RAY PARKER JR NEW DOCUMENTARY "WHO YOU GONNA CALL!

(Photo left to right) - Ola Strøm, Ray Parker Jr and Fran Strine host private screening of the new Ray Parker Jr documentary "Who You Gonna Call?" at the ArcLight Hollywood. #whoyougonnacallfilm

(Hollywood, CA) - Power Chord Films held a private screening of their new Ray Parker Jr documentary "Who You Gonna Call?" which chronicles Parker's rise from the racially charged streets of Detroit, to writing and recording the global smash hit song Ghostbusters, an Oscar-nominated pop culture classic. The single went platinum in eight countries and won Parker Jr a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

You know Ray Parker Jr. as the artist who wrote and recorded Ghostbusters, but what you don't know his back story and what it took for him to get there. From the streets of Detroit to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Parker's journey is one you won't believe.

Described as one of the baddest guitar players ever to hit this earth, the multi-talented songwriter, producer, and musical phenom, gigged with the legendary Funk Brothers at age 13 and quickly became one of Motown's most in-demand studio musicians. Music mogul Clive Davis brought him to frontman, solo artist status.

"Who You Gonna Call"? is the first film under the new Power Chord venture, a production company dedicated to telling the unknown stories of iconic music artists. It is helmed by global financier Ola Strøm; 2020 Kodak Documentary Award winner Fran Strine, and Parker Jr. with plans to hit the film festival circuit later this year. Fran Strine

*NEW BOOK* FROM MOTOWN LEGENDS HOLLAND DOZIER HOLLAND!

Brian Holland, Edward Holland, and Lamont Dozier, known as Holland-Dozier-Holland or H-D-H, were the greatest songwriting team in American pop music history. Seventy of the songs they wrote reached the Billboard Top 40, with 15 of these reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. No other songwriting team or individual has come close to equaling, let alone surpassing, this record.

They’ve been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. As tunesmiths for the legendary Motown Record Corporation, and for their own corporations, Invictus Records and Hot Wax Records, they wrote and produced hits for Diana Ross and the Supremes, including “Baby Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “I Hear a Symphony,” “Come See About Me,” “Back in My Arms Again” and “Reflections.”

Come and Get These Memories: 
The Story of Holland-Dozier-Holland

Now the legendary composers are ready to reveal the inspirations and stories behind their chart-topping hits, providing millions of fans with the first complete history of their songwriting process, and detail the real-life experiences that led them to write each of their most famous tunes. They will also reveal their creative and intimate relationships with Motown’s biggest stars.

THE COMMODORES: MOTOWN LEGENDS GET 2 NEW HONORS!

Los Angeles - One of the greatest Motown and R&B / funk artists of all time, The Commodores' Walter “Clyde” Orange, James Dean “JD” Nicholas and William “WAK” King have influenced both artists young and old and in all genres with their classic songs. The Commodores brand is bigger than ever as they continue to blaze trails all over the world.

Two Alabama cities recently honored the music legacy of the Commodores! Tuskegee declared Friday March 29, 2019 to be Commodores Day, and Montgomery declared the band members to be honorary residents, receiving keys to the city!

A celebration was held at the Commodore Museum, the site of the Commodores' former rehearsal and recording studio in Tuskegee. The Commodores was originally formed by a group of college students at Tuskegee Institute just over 50 years ago.

photo by Shannon Heupel

“It is really great to see the place where the group was born! It still feels like home 50 years later, to the point where we didn't want to leave!” - The Commodores

In 1968 the group was formed while all the members were in college at Tuskeegee Institute. After being discovered by Berry Gordy, the Commodores went on to sell over 60 million records for Motown. With hits like “Machine Gun” and “Sail On,” the Commodores became proven artists. For five decades, the Commodores have remained a force in the music industry. The Commodores aren't just any group. They have staying power. Just like their hit song “Brick House,” the Commodores have created a foundation that just won't budge.

Don't miss your chance to feature one of the most successful vocal groups of all time in 2018 and beyond as The Commodores continue to thrill audiences with their Greatest Hits Tour – Live!

Upcoming Events

MAY 24 - Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Reno, NV

JUN 01 - Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, CA

JUN 14 - San Mateo County Fair, San Mateo, CA

JUL 12 - IP Casino Resort Spa, Biloxi, MS

JUL 16 - Village Green, Elk Grove Village, IL

AUG 10 - Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Center, West Allis, WI

AUG 18 - Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA

AUG 25 - Embarcadero Marina Park South, San Diego, CA

AUG 30 - Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center, Salem, OR

FEB 10 - Ultimate Disco Cruise, Miami, FL

ACCOLADES & ACHIEVEMENTS

75 Million Albums Sold Worldwide

7 - #1 singles

5 - #1 Albums

20 - Top 10 Singles

15 - Top 10 Albums

1985 Grammy Award - “Nightshift”

1987 Antwerp Diamond Microphone Award

Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees

The 58th AutoZone Liberty Bowl Outstanding Achievement Award (2016)

2018 Casino Entertainment Awards “Musical Artist of the Year”

The Commodores official website: http://www.commodoreslive.com/

 

MOTOWN'S MARVIN GAYE HONORED WITH POSTAL STAMP APRIL 2

Back in November, the United States Postal Service announced entertainment icons Marvin Gaye and Gregory Hines as part of its latest Music Icons and Black Heritage Stamp series respectively.

While the Hines commemorative stamp was issued on January 28, the stamp dedicated to the "Prince of Soul" is set to be released on Gaye's birthday, April 2. In the meantime, the U.S. Postal Service shared an actual photo of the stamp with the caption:

"We’re honoring the life, legend, and sound of Marvin Gaye (1939 - 1984) with the newest stamp in our Music Icons series. Pictured here in front of Washington D.C.’s @howardtheatre, where he graced the stage, our stamp features a portrait of Gaye inspired by historic photographs."

MOTOWN LEGEND LAMONT DOZIER HAS NEW ALL STAR CD!

Motown Songwriting Legend LAMONT DOZIER Reclaims His Most Iconic Hits, Assisted By A Host Of All-Star Guests!

Includes performances by Graham Nash, Todd Rundgren, Sir Cliff Richard, Marc Cohn, Gregory Porter, Lee Ann Womack, and more!

Los Angeles, CA - You may not know his name, but you most certainly know his songs. As one third of Holland/Dozier/Holland, perhaps the greatest songwriting trio of all time, Lamont Dozier is responsible for such timeless classics as “Stop In The Name Of Love,” “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” “Nowhere To Run,” “You Keep Me Hanging On,” just to name a few! These megahits changed the face of music forever, jumpstarting the careers of The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, The Isley Brothers and many more figures who defined the Motown Era of pop music.

Now, Lamont Dozier has gifted the world with a brand new project that reimagines these treasured classics using acoustic guitar, resonating piano and sparse arrangements, brought together by producer Fred Mollin to create a moving experience for audiences of every generation. Reimagination packs an enormous emotional wallop as Dozier, now several decades older and more mature as an artist, revisits his masterpieces with both reverence and affection.

These new semi-unplugged arrangements bring out new depths of feeling and tenderness that audiences will immediately identify with and serve as a reminder of Dozier’s unparalleled talent as a songwriter.

Indeed, one need look no further for proof of the universality of Dozier’s genius than the stellar guest artists who have lined up to lend their own unique voices to this project from Grammy-award winning singer Gregory Porter to rock icon Todd Rundgren, and from British pop idol Sir Cliff Richard to country superstar Le Ann Womack.

Reimagination

Producer Mollin summarizes the sentiments of many involved with the project, stating “I will never produce a more historic project, and I know how deep the music will resonate. Lamont and his music were critically important to the rise and continued success of Motown. It is a known fact that Motown changed the world along with the Beatles.”

Classic rock legend Graham Nash, of Crosby, Stills & Nash, offers this about the project, “When Fred Mollin asked me if I was interested in singing harmony on Lamont’s album, I just couldn’t wait. My former band, The Hollies, recorded ‘Stop In The Name Of Love’ in the early ‘80s and it was my absolute pleasure to be able to work with such an incredible writer. Well done, Lamont!”

And finally, Dozier himself is clearly struck by the significance of these recordings and how fans will react, saying “Who knew that after all these years that these songs would be revisited again in this form? We’re just having a ball with it and, we think that the audience and the fans of this music will get a kick out of it as well.”

Watch this exclusive behind-the-scenes video of the recording for Reimagination here: https://youtu.be/GyF6GSu9Os0

Track List:
1. Supremes Medley: Where Did Our Love Go / Stop In The Name Of Love / Come See About Me / Baby Love feat. Graham Nash
2. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) feat. Gregory Porter
3. Reach Out, I'll Be There
4. Baby I Need Your Loving feat. Lee Ann Womack
5. Bernadette
6. This Old Heart Of Mine / My World Is Empty Without You feat. Sir Cliff Richard
7. Heat Wave / Nowhere To Run feat. Jo Harman
8. In My Lonely Room feat. Todd Rundgren
9. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) feat. Marc Cohn
10. You Keep Me Hanging On feat. Rumer
11. Reflections feat. Justin Currie
12. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
BONUS TRACK
13. Reach Out, I'll Be There (Duet Version with Jo Harman)

THE SUPREMES BOX SET FROM THIRD MAN RECORDS

THE SUPREMES
Supreme Rarities: Motown Lost and Found (4X Box Set)

As the hometown girls who conquered the world, Diana Ross and the Supremes are inarguably the most successful, highest selling girl group of all time. From their inauspicious start as the long-forgotten Primettes, to their ascension past the moniker of “no-hit Supremes” through the ranks of Motown’s rank-and-file to globe-trotting superstars, this group is as pure and quintessential Detroit Motor City as you can get.

Originally released on 2xCD in in 2008, the Supremes “Supreme Rarities” from the Motown Lost & Found Series collects from the depths of the label archives to showcase the rarities, the outtakes and the incomparable live recordings from this inimitable group of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Listen to the story unfold from the innocent teenaged doo-wop of “You Can Depend On Me” from 1960 all the way through the slick, socially-conscious refinement of “I’m Livin’ in Shame” from 1969. Aside a handful of forgotten vinyl releases decades ago, the majority of this material has not been released on vinyl. Until now.

Third Man, in a unique partnership with Universal Music, has taken this double-CD and turned it into a glorious 4xLP collection housed in an impeccably-designed slipcase, all watercolor pastel vibrant photos highlight how absolutely impeccable this group is.

Of particular interest is that “Supreme Rarities” are the first Motown records EVER pressed in the city of Detroit. Diana Ross attended high school at Cass Tech, a mere mile away from Third Man Pressing where these this title was lovingly pressed, which is also just a mile away from the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects where Ross and fellow Supremes Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard all grew up.

The 48 tracks included here include the earliest Primettes tracks, invigorating covers of The Rolling Stones “Satisfaction” and the Beatles “I Saw Her Standing There”, along with renditions of hits for OTHER Motown artists like “Mickey’s Monkey” and “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” in addition to alternate vocal takes of stone cold certified smashes like “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Someday We’ll Be Together.” And if you want the hits medley, “Come See About Me”, “Baby Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love” will wonderfully whet your appetite. BUY IT HERE

TEMPTATIONS MY GIRL ADDED TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS!

On Wednesday, 25 titles, including the iconic “Sound of Music” soundtrack and The Temptations’ “My Girl,” were added to the registry, which is now 500 strong, as Andrew R. Chow reports for The New York Times.

In a press release, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden calls the newest additions worthy of preservation. “This annual celebration of recorded sound reminds us of our varied and remarkable American experience,” Hayden says. “The unique trinity of historic, cultural and aesthetic significance reflected in the National Recording Registry each year is an opportunity for reflection on landmark moments, diverse cultures and shared memories—all reflected in our recorded soundscape.”

According to the Library of Congress, recordings must be at least 10 years old to be eligible for consideration into the registry. The titles are selected by the Librarian of Congress herself with advice from the Library’s National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB). Nominations are gathered from the public through online submissions.

The class of 2017 spans 85 years of history—between 1911 and 1996— and includes live radio broadcasts, hip hop and rock n’ roll. The new additions make up just a small part of the library’s expansive collection, which spans nearly 3 million recordings to date.

If your favorite song didn’t make the list this time, now’s your chance to vote for the 2018 selections. The Library is currently accepting nominations for the next crop of contestants on its website.

BERRY GORDY MANSION HOLDING HUGE ESTATE SALE/AUCTION!

HERE IS A GREAT CURBED DETROIT PREVIEW

The former Berry Gordy aka The Motown Mansion in Boston-Edison and Detroit will be auctioning Motown music memorabilia and other items as well in October. The Mansion finally sold earlier this month for $1.65 million, 918 West Boston Boulevard will be open for a huge estate sale.

The sale will be in October. Aaron Siepierski, owner of Aaron’s Estate Sales, The sale of any historic or Motown items will be auctioned off live and it will be broadcast worldwide.

This sale will take place in a two parts!

ACTUAL ESTATE SALES EVENT: The actual estate sale will run three days in October and it will have a variety of wonderful articles for sale, home furnishings, antiques and one-of-a-kind original Motown Records Company items acquired from Berry Gordy by the current owner.

LIVE AUCTION EVENT: The Live Auction will take place at the residence and will occur after the second day of the estate sale. This event will be open to international bidders to acquire exclusive High End Antiques, Historical Detroit Objects and Motown Paraphernalia. All Motown items will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity!

They plan to have on hand, several Motown artists who will be available to autograph the Motown items, making them instant collectibles for the Motown fans!

To sign up for emails regarding this estate sale or auction click here:

COMMODORES ALBUM ON LP, PLUS SPECIAL BLUE VINYL EDITION, JUNE 16

The 1977 release, now with long versions on vinyl for the first time, includes such hits as “Brick House” and “Easy,” and has been sampled by many artists

Los Angeles, CA – May 31, 2017 – Commodores, the 1977 self-titled fifth studio album by the pop-funk-soul band known as the “Black Beatles,” will get a vinyl LP release from UMe, along with a special edition in blue vinyl for fans and collectors, June 16. Both releases were cut from the original, un-faded masters, delivering on vinyl for the first time longer versions of seven of the nine tracks. (See timings below for comparison.)

The original album spent eight weeks at #1 on the Billboard Soul albums chart and was the group’s first crossover record, peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200, thanks to a pair of very different hit singles: the up-tempo “Brick House” and the sensuous Lionel Richie ballad, “Easy.”

“Easy,” the first single released from the album, reached #1 on the Billboard R&B (known then as the Hot Soul Singles) chart and #4 on the Hot 100, and paved the way for Richie’s pop emergence. The song was an international hit, reaching the Top 10 in the U.K. and New Zealand and the Top 20 in Ireland and Canada.

“Brick House,” featuring the distinctive funky vocals of drummer Walter “Clyde” Orange and Ronald LaPread’s heavy-bottom bass line, which formed the foundation of the song, went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. A group composition, its lyrics – celebrating a woman’s looks and her confidence in them – were written by Shirley Hanna-King, wife of the band’s trumpet player William “WAK” King, who initially claimed authorship before he admitted the truth.

Also featured on the LP is “Zoom,” a collaboration between Richie and LaPread. Although never officially released as a single, “Zoom” became one of the Commodores’, and Richie’s, best-known tunes. In the U.K., in fact, the LP was titled Zoom.

The Commodores were originally formed from two groups, the Mystics and the Jays, in 1968 at Tuskegee Institute, where the band members were students, signing with Motown in November, 1972 after opening for The Jackson 5 on tour. The group made a brief appearance in the 1978 film, Thank God It’s Friday, performing “Too Hot Ta Trot.”

Songs from Commodores have enjoyed a long life in the guise of covers and samples. Fergie sampled “Zoom” on her song “All That I Got (The Make-Up Song),” from her album The Dutchess. It has also been sampled by Snoop Dogg on “Pimpin’ Aint EZ,” a 2009 collaboration with R. Kelly from his album Malice N’ Wonderland); E-40 (from its 1998 album The Element of Surprise), Tricky (“Tricky Kid” from his 1996 album, Pre-Millennium Tension) and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (“Everytime” from their 2010 album, Uni5: The World’s Enemy).

Faith No More recorded a cover of “Easy” during the studio sessions for its 1992 album Angel Dust, following its repeated performances during their live shows, and it became an international hit in several countries, including Australia, where it went to #1, Norway, the U.K., Finland, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland and Netherlands. The song was sampled by rap group Geto Boys for “Six Feet Deep” from their 1993 album, Til Death Do Us Part and by Cam’ron for his song, “Hey Ma.”

“Brick House” was the sampled foundation for the title cut of Foxy Brown’s hit LP, Ill Na Na, while the original was featured in the 1995 film Houseguest, the 1999 film Muppets From Space and the 2002 feature Undercover Brother. Prince’s ex-wife Mayte released a rap version of the song, “House of Brick,” on NPG Records in 1995, with Prince himself singing the chorus and verses.

That same year, Dread Zeppelin covered the song as “Brick House (of the Holy)” on its Led Zeppelin-esque album No Quarter Pounder, while Rob Zombie, collaborating with Lionel Richie and Trina, did a version on his House of 1000 Corpses soundtrack in 2003.

Commodores [LP][Reissue]

Track listings
Title / (Songwriters) / Vinyl Reissue Track Time / Original LP track time
Side One
1. ”Squeeze the Fruit” (Walter Orange) 3:03 / same
2. “Funny Feelings” (Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary) 5:57 / 4:53
3. “Heaven Knows” (Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary) 6:16 / 4:46
4. “Zoom” (Lionel Richie, Ronald LaPread) 7:06 / 6:46

Side Two
1. “Won’t You Come Dance With Me” (Lionel Richie, Thomas McClary) 4:08 / 3:50
2. “Brick House” (Shirley Hanna-King, Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Walter Orange, Ronald LaPread, Thomas McClary, William King) 3:46 / 3:30
3. “Funky Situation” (William King) 4:12 / 3:46
4. “Patch It Up” (Milan Williams) 4:02 / same
5. “Easy” (Lionel Richie) 4:50 / 4:15

Personnel
Lionel Richie – vocals, saxophone, keyboards
Thomas McClary – vocals, guitar
Milan Williams – keyboards
Ronald LaPread – bass
William King – trumpet
Walter Orange – drums, percussion, vocals

Producers: James Anthony Carmichael/Commodores

MARY WELLS BRINGS MOTOWN IT'S FIRST #1 HIT MAY 16 1964

MARY WELLS THE FIRST LADY OF MOTOWN

ON THIS DAY:  In 1959, Berry Gordy started his first record label, Tamla Records, running it out of a house he purchased at 2648 West Grand Blvd. in Detroit, Michigan—a location better known as Hitsville, USA. Over the next three years, Tamla made its headquarters live up to its name, turning out a string of hit records that included “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong (1959), “Shop Around,” by The Miracles (1960) and “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes (1961)–which is why a young aspiring songwriter named Mary Wells was so excited to be offered a recording contract by Berry Gordy in 1962.

The catch was that Gordy wanted to make a record with Wells and issue it on a brand new label that had no identity or reputation in the marketplace: Motown Records. Not really in a position to argue, she signed on as the fledgling label’s very first artist, and two years later, Mary Wells gave Motown its first #1 hit when “My Guy” reached the top of the Billboard pop chart on this day in 1964.

Shortly after signing Mary Wells, Berry Gordy transformed her from a songwriter to a performer of other writers’ material. In this capacity, she was one of the first singers in the Motown stable to record a song by the now-legendary Holland/Dozier/Holland songwriting team.

RETRO: HISTORIC MOTOWN PHOTOS