By maredda (130.49.149.41 - 130.49.149.41) on Monday, October 29, 2001 - 03:21 pm:

I recall reading this in my B. Lewis liner notes somewhere that she recorded some of her sides at Hitsville. Does anyone here know which ones? Seeing that she and Deon Jackson were managed by Ollie McLaughlin, I wonder if DJ had a Hitsville recording experience as well?

While I'm asking all of these questions, I might as well go for a third... I know Fortune veteran Andre Williams was involved in Motown to some extent, what about his Fortune labelmate Nolan Strong? It's just hard to believe that a guy who had such influence on many Motown singers (Smokey, EJK) did not figure into the Motown story at least marginally.

By John Lester (213.1.182.188 - 213.1.182.188) on Monday, October 29, 2001 - 09:32 pm:

There were 2 Barbara Lewis songs apparently recorded at Hitsville in July 1962....Gonna Love You 'Til The End Of Time and My Mama Told Me. I have to say that I have never seen any reference to these July 1962 sessions in my research on Motown over the years.

Neither have I heard any reference to Nolan Strong recording at Hitsville. I also heard reports that John Lee Hooker recorded there...and almost James Brown!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Monday, October 29, 2001 - 09:34 pm:

barbara recorded two tracks at hitsville;'gonna love you till the end of time' and 'my mama told me' in july 1962.

the andantes did backing vocals and 'marvin gaye was on drums'.

i think deon jackson was recording in tera shirma.

berry gordy offered nolan strong $1,000 to join him in 1961. he probably asked barrett strong, his cousin, to twist his arm too - but to no avail.

nolan died at age 43 in 1977.

By maredda (130.49.149.41 - 130.49.149.41) on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 01:10 pm:

Yeah, poor Nolan only 18 attended his funeral... his brother died two years prior... his brother of course replaced him in the Diablos while he was serving military duty.

Thanks, guys for the info. I always wondered if the Andantes were on "My Mama..." especially... I know those voices anywhere. And the drumming style is consistent with the style I hear on "Please Mr. Postman" which of course folks say Marvin played on.

By Dave Moore (193.165.251.236 - 193.165.251.236) on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 07:22 pm:

My wife and I were lucky enough to spend some time with Martha Reeves and Carolyn Crawford last summer and Martha recalled being told that Mr James Brown actually turned up at Hitsville and refused to leave his car in order to enter the "shabby little hut" that he regarded beneath him. Anyone else heard this tale? Carolyn is one of the sweetest people I have ever met, she charmed my wife to death! A lovely woman.

Dave Moore

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 09:46 pm:

tell us a bit more about your trip(s) to detroit dave.

were you on my type of mission?

etc etc

By maredda (136.142.158.100 - 136.142.158.100) on Tuesday, October 30, 2001 - 10:02 pm:

Wow, Carolyn Crawford! Martha Reeves! That would be such an honor. Speaking of Ms. Crawford, Motown had some of the sweetest sweet soul female singers (with respects to Holly Fox, Jackie Ross, Barbaras Lewis Acklin and Mason, et. al.)

By Dave Moore (193.165.251.233 - 193.165.251.233) on Thursday, November 01, 2001 - 06:43 pm:

Dave,

I ended up going to Detroit on a whim, firstly in 1992. I was fed up with all the "politics" on the UK soul scene at the time and decided that to visit Detroit, Memphis, and New Orleans was the remedy! I did no research before going and started in Memphis. I traced the route to SOULVILLE USA and found.....A car park!! Although I was a little disappointed to say the least the remainder of my time in Memphis was superb. I was arrested, then later released, by a very friendly policeman on Beale Street at the Southern Museum of Black History for taking the exhibits off the wall and attempting to buy them! (I thought it was a shop!) If anyone ends up in Memphis there are 3 locations you must visit. One is the Stax Revue Bar located at the southern end of Beale, they have a houseband that would rival anything I've ever heard. They also have Steve Croppers rhythm guitar which I was lucky enough to put through it's paces in between the bands sets. I then drunk a bottle of Jack Daniels with the band and retired to my bed at dawn euphoric! This night alone was worth the trip on it's own! The second place is the "Wille Mitchell Restaurant and Grill". Same deal as the Stax Revue Bar but with Gumbo!! Just guys (and gals) enjoying the musicianship, history, atmosphere and "spirit" of the place. Finally, the "BB King Bar" on the West of Beale. I ended up on stage playing Washboard with a local Cajun type band. Strange music to find in Memphis but there you go...a completely diverse city with people only too happy to let you get involved and enjoy.

Just realised.....this is a Detroit site and I haven't mentioned the place! I'll be back.......(to be cont).

Dave