scriptgirl said:

I would say the Spinners are pretty well known. Happy about the Ohio Players. I wish they would do the Marvelettes

Who, even RnB heads can only probably name Philiipp Wynne, if that.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

scriptgirl said:

I would say the Spinners are pretty well known. Happy about the Ohio Players. I wish they would do the Marvelettes

Who, even RnB heads can only probably name Philiipp Wynne, if that.

Plus they had like 50 different members. The Spinners that ruled the '70s were not the same Spinners that started in the '50s and '60s. Plus they came up with Marvin and 'em and they had a different crew. I think the ones who stayed around from the beginning who were part of the '70s lineup were Bobby Smith, Pervis Jackson and Billy Henderson.

daPrettyman said:

I hope the Deniece Williams story is good. I consider myself to be a pretty big fan of Niecy's. I hope they do her justice and dig a bit. I don't think I can take another "glossed over" episode. I want details about working with Stevie and EWF. I also want details about working with George Duke and Johnny Mathis.

I'm also excited about The Spinners. I really want to learn more about Philippe Wynn from the people who knew him. I also want to know about their history at Motown.

I also am looking forward to the one on Alexander O'neal. He could have been so much bigger after the All True Man album, but he released crap after that and no one was interested in him anymore.

As far as Alex goes, the hits just simply dried up for him, Cherrelle, and the SOS Band after Jimmy and Terry moved on from producing Tabu artists. I'll watch the Unsung episode but i'm not overly enthused about it. Look forward to the Spinners, Ohio Players, and Evelyn Champagne King the

most from this new lineup.

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Who, even RnB heads can only probably name Philiipp Wynne, if that.

Plus they had like 50 different members. The Spinners that ruled the '70s were not the same Spinners that started in the '50s and '60s. Plus they came up with Marvin and 'em and they had a different crew. I think the ones who stayed around from the beginning who were part of the '70s lineup were Bobby Smith, Pervis Jackson and Billy Henderson.

Are you sure you're not confusing the Spinners with The Drifters ... it was The Drifters who had lots and lots of members.

nusouldownunder said:

Timmy84 said:

Plus they had like 50 different members. The Spinners that ruled the '70s were not the same Spinners that started in the '50s and '60s. Plus they came up with Marvin and 'em and they had a different crew. I think the ones who stayed around from the beginning who were part of the '70s lineup were Bobby Smith, Pervis Jackson and Billy Henderson.

Are you sure you're not confusing the Spinners with The Drifters ... it was The Drifters who had lots and lots of members.

No lol

I can't name any of the spinners. The Spinners, the Chi Lites, Blue Magic, to my little ears as a kid, they all sounded the same.

My Lord is this tired show back... I thought it had been canceled? With the exception of Alexander O'Neal NONE of the artist listed careers were "Unsung".

NONE

I saw an Evelyn Champagne King performance a few months ago and she mentioned her Unsung special,saying that her cameramen are shooting footage for it at this show.So when you guys see it and they show footage of the audience,you may see me I was in the front row.

SoulAlive said:

I saw an Evelyn Champagne King performance a few months ago and she mentioned her Unsung special,saying that her cameramen are shooting footage for it at this show.So when you guys see it and they show footage of the audience,you may see me I was in the front row.

OK, I may watch this show to see if I can catch a glimpse of Soul in the audience. If I see a brotha in black tryin' to break dance............

TD3 said:

SoulAlive said:

I saw an Evelyn Champagne King performance a few months ago and she mentioned her Unsung special,saying that her cameramen are shooting footage for it at this show.So when you guys see it and they show footage of the audience,you may see me I was in the front row.

OK, I may watch this show to see if I can catch a glimpse of Soul in the audience. If I see a brotha in black tryin' to break dance............

scriptgirl said:

I can't name any of the spinners. The Spinners, the Chi Lites, Blue Magic, to my little ears as a kid, they all sounded the same.

Blue Magic and The Stylistics always sounded just alike to me. To this very day, when I hear some of their songs, I have to pull the two CDs and see which group recorded it.

SoulAlive said:

I saw an Evelyn Champagne King performance a few months ago and she mentioned her Unsung special,saying that her cameramen are shooting footage for it at this show.So when you guys see it and they show footage of the audience,you may see me I was in the front row.

I wanna see that episode honey. I don't have cable but you may make me go broke ordering it to see that show.

By the way, how is your father doing? I hope he's staying dry away from these floods.

.

.

.

[Edited 5/11/11 7:34am]

TD3 said:

My Lord is this tired show back... I thought it had been canceled? With the exception of Alexander O'Neal NONE of the artist listed careers were "Unsung".

I've heard that Alex was really popular in the UK, so he's not really obscure.

MickyDolenz said:

TD3 said:

My Lord is this tired show back... I thought it had been canceled? With the exception of Alexander O'Neal NONE of the artist listed careers were "Unsung".

I've heard that Alex was really popular in the UK, so he's not really obscure.

O'Neal isn't obscure in the UK but he never caught on as he should've in the States and I don't know why.

vainandy said:

scriptgirl said:

I can't name any of the spinners. The Spinners, the Chi Lites, Blue Magic, to my little ears as a kid, they all sounded the same.

Blue Magic and The Stylistics always sounded just alike to me. To this very day, when I hear some of their songs, I have to pull the two CDs and see which group recorded it.

Really? Russel's falsetto is unmistakable. I can always pick a Stylistics song out.

They should do Jermaine.

Seriously. Alright, the guy is a joke now, but there was a time...

Marrk said:

They should do Jermaine.

Seriously. Alright, the guy is a joke now, but there was a time...

He didn't even get to be "unsung".

TD3 said:

MickyDolenz said:

I've heard that Alex was really popular in the UK, so he's not really obscure.

O'Neal isn't obscure in the UK but he never caught on as he should've in the States and I don't know why.

Maybe because there were many others:

Lionel Richie

Billy Ocean

James Ingram

Freddie Jackson

Luther Vandross

Jeffrey Osbourne

George Benson

Smokey Robinson

Peabo Bryson

Alex's music wasn't as pop as these guys and so mostly got R&B radio play, although a few of his songs got Top 40 pop airplay.

TD3 said:

My Lord is this tired show back... I thought it had been canceled? With the exception of Alexander O'Neal NONE of the artist listed careers were "Unsung".

NONE

I betcha u gonna watch though. I betcha! I betcha!

MickyDolenz said:

TD3 said:

O'Neal isn't obscure in the UK but he never caught on as he should've in the States and I don't know why.

Maybe because there were many others:

Lionel Richie

Billy Ocean

James Ingram

Freddie Jackson

Luther Vandross

Jeffrey Osbourne

George Benson

Smokey Robinson

Peabo Bryson

Alex's music wasn't as pop as these guys and so mostly got R&B radio play, although a few of his songs got Top 40 pop airplay.

Unsung is NOT about pop artists. Unsung is about r&b and hip-hop artists.

As for the others:

Lionel Richie - He doesn't qualify. He is still HUGE, therefore he's not "unsung."

Billy Ocean - He sold out, so NO.

James Ingram - Maybe. He sold out also.

Freddie Jackson - Definitely! He should have been in the 1st season.

Luther Vandross - Not really because he is recognized and therefore, not unsung.

Jeffrey Osborn - For sure. He kinda sold out in the 80s, but still managed to stick to his r&b roots.

George Benson - DEFINITELY! He's mostly known as a jazz artist, but he should be featured.

Smokey Robinson - NO, he's not "unsung." He is a Motown icon.

Peabo Bryson - For sure. He sold his soul in the late 80s when he started doing duets with Roberta, Regina Belle and others, but his Capitol catalog is damn good.

MickyDolenz said:

TD3 said:

O'Neal isn't obscure in the UK but he never caught on as he should've in the States and I don't know why.

Maybe because there were many others:

Lionel Richie (everybody KNOW who Lionel is)

Billy Ocean (maybe on Behind the Music, he's not popular with black audiences)

James Ingram (surely you jest lol)

Freddie Jackson (should've been discussed on "Unsung")

Luther Vandross (everybody KNOW who Lutha is)

Jeffrey Osbourne (I could kinda see it)

George Benson (yeah I can see it)

Smokey Robinson (You're kidding he's not just a MOTOWN LEGEND but he's a LEGEND period! I know I joke about him but I respect his legacy)

Peabo Bryson (surprised they didn't make one on him)

Alex's music wasn't as pop as these guys and so mostly got R&B radio play, although a few of his songs got Top 40 pop airplay.

^^^I'm not talking about them being on this show. The poster asked why wasn't Alex that popular in the US, and I replied there were several others who were already popular, and everybody can't be big.

TD3 said:

MickyDolenz said:

I've heard that Alex was really popular in the UK, so he's not really obscure.

O'Neal isn't obscure in the UK but he never caught on as he should've in the States and I don't know why.

I don't consider a person that has one of the best r&b Christmas albums of all time, 2 or 3 number one r&b hits a person that didn't catch on.

Alex was an r&b star in the States. His music still gets played on urban stations here in the States. I think what happened with Alex in the states is that New Jack Swing and hip hop killed him. Not to mention Jodeci, Intro and a ton of other younger r&b acts pushed him out of the way.

Alex's "Love Makes No Sense" album was just horrible. I remember when I first heard the title track, I knew Jam and Lewis didn't do it, however, I thought the album might contain some good tracks. Well, I was wrong, the album didn't have any good songs. All of the songs were just watered down r&b tracks from ametueur writers (Lance and Tony Tolbert anyone?).

I also think black radio was done with Alex. The album "All True Man" was a good album, but it was the first time we ever got to really hear how Alex would sound with other producers (outside of the Flyte Time camp). The tracks he did with Denzel Foster and Thomas McElroy was decent, but seemed to be lacking.

daPrettyman said:

TD3 said:

O'Neal isn't obscure in the UK but he never caught on as he should've in the States and I don't know why.

I don't consider a person that has one of the best r&b Christmas albums of all time, 2 or 3 number one r&b hits a person that didn't catch on.

Alex was an r&b star in the States. His music still gets played on urban stations here in the States. I think what happened with Alex in the states is that New Jack Swing and hip hop killed him. Not to mention Jodeci, Intro and a ton of other younger r&b acts pushed him out of the way.

Alex's "Love Makes No Sense" album was just horrible. I remember when I first heard the title track, I knew Jam and Lewis didn't do it, however, I thought the album might contain some good tracks. Well, I was wrong, the album didn't have any good songs. All of the songs were just watered down r&b tracks from ametueur writers (Lance and Tony Tolbert anyone?).

I also think black radio was done with Alex. The album "All True Man" was a good album, but it was the first time we ever got to really hear how Alex would sound with other producers (outside of the Flyte Time camp). The tracks he did with Denzel Foster and Thomas McElroy was decent, but seemed to be lacking.

It's like Cherrelle, they only worked best with Jimmy & Terry. I'm sure Cherrelle was interviewed in Alex's episode too.

the reason why alexander o' neal career didn't take off is because he had a serious drug problem.

Ok, I am excited with some of the artists that are going to be recognized on this season of "Unsung", but I'm having a big dilemma though. Before this setlist was revealed for this season, there was a lot of hoopla last year and earlier this year about there being a long-awaited episode for the incomparable Sylvers. I am a member of a Yahoo! Groups fanclub that is dedicated to the Sylver family and there was alot of talk among fans and admirers alike that TV One had completed filming their episode in January and were editing it for this season. Angie Sylvers confirmed on the fanclub that the episode would air in June and that Ricky and Foster were unable to participate in the episode. This is killing me right now because it has been long overdue.

Here's evidence:

Despite this, I am quite happy with the lineup for this season. I think that The Spinners' inclusion is a little weird, as I think that many soul and pop fans recognize some of their work and their standing as one of the seminal soul groups of the 70s (along with The Stylistics and The Delfonics) is just inarguable. I think a better choice would've definitely been The Delfonics, but I can see why they wanted to do a special on them. We hardly hear anything about the pre-Atlantic years when they were recording for Tri-Phi and Motown. We also don't hear much about the post-Philippé Wynne years either. I'm interested in hearing why Philippé left for a short-lived solo career and a guest vocalist for Parliament-Funkadelic. I hope they also get into Wynne's tragic death, where he suffered a heart attack on stage while singing "Love Don't Love Nobody" back in 1984.

phunkdaddy said:

TD3 said:

My Lord is this tired show back... I thought it had been canceled? With the exception of Alexander O'Neal NONE of the artist listed careers were "Unsung".

NONE

I betcha u gonna watch though. I betcha! I betcha!

Nah. For one thing I can NEVER find the damn channel. Heck, what's the call letters C1 or something.

scriptgirl said:

I would say the Spinners are pretty well known. Happy about the Ohio Players. I wish they would do the Marvelettes

I'm with you scriptgirl The Marvelettes story should be told i'm a HUGE HUGE fan of their work. Not to slight The Supremes or Martha & The Vandellas. I just think they are over looked MOST of the time and not mentioned except for Mr Postman in which i think they have so MUCH more than just that one song...........

Militant said:

ALEXANDER O NEAL FUCK YEAH! I hope they interview Jam & Lewis and Cherrelle for that one. That would be dope. Also would be nice if they got Monte in there being as he produced "If You Were Here Tonight".

Count me in as another person that wants to see a Cameo episode. Regarding Wayne Cooper, I talked to Charlie Singleton recently and he told me that he worked on Wayne's solo album and it was SLAMMMMIINNNNN but after Wayne died the label decided not to release it.

When did Wayne die and what did he die from???

jackson35 said:

the reason why alexander o' neal career didn't take off is because he had a serious drug problem.

That never stopped the careers or popularity of Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, Keith Richards, Natalie Cole, Johnny Cash, The Eagles, and many others.