Author |
Message |
dvdmike (dvdmike) 5-Doyen Username: dvdmike
Post Number: 223 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.253.193.85
| Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 11:02 pm: �� | ��� |
AT THE HOP - The number one hit for Danny & The Juniors in 1957 was originally recorded by Johnny Madara who co-wrote the song. Madara's version never got released. BLUE - Leann Rimes went to the top of the charts with a song written for, but not recorded by Patsy Cline. BYE BYE BABY - Mary Wells wrote it for Jackie Wilson, but when she auditioned the song for Berry Gordy, he insisted she record it herself. It was to become her first hit. THE DIARY - Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield wrote it for Little Anthony & The Imperials. Not satisfied with their version, he cut it himself and got a top 20 hit with it. A FOOL IN LOVE - Ike Turner planned to record the song with Art Lassiter, but he failed to show for the session. It was Ike & Tina's first hit. HELLO MARY LOU - The Gene Pitney-penned chart topper for Ricky Nelson was originally intended for Ray Peterson. I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong wrote this song back in 1965 and recorded it on The Miracles in August of the next year, but it failed to make it past Motown's weekly Quality Control meeting. Next, they tried it on The Isley Brothers; theirs didn't make the cut, either. Whitfield then produced a version on Marvin Gaye in early 1967 and was again rejected. Months later, Gladys Knight recorded it with Whitfield again producing and it went to #2 on Billboard's Hot 100. But Whitfield still saw something in Marvin's treatment and convinced the label to release it as a single, which they did in the fall of 1968. It turned out to be Motown's biggest single at that time, remaining at #1 for seven consecutive weeks. I WANT YOU BACK - Originally intended for Gladys Knight & The Pips, Berry Gordy decided to try it on The Jackson 5. Released on October 7, 1969, it was the first of 5 consecutive number ones. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME BY NOW - Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff intended this song for The Dells, but when financial terms could not be met, they cut it on the recently signed Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and it was their first top ten hit and gold record. KNOCK ON WOOD - Eddie Floyd wrote this one for his old Falcons mate, Wilson Pickett, but wound up cutting it himself. THE LOCO-MOTION - Gerry Goffin & Carole King wrote it for Dee Dee Sharp, but Little Eva's demo came out so well, that they released it and it went all the way to #1. LONELY BLUE BOY - Written as "Danny", Ben Weisman & Fred Wise wrote it for Elvis for the "King Creole" soundtrack. ONE FINE DAY - The Chiffons got a #5 pop hit with a song written for Little Eva. ONLY IN AMERICA - A mild hit by Jay & The Americans in 1963 after The Drifters' original vocals had been erased. The song was deemed to controversial for a Black group. ONLY THE LONELY - Roy Orbison wrote it with The Everly Brothers in mind. ONE BAD APPLE - The Osmonds scored their first number one on a song rejected by The Jackson 5. PALISADES PARK - The Freddie Cannon smash was originally intended for Dion. Writen by Chuck Barris. SEA CRUISE - First recorded by Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns, Frankie Ford, who sometimes appeared with Smith overdubbed his voice onto their track. STAND BY ME - Ben E. King reworked the spiritual, "Stand By Me, Father" and offered it to his former group, The Drifters. When they took an unsuccessful stab at it, King cut it himself during the same October 27, 1960 session that included "Spanish Harlem." SUPERSTITION - Stevie Wonder wrote the song for Jeff Beck. Beck first tried it unsuccessfully in 1970, then later recorded it with Beck, Bogert & Appice, but Stevie's version topped the charts. A TEENAGER IN LOVE - Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman wrote it for The Mystics, but when Dion & The Belmonts, much bigger stars wanted it, they gave it to them. The Mystics got "Hushabye" as a consolation prize. TRAVELIN' MAN - Ricky Nelson got this hit when Sam Cooke passed on it. VENUS - Frankie Avalon's only number one came on a song written for Al Martino. WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO - The Marvelettes passed on this Holland-Dozier-Holland ditty. All it did for the then second string The Supremes was kick off the longest string of number ones and top tens at that time. YOUNG AT HEART - This Frank Sinatra classic was originally offered to, and rejected by Nat King Cole. |
Randy Russi (randy_russi) 4-Laureate Username: randy_russi
Post Number: 122 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 169.139.180.100
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 8:39 am: �� | ��� |
WHEN I'M GONE by Brenda Holloway was first done by Mary Wells and was to be a follow-up to MY GUY, but Mary left the label. Same with her recording of I'LL BE AVAILABLE, which Brenda also did as well as EVERYBODY NEEDS LOVE which Gladys Knight & the Pips did. Mary's version has the fabulous voices of the Temptations on backup vocals and Eddie's voice really stands out. |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 5-Doyen Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 358 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.79.97.186
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 8:53 am: �� | ��� |
I once heard that the song 'Selfish One', was originally written for MAry Wells. I think JAckie Ross did a good job. |
Kdubya (paladin) 4-Laureate Username: paladin
Post Number: 145 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 206.185.64.23
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 9:39 am: �� | ��� |
The Contours recorded "Do You Love Me" which was orignally intended for the Temptations who were late for the session. Berry Gordy gave it to the Countors and they had one of their biggest hits. |
Manny (manny) 5-Doyen Username: manny
Post Number: 282 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.124.52.170
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 9:57 am: �� | ��� |
Hello Submarine! "Let's Clean Up The Ghetto" was write by Gamble-Huff-Gilbert for Lou Raws for his "All Tings In Time" PIR album in 1976. Also, I believe was recorded. They considered this song "out of context" for this album and, the next year was realised by Philadelphia International All-Stars (Lou Rawl's monologue intro, Billy Paul, Archie Bell, Teddy Pendergrass, Dee Dee Sharp and The O'Jays). Peace & Soul Food |
SDF (handsome) 5-Doyen Username: handsome
Post Number: 285 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 10:48 am: �� | ��� |
Here are a few: I Feel Good All Over-Originally intended for Patti La Belle, but she passed on it & became a hit for Stephanie Mills The Best Is Yet To Come-Originally intended for The Jones Girls, but they passed on it. Patti La Belle recorded with Grover Washington, Jr. It was written be Dexter Wansel & Cynthia Biggs. Love Should've Brought You Home-Babyface wrote this for Anita Baker, and she passed it to Toni Braxton...the rest is history! Everyday Is A New Day-Inteneded for Mary J. Blige, but Diana Ross went passed the studio & said she just had to have this song, written by Malik Pendleton. Son of A Preacher was originally offered to Aretha Franklin, but she turned it down. After her Dusty Springfield's version, Aretha cut this song in short order. Handsome |
Manny (manny) 5-Doyen Username: manny
Post Number: 283 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.124.51.83
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 11:12 am: �� | ��� |
Two Bunny Sigler's songs intended for others -"Picture Us" was write thinkin' in The Cruisers -"Things Gonna Be Better" was write thinkin' in The O'Jays Peace! |
Spyder Turner (spyder_turner) 3-Pundit Username: spyder_turner
Post Number: 51 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 68.42.246.252
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 11:15 am: �� | ��� |
DO YOUR DANCE- WAS WRITTEN FOR ME ORIGINALLY, BUT ROSE ROYCE WAS HOT AT THE TIME SO IT WENT TO THEM |
roger (roger) 4-Laureate Username: roger
Post Number: 149 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 11:30 am: �� | ��� |
Hello Everyone. I believe that "Rock your Baby" by GEORGE McRAE was originally intended for his (then) wife GWEN McRAE, but she failed to turn up at the recording studios. I also recall reading an interview with GWEN McRAE, where she claimed that FREDERICK KNIGHT has also intended his song "Ring My Bell" to be done by her, but the same thing happened again so he recorded it on ANITA WARD instead. In other words, Gwen missed out on the opportunity to record not one .. BUT TWO .. international smashes!! A very under-rated singer is GWEN McRAE ( IMO ). Roger |
dvdmike (dvdmike) 5-Doyen Username: dvdmike
Post Number: 224 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.208.234.61
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 12:49 pm: �� | ��� |
I forget who, but someone at Motown stated that the story about "Do You Love Me" being originally written for The Temptations was not true. It was a story that sounded good, but never really happened. I believe Bobby Eli said that "Sideshow' was written with someone else in mind. Bobby, tell us the story. |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 881 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.22.60
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 1:10 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi Mike, et all!! Yes, Sideshow was first presented to Thom Bell for the Stylistics, but he said " nah Ellsworth(he called me Ellsworth) that aint it bub!!" He also liked the word "bub" In fact, right after Vinnie and I wrote that song, we did a very ruff demo onto a cassette with she and I singing it with me saying things like "this is where the circus sounds should go" The very first group to try and sing the song was Formula Three, a group that I met in Bermuda, who came up to visit. The next group to try the song was Purple Reign. Then one fateful night around midnight, I heard a pebble hit my window and it was none other that Norman Harris(RIP) who was cruising by that Friday night. So he came up and we played Sideshow for him and we went into the studio that Sunday to record it. Problem was, Ronnie Baker somehow didnt show up which was very unusual for him, so we rescheduled it for that Tuesday and the rest is history. |
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo) 4-Laureate Username: kevgo
Post Number: 129 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.33.151.141
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 6:11 pm: �� | ��� |
Jackie Wilson's 1966 hit "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)" was originally earmarked for the Artistics. When Jackie heard the demo he said to producer Carl Davis "That's it! That's a hit! I gotta record it!". "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher" was written originally for the Dells. Barbara Acklin's "Am I The Same Girl" was shelved and recut as the instrumental hit "Soulful Strut" released under Young/Holt Unlimited's banner. The Marvellettes rejected Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Where Did Our Love Go" - they thought the song was too silly. H-D-H cut the song on the Supremes. The Beatles turned down "How Do You Do (What You Do To Me)" and suggested to EMI that Gerry & the Pacemakers should record the tune. Mac Davis' "In The Ghetto" was first offered to Sammy Davis Jr but was scrapped when Sammy appeared at the recording session unprepared. Mac's publishing company then pitched the tune to Elvis Presley who made the song a top ten hit (Elvis also recorded Mac's tune "Memories"). Lionel Richie's "Lady" was written for a Commodores recording session but the group rejected the tune (they wanted more uptempo material). Lionel's next door neighbor Ken Kragen was Kenny Rogers' manager and brought the demo to Kenny's attention (the result was a #1 hit and Lionel was later hired to produce Kenny's 1981 album "Share Your Love With Me"). Kevin Goins - KevGo |
Kev-Lo (7273747576) 5-Doyen Username: 7273747576
Post Number: 171 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.231.236.177
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 6:19 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi this is Kev-Lo The Winstons Song Color Him Father was to be done by Otis Redding but the winstons did it and made a huge hit out of it |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 892 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.22.60
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 6:59 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi Kev Go |
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20
Post Number: 1526 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 7:39 pm: �� | ��� |
Hey Kev Go, re. Am I The Same Girl. I still love the instrumental better. I read that Barbara was absolutely livid when they did that. Could you clarify the thinking that went into the labels decision to reverse fields on Barbara. Especially considering that Eugene & Barbara were two of their most prolific artists, Barbara was a year removed from Love Makes A Woman & The Chi-Lites were about to blow up. I once read about the decision to shelf AITSG, could you shine a little mor light on that decision? |
Manny (manny) 5-Doyen Username: manny
Post Number: 287 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.124.51.124
| Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 9:02 pm: �� | ��� |
I believe have read in the Vince Montana's website, he write "Runaway" thinkin' in his daughter, but finally was Loleatta Holloway who put his nice southern voice. Anyway I don't knows how sounds the voice of Vince's daughter (Denise, ?). Peace! |
johneflat (johneflat) 4-Laureate Username: johneflat
Post Number: 105 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200
| Posted on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 12:58 am: �� | ��� |
"MY WHOLE WORLD ENDED" originally written for the TEMPTS, ended up a hit for DAVID. |
roger (roger) 4-Laureate Username: roger
Post Number: 151 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17
| Posted on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 11:36 am: �� | ��� |
Hello again Everyone. KevGo .. I'm intrigued by your statement that "Higher and Gigher" was originally intended for THE DELLS. I have a "Best of the Dells" C.D. that includes a song called "Higher and Higher", and credited as being written by the same songwriting team who wrote JACKIE WILSON's classic ( "Smith - Miner" I think). However, it is a different song ( although there are some similarities with the chorus ). This has intrigued me for years .. could it be that the song was re-written at some stage. Roger |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 5-Doyen Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 364 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.79.88.103
| Posted on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 11:57 am: �� | ��� |
roger, Inoticed you mentioned Freddie Knight...he recorded a song years ago called "I Betcha Didn't Know That" and I'm still in love with that song...is he still a round? |
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo) 4-Laureate Username: kevgo
Post Number: 146 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.33.204.224
| Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 4:54 pm: �� | ��� |
Roger: Here was the deal regarding "Higher & Higher" as explained to me by Roquel "Billy" Davis - Chess' head of A&R from 1960-69 - and Carl Davis, who was the A&R chief at Brunswick Records. "Higher & Higher" was written by Raynard Miner and Roquel "Billy" Davis, who relenquished his songwriting share to Miner to help him financially. It was cut by the Dells for their "There Is" album. After the session, Miner's sheet music for "Higher" was stolen from his briefcase. Not even two weeks later, Jackie Wilson hit the streets with his "Higher", which was brought to Carl Davis by songwriters Carl Smith & Gary Jackson. Roquel Davis waited for Jackie's single to hit the top ten before meeting with Carl about this incident. Carl was willing to cooperate and split the publishing royalties but had to get approval from Brunswick VP (& Jackie's manager) Nat Tarnopol. When Nat said "no way", Roquel slapped a lawsuit against the label, Smith & Jackson. Smith & Jackson claimed that they found the sheet music in a garbage can whereas Miner presented his BMI info and copyright paperwork. The courts ruled that the songwriting will be split with Miner receiving the lion's share. Kevin Goins - KevGo |
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo) 4-Laureate Username: kevgo
Post Number: 147 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.33.204.224
| Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 5:05 pm: �� | ��� |
Juicefree: In my conversations with Barbara before she passed in 1998, she did tell me thet Carl Davis' decision to release "Am I The Same Girl" as "Soulful Strut" left a bad taste in her mouth although she was happy that "Am I The Same Girl" did well in England, where Dusty Springfield and later on Swing Out Sister each recorded versions of the tune. As far as Barbara's "Am I The Same Girl", the label did sit on the single until Young/Holt's peaked at #3 on the pop and soul charts and released it in January 1969. As far as the decision for Barbara to concentrate on songwriting, that was pretty much determined by Barbara with some encouragement from Carl and Eugene. Songwriting came easy for Barbara whereas performing in public as a soloist almost scared her. To hear her say that she came up with the bridge to "Have You Seen Her" in a matter of seconds ("Why oh why did she have to leave and go away....")after Eugene tried for days to come up with a bridge to no avail still amazes me. Kevin Goins - KevGo |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 977 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.42.56
| Posted on Sunday, August 01, 2004 - 5:48 pm: �� | ��� |
Kev, Did Barbara ever receive her proper royalty accounting for her songs? |
mike s (mike_s) 4-Laureate Username: mike_s
Post Number: 97 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 5:47 am: �� | ��� |
Some great inside info from Kev. Amazing Barbara had such a wonderful voice but didnt like performing on stage. As for Higher, didn't Carl Smith work with Miner and Davis on many tunes for Chess including Rescue Me? |
roger (roger) 4-Laureate Username: roger
Post Number: 153 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17
| Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 5:54 am: �� | ��� |
Hello all. Kevgo .. Thats a fascinating story about "Higher and Higher". Thanks for clearing up the mystery. Roger |
dvdmike (dvdmike) 5-Doyen Username: dvdmike
Post Number: 227 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.208.234.61
| Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 7:21 am: �� | ��� |
I met Barbara and Gary Jackson on the same day at Chess Studios back in 1982. This was several years before the city made the building a national landmark and later a museum. This was when Gerald Sims owned the building and was using it for educational purposes. |
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke
Post Number: 461 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.198.48.201
| Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 8:43 am: �� | ��� |
Great topic. I thought I read that Joe Jackson said the One Bad Apple thing was not true. The Ronettes were first given Chapel of Love; and Viki Carr of all people had He's A Rebel!!!Is ther any truth to the Vandellas having had a shot at I Want You Back initially? |
Mark Speck (mark_speck) 4-Laureate Username: mark_speck
Post Number: 84 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.188.113.223
| Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 6:14 pm: �� | ��� |
Jimmy--the Ronettes do "Chapel of Love" on their classic Philles LP, "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica". Manny--The Cruisers did cut a version of "Picture Us" for a Gamble single, with "Mink and Sable Mabel" on the flip. Bunny cut it later for PIR as the B-side to his version of "Tossin' and Turnin". Best, Mark |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1006 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.162.125.188
| Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 11:01 pm: �� | ��� |
I want you back was writen specifically for the J5. The Corporation..Freddie Perrin, Fonce Mizell,Deke Richards etc, were given a room at one of the big hotels and stayed there until they got it right. |
Manny (manny) 5-Doyen Username: manny
Post Number: 292 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.124.52.96
| Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 11:44 am: �� | ��� |
Hi, Mark, Thank you for your detailed info about the Cruiser's single. I got also "Tossin' & Turnin" in a Bunny Sigler compilation. I believe some songs by Delfonics were intended for Linda Creed (in the Philly Groove years) as vocalist, until Thom Bell convinced she that she is better as songwriter. Peace & Soul Food |
SDF (handsome) 5-Doyen Username: handsome
Post Number: 321 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14
| Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 11:52 am: �� | ��� |
This Old Heart of Mine/What Becomes of the Brokenhearted was originally meant for the Supremes (which they still recorded as a album filler). Of course the Isley Bros. & Jimmy Ruffin had the hit on those songs. Handsome |
dvdmike (dvdmike) 5-Doyen Username: dvdmike
Post Number: 231 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.208.234.61
| Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:51 pm: �� | ��� |
I might have been misinformed about "I Want You Back." Weren't some of the songs on Dee Dee Sharp's "What Color Is Love" LP intended for Mary Wells? |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1025 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.53.10
| Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 1:04 pm: �� | ��� |
Manny, Im not certain about those songs, but Linda was , at one time being considered to be recorded as an artist. FYI, in the mid sixties, she sang with the Soul Brothers LTD, a local bar band. Now, WB, if you have a pic of them you are one baad mofo!! |
Tony Russi (tony_russi) 5-Doyen Username: tony_russi
Post Number: 194 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.210.24.149
| Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 3:11 pm: �� | ��� |
Yes dvdmike, "Just As Long As I Know You're Mine" was written by Mary Wells & Cecil Womack and Mary had done a rough vocal but she didn't sign. |
Arcadia (arcadia) 3-Pundit Username: arcadia
Post Number: 67 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.237.47.26
| Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 6:50 pm: �� | ��� |
Holland-Dozier-Holland presented "Baby Love" to the Marvelettes and they rejected it. Well, we know what happened after that. http://www.history-of-rock.com /marvelettes.htm |
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke
Post Number: 473 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.139
| Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 11:38 pm: �� | ��� |
no no no---it was Where Did our Love Go--one book said Baby Love but HDH have confirmed it was Where Did Our Love Go per Marvelettes. I never knew Mary W was going to sign with G-H--any details? |
SDF (handsome) 5-Doyen Username: handsome
Post Number: 325 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14
| Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 12:10 pm: �� | ��� |
I concur with Jimmy Mack, in Mary Wilson & Cat Schaffner's book, It was "Where Did Our Love Go". One song intended for Dionne Warwick was "Take A Love Song" by Donny Hathaway. Donny actually wanted to Dionne to record it. Handsome |
Rodmann (rodmann) 5-Doyen Username: rodmann
Post Number: 332 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 12.223.151.165
| Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2004 - 5:33 am: �� | ��� |
I just found out that Dennis Edwards' solo hit 'Don't Look Any Further' was supposed to be a duet with Chaka Khan! Chaka was unable to record the song because she was on tour. Now, 'Don't Look Any Further' is my jam already and Dennis tore it up but can you imagine Dennis & Chaka TOGETHER! Whoa! That song would've been an even bigger hit than it was! Siedah Garrett did an ok job on 'Don't Look Any Further' but she doesn't add anything to it. The song and Dennis' performance are so good that all Siedah had to do was go along for the ride. In fact, you can barely even hear her! I've never cared for Miss Garrett's singing at all. Her performance seems on 'Dont Look Any Further' seems even more lackluster to me now that I'm imagining what Chaka Khan would've done with her part. Too bad! |