By Bob Berry

Keener’s Scotty Regan tells a great story about The Four Tops, and their lead singer Levi Stubbs.

It seems one day Scotty was walking into Motown’s offices on W. Grand Blvd, when he runs into Levi, and asks how he was doing. The answer (which I am paraphrasing) threw him for a loop:

“Man, Holland-Dozier-Holland just had us record our worst song ever. They had me singing like a black Bob Dylan..”. And off Levi steamed.

As it turns out, Levi was wrong, twice. “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” became the Tops’ second Number One single, 49 years ago today, October 12th, 1966.

And he forgot that Levi Stubbs, pushed to imitate Dylan or not, was always, unmistakably, Levi.

I hope you enjoy Throwback Thursday, with “Reach Out” (and Scotty helping out on vocals!) recorded live at The Roostertail for Keener’s Motown Monday. May Levi, Larry and Obie rest in peace, with thanks for the joy they brought us, then and now.

By Bob Berry

“…I need rain to disguise the tears in my eyes…”.

Nobody sang a “pain” song than David Ruffin.

“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”, “Since I Lost My Baby”, “I Know I’m Losing You”, David’s last song with the Tempts, “It’s You That I Need”, and more.

But above all, stands “I Wish It Would Rain“.

From Earl Van Dyke’s opening notes on the Motown Steinway, to the very tasty and restrained track by The Funk Brothers , and the incredible blend of the background vocals , “Rain” is a great track. And then..

“Sunshine, blue skies, please go away, My girl has found another, and gone away..”.

Nobody sang a “pain” song like David Ruffin.

Sunday Brunch celebrates The Motown Sound with the original “Fab Five”.

By Bob Berry

August 24th, 1963. Awesome just got a new name:

Little Stevie Wonder!

Motown’s “12 Year-Old Genius” became the first artist to simultaneously hit Number One on the album and singles chart. Not Elvis, not Fats, not nobody.

We now know it was just the beginning of an epic journey for Stevie, as a man, as an artist, as a role model for the physically challenged, and particularly the blind.

Back then, all we knew for sure was “Fingertips Part 2” was one great rock and roll record. Here it is, in all it’s glory, recorded live at the Regal Theater in Chicago.

Everybody say YEAH!

By Bob Berry

I came across a picture from my Orlando radio days of Dennis Edwards at Walt Disney World, and a light bulb went on!

“TBT with The Temptations on Keener!”. The psychedelic soul/social consciousness/Norman Whitfield-Barrett Strong-song Temptations!

Dennis bringing some sauce to the Fab Five’s vocal mix, and the Funk Brothers, in their own full funky flower; from the opening notes of Bob Babbitt’s bass line, to the snap and fills of Uriel Jones’ drums. The incredible multi-lead voices of Dennis, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams and Melvin (“and the band played on”) Franklin. And let us not forget Tempts co-founder Otis Williams doing what he did, harmonizing with his guys.

By now, you may have guessed I’m thinking of “Ball of Confusion”. Released in May of 1970, and Top 5 on Keener over that summer, it was the climatic song of a 20-month run that began with “Cloud Nine” in the fall of 1968, and included “Runaway Child Running Wild”,  “I Can’t Get Next To You” and “Psychedelic Shack”. Incredible music, with lyrics that spoke of the day, a new sound for the “Sound of Young America”.

As I say, they were all incredible songs. But..where else can you get Dennis Edwards shredding his vocal cords, calling out “Great Googamooga, can’t you hear me talkin’ to ya”?

By Bob Berry

I had about an hour drive on I-75 last night, and after selecting a CD for the ride (and playing it at a far too loud volume), came to this conclusion:

It had been too doggone long, since I had played or heard, Marvin Gaye’s “doggone” song, and the other early 60’s classics. Hits like “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”, “Pride and Joy”, “Hitchhike”, “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “You’re A Wonderful One”, Marvin’s first hit duet, “It Takes Two”, with the great Kim Weston, and, yes, the Smokey Robinson written and produced “I’ll Be Doggone”.

Remarkable songs, sometimes over-looked in the rightful appreciation of  “What’s Going On” and on through to  “Sexual Healing”. But take another listen to the early Marvin Gaye “songbook”. From his use of his three-octave range, through the evolution of The Funk Brothers, to working with Motown’s writer/producers Mickey Stevenson, Holland-Dozier-Holland and Smokey; the results that came out of the”Snakepit”, were fabulous!

Conclusion?  ANY Marvin is great Marvin. And maybe better, live. Check out Marvin’s medley on 1964’s “The T.A.M.I. Show”, with Darlene Love and The Blossoms and the “Wrecking Crew” house band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpnf82hD5Ic