Roburt

The yellow label 45's were NS, the red were MS ..... I bought a copy of all the MS 45's (red label) and loved em all. Left quite a few of the yellow Grapevines (even when I could get em for 10p or 25p) coz I wasn't into Wigan stompers or Casino instros.

Yes, if you're lucky or know where to go, you can still catch the odd soul show. But 20 years back you could go to 4/5 different places most nights of the week & see a decent soul act.

The Motown Cafes (all of them) are long gone now of course. The Vegas one was great (we were filmed there once for a US TV news report) & well worth a visit. We got shown around the VIP areas (backstage, where any visiting stars are smoozed ... .... plus we got invited up on stage to sing with the fakeroony Tempts & Supremes. When it was closed down, loads of great stuff was just dumped (all the menus -- pretend LPs, all the copies of vintage Motown show posters, etc.) I always wondered what happened to all the fake silver discs built into the stairs in the place ......

Of course, in the past you could just go across the strip to the New York, New York & visit the Motown Cafe ....

Bored at the moment (can you tell ?) ... so thought I'd re-activate this old thread ......... .......... here's a montage of loads of New York area shows from back in the day .... BTW, Blue Mitchell (jazz guy) was the brother of Ru-Jac's owner Rufus Mitchell.

Steve Alaimo on a local gig (for him) in March 1963 ..... (some fascinating musical facts on him on the 'Where The Action Is' thread)

Go to the thread on the 'WHERE THE ACTION IS' TV show ... ..... there's a clip on there on Bobby Moore (+ a Rhthym Ace) doing it live (well lip syncing to it really I guess). ........... BTW, the B side to the 45 is great as well ("Hey Mr. DJ").

'Where The Action Is' was another Dick Clark show. Steve Alaimo helped Dick out on a live presentation he put on early in his show promotion career & so Clark always owed Alaimo a debt. Because of this, when 'Where The Action Is' was broadcast, Alaimo was given a presenting role on the show. So got to perform most weeks for a large national TV audience, this did his recording career no harm at all. Steve Alaimo was the guy responsible for starting Sam & Dave out as a recording act. He had moved down to Miami and there began performing with his group, the Redcoats. One night their show was witnessed by Henry Stone who signed him to a record deal with his Marlin Record label (1959). A 45 was released but Alaimo went solo and then went on to sign with Checker Records. He had a number of hits with the label. He performed a lot around Miami, both in white & black clubs. While he was performing at the King of Hearts in the city, he watched the house act, Sam & Dave, perform. Alaimo went straight to the club’s owner and negotiated a deal to record the act. The owner of the club allowed this with the one stipulation that Henry Stone not be involved, so Alaimo lied and began recording Sam & Dave’s debut batch of singles with Henry’s facilities. Initially, the single “My Love Belongs to You” (with the Alaimo penned “No More Pain” on the B side) was released by Marlin Records, but then Stone placed a call to Morris Levy, and Sam & Dave were signed to Levy’s Roulette Records. Alaimo landed more recording deals and had 45's / LP's out on a few national labels, one of these being Atlantic. He retained his links with Henry Stone & cut a duet with Betty Wright that was issued on an Atlantic 45. Early on (around 1960) Henry Stone had given Alaimo a promotional job with his label / distribution company and the pairing continued to collaborate. With Brad Shapiro, Alaimo operated a record studio. In the 70's, Stone & Alaimo started Alston Records together. More of him on 'Where The Action Is' ............ with Jackie DeShannon on this clip ....

A review of the show ................ A Motown blast from the past By Jorge Labrador "Hitzville The Show" is a nostalgia-filled trip through the Motown hits of yesteryear. Vocalist Jin Jin Reeves, along with backup singers and the five-piece Hitzville band, fills Planet Hollywood's V Theater with an authentic Motown sound and experience that will have you clapping your hands and dancing in the aisles. "Hitzville" is a journey through the times and places that made Motown famous, opening up with The Pips' classic "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," and going through different acts, going from one influential Motown band to the next. Expect famous songs like "My Guy," "Natural Woman" and "What's Love Got to Do With It," along with a few rarer tracks that will make Motown fans very happy. Throughout the show, Reeves evokes the sound and character of Motown's most famous divas, going from Diana Ross to Gladys Knight to Tina Turner (and many others) without missing a beat. This comes as no surprise, as Reeves has shared the stage with many of the performers she covers in "Hitzville." Such energy in a tribute show is rare, but really makes "Hitzville" stand out among the rest. Reeves' backup singers in some of the songs will catch your eye when they come out dressed in red suits when they cover The Temptations, and will continue dazzle each time they come out in colorful attire and appropriate stylings for each new act. The group incorporates appropriate choreography into their acts, mimicking the original groups in both sound and showmanship. From their matching shoes to their side stepping and sliding across the stage, there are times when you'll truly believe you're in an authentic Motown show in the 1960's. This is further enhanced with Reeves' likeness to the divas she's covering. You're in for a treat when she gets to the Tina Turner segment of the show. Make no mistake: you will find yourself dancing along and having a great time at "Hitzville." .............. going from one influential Motown band to the next. Expect famous songs like "My Guy," "Natural Woman" and "What's Love Got to Do With It," along with a few rarer tracks that will make Motown fans very happy. Got to admit that "Natural Woman" + "What's Love Got to Do With It" are just about two of my all time fave Motown songs.

More info on Planet Hollywood & the show ......... https://www.lasvegas.com/listing/planet-hollywood/2116/ https://www.hitzvilletheshow.com/index.html If you used to visit Vegas and don't recall a casino called Planet Hollywood, it was called the Aladdin till a while back (I have fond memories of the place as it was where John & Carol Phillips had their post-wedding dinner).

Videos of the show & acts in it .......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfvDBv06res https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA2Mj_Zj9jY https://www.fox5vegas.com/video?clipId=6700879&autostart=true

Back in the day (1970's thru to around 2000) you could place a bet on getting to see a decent soul artist / group when visiting Vegas. All the Casino lounges would feature such acts; Sonny Turner of the Platters, Lou Ragland's Ink Spots, the Checkmates Ltd, Bobby Wade's Imperials and many more. In the main rooms at the same places, you could watch Gladys Knight & the Pips, the 4 Tops, the Temptations, the O'Jays, the Isley Brothers, etc. More recently it hasn't been as easy to catch a top soul act in the city. More & more lounges were converted to discos, the name casinos have gone over to Circus Solei type shows and many of the old 'lesser' casinos have now been pulled down. So the opportunities to perform on a regular basis in the city have diminished for such acts. You can still see tribute acts & 'Legends' type shows, in fact Daryl Grant (about to perform for the UK NS crowd) was , for many years, a member of a Motown tribute act that played the small casino next to New York, New York. So its harder these days to catch a decent soul act while there. There is a quite successful (& longish running) Motown tribute show though ................ Hitzville! Motown Revue V Theater, Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, ......... the blurb for the show .... Do you long for the days of quartets in pressed suits and divas with bouffant hairdos and impeccable voices? Though the glory days of Motown have come and gone you can relive the classic songs of groups like The Temptations, The Supremes and The Four Seasons as well as the original divas Tina Turner and Gladys Knight right in Las Vegas. Over at the V Theater, Motown Review "Hitzville - The Show,” recreates the incredible musical tradition born in the cities of Michigan. Motown Records was founded in Detroit by legend Berry Gordy Jr. back in the late 1950’s. Though Motown was the name of the label, many of the groups that were signed to the label produced the soulful sounds and classic songs heard in Hitzville’s set list. Leading the talented cast is Detroit native Jin Jin Reeves. This starlet has the star power needed to headline an incredible show fans of Motown’s music will be talking about long after it’s over. Along with being a singer, she’s also a talented dancer and songwriter; making Jin Jin the total package and the perfect woman to lead this amazing show. “Hitzville — The Show” features a male quarter that will cover the smooth sounds of The Temptations and a female trio that will harmonize together like The Supremes. All acts are accompanied by a live band composed of talented musicians that have worked with Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and even Diana Ross. You won’t be disappointed by this incredible performance which runs Monday through Saturday at 6pm. You’ll be able to remember the days of Motown and still have plenty of time to enjoy everything Vegas has to offer! Of course, Motown acts to Vegas-ites include the likes of Tina Turner, Reffa & the O'Jays but if you overlook that fact, it could well be worth catching the show which is staged at the Planet Hollywood Casino (on the Strip next door to the Paris).

The Sahibs were rated by most as just about the best local black group in 1960. Unfortunately they had no interest in recording ...... ..... but the other guys in the group did provide backing vocals on the 1st (Way Out) 45 made by member Lou Ragland. A picture of the group, a young Lou is on the left end .....

The Four Tops feature in this snippet from the show ........

Came across some clips of this old American TV music show online .... Loads of crap acts , old TV show clips & adverts + some naff dancing BUT also some decent soul acts were on there as guests. ........... here's a listing of just a few of them .............. Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 229 July 29, 1966: Kim Weston "Helpless" & "Take Me In Your Arms" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 231 Bobby Moore and Rhthym Ace "We've Got That" & "Searching For My Love." Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 232 Shades of Blue "Lonely Summer" & "Oh, How Happy" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 233 Marvin Gaye "Take This Heart of Mine"; Martha and the Vandellas "Dancing in the Street"; Chris Clark "Don't Be Too Long" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 234 The Drifters "Memories Are Made of This" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 236 The Temptations "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" & "My Girl" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 237 The Four Tops "Something About You" & "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" The Young Rascals "You Better Run" and "Good Lovin'" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 238 James Brown "Out of Sight" & "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 245 The Five Stairsteps "World of Fantasy" & "You've Waited Too Long" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 247 Jimmy Hughes "Neighbor, Neighbor" & "Don't Walk On Me" Where The Action Is — Season 2; Episode 252 August 31, 1966: The Temptations "Get Ready" & "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep." How many of the old shows still exist & have the soul clips been grouped together and put out on DVD ?? A couple of clips .............

Marva has been working on her autobiography for about 2 years now, in conjunction with a UK book publisher (Bankhouse Books). They were just incorporating an update on her recent work & adding the last few photos, the book would then have been ready to launch. Hope it still comes out.

Kegsy has posted up another Sweet City track on the SOUL SOURCE RECORD CLUB DAILY PICK thread (post # 936) .... it's the fine outing from John Wilson (leader of Sly, Slick & Wicked) -- "Ain't Enough Loving". A rare little 45 I've always lusted after (as he never fails to remind me). I think he's put it up on here as he intends to send me the 45 as a Chrissy present.

To follow on from the above club ad .... ... Edwin's Motown publicity shot ......... I believe it's well known that Edwin had been touring in the UK when Golden World was taken over. He returned to the States & turned up for his 1st gig back there to be greeted by a Motown artist on the same bill (a Temptation I think). The guy welcomed Edwin to Motown and it was the first he knew about the change to his contract status.

An interview with her done a few years back ....... https://www.wefunkradio.com/extra/marva

Yes, yet another sad loss ..... RIP Marva ............ I bought a UK Polydor LP as a new release back in 1968 ...... .. it's titled 'Soul Seller' and just features James Brown related King stuff. Marva has two tracks that were included on the album & I've loved her stuff ever since. Lots of the tracks included on the album are more deep soul than funk styled cuts... ... this one from Marva falls into that bag .. "If You Love Me" ....

There's a picture of L.E.T. on the LITTLE EDDIE TAYLOR thread from earlier this year. There's also a handbill for one of his Miami shows (where he was from) on the OLD MIAMI SOUL SHOWS thread (post # 58). More info on him here .... https://www.sirshambling.com/artists_2012/T/little_eddie_taylor/index.php

A youtube post on Dunn .......... ... basically it's a promo piece for him, but it does illustrate some of his later music biz achievements .......

Made a slight mistake in my 'All I Want Is You' article ............ Dunn's "Groove On Down" track was released on the Shrylden label, not on Almeria. Both labels were run by Greg Carmichael and were part of his Red Gregg Records outfit. This fact (both being Red Gregg sub-labels) was demonstrated when a re-release of both "All I Want Is You" & "Groove on Down" was put out ........... on the Red Gregg label itself. Greg Carmichael certainly likes "All I Want Is You" as a song as it was he that produced the Convertion take on it and leased the cut to Sam Records. Dunn's track .............

Sweet City Record label (who released Sly, Slick & Wicked's take on "All I Want Is You") was run by Carl Maduri. Carl had started out as a singer in the 50's & he had landed his 1st record contract around 1960. He had a number of singles out, one on Cameo doing quite well. He soon got into the promotion side of things & started working for distributors & record labels (Kapp / Warners, etc.). He then started cutting tracks in the studio & started his own labels. He usually worked (in the 60's) in Cleveland and had a hand in the Montclairs stuff on Sunburst. He went on to work with the likes of Shirley Vaughn, Don Gregory, Lou Ragland, Laura Greene, Sly, Slick & Wicked plus a lot more. As with many people in the music biz, he sometimes cut corners & not everyone he worked with was 100% happy (the Warner 45 credited to Lou Ragland was actually recorded by Seven Miles High, the group that Lou was lead singer and head honcho for). Carl certainly had a long music biz career though.

Dunn Pearson & The 9th Street Exit View full article