“I Don’t Want To Do Wrong” Peformed By Gladys Knight & The Pips (1971)

Gladys Knight & The Pips – I Don’t Want to Do Wrong #17 Pop

“End of our Road” is by far my favorite uptempo Motown release by GK&TP. It is funkiness at it’s best — even surpassing the group’s cover of “Grapevine IMHO.

“IDWTDW” is also one of the view songs that the group got to perform and promote with out it being an obligatory cover of a hit Temptation’s song (yes I said it: even Gladys’ herself said in one of her books, that Motown relegated them to Temptations’ left-overs, and the group’s Motown catalog proves it!)

This is another one of the few songs that everyone at Motown did *not* cover since there is no way they could have succeeded: This is the definitive version of this ballad composed by the group (William Guest, Gladys Knight, Merald “Bubba” Knight), Johnny Bristol, and Catherine Schaffner.

This song is from the hit Motown Set entitled “If I Were Your Woman.”  The LP went to #4 R&B and #35 Pop on the Billboard Charts.

A great way to start off your week — don’t you agree?

Musically Yours,

“Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)” Performed By The Four Tops (1970)

The Four Tops – Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life) 1970 #9 R&B, #40 Pop

This wonderful song, composed by Gloria Jones & Pam Sawyer, comes from The Tops’  second LP released in 1970 entitled “Changing Times.”  After listening  to their “Still Water” product, released earlier in the year, I couldn’t see how the group could come up with anything nearly as great.  But they came close.

“Just Seven Numbers”  is my favorite from the set and it charted higher than the title cut that was also released as a single — so I must be on to something 🙂

There is no way that I could even begin to tell the long and loyal story of this under-rated group, that put out consistenly great product,  with the same childhood friends as members spanning  for over forty years and two record labels,  so I won’t even try. (I wish the Classic Tempts had kept their egos in check as well as these men did)

There will be details on The Tops  to come later — in  what I hope to be a long life for this blog.  So for now I will leave you with the music of one of the greatest group of singers this planet has ever know.

Musically Yours,

“God Bless Whoever Sent You” Performed by The Originals (1971)

The Originals – God Bless Whoever Sent You (1971) #14 R&B, #63 Pop

If  The Andantes were the most prolific Motown female backup singers at Motown then The Originals were the most prolific male backup vocal group. All of the group members came from other vocal groups before coming together as one at Motown. Of course any real Motown fan knows how Marvin Gaye was so impressed with his backup singers that he helped them acheive their own success by co-writing (along with his then wife Anny Gordy Gaye) and producing the group’s  first and only smash #1 hit “Baby I’m For Real.”

The Originals 7th single release and their 5th to chart respectably,” God Bless Whoever Sent You,” was released in December 1970.

Now if you have been reading OSML for a while you know that I tend to favor some of the songs by an artist that you never seem to hear played on the radio and this is definitely one of those overlooked classic oldies that should be played and isn’t! If I have introduced just one reader out there in the blogosphere to this awesome ballad — then my work for today is done. (SMILE)

This composition, by Clay McMurray and Pam Sawyer, is a most beautiful ballad with all of the group members sharing in the vocals. This tune takes me back to being young and in love for the first time (or what I thought was love) –  but don’t tell anyone: let’s just keep that a secret between us. (LOL)

Musically Yours,

“It’s A Shame” Performed By The Spinners (1970)

The Spinners – It’s A Shame (1970) #4 R&B, #14 Pop

The Spinners had some mild success while at Motown, with a few R&B hits, but it wasn’t until Stevie Wonder gave them this song (co-written by a barely 20 year old Stevie Wonder and Lee Garrett) that they finally charted big.

Lucky for The Spinners, Motown still virtually ignored the group after this big hit and subsequently dismissed them, so that they were able to move on the Atlantic Records where they ultimately became a huge cross-over success in the music industry!

I, for one, first heard of The Spinners when my first beau introduced me to “It’s A Shame.”  I played the grooves off of that 45 rpm whether he was visiting the house or not: it was just so good to listen to and to dance too!

Later, when the group had smash after smash hits at Atlantic — I also wore out those LPs, especially “The Spinners,” “Mighty Love” and “Live!,” while at college.  Those are three of the best albums ever released IMHO. Every song was a gem – no duds.

Ah the good old days!

Read up on The Spinners then and now at their Official Web Site.

TRIVA: In addition to “It’s A Shame,” songwriter Lee Garrett also co-wrote Steve Wonder’s #1 R&B hit “Signed, Sealed and Delivered I’m Yours” and Jermaine Jackson’s #1 R&B hit  “Let’s Get Serious.”

Musically Yours,

“Everybody’s Got The Right To Love” Performed By The Supremes (1970)

The Supremes – Everybody’s Got The Right To Love (1970) #11 R&B, #21 Pop

Before the worldwide phenom called Diana Ross & The Supremes there was an awesome Motown trio called simply The Supremes.  Florence Ballard, Diane Ross and Mary  Wilson, three young girls from the Detroit Brewster projects, made beautiful music at Motown by blending their voices in sweet harmonies.

After Diana Ross left DRATS — once again there was an awesome Motown trio called The Supremes. Diane was not replaced but supplanted by Jean Terrell. Terrell’s voice had more maturity and soul than Diane’s. Under the guidance of producer Frank Wilson, The Supremes first album release in 1970, “Right On,” was not only the best Supremes LP since WDOLG , but the best of the decade IMHO!

I vividly recall singing the songs from this LP  in high school while in the lunch room, in Home Econ class and in gym class. We all loved this LP. In the student lounge we listened to it while playing Spades. Every single song had all three girls paraticipating and their voices could be heard!  The Supremes were back to being an awesome girl group again and they proved it by charting 4 hits in 1970 to Miss Ross’ 2 solo hits that year!

All in all, with an impressive 8 hit singles, these Supremes don’t get much recognition in the Motown history books where  it always appears that the group ended when Ross left. But that is oh so not true!  These ladies were dynamite.

“EGTRTL,” composed by Lou Stallman, was the second single released from the “Right On” LP after the hit “Up The Ladder To The Roof.”

Get with it Oldies radio -and play these  70s Supremes!  There were other personnel changes in the future of the group — but Jean,Mary & Cindy were the best lineup after DRATS!

Please give them a listen and make “Right On” a part of you music collection if it isn’t already. The LP rocks! It went #4 R&B and #25 Pop.

Musically Yours,

“My Mistake (Was To Love You)” Performed by Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross (1973)

Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross – My Mistake (Was To Love You) In  1974 Charted #15 R&B & #19 Pop

I am not a big Diana Ross fan – but I must admit that this song, composed by Gloria Jones & Pam Sawyer, is a really catchy tune and that Gaye and Ross’ voices sound wonderful together.  Truthfully I hadn’t listened to it in a while but as soon as I played it, before uploading it,  I was reminded of what a classic tune it is.

This tune was the third single release from the 1973  “Diana & Marvin.”  The hit LP charted #7 R&B and #26 Pop.

And once again, this is another great Motown song that I can’t recall hearing on the radio in the past  thirty plus years. Have you heard it played?  Me neither.

Marvin had made a promise after Tammi’s death – “NO MORE DUETS!”. He felt    like he was a jinx of some sort.   But Motown insisted on pairing its two superstars together for an album of DUETS! According to “Marvin Gaye, My Brother” by Frankie Gaye (pps 100-111),  Marvin strolled into the studio late for the first session smoking a joint.  Diana was pregnant at the time and sitting in a chair to sing and could not tolerate the smoke from the joint.

Of course Marvin refused to put it out and  needless to say the rest of the LP was recorded separately just like much of the three Marvin and Tammi sets were due to Tammi’s illness. And that was the end of this duet pairing period. (LOL)

Well this month we have gone over Marvin Gaye’s five female duet partners and the unfortunate demise of each pairing.  If you grew up on these duets then I hope hearing them again made you smile. If you were not familiar with some of Marvin’s duets pairings then stick around: I will be featuring more of these classic duets in the future here at OSML.

Now that you have had your music and trivia for the day I need you to please do your part and let me know which of Marvin’s musical partner’s is your favorite? You knew it was coming didn’t you?

All five pairings produced great music so it is a very hard question but life is hard so please vote.

Musically Yours,

“It’s Summer” Performed by The Temptations (1970 & 1972)

The CLASSIC Temptations – It’s Summer (1970)

Bass singer Melvin Franklin takes lead on “It’s Summer” while the awesomely harmonious Temptations provide a glorious background on this cut from the 1970  “Psychedelic Shack” album. The was their first of the new decade and their 15th in their career.  Another class set,  every song on this LP was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong,  and of course Whitfield produced all sessions.

I recall that this single was the B-side to “Ball of Confusion” and I played it over and over again on my portable record player — just listening to this song as it it were being sung only for me. I also recall that I was getting on my Grandmother’s nerves playing it over and over again. 😉  But Mel’s voice was just mesmerizing. Don’t you think?

The 4 MAN Temptations – It’s Summer (1972)

Now imagine 2 years later when I find out that the same song with Melvin’s lead has been replaced.  I  resented this fact — plus the fact that my dear sweet Eddie Kendricks was not a part of this album. Eddie was now gone because of his desire to continue to sing love ballads and not the psychedelic soul Whitfiled was intent on making.  But my Dad played this Album so much that he finally wore me down and it is now a favorite.

This album is also notable in that it contains the last Temptation’s song that Paul Williams ever sang on, “It’s Summer,” and it is  the only song on the album with his voice.  Paul was now  gone from the group due to sickle cell and alcoholism and I just felt betrayed that my classic five were no more. I really took it hard.

This time around Norman Whitfield not only had another artist re-do his song but had the same artist repeat it themselves with another one of his elaborate musical orchestrations.  Wonder how Melvin felt about them turning his solo  masterpiece upside down? And which one do you prefer my friends?

Trivia: With Eddie now gone this song was recorded with only 4 Temptations instead of 5!