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Ian Levine produced tracks; Your Fave

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Following the massive interest in the Barbara Mc Nair  spoken intro versionof "Your Gonna Love my Baby" how about your choice of track from the Blackpool Bombshell.  his breathtaking career has spanned 5 decades working with artistes from David Ruffin,Steve Mancha ,The contours,Steve Brookstein, Take That,The Elgins,the list is endless.  Labels include; 20th century, Motor City,Island, EMI,Sony,Okeh, On CD Goldsoul,Bestway,Tring and Harmless? my choice;    Ebony Alleyne ="My Man" Okeh 2002 !

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The motor city stuff was shocking the original versions were stand alone classics and cant think of one he improved.   

    • Up vote 1
    41 minutes ago, rhino said:

    The motor city stuff was shocking the original versions were stand alone classics and cant think of one he improved.   

    There were one or two exceptions; G C Cameron's No Need To Explain/Out Of My Mind, IMO was one of the best Soul vinyl releases of 1992.

    Edited by John Reed

    Barbara Pennington - Running In Another Direction and 24 Hours A Day

    Exciters - Reaching for the best

     

    I quite liked "Hurt the one you love" - David Ruffin

    Reaching For The Best without a doubt. Brilliant up-tempo, uplifting soul music. Not quite in the same league but I've always liked Dancing On The Edge Of A Dream.

      i had 3 or 4 on that tommorow label, all pretty similar stuff, but not my kinda thing, so i sold em

    James Wells, Chuck Jackson and Johnny Bristol for me although I do have a guilty pleasure of the Supremes and Originals but I don't like to talk about that...

    32 minutes ago, Mach said:

      i had 3 or 4 on that tommorow label, all pretty similar stuff, but not my kinda thing, so i sold em

    It's the only one I bought. Not my type of thing either (I was young and it was the 70's !!!!!!!!!!) but I'm a compulsive hoarder when it comes to records!

    6 hours ago, conchitta said:

    Following the massive interest in the Barbara Mc Nair  spoken intro versionof "Your Gonna Love my Baby" how about your choice of track from the Blackpool Bombshell.  his breathtaking career has spanned 5 decades working with artistes from David Ruffin,Steve Mancha ,The contours,Steve Brookstein, Take That,The Elgins,the list is endless.  Labels include; 20th century, Motor City,Island, EMI,Sony,Okeh, On CD Goldsoul,Bestway,Tring and Harmless? my choice;    Ebony Alleyne ="My Man" Okeh 2002 !

    Chuck Jackson - All over the world

    If I had to choose something it would be Susaye Greene's version of Free. Not for the production but just for her vocal performance which is breathtakingly fantastic.

    12 inch of Barbara Pennington 24 hrs is a classic and stands up against other US 12s from that time IMO

    Thought LJ Johnson"Girl......" and Evelyn Thomas "Weakspot" were great at the time but nowadays not sure :g:

    Cheers Paul

    Likewise

    David Ruffin   Hurt The One You Love

    Ronnie McNair Wholeheartedly & Take The First Step

     

    Dave

    There's more than people may think. Some of 'em are great. I'm quite partial to Brenda Holloway sounding spunky on this....

     

    Ian D :)

     

    On 11/18/2015, 12:28:32, stateside said:

    James Wells - Baby I'm still the same man - Great voice

    This get's my vote ... still packs a floor today

    18 hours ago, Ian Dewhirst said:

    There's more than people may think. Some of 'em are great. I'm quite partial to Brenda Holloway sounding spunky on this....

     

    Ian D :)

     

    Ohh never heard that before, great version of GSH and a reminder of what Ian can achieve with some sophisticated orchestration rather than the usual bon tempi backing track :thumbup:

    Can't remember the title but there's an Earl Van Dyke track on one of the sound of Detroit cd's that I quiet like. Something like 'after dark' I think

    • 2 weeks later...

    Back by Popular Demand

    All Over the World

    Weak Spot

    Your Magic Put a Spell on Me

    Footsteps

    Man Up In the Sky

     

    And that's pretty much it.

     

     

    James Wells "Baby I'm Still the Same Man"

    Barbara Pennington "24 hrs a day"

    Chuck Jackson "All over the World"

    Just listened to the JJ Barnes "I've seen the Light"..it's a really good tune..:wink:

     

    Edited by stockholmsoulfox

    On ‎18‎/‎11‎/‎2015‎ ‎21‎:‎40‎:‎39, Ian Dewhirst said:

    There's more than people may think. Some of 'em are great. I'm quite partial to Brenda Holloway sounding spunky on this....

     

    Ian D :)

     

    not a bad version but I don't think anyone can improve on Esther Phillips , and that's the rub with most of these productions arrogant beyond belief to even think that the originals can be improved upon .

    Maybe Its just me but don't see the point in re-hashed versions .

    its the backing I cant seem to get my head around. some of the vocals are still great. I think with proper instrumentation they could have been superb.

    • Up vote 1
    7 hours ago, tobytyke said:

    its the backing I cant seem to get my head around. some of the vocals are still great. I think with proper instrumentation they could have been superb.

    I agree the backing spoilt some good records that Levine cut on Motorcity  but that was also a fault with most new releases at that time, even Malaco and the like fell into the trap with a lot of their recordings and you felt that great songs, great singers shame about the drum machines and such.

    The amount of LPs I bought in the eighties and nineties and thought if only they had used real instruments .

       

    My Heads in the Stars - Evelyn Thomas. The original version released in 1976 on Twentieth Century Records. A really good disco type tune. A very under rated tune.

    https://youtu.be/fSNxDW0v7NU

    Does Tammi Lavette's version of "Kiss my Love goodbye" count ?

    Normally the Levine-Instrumentation doesn't really cut it for me but this version is simply wonderful !

    In my opinion Ians best tune is Candi Statons      Just when you think its safe

     

    a great song and a truly fantastic soulful delivery by Candi, in fact I think its one of her best and thats saying something.

     

    It is available on youtube but my IT skills are dreadful!!

     

    Dave Banks

    Can't believe I didn't mention Venecia Wilson - ok so the backing track is a cut up of an original but he made it even better.

    I also really liked the original version of He's So Irreplaceable by Doris Jones that circulated on acetate - not on the Tomorrow label - I asked about this and Ian said it was lost forever.

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