Diggin’ the roots of Soul again this week folks….with the ‘Roots of MOTOWN and STAX’ .
Following on from the recently posted Doo-Wop playlist (Soultime Pt.5), which (we thought) rather cleverly ended with a tune called ‘Sincerely’ by the Moonglows, featuring one Harvey Fuqua – leading us nicely into this weeks spotlight on the roots of Soul’s two biggest hitters- Motown & Stax.
Before Berry Gordy set up Motown, the very same Harvey Fuqua, of Moonglows fame, (not just
a great voice, but also a smart businessman & talent spotter too!) along with Berry Gordy’s elder sister Gwen (they would later marry) set up Anna Records. As well as other offshoots Harvey Records and Tri-Phil Records. Discovering artist such as Marvin Gaye, Junior Walker, Johnny Bristol, Lamont Dozier, Joe Tex and The Detroit Spinners.
So this week we’ll be featuring a selection of some of our favourite tunes from Harvey & Gwen’s recently (& highly recommended) released series of CD’s (Anna Pt.s 1 & 2, Harvey Records and Tri-Phil Pts 1 & 2)
Altogether a brilliant compilation- opening with Harvey himself, & the first few tunes being total MOD classic! It gives us just one small insight into the birth of Soul. It’s got shouters, screamers, pleaders and pure sweet soul ballads. as well as some of harvey’s doowop, blues & gospel roots…& if that’s not enough, you got Junior Walker blowin’, an i mean blowin’ his top! As Harvey takes us seamlessly from Doowop to Soul (and sometimes back an forth!)
Harvey and Gwen would eventually sell their interests in all three labels (where most of their artists would follow them) and join Berry Gordy at MOTOWN. And the rest, as they say…..…
And then finally we finish with a few tunes from the Satellite label, a small label started by Country Fiddle Player Jim Stewart in 1957, featuring such artists as Rufus and Carla Thomas and the Mar-Kays, which some Soul fans may already know? would eventually (in 1961) turn into the STAX label.
(Picture featured above-The Moonglows, featuring Harvey Fuqua and a young Marvin Gaye)
………enjoy!
1 Harvey-Come On And Answer Me
2 Shorty Long-Too Smart
3 The Merced Blue Notes-Whole Lotta Nothing
4 The Spinners-Itchin’ For My Baby
5 Harvey-Any Way You Wanta
6 Barrett Strong-You Knows What to do
7 Herman Griffin-Yes,No,Maybe
8 Bill Murray-The Bigtime Spender Pt.1
9 Joe Tex- All I Could Do Is Cry Pt.1
10 The Quails-Over The Hump
11 Junior Walker & The All Stars-Twist Lackawanna
12 Harvey & Ann-What Can You Do Now
13 Harvey & Ann-Will I do
14 Barrett Strong-Oh! I Apologise
15 Paul Gayten-Scratch Back
16 Ty Hunter-Everything About
17 Johnny & Jackey-Someday We’ll Be Together
18 Jordan Harmonisers-I Won’t Mind
19 Carla & Rufus-‘Cause I Love You
20 The Chips-You Make Me Feel So Good
21The Mar-Keys-Last Night
22 Carla & Rufus-Deep Down Inside
23 Prince Conley-I’m Going Home
24 Nick Charles-The Right Girl
25 Barbara Stephens-The Life I Live
26 Barbara Stephens-I Don’t Worry