By david, glasgow, scotland (213.123.29.26 - 213.123.29.26) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 01:57 pm:

nice story in the free press today regarding marvin's epic album, reminds us also of the role of harry balk and forum regular ralph terrana in mighty mighty motown.

http://www.freep.com/features/books/gaye10_20011210.htm

By Ralph Terrana (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 02:53 pm:

David,
My cousin in Detroit sent me an e-mail regarding the artical. thanks for posting it. I was curious to see what it was all about.I don't remember being interviewed by the reporter, but my quotes are certainly accurate. The whole What's Going On saga is, to me, one of the most interesting incidents in the music business. Harry Balk deserves all the credit for getting that album out to the world.

By maredda (130.49.145.121 - 130.49.145.121) on Monday, December 10, 2001 - 08:47 pm:

That's a wonderful article and I will be looking forward to purchasing the book! I've always wondered how that album came about specifically although I have read that Pentz was inspired by the Four Tops' wonderful "Still Water" album.

By corvax (12.248.203.14 - 12.248.203.14) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 04:25 am:

david, thanks for the article. you know how much i love that record!

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.7.95.153 - 62.7.95.153) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 08:40 am:

maredda
what more can you tell us about 'still waters'album?

i always loved that 45.

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.7.95.153 - 62.7.95.153) on Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 09:02 am:

it took a bit of finding but here's today's instalment.

http://www.freep.com/features/books/gaye11_20011211.htm

p.s. glad you're enjoying it corvax.

By Steve S. (64.12.103.152 - 64.12.103.152) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 03:10 am:

One more installment of this story is due tomorrow. Also, there is a nice story from the 1991 Detroit Free Press issued when "What's Going On" was only 20 years old:

http://www.freep.com/motownat40/archives/910915.htm

That article mentions this album as the last "significant" album recorded at Motown in Detroit. While taking a Hitsville tour several years ago I recall one of the guides saying that the last album of any kind recorded there was by the Commodores, with a name of "Machine Gun" or something similar. True?

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.215.14 - 213.122.215.14) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:36 am:

true.

i used to have the 45. it was reasonably popular over here, pre their breakthrough.

john lester's bound to know.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.215.14 - 213.122.215.14) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:56 am:

marvin part 3

http://www.freep.com/entertainment/music/gaye12_20011212.htm

By John Lester (213.122.196.229 - 213.122.196.229) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 08:26 pm:

The last tracks recorded at Hitsville USA were

June 74...Producer Jeffrey Bowen on I Feel Sanctified/Superman-Commodores (Machine Gun LP) - (Duplicating only)
May 74....Norman Whitfield on non Hitsville USA recordings for I'm A Fool For You/Our Day Will Come/The Girls Alright With Me - Undisputed Truth
(Down To Earth LP)
Also in May 1974..the Clarence Paul produced album on Junior Walker which got issued here in the UK but not in the States..

So the last significant album was therefore Junior Walker's album recorded from Feb to May 1974....the rest are just bits....

For your information..1974 was really a period of low activity....besides the above..there was only Eric and the Vikings and G C Cameron

By david, glasgow, scotland (62.252.128.4 - 62.252.128.4) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 09:34 pm:

what were eric & the vikings doing?

By John Lester (213.122.202.12 - 213.122.202.12) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 10:39 pm:

Thats When Its Time To Say Goodbye..You Made My Love Light Shine......You Forgot To Remember....In And Out Of My Life

By John Lester (213.122.192.125 - 213.122.192.125) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 10:54 pm:

Steve....

The Motown guides said the same to me....and to be honest, for a place so deeped in classic-ness, I was sad to hear that..in fact, I wouldn't accept that it was true cos that album is so non-Detroit that it almost says it in the grooves. I thus took it on as a task to make sure the truth is known....

In any case, the Machine Gun album states quite clearly on the back cover...Recorded and Mixed at Motown Recordings Studio..California.

By Russ Terrana (198.178.8.81 - 198.178.8.81) on Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - 11:39 pm:

The 4 Tops "Still Water" Album was one of my favorite projects I have ever worked on. Producer Frank Wilson and I let our creative minds go wild when we mixed that album. Every cut on that album is pure class. Frank gave me full run to do what ever came into my head to do. When you have great tracks and top vocals, the challange is to give every fiber you can get into the mix. Thanks Frank

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.122.226.27 - 213.122.226.27) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 08:37 am:

i was totally unaware that this was a class album.

assuming it's on cd, i will get a copy a.s.a.p.

i think levi has one of the best vocals of them all.

By John Lester (213.122.193.126 - 213.122.193.126) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 09:16 pm:

David

It is never to late to appreciate quality..it NEVER goes out of fashion.

By John Lester (213.122.193.126 - 213.122.193.126) on Thursday, December 13, 2001 - 09:19 pm:

Russ (Mr T2!)

Can you let us have a comparison of working with 2 greats...Norman Whitfield and Frank Wilson.

I get all choked up with emotion at thinking of it

By Russ Terrana (198.178.8.81 - 198.178.8.81) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 12:09 am:

It's hard to put into words how it was working with "Wit" (Norman) He always knew what he was after but was open to any creative input. Norman gave me a free hand to create sounds. He was a master when it came to working with artists. He had a way of getting the best out of an artist. If an artist ego got to big, Wit would tear him down, then build him back up and end up with some of the classics we have today. A real master!
Frank Wilson had great insite and knew how to capture real emotions from his artists. I really enjoyed the many projects Frank and I did. He was a true friend. Befroe I moved to LA and flew back and forth from Detorit to LA, I would hang out at Franks house and those memories will last a life time. Two great guys who gave us great music. That's hard to find!

By John Lester (213.122.200.254 - 213.122.200.254) on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 08:12 am:

Russ........thank you for that....my insatiable appetite wants more....That is the first time I heard him called "Wit"...

So was that you who was creating those non musical sounds?

Now my brain is going overboard....and I am getting to think about my favourite Temps album of all time.....no surely not, no it just can't be...let me look...don't tell me you worked on the "Psychedelic Shack" LP.. PLEASE no cos if I find your name on it, I am gonna pass out!

TOO LATE! I just seen your name on it.

MAN....you have just reduced an old teenager to tears (of joy).

When I get myself together, I am going to ask you about that intro on "Psychedelic Shack" which was also used on "I Can't Get Next to you"...and the 45 mix of Pschedelic Shack and......BUT FIRST, let me get myself together, this is just TOO emotional for me