Got It Covered: You Keep Me Hangin' On

"and there ain't nothing I can do about it."

Even though the song was full of desperation, the first time I heard Diana Ross sing that line, I remember thinking "oh she'll be just fine."

"You Keep Me Hangin' On," was the eighth song by the Supremes to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Another great song written by the Holland-Dozier-Holland team out of Motown, it had hit written all over it from the get-go. And this great song has been a hit not only for the Supremes, but it has also been successfully covered by several other singers and bands. Let's take a ride..

It moved from the classic Motown sound, to psychedelic rock by way of Vanilla Fudge. I also remember hearing that cover the first time, and I believe my reactions was sort of like "whoa, how'd they come up with that?" It's just a fabulous version of the song.

In the 70s, it came back again again a few times. First, because I could listen to him sing an instruction manual, Mr. Wilson Pickett. Full of soul and hopelessness. Just damn good.

 Also from the 70s, this time by Rod Stewart. Much more theatrical, and going back to rock mode, it just proves a good song is a good song.

As the music scene went to the disco and dance era, and the pop scene became way too relevant for my liking, Kim Wilde used a different arrangement and created another hit.

Now for my money, I'd probably take Diana and the girls. After all, there are those memories of us girls fighting over who would sing the lead in our bedroom mirror version of 60s karaoke. But then, the psychedelic version by Vanilla Fudge brings up a whole very different rush of memories. Yes, the difference of a few years brought about quite a change in recreational time. But I digress.

Enjoy a taste or two, and feel free to leave your memories.

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A Review of "Bad Self Portraits" by Lake Street Dive

Last week I wrote about some new music I couldn't wait to hear. Read that here. The band was Lake Street Dive, and the name of their new release was Bad Self Portraits.

Well, I listened to it a few times and wrote a review. It's published over on the Earth Hertz Records website. It would make me real happy if you would click on the link below, and check it out.

Lake Street Dive Delivers Some Bad Self Portraits

A Little Review of the Revue: Classic Soul

"Oh she may be weary

Young girls they do get weary

Wearing that same old Shaggy dress, yeah yeah

But when she gets weary

Try a little tenderness, yeah yeah"

Yeah, a little weary. Two weeks, five shows, two interviews, three states. A lot of preparation, a lot of writing, a lot of fun. While I finish up my official duties, just wanted to share a little about last night's show. But first, my review of Eric Burdon at the Highline Ballroom is now live over at ourvinyl.com. Check it out by clicking... Eric Burdon Review.

Last night I was at BB King's Blues Club in Manhattan to see A Decade of Soul: Classic Soul and Motown Revue. I wasn't planning on doing a review, just going as a civilian for a change. But the show was so enjoyable and so well done, I thought I'd just give a little taste of it. And well, when it comes to sharing music, I can't help myself.

From the introduction when you could hear the opening notes of "Dancing in the Street," to the end of the show with "Stand by Me" as part of a medley, there wasn't one down minute. Anchored by Prentiss McNeil who spent 28 years with The Drifters and Bruce "Big Daddy" Wayne, one of Wilson Pickett's Midnight Movers, you also had Janelle Jones filling in for Aretha, Martha, Tina and the rest... quite wonderfully.

"Midnight Hour," "Try a Little Tenderness," "Proud Mary," even "Sex Machine," they ran the gamut from Smokey, to Stevie, to James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and more... complete with a little dancing and one hell of a band.

It was a great show. While seeing the hot bands and the headliners is always fun, there is so much joy in just experiencing the music itself. The Revue featured very talented artists and how could you go wrong with the catalog of music they featured? The best times are often when you think outside the box. This was one of them.

How can you go wrong when you start a show with this...

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It Took Me By Surprise, I Must Say

"ooh, I bet you're wondering how I knew."

We all know that opening line. And whether we know the version by Gladys, Marvin, Creedence or the California Raisins, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" is one of those songs that will live on for generations.

The version by Marvin Gaye held the #1 spot on Billboard's Pop chart for seven weeks starting in December 1968. Marvin Gaye would have turned 74 today, but one day before his 45th birthday he was shot to death by his father. While the Grapevine was one of his most successful records, his music encompassed so much more.

From smooth Motown classics to exquisite duets with Tammi Terrell, to sensual albums like "Let's Get It On," Marvin Gaye took his three-octave range and caressed each vocal with restrained passion. Marvin Gaye not only interpreted songs, he wrote some good ones too. He wrote or co-wrote " Beechwood 4-5789," "Dancing' in the Streets," "Hitch-Hike," "What's Going on," and "Sexual Healing" to name a few. He started out as a drummer and played on some of early Motown's biggest hits.

He led a troubled life with bad relationships, drug and financial problems. But through it all he was the "Prince of Soul."

A few samples of the talent of Mr. Marvin Gaye

"You're All I Need To Get By" Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. Every song they recorded together was perfection.
"Distant Lover"
"Pride and Joy"

and well, because...
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" go on, sing it.

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A Morning With Motown and Martha

Watching a PBS fundraising special on Motown last night, I realized it has been way too long since we tasted the sweet sounds of the Motor City. Now the talent of Motown was so vast, it needs to be savored one bite at a time.

Today we go with one of the great girl groups: Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Rosalind Ashford, Betty Kelly, Annette Beard and Martha Reeves were the main members responsible for a boatload of hits in the early to mid-60's. The group was always a trio with a few changes in personnel, most notably when Beard left and was replaced by Kelly.

Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Martha and the Vandellas created a body of work with equal measures of fun and dance-ability. Listening to them, no way your feet aren't moving.

Kick up the volume, kick off your shoes and dance.

"Nowhere to Run"
"Honey Chile"
"Heatwave"
"Jimmy Mack"
"Quicksand"
"Dancin' in the Street"

yeah.

"If your feet ain't tappin', baby you're dead."

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Let's Get Tempted with A Little Motown

Motown.

In the 60's Motown ruled the domestic music scene. We still had the British invasion going on, but the number of talented artists in the Motown stable was phenomenal. Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye...the list goes on and on.

Slowly but surely, we will go through the Motown label. Today we will sample, one of the premier groups of the era...The Temptations. Now, back in the day there was a rivalry between the Temps and The Four Tops. Both featured great songs, lots of choreography and singers with wide vocal ranges. The Temps were always a bit smoother, more polished than the Tops, but I can still listen to all the songs from each group and still not be tired of hearing them.

A few tasty treats from the Temptations, featuring the wonderful David Ruffin.

"I Wish It Would Rain"
"I'm Losing You"
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg"
"Can't Get Next To You" featuring Eddie Kendricks
and the best of all
"My Girl"

That's some tempting treats served up today.

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Going Home To Motown: No Disputing The Truth

Motown. Where do you start...and how do you choose one definitive artist or song.  Can't be done, so here's what we're gonna do.  Start to cover all of it.  Just like we're going to revisit the cover songs and great lyrics from time to time, Motown will be a recurring theme. No other way around it.

Now, I grew up on Motown. Whether it was Smokey (how I love that man), The Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 or so many more, they could be seen on TV and heard on the radio non-stop. Fine by me.

The first taste of Motown is none of the above. One of my favorite songs from the Motown empire was from a group called The Undisputed Truth.  While not a really well known group, when you saw them on TV, you would not forget them  "Psychedelic Soul,"...they came out with huge white afros and white make-up.

In a song originally done by the Temptations, The Undisputed Truth had their biggest hit.

A double dose of the same song. Because I love the studio version so much, that one is up first.  But, I'd be remiss if I didn't include their live performance in full costume.

Watch your back, here comes...

"Smiling Faces, Sometimes"  - studio
"Smiling Faces, Sometimes"  - live

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