Motorcity Project

[Energyguy]

Just wondered what the members views are on Ian Levine`s 80s/90s Motorcity project.... I did buy some of the releases (Im not a big Motown/Northern soul fan). Some of the tracks I heard were very well produced and to a high standard. My main criticism was that some sounded too " electronic" for that sixties style. I dont think this project was very successful (sales wise) but you have to admire Levine for trying !!
My afvourite recordings are

Footsteps following me - Frances Nero
Don`t get mad, get even - Mary Wilson
All over the world - Chuck Jackson
OOH Child - Mary wilson
Helpless - Kim Weston

[DISCODISK]

i have most of the motorcity releases please dont ask me why :lol: there are some really great tracks in the catalogue but theres much more bad than good my faves
the last recording by DAVID RUFFIN-HURT THE ONE YOU LOVE 8)
EARL VAN DYKE-DETROIT CITY
RONNIE MCNIER-LUCKY NUMBER
CAROLYN CRAWFORD-TIMELESS
CHUCK JACKSON-ALL OVER THE WORLD
there was an early c.d i think it was motorcity collectors album packed with great songs many thay never made it to vinyl gonna dig it out.....

[eddie]

I thought Edwin Starr's 1980's work for Motorcity sounded quite soulful and was instep with current styles. His rerecordings of his Motown hits for Motorcity were not great. But there was several Quiet Storm cuts that were never hits but were pars above what Rick James, Temptations, and Smokey Robinson was doing at the time.
I've heard GC Camereon's solo version of "It's a shame" for Motorcity and the highs aren't quite there.
Overall, I viewed Ian Levine's work as mostly filler and a bit of a Motown ripoff along with Marcia Griffiths.

[neonlights]

I was never a big fan of Ian Levine either.. I thought he was hit and miss at best (mostly miss, though).. The Motorcity project was very ambitious, and noble in a way.. to get some of these former Motown singers into the studio again and get them some new material, although much of it was just awful and cheaply produced.. IMO, it was pointless to "re-record" their hits in that cheap 80s production style.. It seems like there were so many done in such a short time too so it couldn't last.. Apparently some artists alledge they never got paid properly for those recordings... While the results were mixed at best, it's too bad it had to end up like that..

That said, from what I've heard so far.. I sort of like:

Mary Wilson - Ooh Child
Syreeta - With You I'm Born Again
Frances Nero - Footsteps

[SandraDee]

EARL VAN DYKE-DETROIT CITY

I really like that one DD too! It has to be said that most of Ian's output is dreck but when he's good he really hits the mark. (I accidentally typed 'god' instead of 'good' then - he'd like that wouldn't he?! :lol: )

[Energyguy]

EARL VAN DYKE-DETROIT CITY

I really like that one DD too! It has to be said that most of Ian's output is dreck but when he's good he really hits the mark. (I accidentally typed 'god' instead of 'good' then - he'd like that wouldn't he?! :lol: )

Yes.. I think he probably seems himself in that light :lol:

[buckaroo]

...His rerecordings of his Motown hits for Motorcity were not great. But there was several Quiet Storm cuts that were never hits but were pars above what Rick James, Temptations, and Smokey Robinson was doing at the time...

Overall, I viewed Ian Levine's work as mostly filler and a bit of a Motown ripoff along with Marcia Griffiths.

Yeah...It didn't quite gel. There were far too many artists involved at one time, to get a look in on the charts. Francis Nero did really well here back in the early '90s, but because of some legal probs with a former label, wasn't able to capitalise on her hit "Footsteps..." Levine has a great pedigree and knowledge of the music, but maybe his love and devotion to it was too close for comfort. He needed someone from outside to say "Hold your horses!! This may not work." Still, it was a brave attempt.

[Energyguy]

...His rerecordings of his Motown hits for Motorcity were not great. But there was several Quiet Storm cuts that were never hits but were pars above what Rick James, Temptations, and Smokey Robinson was doing at the time...

Overall, I viewed Ian Levine's work as mostly filler and a bit of a Motown ripoff along with Marcia Griffiths.

Yeah...It didn't quite gel. There were far too many artists involved at one time, to get a look in on the charts. Francis Nero did really well here back in the early '90s, but because of some legal probs with a former label, wasn't able to capitalise on her hit "Footsteps..." Levine has a great pedigree and knowledge of the music, but maybe his love and devotion to it was too close for comfort. He needed someone from outside to say "Hold your horses!! This may not work." Still, it was a brave attempt.

You certainly have to admire his devotion to the music - Sadly, it must have cost him a fortune to get the project off the ground and he must have made little (if any) profit

Speaking of Frances Nero... Until the release of "Footsteps following me" I had never heard of her. Presumably she was signed to Motown at some point... ?! How much solo material did she release on the label ?