Line Out - Comments on Ain’t Too Proud to Compile: My Motown Top 25 List http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top Stevie Wonder: Clean outtasight. Smokey Robinson: Author of the best Motown song ever. If you grew up in the Detroit area in the ’60s/’70s, as I did, the Motown sound practically became ingrained in your DNA through radio and... Copyright 2008 Mon, 12 Feb 2007 13:26:33 -0800 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:31:59 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Kurt B. Reighley What's with the aversion to female artists? No Syreeta, Gladys Knight, post-Diana Ross Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, or Velvelettes? I do, however, applaud your inclusion of The Undisputed Truth.

]]> Kurt B. Reighley http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629117 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629117 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:14:19 -0800 Comment by jz glad to see you so inspired, dave, and coming up w a kickass list. i can tell you that kids are all over motown these days, at least in san francisco, where there are several hugely popular oldies/stax/motown nights that attract all the skinny-jeansed mission hipsters. for real. shits fun as hell, too.

i do argue your jackson five inclusion, however. only one? and that one? hmm...

]]> jz http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629132 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629132 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:29:38 -0800 Comment by kerri harrop segal, this is a great fucking list. we are in total agreement regarding smokey robinson. i, too, cite the big chill effect with regard to his music.

that movie really made it tough to hear artists of that era, particularly motown artists, without cringing. smokey definitely got the worst of it.

to this day, i still think cruisin' is one of the sweetest love songs of all time, regardless of its status as a hit.

bonus points to you for #19, which is one of my go-to tracks every wednesday at bananas.

]]> kerri harrop http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629135 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629135 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:31:26 -0800 Comment by segal What's with the aversion to female artists? No Syreeta, Gladys Knight, post-Diana Ross Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, or Velvelettes?

I respect all of those artists, but it's just down to personal taste. I almost included Gladys Knight's version of "Grapevine," which is killer.

i do argue your jackson five inclusion, however. only one? and that one?

Two, actually. See #16. "The Love You Save" animated (literally; there used to be a J5 cartoon show) my childhood with a vengeance, so the choice was heavily tinted by nostalgia. Mea culpa.

'Twas hard to keep this list to 25!

]]> segal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629178 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629178 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:03:17 -0800 Comment by segal kids are all over motown these days, at least in san francisco, where there are several hugely popular oldies/stax/motown nights that attract all the skinny-jeansed mission hipsters.

Damn. Color me shocked—and impressed.

]]> segal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629181 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629181 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:04:28 -0800 Comment by elswinger Personal thanks for including Rare Earth!

]]> elswinger http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629185 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629185 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:11:12 -0800 Comment by terry miller wow! where the hell are the women on your list. # 17 and possibly #19. that's it!?!??!

ouch!

]]> terry miller http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629198 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629198 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:18:37 -0800 Comment by segal where the hell are the women on your list.

See comment #4.

]]> segal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629218 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629218 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:27:10 -0800 Comment by dre What about Tammy Terrell?

]]> dre http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629220 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629220 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:29:05 -0800 Comment by segal Hey, I invited y'all to compile your own lists. You find mine lacking? Do it up large, people. Spread your knowledge.

]]> segal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629286 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629286 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:02:30 -0800 Comment by R I don't know if it's necessarily one of the best, but I think one of the most underrated Motown songs of all time is the Jackson Five's cover of "Hum Along and Dance," which they transform into an eight-minute-long funky, Krautrock-esque freakout. Back when I DJ-ed on a regular basis, I often worked it into my sets, and any time I played it, at least 3 or 4 people would come up to ask what it was. And they were always shocked that it was the Jackson Five (they usually assumed it was a Can side-project or something).

Anyhow, good list. Tears of a Clown is a favorite of mine, as well, even though it conjures up images of my mom's collection of clown-with-a-single-tear-running-down-its-cheek paintings.

]]> R http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629319 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629319 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:33:19 -0800 Comment by gillsans Although I do enjoy most Motown, I gotta say that Memphis/Muscle Shoals Southern Soul kicks the shit out of Motown any day of the week. You want some soul, listen to Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave or Otis Redding. You've got some great songs on your list, but I'd take Think, Respect, Hold On, I'm Coming, In the Midnight Hour, or Soothe Me every time.

Booker T and the MGs got honored last night. Where's their list?

]]> gillsans http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629333 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629333 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 16:45:37 -0800 Comment by segal No denying the greatness of Southern soul, gillsans; I was simply riffing off the upcoming Wonderlove night and indulging in some nostalgia over my Detroit background. I have enough to love for Southern and Northern soul (and West Coast, and Texan, etc. etc.).

]]> segal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629460 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629460 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:55:20 -0800 Comment by bijoubaby the temptations, "just my immagination"... the opening bass line is reason enough for inclusion... that and "backstabbers"... they smile in your face...

]]> bijoubaby http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629576 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629576 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:26:43 -0800 Comment by segal The O'Jays weren't on Motown. Great tune, though.

]]> segal http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629583 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c629583 History Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:36:14 -0800 Comment by nipper here's my top 25 motown/family of labels top hits- NO particular order, well, prolly some kinda drunk order in my house if I was gonna play motown for an hour...

1 the contours - just a little misunderstanding
2 the monitors - number one in your heart
3 the marvelettes - i'll keep on holding on
4 marvin gaye - can i get a witness
5 chris clark - do i love you (indeed i do)
6 smokey/miracles - going to a go go
7 shorty long - here comes the judge
8 marvin gaye & tammi terrell - california soul
9 jr walker - brainwasher
10 temptations - i gotta know
11 marvin gaye - baby don't do it
12 gladys knight/pips - just walk in my shoes
13 supremes - going down for the third time
14 edwin star - my weakness is you
15 martha/vandellas - can't break the habit
16 four tops - shake me wake me
17 chris clark - don't be too long
18 marvin gaye - one more heartache
19 kim weston - take me in your arms
20 jr walker - shotgun
21 earl van dyke - 6x6
22 edwin star - mighty good lovin'
23 chuck jackson - the day my world stood still
24 velvelettes- he was really sayin' somethin'
25 brenda holloway - starting the hurt all over again

sorry, NO mary wells, jackson 5, or stevie wonder...

]]> nipper http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c630271 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c630271 History Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:26:41 -0800 Comment by kerri harrop that's a real sweet list, nips. the chris clark cut is dyanamite! no stevie wonder, though, is a crime against humanity.

why don't you go put on i don't know why i love you and then tell me why little stevie isn't on your list. that song will DESTROY!

]]> kerri harrop http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c630302 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c630302 History Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:05:49 -0800 Comment by nipper not a slight against stevie, but I've heard enough, and I LOVE Uptight...but he'd be the last I'd play. hmmm, instead of stevie I'd play that Contours track TWICE!

]]> nipper http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c630315 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c630315 History Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:27:30 -0800 Comment by MattyDread I always thought "Tears of a Clown" was really annoying--that circus keyboard part--until the doctor played it while he delivered my daughter (c section).

]]> MattyDread http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c631066 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c631066 History Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:51:12 -0800 Comment by truthseeker A Motown/Rare Earth label flashback.

In 1969, the Motown subsidiary, Rare Earth wanted to jump on the rock music bandwagon. They put out the Rare Earth album which was fantastic but there was another little album that was put out by a group called Love Sculpture. The album was yellow and shaped like the Rare Earth album with a semi-circle top. At the time, these album jackets were very cool in my opinion.

The lead guitarist of Love Sculpture was an up and coming English guitarist by the name of Dave Edmunds. The album was mainly blues covers and was extremely enjoyable. They put out one Rare Earth album but then signed to Parrot and put out one of my favorite albums called Forms and Feelings. They had a popular 11 minute instrumental song that "FM underground" stations played called Sabre Dance but my favorite track was called Nobody's Talking. The sound of those vocals coupled with Dave Edmunds guitar playing will stay in my head forever.

]]> truthseeker http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c632099 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c632099 History Wed, 14 Feb 2007 08:06:18 -0800 Comment by f284h40i anal sex midget chick images

]]> f284h40i http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c642896 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c642896 History Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:31:36 -0800 Comment by 9o3rvfql0n [url=http://hometown.aol.com/pics28635495/weekend-gay-slave.htm]weekend gay slave[/url]

]]> 9o3rvfql0n http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c642897 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2007/02/aint_too_proud_to_compile_my_motown_top#c642897 History Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:31:59 -0800