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- 98 DEGREES
- 702
- ANDANTES, THE
- ERIKA BADU
- BLINKY
- BOYS II MEN
- CHARLENE
- TOM CLAY
- COMMODORES, THE
- CONTOURS, THE
- BOBBY DARIN
- DAZZ BAND, THE
- DEBARGE
- DENNIS EDWARDS
- 5th DIMENSION
- FOUR SEASONS
- FOUR TOPS, THE
- JOE FRAZIER
- GENERAL KANE
- JOHNNY GILL
- GARRY GLEN
- LESLIE GORE
- AL GREEN
The Artists Back To The Top
THE 5TH DIMENSION Back To The Top
In the 70's, the 5th Dimension, minus Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., looked to Motown for a new direction and sound. The signing was more of a curse than a blessing as the 5th Dimension lost their footing on the charts that they never recovered from. During their tenure, they recorded two albums that didn't live up to the group's, or Motown's, intention: "High On Sunshine" and " Ironically, the 5th Dimension ran into the Motown curse again during their recording of 'Love Hangover.' Yes, the one that Diana Ross took to the top of the charts.
Sang back-up for Diana Ross...according to legend, they were "the Supremes" on several Diana Ross and the Supremes albums.
Group consists of:
- Jackie Hicks
- Marlene Barrow
- Louvain Demps
- Anne Bogan (1964-1965) She also sang lead on the Tamla single, "I'm Gonna Hold On Long As I Can" (1968). The following year, Anne Bogan sang lead on the Marvelettes, "Everybody Knows (But You) from the lp, 'IN FULL BLOOM' (TS 288).
- Pat Lewis - Replaced Anne in 1965, but left a year later for a solo career at Solid Hit and Golden World Records. Pat was also a member of Isaac's Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul group. Returned in 1975.
- Thelma Hopkins (of Tony Orlando & Dawn and various tv shows) replaced Pat in 1966.
They were with Motown as early as 1962, when they backed up Marvin Gaye on Mr. Sandman. They were used extensively throughout the Motown sessions from the Marvelettes to soften their roughness, to the Four Tops (from Baby,I Need Your Lovng through Still Waters) to "fatten the tracks." They also sang with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas on several cuts (My Baby Loves Me (the Tops were in the background of that, too), and I Should Be Proud). Their most notorious stint were recording as "The Supremes" on the Diana Ross led, "Someday, We'll Be Together."
The Andantes also cut their own unreleased 45 in 1964 on VIP (a division of Motown): (Like a ) Nightmare/If You Were Mine.
In the 1990s, The Andantes recorded for Motorcity Records
Statistics:
LPS
- Just We Two (LP - STML 11131) Jan 1970
The Songs:
- I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is
- Oh How Happy/Ooo Baby Baby w/Edwin Starr (Motown - TMG0748, UK1970)
Statistics:
Group Members:
- Michael McCary
- Wanya Morris
- Nathan Morris
- Shawn Stockman
Discovered by: Michael Bivens (who also performed with New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe)
Film Appearances:
- The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992 TV miniseries)
CDS/LPS
- II
- Cooleyhighharmony (Motown 314530231-2/4)
- Evolution
The Songs:
- Baby C'Mon (4:36)
- Doing Just Fine (5:30)
- End of the Road(4;13) (Motown 2178, #1/13 weeks (pop) #1/4 weeks (r&b)/Platinum)
- I'll Make Love To You (Motown 2257, #1/14 weeks(pop) #1/9 weeks (r&b)/Platinum)
- In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember) (Motown 2193, #3/Platinum)
- It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday (Motown 2136, #2/4 weeks (pop) #1/1 week (r&b)/Gold)
- Let It Snow w/Brian McKnight (Motown 2218, #32)
- MotownPhilly (3:55) (Motown 2090, #3 Pop/Platinum)
- On Bended Knees (5:29)(Motown 0244, #1/6 weeks (pop)/Platinum)
- One Sweet Day w/Mariah Carey (Columbia 78074, #1/16 weeks (pop) #1 hit in Billboard's History/Platinum)
- Thanks You (Motown 0358, #21)
- Uhh Ahh (Motown 2141, #16 (pop) #1/1 week (r&b)
- Water Runs Dry (3:21) (Motown 0358, #2/1 week/Gold)
FOR YOUR INFO:
Born: Charlene Duncan (nee: D' Angelo) 6/1/50 (Hollywood, CA)
- Charlene's only claim to fame on the record charts was a song that was originally recorded in 1977 where its highest charted position on Billboard was #97. Long forgotten, a DJ started playing it on his radio station and listeners soon demanded that the single be re-released. Motown obliged and the rest was history.
- I've Never Been To Me (Motown 1611, #3, 1982)
- Use To Be w/Stevie Wonder
Died: 11/22/95 (age 66)
FOR YOUR INFO:
Recorded his one and only hit for Motown while substituting for a DJ at KGBS/Los Angeles.
THE MUSIC:
- What the World Needs Now/Abraham, Martin & John (Mowest 5002, #8, 1971)
COMMODORES, THE Back to the Top
Group Members
- David Cochrane (Saxophone, Keyboards, Vocals)
- Harold Hudson (Keyboards, Trumpet, Vocals, Orchestra Conductor)
- Darrell Jones (Guitar, Drums, Vocals)
- William King (Trumpet, Vocals)
- Ronald Lapread (Bass, Vocals - departed 1986)
- Thomas McClary (Guitar, Vocals - departed 1983)
- J.D. Nicholas (Vocals - joined 1984)
- Walter Orange (Vocals, Drums, Percussions)
- LIONEL RICHIE (Lead Vocals, Saxophone, Piano - departed 1982)
- Winston Sims (Saxophone, Vocals)
- Milan Williams (Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals - departed 1989)
The SONGS:
- Brick House
- Easy
- Fancy Dancer
- Girl, I Think The World About You
- Just To Be Close To You
- Lady
- Lady (You Bring Me Up)
- Machine Gun
- Night Shift
- Old Fashion Love
- Slippery When Wet
- Still
- Sweet Love
- Three Times A Lady
- Too Hot To Trot
- Zoom
CDS/LPS
- Anthology (Motown 31453-0472-2/4, U.S.A.)
- Ultimate Collection, The (Motown - D118071, U.S.A. 1997)
- MACHINE GUN (2:38)
- SLIPPERY WHEN WET (3:17)
- SWEET LOVE (6:33)
- JUST TO BE CLOSE TOYOU (6:21)
- FANCY DANCER (4:23)
- GIRL, I THINK THE WORLD ABOUT YOU (4:33)
- EASY (4:15)
- ZOOM (6:38)
- BRICK HOUSE (3:28)
- TOO HOT TA TROT (5:36)
- THREE TIMES A LADY (6:38)
- STILL (5:48)
- OLD-FASHION LOVE (4:58)
- LADY (YOU BRING ME UP) (4:49)
- NIGHTSHIFT (5:04)
THE SONGS
- Do You Love Me
The Legendary Bobby Darin recorded songs for Motown between 1971 to 1973. Although his hit making days was in the past, recording smash hits such as, "Mack the Knife" and "Splish Splash," Darin continued to record until his death from cancer in 1973. He was also a member of a group called the 'Rinky Dinks.'
THE SONGS:
- Melodie
- Song For A Dollar
- Simple Song Of Freedom
- Sail Away
- Average People
- Happy (Love theme from 'Lady Sings the Blues')
THE SONGS
- Let It Whip
- Rhythm of the Night (Dance Mix) (5:43)
- Time Will Reveal (4:17)
- I Like It (4:39
- You Wear It Well (w/El DeBarge) (3:54)
- Who's Holding Donna Now (4:29)
- Stop! Don't Tease Me (3:55)
- Love Me In A Special Way (4:14)
- A Dream (5:15)
- Talk To Me (Chico DeBarge) (3:50)
- All This Love (5:53)
- Love Always (El DeBarge) (5:23)
- Who's Johnny (El DeBarge) (4:10)
- The Heart Is Not So Smart (w/El DeBarge) (3:52)
- Save The Best For Me (Best Of Your Lovin') (Bunny DeBarge) (4:34)
- Dance All Night (Bunny DeBarge) (4:05)
- Stay With Me (3:47)
DENNIS EDWARDS Back to the Top
Dennis was originally a member of the Contours before he joined The Temptations. From1984-1986, Dennis Edwards pursued a solo career at Motown and had a mega hit, 'Don't Look Any Further' with Siedah Garrett. Minor hits followed such as, "Coolin' Out" before he rejoined the Temptations. He left the group again in the 90's and went on tour as "Dennis Edwards and the Temptations".
THE FOUR SEASONS Back to the Top
After being one of the most popular groups of the 60's, the Four Seasons changed label to infuse new life into their career. A short stint at Motown started the created juices flowing for Frankie Valli, who originally wrote 'My Eyes Adore You' while with the label. But Motown virtually ignored the group, concentrating mainly on their 'hit-makers,' that the Four Seasons quietly slipped away and took their music to Curb Records where they were soon rewarded with #1's for the the group (Who Loves You) and for Frankie Valli...who would later score with the title song for the movie, 'Grease.'
FOR YOUR INFO:
GROUP MEMBERS
LEVI STUBBS
The Four Tops were seasoned pros by the time they signed with Motown, where they found their biggest success singing Holland, Dozier, Holland tunes that wrapped themselves around lead singer, Levi Stubbs strong smokey voice. In 1956, the Four Aims, as they were known by, recorded 'Could It Be You/Kiss Me/Baby' while with Chess records. They also released 'If Only I had Known,' on Grady records the same year. The group soon changed their name to the Four Tops in fear of the public mistaking them for the Aims Brothers, a popular group from that era. The Four Tops backed Delores Carroll who was recording for Chateau records at the time, on the songs 'Everybody Knows, and 'I Just Can't Keep The Tears From Tumblin Down.' But it wasn't until they signed with Motown that their magic would appear. Teaming with the songwriting team of Holland/Dozier/Holland, their songs are considered among Motown's most memorable and durable hits from the 60's. From 'Baby, I Need Your Loving' to 'Reach Out, I'll Be There, the Four Tops were unstoppable. In 1972, they teamed with the Supremes for a couple of memorable albums such as 'The Magnificient Seven,' and 'The Return of the Magnificient Seven,' But the hits dried up and the Four Tops left Motown for ABC Records where they revitalized their career with songs such as "Keeper of the Castle" and "Are You Man Enough. Their biggest ABC hit was "Ain't No Woman Like The One I Got".
When ABC Records was sold to MCA Records, around 1978/1979, the group moved to Casablanca Records where they were rewarded with another big hit: "When She Was My Girl", around 1982.
But by 1983, the Four Tops re-joined Motown and recorded four more albums, including 'Back Where I Belong' which included a Levi Stubbs duet with Aretha Franklin, before they left in 1988, signing with Arista Records (at Aretha's encouraging), and released 'Indestructible' an album noted for a hit R&B duet between Levi Stubbs and Aretha Franklin, 'If Ever A Love There Was.'
Levi Stubbs, the voice of the Four Tops, also found himself in demand on the big screen where he loaned his voice as the man-eating plant in the movie, 'The Little Shop of Horrors.' But most memorably, he sang a tune titled, 'I Believe In You and Me' that would later become a favorite wedding song for countless people walking down the aisle and giving Whitney Houston a #1 hit when she recorded the song for her movie vehicle, 'The Preacher's Wife' starring Denzel Washington. Incidentally, Denzel was one of those people who used the Four Tops version of 'I Believe...' as his wedding song and who suggested the song to Whitney.
The Four Tops also did a single, for Reliant Records (a small, local Detroit label), called "I'm Here Again".
Yes, that Joe Frazier! The heavy-weight boxer released a single in 1975 titled:
- "First Round Knock Out/Looky, Looky (Look at Me, Girl)."
Johnny Gill was in a gospel group prior to becoming an R&B star? Johnny Gill, one of Motown's newer generation alumni, sang with his three brothers in the gospel group the Wings Of Faith, before meeting Stacy Lattishaw, and recording with her on Atlantic. Even before that meeting, he had recorded for Cortillion records in 1983 at the age of 16. Wasn't til after joining New Edition ( by replacing Bobby Brown) then quitting the group, did he finally record for Motown records, with the 1993 album 'Provocative', and the 1996 album 'Let's Get The Mood Right.'
