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Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke
Post Number: 589 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 11:31 am: �� | ��� |
Top 3 best 1)Whered Did Our Love Go-Nelson George-best music writer 2)Dreamgirl-MAry Wilson--raves from NYTimes etc--doesnt bash anyone-tells truth as kindly as possible--and shes honest about herself!! 3)Berry Me and Motown-painfully honest from the REAL Queen of Motown Three Worst 1)To Be Loved - BG--to paint a pretty picture 2)Posner's Motown book-some good info tho ever hear about accuracy?did he do any research?-e.g.:"Mary and Cindy joining Diana on stage(at Motown 25) was unplanned and she did not look happy."You cant go by that Posner since when is Diana happy to share a stage!(LOL) 3)Confessions...Martha--where r the confessions-Martha sounds like a saint--self-serving. PS--How could I forget Secrets of a Sparrow by Miss Ross what can one say except "people dont understand that having a lot of hair is a huge responsibility"!! A classic. (Message edited by luke on September 04, 2004) |
Don (don) 6-Zenith Username: don
Post Number: 750 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.174.61
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 12:05 pm: �� | ��� |
Jimmy, I read Nelson George's book and couldn't put it down, to the point where'd I have to get the book stampt again at the library, over and over until I was finished with it. Mary, Raynoma and Martha are favorites. I didn't care much for Mary's second book accept in some chapters it picks up from her first book left off. I thought Martha's was the best that was publ during that time, I couldn't understand why she wanted to publ another and do it all over again-Why? Don |
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke
Post Number: 590 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 1:08 pm: �� | ��� |
Don--Martha's wasnt one of my faves (eg everything that happened with the Vandellas was THEIR fault-I doubt Roz and Betty were total villains in their "dismissal"--hence I find it hard to trust everything Martha says--as I do when any other celeb does same thing) She said she left out a lot of stuff hence the poor sales so she was considering one with more inside info. PS Give Raynoma Gordy's a look-Berry Me and Motown-well written and very honest and informative). I still wish someone would do a book on the aborted RTL tour-that would be fascinating!! |
Boynextdoor (boynextdoor) 4-Laureate Username: boynextdoor
Post Number: 79 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.229.252.13
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 1:50 pm: �� | ��� |
Best: 1) Dream Girl 2) Barry, Me and Motown 3) Reflections Mary's second book (I'm not sure how good it was, only being a huge 70's Supremes fan I found it interesting). Worst: 1) All that Glittered (stank!)Most of it "seemed" made up to me? 2) new book on The Marvelettes (poorly written and said nothing new...filler space with old pictures of other girl groups (which served no purpose). 3) Martha's book seemed self-serving, but still kind of enjoyed it. |
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke
Post Number: 591 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 149.174.164.24
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 3:05 pm: �� | ��� |
Boy u got that per Marvelettes and Martha. (Message edited by luke on September 04, 2004) |
NYC Diva (nyc_diva) 3-Pundit Username: nyc_diva
Post Number: 62 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.236.195.89
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 9:57 pm: �� | ��� |
I agree about the Posner book...that book was straight garbage!! How in the WORLD can this man proclaim to be a "Motown expert" (as he was referred to on the E! True Hollywood Story about Diana Ross) when he just read a couple of books and decided to write a book of his own?! He didn't know anything about Motown beforehand. And he's not even a fan of the music, I'll bet! Hell, as many books as I've read about Motown, then that should qualify me as an "expert", too. I can write. Where's my book deal???? *shaking my head in disgust* |
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke
Post Number: 592 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 10:10 pm: �� | ��� |
u go Diva--I heard he is notorious for inaccuracies in his other books. |
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon
Post Number: 197 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 80.225.154.29
| Posted on Saturday, September 04, 2004 - 10:58 pm: �� | ��� |
I don't know it's easily available in the States but here's one that's worth looking for "Celling Out Around The World : A Motown Reader" edited by Kingsley Abbott Publisher : Helter Skelter, London 2001 ISBN : i-900924-1-4-5 It's a collection of articles, interviews and think pieces and has some delightful surprises like an interview with Maxine Powell who was in charge of Motown's "charm school". Well worth the effort of finding - or get your library to get a copy. They should be able to track it down if you give them that ISBN number. Props also to our good friend Weldon McDougal's "Motown : The Golden Years" especially for coverage of people like the Different Shades of Brown. Bill Dahl who was Weldon's co-writer has articles in the "Motown Reader" on Junior Walker and the Miracles. Jimmy, thanks (?) for reminding me of how awful "Secrets of a Sparrow" was - afraid that one destroyed any lingering shred of credibility Diana Ross had with me. I have visions of the editors at her publishers suddenly finding they just had to be somewhere else - anywhere else - when Miss Ross came to see them. As Dorothy Parker once said about something else "not a book to be lightly tossed aside - it should be thrown with great force" Total airhead stuff - definitely a warning about the menace of "big hair" LOL Davie |
BJL (bjl) 3-Pundit Username: bjl
Post Number: 56 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 62.253.64.17
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 2:41 am: �� | ��� |
Somewhere, I have a paperback novel which was allegedly based on goings-on at Motown. It came out in the early or mid '70s and apparently made BG etc pretty angry - is there any truth to this story? It'll take a while but I could probably dig the book out. |
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon
Post Number: 198 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 80.225.154.36
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 4:37 am: �� | ��� |
BJL, the book's by Elaine Jesmer - "Number One With A Bullet" - as far as I know it's never been reprinted since its original appearance. That was around '75. There was a rumour that BG bought up the film rights so it could never be made into a movie - not sure about that since the owner of the film rights would presumably be Ms. Jesmer herself. Probably just one of those BG stories. Why it was never reprinted is another story - maybe it just didn't sell enough to warrant reprinting although if I remember rightly the publisher of the UK paperback (Futura ?) went bankrupt so it may have ended up in some legal limbo. It's been, what, thirty years since I read it - my copy's long since disappeared - I don't remember it as being all that great apart from the obvious fun of trying to identify who the book's characters were meant to portray. Davie |
John Lester (theboyfromxtown) 4-Laureate Username: theboyfromxtown
Post Number: 134 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.44.166.84
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 5:34 am: �� | ��� |
Elaine Jesmer was a Motown publicist..... |
Weldon A. Mc Dougal III (weldon) 5-Doyen Username: weldon
Post Number: 312 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.80.162.3
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 9:06 am: �� | ��� |
Elaine Jesmer is a friend of mine, she never worked at Motown, Weldon |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1526 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 10:53 am: �� | ��� |
The best...IMO Motown: The golden years Motown(the big coffee table book with the gold cover) Berry, me and Motown Where did our love go To be loved Guitars, bars and Motown superstars The worst-IMO Eye on the sparrow Posner book |
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon
Post Number: 199 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 80.225.148.65
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 12:01 pm: �� | ��� |
John, I think Weldon's right - from what I remember she worked as a publicist but for a club where some Motown acts were booked - Marvin Gaye ? Davie |
Arcadia (arcadia) 4-Laureate Username: arcadia
Post Number: 85 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.229.18.190
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 1:20 pm: �� | ��� |
Best: Motown - The Golden Years (Weldon McDougal) Berry, Me and Motown - Raymona Singleton-Gordy (spellings) Deliver Us From Temptation - (Tony Turner) Dreamgirl - Mary Wilson Martha Reeves (not sure of the title). She was somewhat self diminished, but I appreciated the honesty of her story. Very honest and very painful. Worst: To Be Loved - Berry Gordy Secrets of a Sparrow - Diane Ross (I saw a stacks of this book in Barnes and Nobel for .99 cents) Mary Wilson's second book, Reflections. Also, Otis Williams' book. Otis, next time give us MORE details about the Temps' music but less of you, you, YOU! Web Books: The Mike Hanks Story (Outstanding!) NYC Diva! You are so correct in your assessment of Posner's book! Go ahead and write your book ! ______________________________ ______________ Arcadia |
FrankM (frankm) 2-Debutant Username: frankm
Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.154.189.105
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 2:57 pm: �� | ��� |
Women of Motown: An Oral History (For the Record) by Susan Whitall, Dave Marsh Check this one out for the early history of Motown courtesy of a great interview with Mabel John. |
John Lester (theboyfromxtown) 4-Laureate Username: theboyfromxtown
Post Number: 135 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.44.166.87
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 4:31 pm: �� | ��� |
Weldon and Davie...I agree with you both. She used to publicise Motown's acts - but the way I guess I said it, I agree it could be misunderstood. Thanks for making it clear. The press that surrounded her book made it clear that Elaine had inside information about Motown's acts cos she had met them as a publicist. It was for that reason alone that I wanted to read the book. |
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke
Post Number: 593 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 149.174.164.24
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 6:52 pm: �� | ��� |
Yes Davie that book(Calling Out...) with interviews is great-even a brief one with Cindy Birdsong! And I thoroughly enjoyed the interview book on women of Motown, though Mary Wilson not a part of it(some fascinating,sad stuff about Mary Wells and she was working on an autobiography!).; I thought Martha's was as me me me as Otis' which I actually like more(Otis') and I dont think I learned one thing in Berry's book though I was surprised he said the competition in the Supremes was between Mary and Diana and not FLo). PS I would urge people to read Diana's just for the the incredible things she says. |
Ryon6 (tyrone) 3-Pundit Username: tyrone
Post Number: 33 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 192.128.167.68
| Posted on Sunday, September 05, 2004 - 10:56 pm: �� | ��� |
Didn't Raynoma retract some of the things that she wrote about in her book, Berry Me and Motown. Best: Dreamgirls Divided Soul (does it qualify) Call Her Ms Ross Worst: All That Glitters Tony Turner's second book about the Temptations |
Shawn1 (shawn1b) 4-Laureate Username: shawn1b
Post Number: 153 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.30.14.44
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 12:01 am: �� | ��� |
I loved Martha's book !But I felt she held back a lot and I hope she writes another one !I loved Both of Mary's books !I didn't like Diana's book because I didn't think she said anything but she had great photo's.I found Tony's books interesting just wonder if it's all true but then I know some was .Berry's book did nothing for me as I didn't think he would really tell on himself .The Marvelettes book to be honest kinda bored me .Shawn |
Wonder B (wonder_b) 6-Zenith Username: wonder_b
Post Number: 686 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 80.13.38.29
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 4:24 am: �� | ��� |
I also liked these books... by Sharon Davis by Raynoma Singleton by Peter Benjaminson Jack Ashford's book Wonder B |
Phil (phil) 4-Laureate Username: phil
Post Number: 167 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 213.36.162.175
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 7:57 am: �� | ��� |
I'm surprised that nobody has mentionned Don Waller's "The Motown Story", for me it's as good as Weldon's book. Also, "The Motown Album", with plenty of beautiful pictures. Davie, I didn't know "Calling out...", it's available on Barnes & Noble, and even on amazon.fr, where I'll order it soon. Thanks for letting us know. |
Davie Gordon (davie_gordon) 5-Doyen Username: davie_gordon
Post Number: 206 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 80.225.154.39
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 8:19 am: �� | ��� |
Phil, yes you're right about both those books - I didn't mention them as I was trying to keep to things that were still in print but they're both worth looking for. In fact I should be looking myself - I lent out the Don Waller book and didn't get it back. LOL That's usually a sign of a good book. Don's got a nice sense of humour - anybody who hasn't seen the book but has any of those old Rhino "Best of the Rest" CD's will know him from the booklet notes he wrote for them. "The Motown Album" has some amazing photos - I love that one of the Narvelettes as a quartet "on stage" in some cheesy looking club with a painted background of what looks like a scene ftom "The Sound Of Music" - the Marvelettes always looked like they were having a great time on stage no matter where they were. You'll really enjoy "Calling .." - there's a lot of good writing there and enough obscure information to keep collectors happy. DAvie |
Phil (phil) 4-Laureate Username: phil
Post Number: 168 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 213.36.162.175
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 8:39 am: �� | ��� |
You're right, Davie, Don Waller, being mostly (I believe) a "Rock" writer, has a great sense of humour, and some distance from his subject, that makes the reading of his book so much fun. And I prefer this, rather than reading idolatric writings about the artists that we love. I'm going to order "Calling out..." right NOW !!! |
Linda Di. (linda_di_fsg) 5-Doyen Username: linda_di_fsg
Post Number: 187 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.67.198.38
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 11:36 am: �� | ��� |
I enjoy Randy Taraborrelli's books. His Motown book (Hot Wax, City Cool and Solid Gold) is really informative. He's well known for "Call Her Miss Ross," but many people don't know that was his second Ross book. Both Ross books are good, IMO. |
Don (don) 6-Zenith Username: don
Post Number: 764 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.49.44
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 12:13 pm: �� | ��� |
Well Jimmy Mack, I don't know why a person buys books and waste their monies & energy reading and then disgard them in the first place. They may have some info to them? I disagreed with many at SD with the unfair treatment of a woman who was very close to David Ruffin and is the mother of his son. I'm not being argumentive just being fair. It doesn't matter what music critic or book witer that claimed to be the 'one' who knows/knew the sorted details about the life and times of David Ruffin. Because many writers that writes books always have a certain style of a so-call presentation, and I always can tell when it's not informative & richly in depth. I think hers we're I read a bit of the book to see that her book was direct, informative & in depth, but that's IMHO. But I think it was unjust the way the woman was being unfairly mistreated. We all all should remind ourselfs that we are all all still on the outside looking in, only she knows that. we all are given the opportunity to either write or to read the bio. And to be honest, the books I read so far was with the people who knew him and not personally interviewed the man himeslf-oh well? Don |
Soulman (soulman) 2-Debutant Username: soulman
Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.76.57.110
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 12:30 pm: �� | ��� |
Motown The History One Brilliant Book Written By Sharon Davies,So Much Information. |
Vonnie (vonnie) 5-Doyen Username: vonnie
Post Number: 279 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 1:35 pm: �� | ��� |
Don, I agree with you, we do not know the real story between DR and the woman who shared her life with him. I do know that the book was a very hard read for me. It is not written in a easy to follow pattern and was not edited very well. The book also has a very obsessive and bitter tone. It is not on my list of best reads. |
Don (don) 6-Zenith Username: don
Post Number: 767 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.49.44
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 1:45 pm: �� | ��� |
Ok, I can understand with the acessment. What little I did read was pretty much written shabbie. Don |