The Worst Motown

**sutnop** · July 2nd, 2002, 06:40 PM

Ok
Here is a tuff one

We all can agree that Motown is an exceptional remarkable positive piece of music history at least up lets 85 or right around Marvine's death....

Marvine he was this friend of mine
HE opend up his heart in almost every line
(Commodores)

But Anyway the question is
WHAT IS ALL TIME WORST MOTOWN ARTIST/GROUP?

Asking which was the best would be a too hard question because there are too many to choose from.....

So send in your suggestions....

**disco1999** · July 2nd, 2002, 08:36 PM

Jermaine Jackson, especially "Let me tickle your fancy" ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

**Boodikka** · July 2nd, 2002, 08:48 PM

Rockwell "Somebody's Watching Me".

**BrunoRepublic** · July 2nd, 2002, 09:07 PM

Bruce Willis.

**markydefad** · July 2nd, 2002, 10:28 PM

Go Graham!!!!

Perfect answer. Motown couldn't have EVER stooped any LOWER than Bruce Willis, could it?

I see he charted his desecration of the Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself" at # 5 Pop and # 20 R&B. He also shat on The Drifters by recording "Under The Boardwalk" (#59 Pop; #72 R&B).

Also, Eddie Murphy could be a contenda; his early stuff was on Columbia, though ("Party All The Time", "Put Your Mouth On Me"). But he did record for Motown circa 1993: "I Was A King" featuring Shabba Ranks and "Whatzupwitu" featuring Miss Michael Jackson, no less.

Now, there were some unlikely white MOR singers that Motown repped along the way--But at least they were singers!!!!!

Bruce Willis was the anti-singer!!! Shame on Motown!!!! :roll:

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-07-02 23:30 ]

**Boodikka** · July 2nd, 2002, 11:44 PM

Marky the God has stirred up an awful memory for me with his recollection of awful White MOR Motown artists. I think I can name the ABSOLUTELY WORST Motown artist: Charlene, of "I've Never Been To Me" infamy. I hate this song, I hate its message.....AAARRRGH! The story is that the only reason she got to be on the label is because she was playing a little Ebony and Ivory with Stevie Wonder. She also had the crappy "Fire" track on the LAST DRAGON soundtrack. What a complete and utter waste of space and time this woman was.

**jazz_pilgrim** · July 3rd, 2002, 12:43 AM

Diana Ross with "Upside Down" and "It's My House". The arrangements are lightweight (NO funk whatsoever!!), the vocals are lightweight, absolutely awful!! And they still keep playing them on the radio !!

**markydefad** · July 3rd, 2002, 12:53 AM

Oh J.P.,

Miss Ross the worst????!!!!!!

"Upside Down" & "I'm Coming Out"?????

Those are Chic creations!!!!

No way, Hoe-zay!!!!!!! That's sacrilege!!!!!

**jazz_pilgrim** · July 3rd, 2002, 02:37 AM

On 2002-07-03 01:53, markydefad wrote:
Oh J.P.,

Miss Ross the worst????!!!!!!

"Upside Down" & "I'm Coming Out"?????

Those are Chic creations!!!!

No way, Hoe-zay!!!!!!! That's sacrilege!!!!!

But, for me, they're not very good Chic creations...

I don't think it's sacrilege. A lot of the acts who were excellent in the Seventies lost that "sharp edge" in the Eighties. Unfortunately, Ms Ross and Kool and the Gang are examples. I go by the music, not the name.

And I like my disco music to be funky, to have hard-edged vocals (if it is a vocal track) and I just find those two Diana Ross tracks so TWEE and annoying.

I know a lot of peoople will disagree with me vehemently, but I've always had this hang-up about Diana Ross and her music. You can guess that from previous posts.

Anyway, I still respect your opinion - peace to you and let the debate continue!!

**DISCODISK** · July 3rd, 2002, 02:41 AM

BOODIKKA wins the prize for me,and MARKYS right,it still amazes me to this day how motown signed bruce willis ! so ill go for hello lionel ritchie the one with the plastocine head in the video or michael jackson rockin robin but that could be worse just think what the video would look like if he cut that today !!!!!

**sutnop** · July 3rd, 2002, 04:34 AM

On 2002-07-03 01:43, jazz_pilgrim wrote:
Diana Ross with "Upside Down" and "It's My House".

The Guitar Ending on Upside Down is absolutley magnificent.
I would put that songs along Miss Ross's
Top 5 solo accomplishments.
Ofcourse the best would always be the Supremes and her collobaration with the
Late Marvine.....

Personally
The worst Creation according to me is

In Detroit
Valeri Simpson

and When they moved To LA
it must of been the two Boybands
that try to resemble a modern version
of NEw Edition or Jackson 5

The Bands are called
ABC and The Boys
Just the names reveal imense loss of creativity.
To name a group after the Jacksons biggest Hit is quite weak.
To then name a Group the boys is just plane stupid.
I don't know which one is worse I hate them both.......

_________________
Real Disco comes from Funk
Motown 4ever

[ This Message was edited by: sutnop on 2002-07-03 05:50 ]

**Blaxman** · July 3rd, 2002, 06:10 AM

To me, the worst Motown records are:

That crap from "Rockwell". Argh!!! :sad:

Anything from "post-Commodores" Lionel Ritchie. Blergh!!! :sad:

That Bruce Willis stuff, In fact I never heard it but, I DONT WANT TO HEAR IT!!! :lol:

FORE SURE IT IS "PURE CRAPTONITE". And craptonite is not good to me, you know. :lol:

Peace.

**guille** · July 3rd, 2002, 01:47 PM

"Let it Whip" by the Dazz Band. I still don't understand why is still considered a dance song. How do you dance to this crap?
Have a Disco Life.

**zeca azevedo** · July 3rd, 2002, 02:16 PM

Hi,

as a harcore MOTOWN fan, I have to admit that the label released some horrible music over the years. For me, BRUCE WILLIS wins the prize on this topic!
Charlene is awful too! And PAT BOONE recorded for MOTOWN too, can you believe that???

Jermaine is cool and DIANA is marvellous.

zeca azevedo, the worst MOTOWN fan ever

**Robbie** · July 3rd, 2002, 02:22 PM

Zeca--

Actually, I think Pat Boone's daughters recorded for Motown, although I only know that Debby ("You Light Up My Life") was on Warner Brothers.

**jazz_pilgrim** · July 3rd, 2002, 03:27 PM

Sutnop wrote:

The Guitar Ending on Upside Down is absolutley magnificent.
I would put that songs along Miss Ross's
Top 5 solo accomplishments.

Ok I'm interested in what you say. At the moment, I just can't stand those two Ms Rross songs.

BUT .... when they're next up on the radio (bound to hear them on Friday or Saturday night) I'll turn the volume up on my Hi-Fi and I'll give them a careful listen, OK?

Can't say fairer than that !!!! :grin:

_________________
It's got to be about the music !!

[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-07-03 16:29 ]

**nonkel808** · July 3rd, 2002, 03:55 PM

Let's not forget the ultimate early-nineties CRAP that Motown was responsible for:
BOYS II MEN

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH
I HATED THEM!!!!
especially that @#$%&* song with Mariah Carrey!

**sutnop** · July 3rd, 2002, 04:03 PM

On 2002-07-03 16:27, jazz_pilgrim wrote:
Sutnop wrote:

The Guitar Ending on Upside Down is absolutley magnificent.
I would put that songs along Miss Ross's
Top 5 solo accomplishments.

Ok I'm interested in what you say. At the moment, I just can't stand those two Ms Rross songs.

BUT .... when they're next up on the radio (bound to hear them on Friday or Saturday night) I'll turn the volume up on my Hi-Fi and I'll give them a careful listen, OK?

Can't say fairer than that !!!! :grin:

_________________
It's got to be about the music !!

[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-07-03 16:29 ]

Can't Ask for more JP
At least Upside Down
the ending to that song just makes me wanna
wild out on the dance floor

**sutnop** · July 3rd, 2002, 04:24 PM

On 2002-07-03 16:55, nonkel808 wrote:
Let's not forget the ultimate early-nineties CRAP that Motown was responsible for:
BOYS II MEN

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH
I HATED THEM!!!!
especially that @#$%&* song with Mariah Carrey!

I must say Boyz II MEn are probably the most skilled modern soulband of the 90's

The only good acts in the 90's of Motown would actually be them and
the
sweet Shanice

I mean Boyz II Men aren't bad at all if you compare them to the other stuff that was coming out at the time
Like ABC, or The Boys
or even Bobby Brown.... (but he was never motown)

[ This Message was edited by: sutnop on 2002-07-03 18:25 ]

**Nano** · July 3rd, 2002, 05:40 PM

I'll go with "Dancing on the ceiling" by Lionel Richie. Who conceived this piece of crapshit?
Now that you mention Motown, a while ago I buyed a CD called "The lost Detroit" or something like that, with soul recordings of Detroit artists that were not in Motown. One of the worst compilations I ever heard in my entire life, full of out-of-tuneness, crappy recordings, etc. etc. Frankly laughable at times. Don't recognize any of the artists. Maybe someone heard this?

**Robbie** · July 3rd, 2002, 06:37 PM

Weren't The Boys the group that had the song "Dial My Heart" in early '89??

I think Lionel Richie put out some good solo material in the early-mid 80's. I still love to hear "You Are"

"You are the sun,
you are the rain...

You need to know,
I love you so..."

"Hello" brings back spring '84 memories. I used to see this video every weekend on "New York Hot Tracks" on ABC.

"Hello, is it me you're looking for-
'Cause I wonder where you are,
And I wonder what you do,
Are you somewhere feeling lonely,
Is someone loving you??
Tell me how to win your heart
'cause I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying...
I Love You."

--Sob.

I need tissues.

**markydefad** · July 3rd, 2002, 06:44 PM

Regarding Lionel (Brenda Wupped His Ass) Richie:

"You Are" & "All Night Long" (I can hear the rumblings of dissent now) are my favorites of his solo career.

"Say You, Say Me"(which inexplicably won him an Oscar) was the beginning of the end.

**Robbie** · July 3rd, 2002, 07:18 PM

Markydefad--

I'll second that for "Say You, Say Me". I still have his "Dancing On The Ceiling" album.

"Oh, what a feelin',
'Cause we're dancing on the ceiling!!"

The ballad material was weak, but "Love Will Conquer All" always sticks out because I used to hear it every morning on the radio (practically) when my mom would drive me to grammar school.

**markydefad** · July 3rd, 2002, 08:05 PM

Yeah, I'd give "Love Will Conquer All" a pass too. But "Ballerina Girl" and "Penny Lover", et. al sucked HARD.

Too bad, cause a lot of his ballads with The Commodores were real good. For example:

"Sweet Love"
"Just To Be Close To You"
"Easy"
"Sail On"
"Still"
and "Oh No" are favorites of mine.