Specialized Music Thread: Motown

[pert -5]

Post all of your Motown favorites in this thread.  Please.  ...  ...  . .  ... pretty please.

I'll start this series off with the obligatory hand wave.  Hello.  And now, a news article related to the topic at hand:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/arts/music/nick-ashford-of-motown-writing-duo-dies-at-70.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

How many of you have ever heard of James Jamerson?  If you haven't, then you sit with the majority.  I'm not surprised that many haven't heard of Jamerson.  In addition to being one of the most innovative bass guitar players in history, he was nameless on all (I think) of the recordings he worked on for the Motown label.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson

One of my favorite songs Jamerson worked on (listen to that bass man, listen):


Excerpts from Jamerson's wiki page:
"According to fellow Funk Brothers in the 2002 documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown, (Marvin) Gaye was desperate to have Jamerson play on "What's Going On", and went to several bars to find the bassist. When he did, he brought Jamerson to the studio, who then played the classic line while lying flat on his back."

"Prominent bassists who have claimed Jamerson as a primary influence include James Brown's Bernard Odum, Pino Palladino, Alan Gorrie, Rick Danko, Anthony Jackson, Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, Bernard Edwards, Jason Newsted, Jaco Pastorius, John Patitucci, John Paul Jones, Robert DeLeo, Mike Watt, Billy Sheehan, Geddy Lee, Victor Wooten, Paul McCartney, Mike Mills, Suzi Quatro, Matt Noveskey, Tommy Shannon and Matt Rubano."

[pert -5]

Did all of you read and study enough about Jamerson?  You better have, because now there's a quiz.

True or False?  James Jamerson kicks ass.

If you answered True, then you are correct.  He kicks ass.  Well, sometimes he'd miss and kick the back of someone's knee, but close enough.

For our next lesson we will explore the depths of wonder.  Stevie Wonder that is.  For those of you who have never heard of Wonder, do us all a favor and listen to the following song videos.  A child prodigy, Stevie Wonder's impact on popular music continues to influence new artists.  And he's blind.  How much he's done with the abilities that he has, utilizing his limitations and turning them to strength to create a sound that could heal the world if people would but listen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder





From the wiki article for "Uptight (Everything's Alright)":
"The single was a watershed in Wonder's career for several reasons. Aside from the number-one hit "Fingertips", only two of Wonder's singles had reached the Top 40 of Billboard's Pop Singles chart, ("Workout, Stevie Workout" reached # 33 in late 1963 and "Hey Harmonica Man" reached # 29 Pop in the Summer of 1964) and the fifteen-year-old artist was in danger of being let go. In addition, Wonder's voice had begun to change, and Motown CEO Berry Gordy was worried that he would no longer be a commercially viable artist. As it turned out, however, producer Clarence Paul found it easier to work with Wonder's now-mature tenor voice, Sylvia Moy and Henry Cosby set about writing a new song for the artist, based upon an instrumental riff Wonder had devised.  On the day of the recording, Moy had the lyrics, but didn't have them in braille for Wonder to read, and so sang the song to him as he was recording it. She sang a line ahead of him and he simply repeated the lines as he heard them. In 2008, Moy commented that "he never missed a beat" during the recording."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uptight_%28Everything%27s_Alright%29

[Enigma]

[pert -5]

Enigma rockin' the house!  I love it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_James


My purpose for this thread, for those of you wondering, is to both share with everyone who might have missed it the wonderful music gathered under the Motown umbrella.  And also to state my appreciation of this music, and its inspiration for me both musically and lyrically.  My poems definitely harbor characteristics of the songs of Motown.  Whether it's heartache, harmony, or just plain spreading the love, I really love this music and it is a huge part of my artistic sense.  Before the song became an American Idol repeat, I used to sing Wonder's "My Cherie Amour" at the Rutter's convenience store I worked at.  I was 16 (1999) and loved it.  Soft for two lines in the verse, then loud.  Good stuff.

[Enigma]

One of the most fascinating books I ever read was the autobiography of Rick James. 

[pert -5]

One of the most fascinating books I ever read was the autobiography of Rick James.

Oh yeah?  That's awesome.  I'm not gonna lie and say I'll definitely check it out, but if I ever have the opportunity I will certainly be receptive.  You don't strike me as the type to dole out this sort of praise haphazardly and that says something about it right there.  Cool stuff.