Congratulations to the #RockHall2024 Inductee Class for achieving Music's Highest Honor! 🤘 Learn more about this year's Inductees here: http://rockhall.com/2024-inductees
Rest In Peace…..BARRETT STRONG (February 5, 1941 – January 29, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, (Money, That’s What I Want “)
Although he is best known for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield. Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by the Temptations(”Popa Was A Rolling Stone”) and Motown’s biggest hit “I heard It Through The Grapevine “ for Marvin Gaye.
BARRETT STRONG (1941-Died January 29th 2023,at 81). American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown,Money (That’s What I Want),which reached No.2 in the 1960 US R&B Billboard., although he is best known for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by the Temptations.Writing alongside Norman Whitfield,he co wrote some of Motown’s greatest hits,including ‘i Heard It Through the Grapevine’ for both Marvin Gaye,and for Gladys Knight & the Pips, ‘War’,for Edwin Starr,Everywhere I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) for Paul Young,and many hits for The Temptations,including ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_Strong
Norman Whitfield’s “masterpiece” of symphonic funky soul, kinda like part 2 of Papa Was A Rolling Stone. This is the extended 13 minute LP version, so get ready.
Break-ins, folks comin' home
And finding all their possessions gone
Barrett Strong
February 5, 1941 – January 29, 2023
American Singer | Songwriter
Grammy Award Winner | Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee
Best Known for His Work as a Songwriter at Motown
Primarily working as a lyricist, in collaboration with producer Norman Whitfield
Partial List of Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield Works:
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Edwin Starr - War
The Temptations:
Cloud Nine | Ball of Confusion | Papa was a Rollin' Stone | I Can't Get Next to You | Runaway Child, Running Wild
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
Barrett Strong Songs have been Recorded by:
The Rolling Stones | The Temptations | Marvin Gaye | Tom Jones | Gladys Knight and The Pips | Love and Rockets | Savoy Brown |
The Slits | Al Green | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
and others
+++ +++ +++
Barrett Strong, Motown Artist and Temptations Songwriter, Dead at 81 - RollingStone
Artist sang Motown’s first major hit "Money (That's What I Want)"
Barrett Strong, singer, songwriter and Motown’s first star, dies aged 81 - The Guardian
Strong sang on the label’s first hit "Money…" in 1960 and went on to co-write landmark songs including Heard It Through the Grapevine and War
Barrett Strong, Motown Singer and Temptations Songwriter, Dies at 81 - Pitchfork
Strong’s 1959 hit “Money (That’s What I Want)” was covered by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin
The #1 song from 50 years ago was The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”.
_______________________
Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Songwriter: Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
It was the third of September
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
'Cause that was the day, that my daddy died
I never got a chance to see him
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him
"Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth"
And Momma just hung her head and said...
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Well, well"
"Hey Momma, is it true what they say
That Papa never worked a day in his life?
And Momma, some bad talk goin' round town
Sayin' that Papa had three outside children and another wife
And that ain't right
Heard them talking Papa doing some store front preachin'
Talked about saving souls and all the time leeching
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the Lord"
Momma just hung her head and said...
"Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Hey, Papa was a rolling stone, (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Uh"
"Hey Momma, I heard Papa called himself a jack of all trades
Tell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave?
Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bills
Hey Momma, folks say that Papa never was much on thinking
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
Momma I'm depending on you to tell me the truth"
And Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said...
"Son, Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
(Well, well, well, well)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
Lone, lone, lone, alone
Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone
I said, Papa was a rolling stone (my son)
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
(And when he died) All he left us was alone"
Working at Let's Do It, my personal fifty favourite singles from 1954-76.
Funky horns. Slap bass. Massive Afro haircuts. Handclaps and a rhythm that sounds like a car wash. It's over a minute before Gwen Dickey begins to sing; while we wait, we're drinking in the sound, this new-fangled "disco" sensation.
"Car wash" was written for the film "Car Wash" (it's about everyday life at a car wash, nothing more), and works to summarise the plot of the film you're about to see. Or, in the case of "Car Wash", the lack of plot: the movie is a bunch of funny guys hanging out at their place of work, like "Clerks".
Norman Whitfield was the producer, and he was a hard taskmaster. He got Gwen to re-sing "a movie star or an Indian chief" until she got the enunciation absolutely perfect. He's bridging the gap between soul and funk, and it's almost impossible not to want to dance to the song.
Gwen's vocals add a laidback vibe to the song, it fits with the light movie, though there's plenty going on behind the vocals. Ultimately, it's easy listening, in the sense of I could listen to this every day and never tire of it.