well, thats how it ought to read....but credit to collins for getting these guys on national tv, albeit bob babbitt and eddie willis...the real surprise according to the billing was the inclusion of raymond monet of micheal & raymond fame....that really IS a rareity in this day and age. i thought it was the primary responsibility of northern soul promotors to bring such distinguished luminaries to our attention, so saturday night prime time for a motown remembrance suggests the powers that be have had their memories jogged as to how good REAL music is, in the face of incessent reality tv. phil collins grew up in a generation that was a mod loving culture exposed to the ultra nouveau sound of detroit and the expression "soul" on the lips of the hip people and he, like many, frequented the clubs where british beat groups paid homage to their newly aqquired black heroes. whilst this show is produced in the normal slick, glitzy, sickly plastic manner that befits "an audience with" it has managed to relieve the stifling smog that is saturday night tv for an instant and recalls sobering memories of seeing the real deal ( the funk brothers) perform live in manchester amazingly now, 6 years ago and getting the chance to meet and speak with them. sadly here, no jack ashford or joe messina but, i guess their consciences still wrankle over money and fame even in their dotage....but thats another story.

so yes, give phil collins his due, he's not only given his own popularity a boost, but he's graciously handed the spotlight to the very people who fueled his enthusiasm for the motown sound and performed the classics with them well:hatsoff2:

  On 18/09/2010 at 20:51, AGENTSMITH said:

well, thats how it ought to read....but credit to collins for getting these guys on national tv, albeit bob babbitt and eddie willis...the real surprise according to the billing was the inclusion of raymond monet of micheal & raymond fame....that really IS a rareity in this day and age. i thought it was the primary responsibility of northern soul promotors to bring such distinguished luminaries to our attention, so saturday night prime time for a motown remembrance suggests the powers that be have had their memories jogged as to how good REAL music is, in the face of incessent reality tv. phil collins grew up in a generation that was a mod loving culture exposed to the ultra nouveau sound of detroit and the expression "soul" on the lips of the hip people and he, like many, frequented the clubs where british beat groups paid homage to their newly aqquired black heroes. whilst this show is produced in the normal slick, glitzy, sickly plastic manner that befits "an audience with" it has managed to relieve the stifling smog that is saturday night tv for an instant and recalls sobering memories of seeing the real deal ( the funk brothers) perform live in manchester amazingly now, 6 years ago and getting the chance to meet and speak with them. sadly here, no jack ashford or joe messina but, i guess their consciences still wrankle over money and fame even in their dotage....but thats another story.

so yes, give phil collins his due, he's not only given his own popularity a boost, but he's graciously handed the spotlight to the very people who fueled his enthusiasm for the motown sound and performed the classics with them well:hatsoff2:

I avoided the programme for the obvious reasons , but if I had known beforehand about RM being icluded , I would have watched out of interest / curiousity .

What was his contribution to the proceedings ?

Malc

Edited September 19, 201014 yr by Malc Burton

I was surprised not to see Carol Kaye on bass, considering how many Motown records she's lied about playing on!

  On 19/09/2010 at 05:45, TONY ROUNCE said:

I was surprised not to see Carol Kaye on bass, considering how many Motown records she's lied about playing on!

When Carol Kaye dies , here headstone will bear the inscription " Here Lies Carol Kaye ....... And Lies And Lies And Lies "

Malc

  On 19/09/2010 at 04:19, Malc Burton said:

I avoided the programme for the obvious reasons , but if I had known beforehand about RM being icluded , I would have watched out of interest / curiousity .

What was his contribution to the proceedings ?

Malc

malc,

our local evening paper, the shropshire star carried a review of the program, prior to its broadcast and my eyes widened and jaw dropped at this revelation. considering i wouldnt believe for one minute, anyone of note works for the paper who has even a modicom of knowledge about soul music in general, let alone detroit, yes i would be just a tad scepticle...maybe they had some insider who briefed them on the "who's who" in the backing band, either way, they were aware of that fact and who the funk brothers are.the guy playing inbetween bob babbitt and eddie willis looked like joe messina but without the trademark specks, obviously not and as ray is a white guy, i'd plump for that being him.

And here it is. https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=173541

First thoughts are "Simon Cowel would not be putting him thru'" is he wasn't PC!

P:)

I saw the Funk Brothers in downtown Detroit during the Detroit Jazz (!) Festival several years ago and Raymond Monette was with them then. They were brilliant and it was all free!! They were followed by Dennis Edwards' Temptations (who included David Sea and Ollie Woodson). You would have thought the Funks would have stayed around to back the Tempts but they didn't. A completely different band (more like a mini orchestra) took to the stage. Amazing. Only in America!

  On 18/09/2010 at 20:51, AGENTSMITH said:

well, thats how it ought to read....but credit to collins for getting these guys on national tv, albeit bob babbitt and eddie willis...the real surprise according to the billing was the inclusion of raymond monet of micheal & raymond fame....that really IS a rareity in this day and age. i thought it was the primary responsibility of northern soul promotors to bring such distinguished luminaries to our attention, so saturday night prime time for a motown remembrance suggests the powers that be have had their memories jogged as to how good REAL music is, in the face of incessent reality tv. phil collins grew up in a generation that was a mod loving culture exposed to the ultra nouveau sound of detroit and the expression "soul" on the lips of the hip people and he, like many, frequented the clubs where british beat groups paid homage to their newly aqquired black heroes. whilst this show is produced in the normal slick, glitzy, sickly plastic manner that befits "an audience with" it has managed to relieve the stifling smog that is saturday night tv for an instant and recalls sobering memories of seeing the real deal ( the funk brothers) perform live in manchester amazingly now, 6 years ago and getting the chance to meet and speak with them. sadly here, no jack ashford or joe messina but, i guess their consciences still wrankle over money and fame even in their dotage....but thats another story.

so yes, give phil collins his due, he's not only given his own popularity a boost, but he's graciously handed the spotlight to the very people who fueled his enthusiasm for the motown sound and performed the classics with them well:hatsoff2:

I also watched and found it really enjoyable in doculife sort of style... it was interesting to hear of that part of his life and how it had influenced him, and to see old footage of the places and clubs they would visit, and even all the background stuff of his family... he seemed to have a real close bond with his father... it was a journey through his eyes and It was good Saturday night viewing.....

Carol Kaye - very funny!

Don't forget Ray Monette, Dennis Coffey, Uriel Jones, Bob Babbit and arranger David J. Van De Pitte were on my Detroit session. I met Ray's wife who watched proceedings in the control room etc:

Video here:

Carl