT.

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Thursday, October 03, 2002 - 10:43 pm:

Stubass,
I don't think I'll go there. Suffice to say, Ralph's description of Ivy Jo at that time is pretty accurate. My mother always told me if I can't say something nice about someone, not to say anything at all.

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 12:13 am:

My memory of working with Ivy Hunter on vocal overdubs is that he was by far the most original thinker I can remember working with. I don't think most of what we did ever got released however I can remember hearing many of his ideas turn up in successful rock records four or five years later. There is no way those folks ever heard what Ivy did but he was clearly thinking years ahead of his time.

I've always thought of Ivy and Mike Valvano as providing unique spices that were a defining part of Motown's secret sauce between 1964 and 1968.

By JSmith (212.39.231.20 - 212.39.231.20) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 02:20 am:

Not really related to the above but another enquiry made to the people around Motown back in the day. Anyone remember anything much about Gene Dozier's short period in Detroit. He worked at both Motown and other studios / set-ups. I believe he was hired as a songwriter but also helped out with backing vocals, etc in the studio. I don't know of too much of his work that got released by Motown although there was one of his songs included on a late 60's Marvelettes LP (no doubt its hard to identify his efforts if they are just noted as being by Dozier). Gene went on to enjoy a lot of success later in LA with Solar Records, etc.

By STUBASS (64.12.96.230 - 64.12.96.230) on Friday, October 04, 2002 - 03:41 am:

MILLIE  / I APPRECIATE YOUR DISCRETION.