By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, October 08, 2002 - 09:31 pm:

Good idea Millie. If anyone deserves a thread it certainly is Marv. An early pioneer in Motown and truly a gentleman and all around class act.

By John Lester (217.40.221.24 - 217.40.221.24) on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 02:56 am:

I miss you baby (oh how I miss you) from the man who gave us "The Man Who Don't Believe in Love" long before the Temps did

Isn't it funny how song titles take on different meanings as time passes.

Nevertheless, what great songs!!!!

By Millie (68.40.198.72 - 68.40.198.72) on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 09:56 pm:

Hi Ralph,
I have nothing but fond memories of Marv...it's a shame how poorly he was treated at Motown near the end. He didn't deserve it...what he did deserve was respect..I don't think he ever got it.

By STUBASS (64.12.96.230 - 64.12.96.230) on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 10:28 pm:

MILLIE; IT'S "STUBASS" TO YOU. BUT TAKE MILLIE FOR EXAMPLE...DROP AN "I"...AND ADD AN "R"...YOU GOT IT! GREETINGS. STUBASS

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170 - 68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 10:35 pm:

Maybe Ralph could transfer the posts about Marv Johnson over here.

Sis

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 11:14 pm:

Sis,
Sorry, I can't do that. With the temporary format we are without editing capabilities.

Mille,
I never really got to know Marv, but I always had this gut feelng that he was jerked around somewhat by the company. Of course I had the same feelings regarding the Marvelettes and Martha and the Vandellas.

By Sue (205.188.208.135 - 205.188.208.135) on Wednesday, October 09, 2002 - 11:18 pm:

Wasn't Marv's contract sold to UA, as opposed to BG just licensing "Come to Me" to them?

It seems to me that, had he stayed in the Motown stable he would have gotten more personal attention after "Come to Me" ...

By KevGo (64.115.26.80 - 64.115.26.80) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 10:28 am:

Sue:
BG had a unique arrangement with United Artists at the time. He was allowed to release Marv's singles in the Detroit area on the Tamla label while UA would release Marv's singles nationally outside of Detroit. After Marv's run had ended BG sold the full rights to Marv's masters to UA. From that moment on, Marv was a Motown artist (I believe he recorded on the Gordy subsidiary). It's a shame to hear that he was apparently treated with disrespect while at Motown - one would think he would be given the same status at the label as Smokey Robinson.
Peace,
KevGo

By Sue (63.85.105.20 - 63.85.105.20) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 10:50 am:

Kevgo,
Yes I know that Marv's stuff was released here in Detroit by the company, but on UA everywhere else.

I do think had only the first single been licensed to UA and the rest totally Motown that they would have backed him more as their "own" artist.

I'm not sure that Marv was treated with disrespect, so much that he was ignored. That to an artist is very sad, though.

Marv did manage to tell me a few secrets in our first meeting, although I never got to formally interview him ...but those are for the delectation of the Motown crowd I run into here ...(laugh)

By Flynny (213.122.202.4 - 213.122.202.4) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 11:10 am:

I met Marv a few times in the late 80's/early 90s, when he was in London to promote his new recordings. He was always so enthusaistic for his music and always gave 200% when performing on stage, even in his latter years.
My fav track from him has to be "He gave me you", followed by "The man who don't believe in love", and then "Come on and stop" and "With all that's in me".
A great artist.

By LTLFTC (12.245.225.79 - 12.245.225.79) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 11:45 am:

Didn't Marv die in like '84 ? Time flies
Steve K.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 12:05 pm:

He died in the mid nineties.

By Sue (63.85.105.20 - 63.85.105.20) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 12:18 pm:

Yeah because my first Marv encounter was in '88, when the Hitsville house was dedicated as a state of Michigan historical site ...and he was alive for a few years after that ...

By LTLFTC (12.245.225.79 - 12.245.225.79) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 12:32 pm:

Yup, by golly, 1993. I must have been thinking about the time I was coming home from a gig ca. '84 and heard a tribute to him on the radio and figured 'wow, he must have died to be getting all these plays'.
Steve K.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80 - 64.115.26.80) on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 02:19 pm:

Sue:
Right on about what could've happened if Marv's record deal was different. Gordy must've needed the cash from the UA deal to help fund Tamla/Motown but who knows? Maybe our dear friend HW at UMG could do a "Marv Johnson - The Motown Years" anthology to complement the two album on one CD collection Collectables released a while ago...
KevGo

By F.Y.I. (64.12.96.230 - 64.12.96.230) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 07:07 am:

Marv Johnson fathered Aretha Franklin's first child. Aretha was a teen at the time.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62 - 209.240.198.62) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 09:44 am:

I sure didn't know that!

By thecount (199.178.209.4 - 199.178.209.4) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 09:45 am:

RALPH,I need to ask you something.E-Mail me your E-Mail address. "COUNT"

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 05:34 pm:

Listening to Marv's version of "Save my love....." on Cellarful CD.

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6 - 62.252.128.6) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 05:38 pm:

So is the next track..."Tell me it is just a rumor baby" Funk Brothers.

What can you say?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 05:41 pm:

Maybe that's what Aretha's folks said when they heard...?

By John Lester (213.123.141.141 - 213.123.141.141) on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 05:51 pm:

FYI

I don't think you are right there...I think you should have said that Marv knew who the father of Aretha's first child was.

However...let's get back to the music of Marv........and Flynny - I am with you...I love those songs - you and me have the same taste!

By soulie dave (62.254.64.6 - 62.254.64.6) on Saturday, October 12, 2002 - 04:18 am:

fantastic artist."just the way you are" is a great track. dont think i've heard "c'mon and stop" and "he gave me you". maybe flynny would know if they are available anywhere. thanks