Best From Artist 101

[paul]

Well, assuming Nicky/Bernie did not edit the subject header I am ending this the way I began this originally. I liked teasing the readers so I never placed the artist name in the subject. Once Bernie edited this topic early on and placed the artist name in the subject, the weekly topic seemed to enjoy some popularity and I got stuck doing this thing. Thanks a lot Bernie! :lol: :lol:
Ok, Ok. I enjoyed doing this but like so many things there comes a time you have step aside. Fortunately efunk will carry the baton and I eagerly await his posts. As for my feeling on the experience over the years, I felt it was great to learn about hidden gems from all of you. I was also surprised by the lack of interest for Teddy Pendergrass and the enthusiasm (at least topically) for Boney M. I was also surprised that Nicky had little knowledge of The Ohio Players. Hey Nicky, allow me to recommend if I haven't already, the Honey album. Like so many 70s albums, there is a flow to music that is carried throughout an entire album as opposed to a Best of ...
Enough. My final artist is Marvin Gaye. Like many of the artist I profiled, Marvin's career began before disco and fortunately he blessed disco with his own style.
Marvin's passion was always heard in his music. Whether it was war, ecology, sex, etc. I always dug that about his music. As for my pick, no not Sexual Healing though I do like it. It's actually two off the I Want You album. I Want You, and After The Dance are my picks.

[zeca azevedo]

Hi Paul,

First, thanx for your incredible posts, man. Marvin Gaye, wow! Gee, I have to pick one or two of his songs only? This is impossible for me. At least let me pick some tracks from his early MOTOWN days, from his maturity and from his later years. Let's go:

60's: I love early MOTOWN, so this is TOO HARD for me, but I have to make some choices, OK: AIN'T THAT PECULIAR [1965] and LITTLE DARLING I NEED YOU [1967]. Hours-concours: I HEARD IT THROUGHT THE GRAPEVINE, one of the greatest pop records ever made!

Duets: IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE and IF I COULD BUILD MY WHOLE WORLD AROUND YOU, both recorded with the sweet TAMMI TERRELL. Hours-concours: AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH, again with TAMMI - one of the greatest pop records ever made part 2!

Early 70's: My choices are WHAT'S GOING ON - the ENTIRE album [the music flows wonderfully from piece to piece, it is unfair to pick just one song from his MASTERPIECE]. About the album LET'S GET IT ON, I could use the same words I used for WHAT'S GOING ON and pick the entire record, but I'll pick just one song: IF I SHOULD DIE TONIGHT - this aching, beautiful ballad always brings tears to my eyes - in one word, SUBLIME. The whole LET'S GET IT ON album is sublime, one of the greatest... you know the tune. Hours- Concours: LET'S GET IT ON [the song] and DON'T MESS WITH MISTER T [from the TROUBLE MAN soundtrack]

Late 70's: from I WANT YOU, the album, my pick is the beautiful ALL THE WAY AROUND. From his divorce album HERE, MY DEAR, my pick are the amazingly funky TIME TO GET IT TOGETHER [I played that one at a party once, it's a shame people don't know this track - in fact, I think people don't even know the album!] and the incredible ballad I MET A LITTLE GIRL - one of the greatest, etc, etc, etc. Hours-Concours: I WANT YOU [the song], MY MISTAKE [wonderful duet with our favorite diva, DIANA ROSS], GOT TO GIVE IT UP and ANGER.

Early 80's: from IN OUR LIFETIME, his last MOTOWN album, my choice is EGO TRIPPIN' OUT. If you don't know this song, go find it NOW! You won't regret, I'm sure. Genius stuff. From his MIDNIGHT LOVE album the standout tracks [besides you know what] are 'TIL TOMORROW and MY LOVE IS WAITING - mellow, dreamy songs. Hours-Concours: SEXUAL HEALING.

I'm so sorry if I have picked so many songs but believe me, I think this list is totally incomplete and unfair - this guy recorded tons of classic tracks.

Uff, that's enough.

Peace,

zeca azevedo, tell me what's going on 8)

[K-Bee]

:lol: so efunk is gonna take over where you leave off Paul.
Well why not?? I'm sure he'll do an excellent job continuing these popular threads. I'm kinda expecting him to do Brass Construction first :lol:

About Marvin, it's very hard to choose from the ridicoulos amount of great songs he did.
Two song in particular do stand out as something special to me.

Got To Give It Up - first time I realized you could actually dance to Marvin! :lol:

Till Tomorrow - hidden away at the end of side 1 of "Midnight Love", this is an awsome ballad in classic Marvin style

[QUINNY]

Marvin Gaye wasn't the kind of artist who had me clamouring for his latest release, because so little of his records were out and out dancers, but I acknowledge that he was a true heavyweight and someone I should have explored more thoroughly.

My own faves are all well known hits.

It Takes Two - with Kim Weston
You're All I Need (to get by) - with Tammi Terrell
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - possibly the best pop song ever written
What's Going On / Mercy, Mercy Me (the Ecology)
Let's Get It On
Sexual Healing
and reluctantly Got To Give It Up

[Videoskooter]

One of the best!

He actually lived in Ostend, Belgium for a while which proofs that the man had an exquisite taste :D

I like his way of singing, his cool, his unique voice and all the great soulclassics he has brought us.

But in discoland,"Funky space reïncarnation" and "Got to give it up" were my absolute darlings.

Too bad his live ended so early coz' I'm sure he would have made another series of excellent recordings.

[BrunoRepublic]

What's Going On. Both the song and the album. Without a doubt, one of the most significant contributions to American music history ever. And definitely the best album Motown ever put out.

[efunk_adelic]

:lol: so efunk is gonna take over where you leave off Paul.
Well why not?? I'm sure he'll do an excellent job continuing these popular threads. I'm kinda expecting him to do Brass Construction first :lol:

lol @ BRASS CONSTRUCTION...

that was a good one K-Bee,

I do have the entire list of Artists that Paul put together.... but, how the hell am I gonna not repeat anything he has on it... :oops: :oops:

I guess i'll try to put my own flavor to the threads.... maybe i'll use some of my reference books as info for everyone to enjoy.



So many many songs by Marvin I like.... which might take an entire page... :P


Here are some of my favorites:


STUBBORN KINDA FELLOW
GOT TO GIVE IT UP
AIN'T THAT PECULIAR
YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY
WHAT'S GOING ON
I WANT YOU
AFTER THE DANCE

just to name a few.... thanks Paul again, for the vote of confidence in me... :)

[Nano]

Of course Marvin's main legacy is in his soul albums (specially What's going on and Let's get it on) and the duets he made with Tammi Terrell (the best and most perfect soul duet ever made, IMHO). Too sad Tammi left much too soon. :cry:

On his "disco" output, these are the one I listen to the most:

-"After the dance"
-"Got to give it up" (actually I like the short version better)
-"Ego tripping out" (Marvin flirting with rap)

Marvin is COOL. 8)

[Nano]

Hey, did you notice that I became Platinum Member today? 8) 8) 8)

[phillipgangale]

Marvin Gaye's "My Mistake(Was To Love You)" Is one of my faves . Motown really had some good disco/r&b records in the early years of disco (1974-1977) :D

[Forrrce]

'Heavy Love Affair' is a seldom mentioned left-fielder - I used to play that a lot.

[markydefad]

Marvin, Marvin, Marvin, Marvin, Marvin....

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - ONE OF THE GREATEST RECORDS EVER!!!! :D
SEXUAL HEALING - Stellar performance in another GREAT RECORD that ressurrected his career from "whatever happened to?" status" to "thank Gawd , he's BAAACK" :D
AFTER THE DANCE - sweetly sexy and soothing :D
GOT TO GIVE IT UP - Dancefloor CLASSIC; what a groove--how could you NOT wanna move to this???? :D
All the Marvin & Tammi Terrell duets would be my next choice. Perfect Motown classics. :D

Then the duets with Miss Ross :
MY MISTAKE, DON'T KNOCK MY LOVE, LOVE TWINS, and their sweet covers of STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN & YOU ARE EVERYTHING. :D


TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY :D
HOW SWEET IT IS (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) :D

I'll be in the minority here and say that while I like "What's Going On".... it's NOT a personal fave. In other words, I'm NOT packing it for the trip to the desert island. :oops:

[Videoskooter]

Hey, did you notice that I became Platinum Member today? 8) 8) 8)

Congratulations! Kiss Kiss Kiss

But you know the rules! You have to invite us all for a massive party now :D :D :D

And don't say "Mercy mercy me" now :)

[NickNack]

Paul,

Before I list a few songs by Marvin let me thank you for creating and keeping one of the most popular threads on the board. It's not only been fun but a learning experience as well. A chance to praise your favorites and gather info on some that passed you by. I don't know if you intended it take off like it did but I'm glad you stuck it out. My thanks from a greatful disco community.

Efunk... you're on, baby! :D

Now, for Marvin. I have to say that there is no way I'll ever be able to associate this man with disco. He's just one of the best Motown artists I was fortunate enough to grow up with. My choices will probably be 'dated' but, "That's The Way Love Is, sho 'nuff how it is." :D

HITCH HIKE
YOU'RE A WONDERFUL ONE
BABY DON'T YOU DO IT
I'LL BE DOGGONE
ONE MORE HEARTACHE
YOU
WHAT'S GOING ON (The entire album is flawless!)
TROUBLE MAN
DISTANT LOVER

The Duets: I'll just say anything and everything he did with Tammi Terrell. :D

And the day I sat in front of the TV with my folks, my jaw to the floor, watching him perform The Star Spangled Banner. How wonderfully unbelievable.

[markydefad]

Tall Paul.

Where do you get off retiring after 100 posts???? Did you get a gold watch or sumpin', sumpin'??? :P :P :P Gold "Boogie Woogie Dancing Shoes"???

How do you ever expect to be Double Diamond, baby??? :o

[paul]

Thanks for the kind words all :oops: :cry: 8)

[jazz_pilgrim]

What's Going On was one of the greatest Soul LPs ever. What else can I say?

On the dance side there are two tracks I would mention:

Got To Give It Up - I liked K-Bee's comment! I would add that this was probably one of the first records I could actually dance to at all!

California Soul - a great punchy number that he recorded with Tami Terrell. Always preferred this version to Marlena Shaw's (just!).

Paul - thanks for all of your work and kind comments over the past couple of years! Much appreciated!

Nano - congrats on your Platinum status!! After a few months away from the Board, it's high time I pulled my finger out and did the same!

:)

[efunk_adelic]

-"Got to give it up" (actually I like the short version better)

believe it or not GOT TO GIVE IT UP is one of very few songs that I like all the way thru... even tho it's reputitious... it's actually different all the way thru...

I love this song so much!!! :D

[Nano]

Hey, did you notice that I became Platinum Member today? 8) 8) 8)

Congratulations! Kiss Kiss Kiss

But you know the rules! You have to invite us all for a massive party now :D :D :D

And don't say "Mercy mercy me" now :)

Maybe if I can bring you here with Prince International Airlines as sponsor :)

Thanks guys for the congrats. And Paul, seeing the end of this entertaining work of yours I suggest another series for you to do on the Non-Music section: "Best body part from..." alternating actresses, models, etc. I sure would be posting :)