On almost every record I ever listen to it sounds as if the artist/s is giving it their all.

 

But it seems to me there must have been occasions when any artist really didn't like a track they were given to record.

 

Could be they didn't like the basic tune, the lyrics, the key they had to sing it in, or even the final production job.

 

Are there are known examples where an artist genuinely didn't like a track they had recorded. Even tried to distance themselves from it.

 

The only record I can think that might fit the bill is Marvin Gaye's Here My Dear LP. I'm a bit embarrassed to say I don't even know that LP but I heard that all the proceeds were to go to estranged wife Anna. So he didn't even try on it. 

 

Are there any others . . . . .

Mary Wells recorded a bunch of songs for Motown after she decide not to re-sign with them and she didn't have her heart in them.  But she was such a great singer and professional, that only her biggest fans can tell the difference ("When I'm Gone" is a good example).

I bet that J.J, Barnes was angry at the poor material he got at Motown.  And, I bet Chuck Jackson was also disappointed to get 2nd class material at Motown.  Nevertheless, they did their best with it.

Jackie Wilson got a lot of "schmalzy" material from Brunswick.  But most sources said that he LIKED to sing that stuff.

His favourite song of all was Danny Boy Rob so I reckon he did.

There's a Jimmy Reed V J flip where he's bombed outta his skull but I'm not sure that counts.

A lot of Motown material seems to have been a case of Berry Gordy telling singers and groups to record this or that track. Of course, this led to artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye insisting upon more control over their careers.

 

Wasn't one of Martha and the Vandellas biggest hits recorded under duress? I seem to recall Martha Reeves saying she tried to sound bored on the record. Jimmy Mack perhaps?

Edited April 2, 201411 yr by ElGeePee

Pretty sure I heard that jean dushon always detested 'second class lover' and got persuaded to record it or something - she was a sophisticated jazz singer and thought it was too street-level for her

I was always highly sceptical of Dave Godin's insistence that Irma Thomas's 'Anyone Who Knows What Love Is Will Understand' was the one-off perfect take on the single and messed up on the LP version - as a 'protest' by Irma. Er..right Dave. 

 

I think It's a nice fantasy that people have about soul singers coming into the studio all spiritually fired-up and doing one incredible take. In reality there was probably a lot of sitting around and things going wrong, not to mention drugs, booze and personal conflicts going on.

Aretha Franklin "I've Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You".  It all kicked off at the time with the guys at FAME and her then husband Ted White and I bet she was a bit pissed off with it all when recording that session.