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Posts Tagged Motown

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December 6, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 6

Little Stevie Wonder, The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie (1962) Stevie Wonder hated being called “Little Stevie” (and then “Little Stevie Wonder”) but he was 11 and 12 and 13 years old. He was little, and new on the scene – little literally and figuratively. And though he was a wonder – a genius – […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1962, Bam, Berry Gordy, Billie Holiday, Bongo, Drums, Fingertips, Instrumental, Little Stevie, Little Stevie Wonder, Motown, Piano, Stevie Wonder, The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie, The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 6 ·

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July 24, 2020 by Simon Sweetman

Diana Ross: Supertonic – Mixes

Diana Ross Supertonic: Mixes Motown Records What a weird thing this is – arriving in the pandemic too, I guess you couldn’t plan for or around that. But with many places in the world in or about to return to a full or full-enough lockdown we have disco-house remixes of Diana Ross classics; the lady […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Dance, Diana Ross, Diana Ross: Supertonic - Mixes, Eric Kupper, Instrumental, Mixes, Motown, Motown Records, Remix, Supertonic, Supertonic: Mixes, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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September 6, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 253

Rare Earth, Willie Remembers… (1972) Rare Earth was the first all-white band to have a hit on the Motown label. They had some hits, even, by covering things by The Temptations – you know basically white-washing the whitest of the black labels. The woke crowd would have a field-day with this shit today. And (probably) […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1972, Gatefold, I Couldn't Believe What Happened Last Night, LP, Motown, Rare Earth, Record, The Temptations, The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 253, Vinyl, Ween, Willie Remembers... ·

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April 3, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

The 1001 Albums Challenge # 48: The Temptations – “All Directions”

I certainly do love The Temptations but I’d always kinda wondered how they went from the obvious Motown soul-pop of their early magic to a slightly harder-edged, psychedelic funk. Look, it was all great to me – but it didn’t flow well across compilations, and that’s really how I knew them. Then I got a […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged 1001, 1001 Albums, 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, 1970s, 1972, All Directions, Funk, Motown, Norman Whitfield, Seventies, Soul, The 1001 Albums Challenge, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 48:, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 48: The Temptations, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 48: The Temptations – “All Directions”, The Temptations, The Temptations – “All Directions”, The Undisputed Truth, You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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September 5, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 502

The Undisputed Truth, The Undisputed Truth (1971) Riki Gooch gave me my first taste of this album. A decade or so ago I hooked up with Riki for a small handful of drum-lessons; I could play (kinda) and was slightly nervous about getting back into it – performing in public. I knew Riki already, and […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1971, Cave Circles, Funk, https://www.discogs.com/The-Undisputed-Truth-The-Undisputed-Truth/release/10066725, LP, Motown, Norman Whitfield, Psychedelic Funk, Record, Riki Gooch, Soul, The Undisputed Truth, The Vinyl Countdown, The Vinyl Countdown # 502, Vinyl, You Got The Love I Need ·

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April 3, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 562

Smokey Robison, Being With You [Single] (1981) I love Smokey Robinson but the album that this song comes from is terrible. I know this because (of course) I own it. Bad album, classic example – one of many – where great artists from the 60s just struggled with moving on into the 80s. So just […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1981, A-side, B-side, Being With You, LP, Motown, Record, Single, Smokey Robinson, The Vinyl Countdown # 562, Vinyl, Warm Thoughts, What's In Your Life For Me ·

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March 20, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

The Greatest Music In The World: DJ Set (Fri 24/3/17)

I’m playing some records down at the San Fran this Friday, March 24th – billed as “The Greatest Music In The World” (hey, no pressure) it’s going to be a night of classic funk, soul and R’n’B, you know the Stax and Motown labels, you know some Philly-soul, you know maybe a little bit of […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged 7pm, Blues, Cuba Street, CubaDupa, disco, DJ, DJ Set, Fri, Fri 24/3/17, Friday, Funk, Hip-Hop, Jazz, LP, March 24, Motown, Philly Soul, R'n'B, Records, San Fran, Soul, Stax, The Greatest Music In The World, The Greatest Music In The World: DJ Set (Fri 24/3/17), Vinyl, Wellington ·

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April 14, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Phil Collins: Face Value (Deluxe Edition)

Phil Collins Face Value (Deluxe Edition) – Take A Look At Me Now: Reissue Series Rhino Records/Warners I still think Face Value – here reissued, as part of a thoughtful career-overview/overhaul reissue campaign – is a classic album. I’m sure of it. I’ve always liked it. I’ve had a couple of goes at defending/appraising the […]
Posted in Blog, Reviews · Tagged Album Review, Blog On The Tracks, Brian Eno, Deluxe Edition, Droned, Drum Machine, Drums, Earth Wind & Fire, Eno, Face Value, Face Value (Deluxe Edition) – Take A Look At Me Now: Reissue Series, Genesis, Hand In Hand, Horns, I Missed Again, If Leaving Me Is Easy, In The Air Tonight, McCartney II, Motown, My Life In The Bush of Ghosts, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Reissue, Soul, Stuff.co.nz, Take A Look At Me Now, The Beatles, The Roof Is Leaking, The Vinyl Countdown, This Must Be Love, Tomorrow Never Knows ·

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February 24, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

The Third Eye – Tuatara Temple of Taste: DJ Set (Friday, March 4)

The Third Eye – Tuatara Temple of Taste is kicking off a regular Friday series hosting DJs. Each night will be a different record-collecting/playing enthusiast showing off some aspect of their collection. I’m honoured to have the first shot at it, net Friday, which is also the venue’s first birthday. My night is called The […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged 2016), After-Work Drinks, Blues, DJ, DJ Set, Friday, Funk, Groove, Hip-Hop, Jazz, LP, March 4, Motown, PR, Promo, Records, Simon Sweetman, Soul, Stax, The Story of Funk Soul Jazz Blues and Groove, The Third Eye, The Third Eye – Tuatara Temple of Taste: DJ Set (Friday, Tuatara, Tuatara Temple of Taste, Vinyl ·

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November 9, 2015 by Simon Sweetman

Gig Preview: All Soul Day! – Sophie and The Realistic Expectations, San Fran, Friday, November 13

Black Friday this week! Hold on to your Halloween costumes, they’ll get you a $5 discount at the gig. This Friday, November 13, Sophie and TheRealistic Expectations will be on stage at the San Fran to celebrate the All Soul Day! The nine-piece party band will offer soul and pop highlights from the Motown canon […]
Posted in Blog, Miscellany · Tagged All Soul Day!, Covers, Cuba Street, DJ, Friday, Friday 13th, Funk, Gig Preview, Gig Preview: All Soul Day! – Sophie and The Realistic Expectations, http://sanfran.co.nz/, Motown, November 13, Records, San Fran, Simon Sweetman, Sophie and The Realistic Expectations, Soul, Vinyl, Wellington ·

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October 29, 2015 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 800

The Spinners, Motown Superstar Series, Vol. 9 (1979) I love The Spinners – not sure when I first heard them. But I know that a few years ago now I picked up a double compilation from the library to, er, give a spin. And that sold me. Realised I knew most of the songs already, […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1979, Compilation, It's A Shame, LP, Motown, Motown Superstar Series, Pop, R'n'B, Record, Soul, Spinners, The Spinners, The Vinyl Countdown # 800, Vinyl, Vol. 9, Volume Nine ·

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April 7, 2015 by Simon Sweetman

The Vinyl Countdown # 915

Marvin Gaye, Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye (1983) The rules are different. And yet I could not tell you why. All I know is I would never have bought this when I was buying tapes, nor on CD. But when I spotted this one – first time I’d ever seen it (didn’t know […]
Posted in Blog, The Vinyl Countdown · Tagged 1983, Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye, LP, Marvin, Marvin Gaye, Motown, Record, The Vinyl Countdown # 915, Trouble Man, Vinyl ·
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