Soulful DetroitArchives - July 2004 � Spy Vs. Spy (Jamo Thomas Vs. Luther Ingram) Previous Next

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Mark Speck (mark_speck)
4-Laureate
Username: mark_speck

Post Number: 73
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 4.131.17.181
Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 9:55 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Just wondering, as I was listening to Jamo Thomas's version of "I Spy (For the FBI)" earlier today at my desk at work...which version do you prefer, Jamo's or Luther Ingram's?

For me, it's Luther...I think he had a better voice. What say you?

Best,

Mark
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Heikki (heikki)
4-Laureate
Username: heikki

Post Number: 78
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 62.248.146.63
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 3:24 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Mark!

I also like Luther's version better. Another thing is that I'm not too crazy about the song itself.

Incidentally, although they didn't compose it, Leiber and Stoller showed Luther how the melody went. The mechanicals today belong to the Leiber & Stoller Music.

Luther: "Jamo Thomas recorded I Spy after I recorded it, and it was a deal between Jamo and, I think, the Impressions. Jamo was a very nice person, and I okayed Jamo for the record."
(The Luther Ingram Story in the # 2/2004 issue).

Best regards
Heikki
http://www.soulexpress.net
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Robb_K (robb_k)
5-Doyen
Username: robb_k

Post Number: 383
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 217.232.143.169
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:05 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I like Luther Ingram's version a lot better, for both his vocals, and the instrumental. The instrumentation is a lot more "Detroitish", thanks to Robert Bateman (even though it was recorded in New York (by Richard Tee, I believe). I don't like the MonK Higgins Chicago instrumental. It sounds a bit muddy and no real direction (not as good an arrangement as Tee's sharp one.

(Message edited by Robb_K on July 27, 2004)
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Heikki (heikki)
4-Laureate
Username: heikki

Post Number: 79
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 62.248.146.63
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:21 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Robb-K,

Luther insists he never recorded anything in Detroit and cut I Spy in New York. Actually I asked him twice about that. Robert, I believe, was mainly working in Detroit the time it was cut, late '65 (and released in January '66).

Randy Stewart, who was Luther's associate, friend and a long-time business-partner (still is, in fact): "I met Mr. Ingram in New York during the time he was working with Mr. Bateman. I was also working with Bob Bateman. We had a record with Mercury (Smash was a subsidiary - HS), and we were ready to produce another record for Riverside Records, although we never did it."

Best regards
Heikki
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mike s (mike_s)
4-Laureate
Username: mike_s

Post Number: 83
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 195.93.33.10
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:29 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yet to hear Luther after all these years....just can't seem to find it anywhere.Jamo's is the one that made it in the UK and one which I love! What a stomper....
does anyone else know Jamo's later version of Must I Holler (not the original blues-style with harmonica)? Think it must have been the followup to Stop the Baby...the rhythm track is so good it could be the Funks???
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Robb_K (robb_k)
5-Doyen
Username: robb_k

Post Number: 384
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 217.232.134.244
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 5:44 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Heikki. Of course, I meant to write "recorded in NEW YORK! "Detroitish", and EVEN THOUGH, clearly show I intended to write a city other than Detroit. And, of course, we all know Richard Tee worked out of The Big Apple. Actually, at the time Luther's record was recorded, Robert Bateman was bouncing back and forth between Detroit and NY. I'm not sure, but I think he's the one that influenced Randall Stewart, Gene Redd, Ronald Mosely and the rest of the NY ("Motown copiers") to have more of a Detroit feel in their productions with Richard Tee arranging.
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Heikki (heikki)
4-Laureate
Username: heikki

Post Number: 80
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 62.248.146.63
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 6:11 am: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Robb-K,

sorry I wasn't accurate enough. Perhaps it's due to the fact that I'm at work at the moment, haven't had a proper holiday for a long time and am working under tremendous pressure, which makes me only mad and lose my concentration, especially since my family is on vacation right now and I don't know if I can join them this summer at all.
This has even made me ignore my emails lately, although Soulful Detroit I try to check as often as possible.

But back to Luther, I agree that the instrumentation is very "detroitish", as was the case with everything Bob put out on Luther and a lot of others those days.

Best regards
Heikki
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SDF (handsome)
5-Doyen
Username: handsome

Post Number: 273
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 170.118.158.14
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 1:09 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I haven't heard Luther's either, but Jamo's version is kool and a real party starter, ha ha!

Handsome
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mel(andthensome) (mel)
5-Doyen
Username: mel

Post Number: 380
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 217.42.211.250
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 1:23 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I dig them both

M.I.5 Mel
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Nosey (nosey)
5-Doyen
Username: nosey

Post Number: 172
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.153.113.238
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 1:32 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Never heard Luther's version but since we're talking about him can someone tell me what is the lyric in 'If Lovin You Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right' when it says....'if being right means being without you, I'd rather.............

After all these years when I hear the song I have to hum that part.
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SDF (handsome)
5-Doyen
Username: handsome

Post Number: 276
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 170.118.158.14
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 1:39 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Nosey, I thought he was saying..

I'd rather be wrong than right??? or something to that effect.

Handsome
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Gary (gary)
4-Laureate
Username: gary

Post Number: 100
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 172.163.57.93
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 2:26 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Nosey/Handsome...the line goes:
"If being right means being without you, I'd rather live a wrong-doing life."

Lind of choppy sounding ain't it? It used to confuse me too.
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SDF (handsome)
5-Doyen
Username: handsome

Post Number: 278
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 170.118.158.13
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 2:35 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks G-man for the translation :o)

Handsome
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Don (don)
6-Zenith
Username: don

Post Number: 442
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.75.177.104
Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 6:10 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I wasn't too thrill about the "I Spy" song although I heard Jamo's version. People in the hood wasn't too thrilled about the either. When that song got play people use to get hurt spinning
the song. If all can take a hint, you gotta remember this was in the 60's and Vietnam and alot of ugly things happening here in the US and folks on the run from the draft & going A-Wall--.
I can listen to both songs now but things are still ugly to say the least.
Don
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Nosey (nosey)
5-Doyen
Username: nosey

Post Number: 194
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 64.12.116.138
Posted on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 5:26 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Gary, thanks! It makes sense and I would have never gotten it!
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Mark Speck (mark_speck)
4-Laureate
Username: mark_speck

Post Number: 97
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 63.188.137.223
Posted on Sunday, August 08, 2004 - 10:20 pm: ��Edit PostDelete Post���Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'll attest to what Gary says, Nosey, having seen people sing the song at karaoke shows. I also agree with Gary that the line is kinda clunky the way it's written...but it's still a great song and Luther is still the man!

Best,

Mark

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