With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

“We’ll laugh and I’ll tell you the story of love, how it is and the happiness in it baby” December 21, 2011

Filed under: Christmas,Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 12:06 am
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Just days away from the big day now. It’s nearly Christmas people and I hope you’re still being good or at least hiding your being bad evidence very well. It’s Day 21 of my ABC of Motown Advent Calendar which I believe makes it 21st December and therefore the letter U. So today we’ll be going somewhere where Santa will be very soon; your roof! Yes it’s the delightfully uplifting “Up The Ladder To The Roof” from the Supremes.

The song was the first single showcasing the vocal talents of new lead singer Jean Terrell who had replaced the departing Diana Ross. Which meant it was also the first single to be credited to the Supremes (i.e. minus the ‘Diana Ross and the’ bit) since “The Happening” in 1967. It was released in February 1970 and reached 10 in the US charts and number 5 in the UK. Coincidentally it was the first UK top ten hit for the group since “Reflections” from 1967.

The song was produced by Motown house producer Frank Wilson who featured on this advent calendar himself on December 4th, click here to read that post. Wilson co wrote the song with Vincent DiMarco and once again the music track was provided by those heroes of Motown the Funk Brothers. Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong were the other two Supremes. personally I have always thought that this was the best incarnation of the group, much better than the Diana Ross version. I have a liking for some songs that mention my name, not all of them though. But the B Side to “Up The Ladder To The Roof” was a pretty good example of a ‘Bill song’ it was called “Bill When Are You Coming Back”

Jean Terrell the lead vocalist for the song was often thought to be related to another Motown star, Tammi Terrell. But Tammi’s real surname was Montgomery and she was no relation to Jean Terrell. However Jean was related to Ernie Terrell a boxing champion who once went in the ring with Muhammad Ali. Ernie was her brother and he was WBA heavyweight champ, a crown he lost to Ali in 1967. Jean sometimes sang with his group Ernie Terrell and the Heavyweights.

 

“We’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got ’cause it doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not” December 20, 2011

Filed under: News — justwilliam1959 @ 11:36 pm
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Jon Bon Jovi has been the subject of a death hoax this week. It was falsely claimed that the 49-year-old had died of a heart attack. He went so far as to post a picture of himself posing in front of a Christmas tree on-line with a card reading “Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey Dec 10th 2011 6.00″

There have been many music related death hoaxes. Perhaps the most famous was the Paul McCartney is dead stories in the 60s. Apparently one of the clues to this was the fact that Paul was barefoot on the cover of the ‘Abbey Road’ album. There have been a couple this year too. Mick Jagger and Justin Bieber. It was claimed that the Biebertron had been shot by a publicist and killed in a car crash. As far as I know Jon, Paul, Mick and Justin are all alive and well. But perhaps Jon Bon Jovi is just “Living On A Prayer” or maybe he is “Wanted Dead Or Alive” anyway he has now declared “It’s My Life”

 

“I’m gonna lace up my boots, throw on some leather and cruise”

Filed under: News — justwilliam1959 @ 11:13 pm
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This will be really old news for many of you, but it passed me by when it happens. It relates to Lady Gaga’s appearance as a mentor on American Idol in May of this year. Well specifically it concerns her footwear. The shoes had a large platform sole and heels made from dildos.

There is an allegation that the TV show producers blurred the shoes out from the broadcast. Personally I think it would have been quite amusing had she worn them when presented to the Queen. That would have wound up a large number of Tory MPs from the shires wouldn’t it?

I wonder what kind of ‘vibe’ she was going for? Maybe it was just a cock-up? Or maybe she wanted Dido to be a part of her shoes but couldn’t spell? I’d love to hear what you folks think of the shoes.

 

“For my wrongs I’ve no excuses, I couldn’t blame you if you refused me”

Filed under: Christmas,Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 12:03 am
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Please allow me to paraphrase from an Elton John song for just a moment; ‘ho ho ho grab a beer, the bearded weirdy’s nearly here’. Yes folks in just a few days Old Saint Nick will be giving your chimney a good clean with his beard. Don’t worry if you don’t have a chimney, in that case he’ll just break into your house. Of course he is the only person who illegally enters your property and leaves stuff rather than taking anything, well not counting the odd tipple or mince-pie of course. Anyway it’s now December 20th and therefore day 20 of my ABC of Motown Advent calendar. Which brings us to the letter T. For me this was an easy choice. It’s “Take Me Girl I’m Ready” from the stellar band that was Junior Walker and the All Stars.

Surprisingly for me Junior Walker wasn’t his real name. When he was born in June 1931 in Blytheville, Arkansas he was called Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr. He played in a number of bands from the age of 14 including the Jumping Jacks and the Rhythm Rockers before settling on the All Stars. The band was spotted by Johnny Bristol who was friendly with Harvey Fuqua who had is own Harvey label. Fuqua signed the band in 1961 but they didn’t have much success until the Harvey label was bought by Berry Gordy to become part of his Motown empire.

Their first Motown hit was the timeless classic “Shotgun” which was written by Junior Walker and produced by Berry Gordy himself. It also featured Funk Brother James Jamerson on bass. That song reached number 4 in the US Billboard chart and was an US R & B number one in 1965. They had plenty more hits but the only one that equalled “Shotgun” in the charts was “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” in 1969, that song also hit number 13 in the UK. Sadly Junior died from cancer aged just 64 back in 1995.

“Take Me Girl I’m Ready” was originally an US hit in 1971 reaching number 50 in the Billboard chart. It was written by Pamela Sawyer, Gloria Jones and Johnny Bristol. Bristol produced the song which was arranged by Dave Van DePitte. It was a record I could never get hold of in my early teenage years, but then it was finally reissued in the UK in 1977. Obviously I bought it as soon as it came out. I no longer have the vinyl copy but I have it on CD and MP3.

I have blogged about this song before with regards to its appearance on a pub jukebox. Myself and a bunch of friends used to be regulars at the Windmill pub in Ruislip Manor back in 1977/ 78 and “Take Me Girl I’m Ready” was selection number 77A on the pub jukebox. Usually it was myself or my good friend Glen Voisey who were first at the jukebox and without looking we would always select 77A. However on one occasion I approached the jukebox as usual and fed my coins into it and then hit the buttons for 77A. I then started looking for what other tracks I would choose. After a few seconds of that scratchy stylus hitting plastic sound a familiar refrain started. However it wasn’t Junior Walker, much to my dismay and embarrassment it was “Save All Your Kisses For Me” by Brotherhood Of Man. My friends just started laughing and muttered about disowning me, but I was able to prove that I had indeed chosen 77A. The landlord stepped in to support me when he said that all the records on the jukebox had been replaced and the old tenant of 77A no longer lived on the machine. It was a devastatingly disappointing moment for me, but as they say, ‘what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger’!

So without further ado please enjoy the former occupant of 77A on the Windmill pub jukebox in the late 70s; “Take Me Girl I’m Ready” from Junior Walker and the All Stars. This one goes out to Glen Voisey, Keith Plant, Chris Skinner, Neil Payne, Phil Isaacs and Jonesy (aka Bryan Jones)!

RIP the Windmill Pub in Ruislip Manor. It was built in the 1930s and closed down in 2006. Like many of my old haunts it has been knocked down or put to use other than as a pub.

 

“When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer” December 19, 2011

Filed under: Christmas,Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 6:44 am
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It’s the 19th December, it’s day 19 of my ABC of Motown Christmas Advent Calendar and we’ve reached the letter S. I have chosen one of my favourite Motown songs for this letter. It is the timeless and truly amazing “Superstition” from Mr Stevie Wonder. The song was the first single from Stevie’s ‘Talking Book’ album. He wrote, produced and arranged the song and played drums and keyboards, obviously he did the vocal too.

It reached number one in both the US Billboard chart and the US R & B chart in 1972. It made it to a sadly less impressive number eleven in the UK. It was his first US Billboard number one since “Fingertips Part 2” in 1963. Whilst I really love much of Stevie’s music I really don’t like the only two number ones he has had in the UK. “Ebony and Ivory” the duet with Paul McCartney in 19282 and the dreadful “I Just Called To Say I Love You” in 1984. But he has recorded so much excellent music I can happily forgive him for those two. I’m just not sure I can forgive the British public for making them both number one.

Stevie originally wrote “Superstition” for Jeff Beck but Motown Supremo Berry Gordy saw the potential in the song and insisted that Wonder should record it himself. Jeff Beck later recorded his version with Beck, Bogert and Appice. Jeff  has often played the song live and also recorded Stevie’s “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” for his ‘Blow By Blow’ album in 1975.

The song as the title would suggest is about superstition, however there are not many superstitious elements mentioned in the lyrics. Notably thirteen, breaking a mirror and ladders get a name check. The song can also be heard in a few movies. A character in John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ listens to it on a boombox. Will Smith’s character listens to it at the start of  ‘I Robot’. Enjoy Jeff Beck’s version followed by Stevie’s below.

And finally here are Jeff and Stevie playing the song together at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009.

 

“They started going steady and bless my soul he out-bopped the buzzard and the oriole” December 18, 2011

Filed under: Christmas,Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 12:04 am
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It’s just a week to go to the big day folks, we’ve arrived at the 18th December and therefore day 18 on my ABC of Motown Advent Calendar. Seeing as yesterday was the letter Q by my calculations that must meant that today is the letter R. I have chosen a rather fun song for today. It’s “Rockin’ Robin which was a solo hit for a young Michael Jackson back in 1972.

The song was written by Leon Rene using the pseudonym of Jimmie Thomas and was originally a hit for Bobby Day in 1958. It was his only hit and it reached number two on the US Billboard charts. Jackson’s version was taken from his first solo album ‘Got To Be There‘ and also reached number two on the Billboard charts. The song went to number three in the UK.

The song has been occasionally included on a Christmas compilation album, which is a little strange to me as it was a hit in February 1972. I suppose it must be the Robin reference that makes it a Christmas related song to some people. The B Side of the single contained a cracking version of one of my favourite Supremes songs and another Holland Dozier Holland classic; “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone“.

 

“Stones taught me to fly, love taught me to lie” December 17, 2011

Filed under: News,Observation — justwilliam1959 @ 6:33 pm
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Regular readers of this blog know that I really do despise the X Factor and all it stands for. I chose not to watch it this year and a couple of people said to me “you have to watch it, you write a music blog” my response was “that is true, but first and foremost I am a music fan, not a Saturday primetime TV karaoke fan”

Anyway the festival for those of limited talent is over for another year and has launched a whole troupe of pop muppets on the world in the shape of Little Mix. Their first single is a truly awful cover of Damien Rice‘s “Cannonball”. But the good news is that it is not the current favourite for UK Christmas number one. That honour sits with “Wherever You Are” by the Military Wives Choir the new choir project put together by the immensely talented Gareth Malone. Whilst this is not my favourite type of music it is a really beautiful song and vocally it’s a million times better than Little Mix.

The next two favourites across the UK bookmakers are Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Damien Rice with the original version of “Cannonball”. So I think you know what to do don’t you? Go and buy the Military Wives song and if you must buy Little Mix make sure you buy Military Wives as well. Anyone who is a music fan should do whatever they can to keep the X Factor muppets from the Christmas number one spot. I hope I can count on you to do this!

 

“It’s not safe loving you this way but from your arms I can’t stay”

Filed under: Christmas,Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 12:05 am
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Today is the 17th December which means we need to open the cardboard door marked number 17 on my ABC of Motown Advent Calendar. Wow, time really has flown since the Jackson 5 on 1st December hasn’t it?As it’s day 17 that must mean it is the letter Q. That has been quite a tough letter for the calendar. How many Motown songs do you know that begin with Q? Well there is at least one and it’s the fabulous Northern Soul stomper “Quicksand” from Martha and the Vandellas.

It is yet another classic written by the Holland Dozier Holland team. Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier produced the song which was released on the Gordy label in the US in 1963, it was actually only their third US hit. It was once again the fabulous Funk Brothers who provided the music track. The song was a follow-up to the girls previous big hit “(Love Is Like A) Heatwave”. I think it is quite reminiscent of that song too.

Martha Reeves unsurprisingly sang lead vocal and was backed by the Vandellas who at that time were Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard. The song never charted in the UK but reached number 8 in the USA. Martha turned 70 this year and she has also been quite prominent in the local politics in the home city of Motown; Detroit. She served as a Council Woman for the city from 2005 to 2009. She is the third child in a family of 11. There were two groups featuring her before she came to be a big part of Martha and the Vandellas. Those groups were the Sabre-Ettes and the Fascinations.

Now take a listen to a bonus track “(Love Is Like A) Heatwave” and then tell me whether you think it bears any similarity to “Quicksand” which follows it here.

 

“And from what we’ve heard you’ve always been a man of your word” December 16, 2011

Filed under: Christmas,Trivia — justwilliam1959 @ 12:00 am
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We’re inching closer to that fine old Yuletide celebration good people of the blogosphere and I would like to help it be a really cool Yule with my ABC of Motown Advent Calendar. What do you think of it so far?…………. RUBBISH! Oh i see there are a few Morecambe and Wise fans out there. Anyway we’re now at December 16th and (rather obviously) it is day 16 of the advent calendar. It’s the letter P today and it is one of the few songs in the Motown canon that is effectively to Various Artists. the song in question is “Pops, We love You” or to give it’s full title “Pops We love You (A Tribute To Father)”

The song was written as a tribute to Motown Supremo Berry Gordy‘s father who had been his spiritual and business mentor and guide. he also did the same for many of the artists in Berry’s Motown family. Berry Gordy Jr’s Dad was named Berry Gordy Sr but was known by many very affectionately as Pops. (My dad shared a name with me, perhaps I should add the Junior bit to my name). The song was written and recorded as a special tribute in 1978 a short while after Pops died from cancer, a disease which he had fought for some time.

It was written produced by Marilyn Mcleod and Pam Sawyer and also formed the centrepiece of a ‘Pops, We love You’ album. The album bought Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye together as a duet for the first time since 1973’s ‘Diana and Marvin’ album. That song was called “I’ll Keep My Light In My Window”. Unlike that 1973 album they actually recorded the new song whilst in the studio together. They were joined on the Pops tribute song by Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.

Berry wonders what exactly has landed on Diana's head

Marvin, Diana and Smokey recorded their parts together in Motown’s LA Studios. Stevie Wonder’s vocals were added later as he was bunkered down in another studio recording what was for me a very underrated and misunderstood soundtrack album called ‘Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants“.

Diana was very proud of her incredibly large muff

“Pops, We Love You” reached number 59 on the Billboard charts in the US and number 66 in the UK. It did make number 26 in the US R & B charts though. I used to own the 12 inch vinyl copy of the song, but now I just have a version on a Motown compilation CD. The song was also the last UK chart hit with Marvin’s name on it on the Motown label, but he did go on to score a few other hits on the Columbia label. Most notably with “Sexual Healing”. but for now I hope that you enjoy todays song “Pops, We Love You (A Tribute To Father)”

 

“That old moon was our best buddy, we couldn’t wait for night to come” December 15, 2011

Filed under: News — justwilliam1959 @ 10:17 pm
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Country singer Billie Jo Spears has passed away aged 74 after losing her battle with cancer. She was one of my Mum and Dad’s favourite singers. They especially loved “Blanket On The Ground“. She first appeared as a professional on stage aged just 13, she also appeared on the famous Louisiana Hayride show aged 13. That age was obviously very productive for her as she also released her first single then. She used the name Billie Jean Moore and the song was called “Too Old For Toys, Too Young For Boys”.

I would like to pass on my condolences to her family, friends and fans. Here are a couple of songs to remember her by. Billie Jo Spears RIP.