Groovy, Sexy & Soulful Part 58 Motown Edition

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Diana Ross

Canadian singer-songwriter R. Dean Taylor is one of the most underrated acts ever to record for Motown Records. Although he wrote lots of chart-topping singles, like 'Love child' for The Supremes, his own single 'Gotta see Jane' received no promotion in the US. It was picked up in Europe and it became a hit in the Netherlands and the UK. After his American top 5 smash 'Indiana wants me' in 1970, 'Gotta see Jane' reached #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, 4 years after its original release.

By far the best version of 'Don't leave me this way' is the one that Thelma Houston sang on Motown. Her vocals and the funky, almost neurotic bass from Henri Davis (who also played on 'Love hangover' from Diana Ross) make it a song about lust and desire, rather than love and sadness. That's also the difference between disco and soul in a nutshell. Thelma Houston obviously turns the soul song from Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (sung by Teddy Pendergrass) into a sing-along (gay) disco anthem.

“Mary Wells, was -- aside perhaps from the Miracles -- the artist most responsible for moving Motown from its noisier rock & roll beginnings into a smoother, more sophisticated soul sound.”
(Quote: Allmusic.om)

Enjoy this Motown edition of ‘Groovy, sexy and soulful’!

Tracklist:

Willie Hutch – In And Out (1982)
G.C. Cameron – You're What's Missing In My Life (1977)
Syreeta – Your Kiss Is Sweet (1974)
Dazz Band – Everyday Love (1982)
Smokey Robinson – Virgin Man (1974)
Platinum Hook – Gotta Find A Woman (1978)
Diana Ross ‎– Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) (1975)
Marvin Gaye – Dark Side Of The World (1969)
The Jackson 5 ‎– Whatever You Got, I Want (1974)
The Vows – Tell Me (1965)
Brenda Holloway – How Many Times Did You Mean It? (1965)
Carolyn Crawford – Keep Stepping (Never Look Back) (1965)
Eddie Kendricks – Shoeshine Boy (1975)
Mary Wells – You Beat Me To The Punch (1962)
The Supremes – Nothing But Heartaches (1965)
Edwin Starr – Headline News (1966)
Tommy Good – Baby I Miss You (1964)
The Four Tops – Can’t Help Myself (1965)
The Undisputed Truth – Law Of The Land (1974)
The Temptations – Witchcraft (For Your Love) (1964)
R. Dean Taylor – Gotta See Jane (1968)
Leon Ware – Share Your Love (1976)
Thelma Houston – Don't Leave Me This Way (1976)


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