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Thread started 04/10/09 6:30pm

Timmy84

The Spinners say "It's a Shame"



Thanks to Stevie, Syreeta and Lee Garrett for this great masterpiece, the best Spinners song IMHO.
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Reply #1 posted 04/10/09 6:35pm

diamondpearl1

Timmy84 said:



Thanks to Stevie, Syreeta and Lee Garrett for this great masterpiece, the best Spinners song IMHO.


Love where Monie Love took it back in 90'

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Reply #2 posted 04/10/09 6:37pm

IAintTheOne

Mr G C Cameron on lead vocals on this one
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Reply #3 posted 04/10/09 6:45pm

diamondpearl1

IAintTheOne said:

Mr G C Cameron on lead vocals on this one


The same G.C. Cameron who sang "It's So Hard" ? Guess Phillipe Wynn went solo with P-Funk by the time this came out....
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Reply #4 posted 04/10/09 6:46pm

Timmy84

diamondpearl1 said:

IAintTheOne said:

Mr G C Cameron on lead vocals on this one


The same G.C. Cameron who sang "It's So Hard" ? Guess Phillipe Wynn went solo with P-Funk by the time this came out....


No this was recorded in 1970. smile

Phillipe REPLACE G.C. in 1972 when the Spinners signed with Atlantic and G.C. decided to stay at Motown but yeah that's the same guy. He can sing a MEAN falsetto.

Players:
Stevie Wonder - drums and clavinet
James Jamerson - bass
Robert White, Eddie Willis and Joe Messina - guitars
I forget the names of the saxophonists, lol

Spinners:
G.C. - lead
Bobbie Smith, Pervis Jackson, Billy Henderson & Henry Fambrough - background
[Edited 4/10/09 18:48pm]
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Reply #5 posted 04/10/09 6:47pm

IAintTheOne

diamondpearl1 said:

IAintTheOne said:

Mr G C Cameron on lead vocals on this one


The same G.C. Cameron who sang "It's So Hard" ? Guess Phillipe Wynn went solo with P-Funk by the time this came out....



Lmao.. no this was late 1969 early 1970 when this came out smile
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Reply #6 posted 04/10/09 6:48pm

RipHer2Shreds

The song's about somebody getting dogged, but it's one of my feel good songs. Love it! music
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Reply #7 posted 04/10/09 6:48pm

IAintTheOne

RipHer2Shreds said:

The song's about somebody getting dogged, but it's one of my feel good songs. Love it! music



If memory serves I believe JJ played bass on this one
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Reply #8 posted 04/10/09 6:50pm

Timmy84

IAintTheOne said:

diamondpearl1 said:



The same G.C. Cameron who sang "It's So Hard" ? Guess Phillipe Wynn went solo with P-Funk by the time this came out....



Lmao.. no this was late 1969 early 1970 when this came out smile


Actually Philippe was a member of an early version of Funkadelic by the time of this release, lol.

Odd but true. Anyway, it's shocking Stevie was only 19 or 20 when he wrote (w/Syreeta) and produced this. This song was said to be about Syreeta during a brief breakup between her and Stevie, they were back together when they collaborated on this, you can tell Syreeta's influence when G.C. goes to the falsetto bridge.
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Reply #9 posted 04/10/09 6:51pm

Timmy84

IAintTheOne said:

RipHer2Shreds said:

The song's about somebody getting dogged, but it's one of my feel good songs. Love it! music



If memory serves I believe JJ played bass on this one


Yes he was. I'm listening to the instrumental and that bass is too recognizable not to be anybody BUT James. That is James putting the STANK FUNK on that bass!

But this song has an interesting story with its recording. At the time, Stevie's relationship with Motown CEO Berry Gordy had strained because Stevie wanted full control of his career (the hard-nosed BG refused to let him do so of course) much like Marvin Gaye was doing around the same time so to get some leeway, he decided to give the Spinners, who were struggling to get a hit while at Motown for like seven years, this song. Stevie was the drummer on this (as if you didn't know) and also played the memorable clavinet intro in this. Paul Riser arranged it. It was much like Marvin producing the Originals hits around the same time. Both groups got hits off Marvin & Stevie's productions. Stevie then defiantly recorded the "Where I'm Coming From" album and released it despite Berry's anger, lol. I don't know if he didn't wanna release the song but I guess this was one of those songs he felt "fuck it, put it out". I don't think Berry promoted the song either.
[Edited 4/10/09 18:56pm]
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Reply #10 posted 04/10/09 7:07pm

diamondpearl1

Timmy84 said:

IAintTheOne said:




If memory serves I believe JJ played bass on this one


Yes he was. I'm listening to the instrumental and that bass is too recognizable not to be anybody BUT James. That is James putting the STANK FUNK on that bass!

But this song has an interesting story with its recording. At the time, Stevie's relationship with Motown CEO Berry Gordy had strained because Stevie wanted full control of his career (the hard-nosed BG refused to let him do so of course) much like Marvin Gaye was doing around the same time so to get some leeway, he decided to give the Spinners, who were struggling to get a hit while at Motown for like seven years, this song. Stevie was the drummer on this (as if you didn't know) and also played the memorable clavinet intro in this. Paul Riser arranged it. It was much like Marvin producing the Originals hits around the same time. Both groups got hits off Marvin & Stevie's productions. Stevie then defiantly recorded the "Where I'm Coming From" album and released it despite Berry's anger, lol. I don't know if he didn't wanna release the song but I guess this was one of those songs he felt "fuck it, put it out". I don't think Berry promoted the song either.
[Edited 4/10/09 18:56pm]


It's so funny how as respected as Berry Gordy is to the world of music, when you ask some of the people who were there how they REALLY feel about him you can damn near hear their blood start to boil....Lookin at the date 1970, it's hard to believe that just 2 years later Motown would move to L.A. and 3 years after that Berry Gordy would replace the Funk Brothers like parts on an old car....
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Reply #11 posted 04/10/09 7:09pm

Timmy84

diamondpearl1 said:

Timmy84 said:



Yes he was. I'm listening to the instrumental and that bass is too recognizable not to be anybody BUT James. That is James putting the STANK FUNK on that bass!

But this song has an interesting story with its recording. At the time, Stevie's relationship with Motown CEO Berry Gordy had strained because Stevie wanted full control of his career (the hard-nosed BG refused to let him do so of course) much like Marvin Gaye was doing around the same time so to get some leeway, he decided to give the Spinners, who were struggling to get a hit while at Motown for like seven years, this song. Stevie was the drummer on this (as if you didn't know) and also played the memorable clavinet intro in this. Paul Riser arranged it. It was much like Marvin producing the Originals hits around the same time. Both groups got hits off Marvin & Stevie's productions. Stevie then defiantly recorded the "Where I'm Coming From" album and released it despite Berry's anger, lol. I don't know if he didn't wanna release the song but I guess this was one of those songs he felt "fuck it, put it out". I don't think Berry promoted the song either.
[Edited 4/10/09 18:56pm]


It's so funny how as respected as Berry Gordy is to the world of music, when you ask some of the people who were there how they REALLY feel about him you can damn near hear their blood start to boil....Lookin at the date 1970, it's hard to believe that just 2 years later Motown would move to L.A. and 3 years after that Berry Gordy would replace the Funk Brothers like parts on an old car....


It is. It's also funny how two years later the Spinners left Motown and became the biggest R&B group of the 1970s! lol This song set the future precedent for their success. 1970 was actually the beginning of the end of "The Motown Sound", which came to a close tragically in 1972. So yeah, Berry Gordy is definitely in the wrong. lol
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Reply #12 posted 04/10/09 7:10pm

IAintTheOne

diamondpearl1 said:

Timmy84 said:



Yes he was. I'm listening to the instrumental and that bass is too recognizable not to be anybody BUT James. That is James putting the STANK FUNK on that bass!

But this song has an interesting story with its recording. At the time, Stevie's relationship with Motown CEO Berry Gordy had strained because Stevie wanted full control of his career (the hard-nosed BG refused to let him do so of course) much like Marvin Gaye was doing around the same time so to get some leeway, he decided to give the Spinners, who were struggling to get a hit while at Motown for like seven years, this song. Stevie was the drummer on this (as if you didn't know) and also played the memorable clavinet intro in this. Paul Riser arranged it. It was much like Marvin producing the Originals hits around the same time. Both groups got hits off Marvin & Stevie's productions. Stevie then defiantly recorded the "Where I'm Coming From" album and released it despite Berry's anger, lol. I don't know if he didn't wanna release the song but I guess this was one of those songs he felt "fuck it, put it out". I don't think Berry promoted the song either.
[Edited 4/10/09 18:56pm]


It's so funny how as respected as Berry Gordy is to the world of music, when you ask some of the people who were there how they REALLY feel about him you can damn near hear their blood start to boil....Lookin at the date 1970, it's hard to believe that just 2 years later Motown would move to L.A. and 3 years after that Berry Gordy would replace the Funk Brothers like parts on an old car....


Berry pretty much wanted to monopolize Detroit music wise there were small upstart labels such as Wingate, Ric tic, Motor City, etc etc. Berry went out and bought em all out pretty much.
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Reply #13 posted 04/10/09 7:13pm

Timmy84

IAintTheOne said:

diamondpearl1 said:



It's so funny how as respected as Berry Gordy is to the world of music, when you ask some of the people who were there how they REALLY feel about him you can damn near hear their blood start to boil....Lookin at the date 1970, it's hard to believe that just 2 years later Motown would move to L.A. and 3 years after that Berry Gordy would replace the Funk Brothers like parts on an old car....


Berry pretty much wanted to monopolize Detroit music wise there were small upstart labels such as Wingate, Ric tic, Motor City, etc etc. Berry went out and bought em all out pretty much.


Right. I think he bought Tri-Phi Records, that was a label Harvey Fuqua and Gwen Gordy had formed, and the Spinners were on there. Berry bought that label and the Spinners joined the Motown imprint but after a modest hit with "I'll Always Love You", they were forgotten about in the realms of the other Motown acts. It took until 1970 for them to get a BIG hit.
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Reply #14 posted 04/10/09 7:20pm

IAintTheOne

Timmy84 said:

IAintTheOne said:



Berry pretty much wanted to monopolize Detroit music wise there were small upstart labels such as Wingate, Ric tic, Motor City, etc etc. Berry went out and bought em all out pretty much.


Right. I think he bought Tri-Phi Records, that was a label Harvey Fuqua and Gwen Gordy had formed, and the Spinners were on there. Berry bought that label and the Spinners joined the Motown imprint but after a modest hit with "I'll Always Love You", they were forgotten about in the realms of the other Motown acts. It took until 1970 for them to get a BIG hit.



Right he bought Tri-Phi and then they were on V.I.P not many acts on that label but little does everyone know that "Chris Clark" had a single on V.I.P everyone thinks Rare earth were the 1st white act on Motown but i think Chris had it. Her single was overlooked of course.
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Reply #15 posted 04/10/09 8:01pm

Timmy84

IAintTheOne said:

Timmy84 said:



Right. I think he bought Tri-Phi Records, that was a label Harvey Fuqua and Gwen Gordy had formed, and the Spinners were on there. Berry bought that label and the Spinners joined the Motown imprint but after a modest hit with "I'll Always Love You", they were forgotten about in the realms of the other Motown acts. It took until 1970 for them to get a BIG hit.



Right he bought Tri-Phi and then they were on V.I.P not many acts on that label but little does everyone know that "Chris Clark" had a single on V.I.P everyone thinks Rare earth were the 1st white act on Motown but i think Chris had it. Her single was overlooked of course.


Yep. There were a lot of acts Motown signed, I'm surprised how many signed during the 1960s. lol
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Reply #16 posted 04/10/09 8:03pm

IAintTheOne

Timmy84 said:

IAintTheOne said:




Right he bought Tri-Phi and then they were on V.I.P not many acts on that label but little does everyone know that "Chris Clark" had a single on V.I.P everyone thinks Rare earth were the 1st white act on Motown but i think Chris had it. Her single was overlooked of course.


Yep. There were a lot of acts Motown signed, I'm surprised how many signed during the 1960s. lol



Well for example look at the Frank Wilson record on "Soul" that shit is going for 10 grand on auction
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Reply #17 posted 04/10/09 8:06pm

Timmy84

IAintTheOne said:

Timmy84 said:



Yep. There were a lot of acts Motown signed, I'm surprised how many signed during the 1960s. lol



Well for example look at the Frank Wilson record on "Soul" that shit is going for 10 grand on auction


Not surprised. lol It's impressive how fast Motown became an entity within itself at least by 1966, lol. lol
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Reply #18 posted 04/10/09 8:07pm

IAintTheOne

Timmy84 said:

IAintTheOne said:




Well for example look at the Frank Wilson record on "Soul" that shit is going for 10 grand on auction


Not surprised. lol It's impressive how fast Motown became an entity within itself at least by 1966, lol. lol



I think they pressed only one copy of that record actually I maybe wrong
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Reply #19 posted 04/10/09 8:08pm

Timmy84

IAintTheOne said:

Timmy84 said:



Not surprised. lol It's impressive how fast Motown became an entity within itself at least by 1966, lol. lol



I think they pressed only one copy of that record actually I maybe wrong


Oh really? lol
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Reply #20 posted 04/10/09 8:20pm

IAintTheOne

Timmy84 said:

IAintTheOne said:




I think they pressed only one copy of that record actually I maybe wrong


Oh really? lol



that's the rumor
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Reply #21 posted 04/10/09 8:25pm

Timmy84

Right, lol.

I may post the instrumental (again). I posted it on the "ultimate Motown Sound thread" but knowing that thread, I may have to bump it or something but there's a fantastic version with just the Funk Brothers, Stevie (on drums and clavinet) and the other four original Spinners as guest vocalists...
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Reply #22 posted 04/10/09 8:53pm

LittleBLUECorv
ette

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GC is such an underrated beast. His track "If You Don't Love Me" is freaking awesome.
PRINCE: Always and Forever
MICHAEL JACKSON: Always and Forever
-----
Live Your Life How U Wanna Live It
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Reply #23 posted 04/10/09 9:03pm

Timmy84

LittleBLUECorvette said:

GC is such an underrated beast. His track "If You Don't Love Me" is freaking awesome.


Yeah GC's the man. I heard that he had like six different voices or something, lol.
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Reply #24 posted 04/10/09 9:05pm

LittleBLUECorv
ette

avatar

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

GC is such an underrated beast. His track "If You Don't Love Me" is freaking awesome.


Yeah GC's the man. I heard that he had like six different voices or something, lol.

Six different voices, got damn, I only got one voice.
PRINCE: Always and Forever
MICHAEL JACKSON: Always and Forever
-----
Live Your Life How U Wanna Live It
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Reply #25 posted 04/10/09 9:14pm

Timmy84

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:



Yeah GC's the man. I heard that he had like six different voices or something, lol.

Six different voices, got damn, I only got one voice.


LOL, I think they mean like he can do bass, baritone, tenor, falsetto and some other mess. He probably has a five-octave vocal or something much like your boy from the Temptations (Ali-Ollie Woodson). Least that's what I'm thinking, lol.
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Reply #26 posted 04/10/09 9:42pm

LittleBLUECorv
ette

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Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:


Six different voices, got damn, I only got one voice.


LOL, I think they mean like he can do bass, baritone, tenor, falsetto and some other mess. He probably has a five-octave vocal or something much like your boy from the Temptations (Ali-Ollie Woodson). Least that's what I'm thinking, lol.

Six voices, no wonder why he left the Spinners, he could do everybody's part.

"LOL at six mics set up and GC running around the stage sangin' on all the mics"
PRINCE: Always and Forever
MICHAEL JACKSON: Always and Forever
-----
Live Your Life How U Wanna Live It
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Reply #27 posted 04/10/09 11:18pm

Timmy84

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:



LOL, I think they mean like he can do bass, baritone, tenor, falsetto and some other mess. He probably has a five-octave vocal or something much like your boy from the Temptations (Ali-Ollie Woodson). Least that's what I'm thinking, lol.

Six voices, no wonder why he left the Spinners, he could do everybody's part.

"LOL at six mics set up and GC running around the stage sangin' on all the mics"


lol
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Reply #28 posted 04/11/09 2:38am

graecophilos

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AMAZING!!! AMAZING!

One excellent vocal performance! Great song thanks Stevie!
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Reply #29 posted 04/11/09 4:46am

AlexdeParis

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RipHer2Shreds said:

The song's about somebody getting dogged, but it's one of my feel good songs. Love it! music

See, we agree on some things! lol "It's a Shame" is one of my all-time favorite songs. Everything about it is perfect.

Love what Monie did to it as well. music
"Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis
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