Author |
Message |
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: �� | ��� |
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 |
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: �� | ��� |
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 |
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: �� | ��� |
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) |
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: �� | ��� |
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 |
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: �� | ��� |
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??? |
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: �� | ��� |
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. |
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: �� | ��� |
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 |
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: �� | ��� |
I haven't heard Luther's either, but Jamo's version is kool and a real party starter, ha ha! Handsome |
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: �� | ��� |
I dig them both M.I.5 Mel |
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: �� | ��� |
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. |
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: �� | ��� |
Nosey, I thought he was saying.. I'd rather be wrong than right??? or something to that effect. Handsome |
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: �� | ��� |
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. |
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: �� | ��� |
Thanks G-man for the translation :o) Handsome |
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: �� | ��� |
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 |
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: �� | ��� |
Gary, thanks! It makes sense and I would have never gotten it! |
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: �� | ��� |
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 |