HOW MUSIC CHANGED PART 137-50 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’ SIDE, PART 50

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            In the wake of the Jackson 5’s remarkable debut, Motown seemed to be reinvigorated with the energy that comes from an injection of new blood. In Berry Gordy’s eyes, Michael and his brothers had provided a key to a continually prosperous future, while his ambitions for Diana Ross further fueled his ambitions. The Jackson 5 debut worked out even better than expected, while the solo career of Diana Ross would require some extra effort.

            Songs featured in today’s program include;

1)    If You Let Me, I Know I Can – Jimmy Ruffin

2)    Gonna Put It On Your Mind – Dorothy, Oma & Zelpha

3)    Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross & the Supremes

4)    Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me – The Four Tops

5)    Baby, I’ll Get It – Chuck Jackson

6)    What You Gave Me – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

7)    Generation (Light Up the Sky) – Rare Earth

8)    I’m So Glad I Fell for You – David Ruffin

9)     Point It Out – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

10)  Can We Talk To You? (For a Little While) – The Anonymous Children of Today

11)  Can’t You Hear the Music Play – The Rustix

12)  I Will Never Love Another – The Five Smooth Stones

13)  How Can I Forget – Marvin Gaye

HIT SINGLES FROM MAY 1969

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            The funny thing about covering a year like 1969 is that it usually takes at least three week’s worth of shows to cover all of the good music that happened in a one-month time-span. So, by the time we finish covering one month (like, say, April, as we have for the past three weeks) it’s already time to start covering the next. May is no different.

            May 1969 was chock full of classic songs and memorable singles. For today’s show, we’ll touch on some of the best this month had to offer, including;

1)    Cissy Strut – The Meters

2)    Pinball Wizard – The Who

3)    More Today than Yesterday – The Spiral Starecase

4)    Oh Happy Day – Edwin Hawkins Singers

5)    Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

6)    Get Back – The Beatles

7)    Don’t Let Me Down – The Beatles

8)    Atlantis – Donovan

9)    Goodbye – Mary Hopkin

10)  In the Ghetto – Elvis Presley

HOW MUSIC CHANGED PART 137-49 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’ SIDE, PART 49

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            In mid-1969, music fans may have considered Motown’s glory years to be well behind them. The unity that made their hits from 1965-1968 sound so special had eroded, and the ‘classic’ Motown sound had grown dated. The hits came less frequently as well, but one band would come along to bring Motown into the ‘70s with as much relevance and influence on culture as they had ever enjoyed.

Today’s songs include;

1)    Just Another Lonely Night – The Fantastic Four

2)    Midnight Cowboy – Joe Harnell

3)    That’s How Heartaches Are Made – The Marvelettes

4)    Home on the Range (Everybody Needs a Home) – Stu Gardner

5)    A Place in the Sun – Monk Montgomery

6)    Never Had a Dream Come True – Stevie Wonder

7)    Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday – Stevie Wonder

8)    It’s Private Tonight – Arthur Adams

9)    These Eyes – Jr. Walker & the All Stars

10) Friendship Train – Gladys Knight & the Pips

11) In My Diary – The Spinners

12)  I Want You Back – The Jackson 5

Album Tracks from May 1969, Part 2

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            Two weeks ago, we took a look at some of the great (and not so great) 45 RPM singles from May 1969 (you’ll find that show on this website). For perspective, we decided to cover album tracks from this same time period, but the album tracks (naturally) require a bit more space than our allotted one-hour time slot. Last week we aired part one, covering albums by Leonard Cohen, Chicago Transit Authority, The Moody Blues and Neil Young. Today, we finish our coverage of great music from 40 years ago by taking a look at a few more albums that have since been deemed ‘classic’.

Tracks include;

 

1)    I Want to Take You Higher

2)    You Can Make It If You Try – Sly and the Family Stone/Stand!

3)    Country Pie

4)    Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You – Bob Dylan/Nashville Skyline

5)    With a Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker/ With a Little Help From My Friends

6)    1921

7)    Christmas

8)    Go to the Mirror Boy

9)    Tommy Can You Hear Me

10)  We’re Not Gonna Take It – The Who/Tommy

HOW MUSIC CHANGED PART 137-48 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’ SIDE, PART 48

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As we get deeper into the year 1969, we can see Motown getting deeper into funky sounds, while attempting to broaden its palette of sounds and artists. The result is a lot of good music, even if much of it does not reach the top 20. Today’s featured songs include;

1)    Cheating, Is Telling on You – The Lollipops

2)    Oh How Happy – Blinky & Edwin Starr

3)    My Springtime – Tery Johnson

4)    My Girl Has Gone – Bobby Taylor

5)    I Can’t Get Next to You – The Temptations

6)    That’s the Way Love Is – Marvin Gaye

7)    Honey Come Back – Chuck Jackson

8)    Baby, I’m For Real – The Originals

9)    Taking My Love (and Leaving Me) – Martha Reeves & the Vandellas

10)  In Bed – Wes Henderson

11)  The Weight – Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations

12)  A Whiter Shade of Pale – Shorty Long

Album Tracks from May 1969, Part 1

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Our previous program featured a few standout 45 RPM singles from May of 1969,. The songs were great and did a great job of representing the era, but they barely tell half of the story. The  33-RPM album medium was fast becoming the most popular means of expression for artists, and fans took to it as well, appreciating the freedom it provided for artists to ‘stretch out’ and express themselves beyond a 3 minute single. Today’s show is the first of a two-part series covering album tracks from 40 years ago. Keep in mind, all of these albums are released during the same month, in May 1969.

Covered songs and albums include;

1)    Bird on the Wire

2)    Tonight Will Be Fine – Leonard Cohen/Songs from a Room

3)    Beginnings

4)    I’m a Man – Chicago Transit Authority/ Chicago Transit Authority

5)    Lovely to See You

6)    Never Comes the Day – The Moody Blues/On the Threshold of a Dream

7)    Cinnamon Girl

9)    Cowgirl in the Sand – Neil Young/Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

HOW MUSIC CHANGED PART 137-47 – EVERY SINGLE MOTOWN ‘A’ SIDE, PART 47

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This point, exactly forty years ago as I type this, is when Motown starts to get a bit weird. The label with the biggest collection of stars, a bevy of ace musicians, and a reputation that is incomparable, starts to make a number of bad decisions. The music reflectds the problems, but even with so much going wrong, the label still manages an impressive degree of success. Songs from today’s show include:

1)    Don’t Let the Joneses Get You Down – The Temptations

2)    Just Ain’t Enough Love – The Isley Brothers

3)    Green Grow the Lilacs – The Originals

4)    No Matter What Sign You Are – Diana Ross & the Supremes

5)    I’m Still a Struggling Man – Edwin Starr

6)    The Nitty Gritty – Gladys Knight & the Pips

7)    Doggone Right – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

8)    Here I Go Again – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

9)    Abraham, Martin & John – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

10)  I’ve Lost Everything I’ve Ever Loved – David Ruffin

11)  Stubborn Kind of Fellow – Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations

12)  The Luney Landing – Captain Zap & the Motortown Cut-Ups

13)  Oh, I’ve Been Blessed – Bobby Taylor