A Funky Friday Message From A White Man About Message From A Black Man
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Artist:
Norman Whitfield (production,music) and Barrett Strong (lyrics) had a hand in a huge grip of Motown's late 60's and early 70's output. They were pretty much responsible for dragging Berry Gordy into the world of psychedelic sounds and "message" music..such as it was at Motown, anyway. The also introduced longer song lengths for albums and (with Marvin Gaye's help) the idea that Motown could make albums more than just a collection of singles and filler.
A small sampling of their work from around this time..
1970: "Psychedelic Shack" - The Temptations
1970: "Hum Along and Dance" - The Temptations (later covered by Rare Earth and The Jackson 5)
1970: "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" - The Temptations
1970: "War" - Edwin Starr
1971: "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - The Undisputed Truth, originally recorded by The Temptations
1971: "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" - The Temptations
1972: "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" - The Temptations
Message From A Black Man was never a big hit for any of the folks that recorded it, but this diverse line up of covers (and the Tempts original) lets you know that plenty of musicians got the message. Check those little div share players for the versions.
Byron Lee â–¼
The Spinners â–¼
Locating MOG account...
Comments (8)
The whatnauts. Dig that shit.
Here are two further versions of the Heptones cut - firstly, from the very obscure LP "Money Maker", comes Im (Brooks) and David (Madden) with "Soul Brother". Cedric "Im" Brooks was a trained jazz saxman who returned to Jamaica in preference to playing a year with Sun Ra's Arkestra; his best known works were with Count Ossie's Mystic Revelation of Rastafari and the Light of saba. Trumpeter David Madden recorded some tunes with Lee Perry, then became part of the Zap Pow horn section.
After that, from an equally rare LP called "Dub Store Special" is "Message from Dub".
Wonderful. Sure is gettin lonely in the MOGosphere
DMDM-The calm before the storm, DMDM? I Hope
MR.B-Oh my gosh ..the stereo is crazy on that one. Great sax.
Les Cal Sept minus One- Long time no. You looking for ward to the changes?
I was looking back to some of my original comments on MOG..Man did I say some stupid shite.
The Whatnauts!?!! I've always loved thsat man.
A friend of mine was Whitfield's PA in the late 70s. Strangely, for a man who made such great psychedelic records, he was completely straight. (His vice was gambling.) I never met him but from what she said he sounded fascinating.
Mr. Gordy had an eye for talent and motivation..the lucky ones hear in quad without help,I guess (Zappa)..:)
Loved his Rose Royce project as well..bunch of good tunes there..
superb post - informative and enjoyable
Thanks!
My pleasure ,rummy..hope the weekend is treating you right.