By EricH. (64.12.105.179 - 64.12.105.179) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 08:20 am:

So is United Sound offically dead as a Studio? There seems to be some conflicting info. (I can vouch for the boarded up windows-I pass by all the time). If so, when was it last up & running? Is all the gear still inside? We can't let this one go!!! We have lost far too much of our history here in Detroit. I could go on & on, but no use preaching to the choir...

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.19.9 - 213.122.19.9) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 08:29 am:

the detroit free press will be running an article on united sound and some other locations in april/may.

someone wrote on here some time ago that it was recognised as an important site by powers that be.

this remains to be seen.

By DeAnne (24.234.119.126 - 24.234.119.126) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 11:00 pm:

I cut my record, "Look At Me Mama" in 1965 at United Sound. Dick and The Teenbeats cut a remake of "So Fine" in '64 there. Terry Sheehan cut a remake of "Just a Gigolo" in 1966. I will have to copy these labels for you so that you can see the credits. They were on the Big Top Label, Coral, and Dode records. Where's My Pussycat, the flip side of gigolo was written by John Merlino.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 11:09 pm:

is that 'do de re' or just 'do de' deanne?

we were discussing this recently.

type 'do de re' (without the quotes) in the 'search forum' function on the left.

By Ian W (213.122.6.136 - 213.122.6.136) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 11:53 pm:

Hi David, DeAnne

I think there is another Detroit label 'Do De' as well as 'Do De Re'. There is a 45:

Do De 111 - Royal Playboys - Arabia/Bring It Back.

It's a fantastic version of Arabia and no doubt worth lots! I think it's on one of the Goldmine compilations.

Ian

By Ritchie Hardin (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 12:39 am:

Hi Ian

Right! There are both the vocal and instrumental versions of the RPs' Arabia on Goldmine's Detroit Soul From The Vaults CDs (GSCD 19 & 20) - one on each volume ...so you have to buy both?!!!

By DeAnne (24.120.38.66 - 24.120.38.66) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 01:26 am:

Heading home from work now. I promise that this long holiday weekend, I will scan those labels and post them for you. The label is Dode..but I think if I look through my collection, that I can find some other obscure 60's as well. Anyway, got to go now.

By phillysoulman (205.188.198.58 - 205.188.198.58) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 04:21 am:

DE ANNE,

WE HAVE NEVER MET, BUT YOU ARE SUCH A WEALTH OF DETROIT INFO, AS I AM OF PHILLY. I AM IMPRESSED.
KEP IT COMING PLEASE.
THERE WAS A SESSION THAT I PLAYED ON IN 1968 AT TERA SHIRMA WITH MIKE TERRY. IT WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL PROJECT OF MOTOWN SONGS AND ONE PHILLY ONE. WE ALL ARE TRYING TO FIND THE INFO INCLUDING MIKE. EDDIE WILLIS MAY POSSIBLY REMEMBER, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF IT??
THERE WAS A REVIEW OF THE SINGLE IN BILLBOARD BACK IN THE DAY BUT CBS NEVER PUSHED IT. WHAT A PITY.

By EricH. (152.163.205.48 - 152.163.205.48) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 08:11 am:

About 5-6 years ago, the Free Press did an article about various musical landmarks around Detroit, including United Sound. Maybe another article will help raise awareness. The last remainder of the Paradise Valley district was just bulldozed & we lost Fortune a few months back, just as someone was negotiating to buy it to use as a blues club(the latter was covered by the Detroit News). As for the state demolishing United Sound for the expansion of I-94, that project seems to be on the back burner- it will be at least a couple years before that sees the light of day. It has been recognised as at least eligible as a historic place & worthy of moving (damn straight!). In the meantime, however, what's going on with it? Does Don Davis care about it? If I could, I'd buy it right now!
This forum is great- so many "insiders"!

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.45.85 - 213.122.45.85) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 08:41 am:

it would be nice to hear from don davis.

By Clay McMurray (66.73.186.88 - 66.73.186.88) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 01:42 pm:

Don Davis is now CEO of First Independence Bank in Detroit and does'nt have much to do with music anymore. The studio(United Sound)is no longer functional and all the equipment has been sold or
removed. I heard Don sol it to the City Of Detroit
for some sort of expansion for Wayne State University. I could be wrong,but I don't think so
He still has a great Library of material but I'm not sure what his intentions are beyond some of it he's licensed overseas. Anyway, United Sound
is history, unless someone has a miracle solution.
Also, I think Don would probably love the site and the forum, but I must say he's a busy BANKER
these days and the computers he touches produce
money on a daily basis LOL

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.1.173.67 - 213.1.173.67) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 02:30 pm:

thanks clay

By DeAnne (24.120.38.66 - 24.120.38.66) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 05:24 pm:

Phillysoulman; My cousin George Troia (trombonist)played on a lot of sessions in Detroit. I had him check out this website because he knows so many session musicians. I will e-mail him from my home this weekend and ask him about the session that you are referring to regarding the instrumental motown music. I wish he had more time but he is teaching during the day and playing in a broadway show at night (in Detroit). He loved the site, and I think he e-mailed someone (maybe David). He, and my cousin Buzzy (trumpet) will be able to add so much if I can get them going. They are a wealth of info from late 60's to early 70's. They played on a lot of motown sessions, and worked at night with me at the Dearborn TowneHouse (we had four horns in the group), and they knew most of the studio musicians in town during that time. Talk to you later.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.5 - 62.252.128.5) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 11:33 pm:

hi deanne
yes george e-mailed me and was able to tell me that he played in some studios that i know very little about.

i have responded to him and hopefully he will help with another piece of the giant jigsaw.

(ralph, george played at pioneer).

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 11:36 pm:

AHHHH...Pioneer...that story is coming next for the TS story David re: Alan Sussman

By EricH. (64.12.102.156 - 64.12.102.156) on Saturday, February 16, 2002 - 08:08 am:

That is truly a shame, if all of United's gear is sold (I have to wonder to whom & for how much). I am going to try to contact the current occupants in the near future...
For David & any other landmark hunters- here's a link to the city of Detroit's official site, where you can look up the ownership of any property:

http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/CityofDetroit/

By EricH. (64.12.102.156 - 64.12.102.156) on Saturday, February 16, 2002 - 08:09 am:

Ooops, here's the proper link:
http://www4.ci.detroit.mi.us/CityofDetroit/

By Ken Sands (63.212.148.148 - 63.212.148.148) on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 - 10:55 pm:

Hey Clay,
How you been doin'??Miss talkin with you....how is the studio doin??Any help I can be,call me.
734-453-7658.
Later, Ken