July 18, 2006

by Susan Whitall / The Detroit News


Brandy Baker / The Detroit News

Motown producer/songwriter Lamont Dozier.


Old school is back.

The masters of funk, soul and blues may have their AARP cards, but that didn't stop the graying hipsters from taking on all the young whippersnappers of the recording industry with "A Soulful Tale of Two Cities."

The project is a double-record set. One side are Motown artists such as Bobby Taylor, Ali "Oli" Woodson of the Temptations, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, the Funk Brothers, Freda Payne (an almost-Motown artist, she recorded for Holland-Dozier-Holland's label) and the Velvelettes. They recorded Philly soul classics in Detroit.

Philly soul veterans Barbara Mason, Ted Mills of Blue Magic, Bunny Sigler, Kathy Sledge, Jimmy Ellis, William "Poogie" Hart of the Delfonics and others recorded vintage Motown songs in Philadelphia. Even those behind the controls had classic soul credentials; Philly producers Phil Hurtt and Bobby Eli, Motown producer Clay McMurray; and Philly engineer Gene Leone.

Now the first two singles -- the O'Jays' "Love Train," sung by Taylor, and Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up," as rendered by Sigler -- are available to purchase online for 99 cents each at soulful tale.com.

The rest of the double-CD will be out Sept. 12; but you can buy it now at the Web site.

Like Gaye's original, "Got to Give It Up" sounds like it's set at a party, and Sigler, a master at setting a laid-back party groove, tears it up as you hear a chant of "Motown party" in the background.

Taylor, who sang lead with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers ("Does Your Mama Know About Me") really goes all out on "Love Train," revealing that one of Motown's better voices is still intact.

"We want to go directly to the public like 'American Idol,' give them a sample" says producer Phil Hurtt. "It's like being a water merchant in the desert when everybody else is selling soda and juice."

Hurtt came up with the concept of the album, which brings together music vets from two key cities in the history of soul music.

Many of the assembled hadn't been in a recording studio in years, and there were some tears shed at the first sessions. Hurtt plans to keep the vets busy with a world tour. It's tricky to coordinate, with so many artists involved.

The producer believes that in today's musical environment, with radio so tightly formatted, classic soul done by the original artists will find a market.

At the very least, he cites a large demographic of baby boomers and older who remember the original soul years. But he thinks younger people will expand the pool of listeners.

"A lot of today's artists are manufactured, chosen for their looks and style," Hurtt says. "They sell the sizzle, not the steak. But they're missing a large segment of the population and also a tremendous source of music they don't even consider."

You can reach Susan Whitall at (313) 222-2156 or swhitall@det news.com.

This sounds like a unique concept. Althought you should probably say Motown/Philly set to get schooled in the thread title. It makes it look like it's about Neil Young or maybe Paul Young at the least Just a suggestion

That is the title given the article by the author and I did not feel it appropriate to alter it....I agree with you, it is very misleading.