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Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” Pop # 8, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s first album together, “United,” was a smash that spawned three...
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Diana Ross and the Supremes – “Love Child”
Diana Ross and the Supremes – “Love Child,” Pop # 1, R&B # 2 By Joel Francis The departure of Holland-Dozier-Holland reverberated throughout Hitsville, but no one felt it as acutely as the...
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Talking Motown with Bill Dahl
(Above: Richard “Popcorn” Wylie’s version of “Money (That’s What I Want)” is one of music writer Bill Dahl’s favorite early Motown songs.) By Joel Francis Chances are good that Chicago-based music...
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The Temptations – “I Can’t Get Next To You”
The Temptations – “I Can’t Get Next To You,” Pop # 1, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis Surprisingly, “I Can’t Get Next To You” was the first Temptations single to top both the pop and R&B charts since...
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Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”
Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back,” Pop #1, R&B #1 By Joel Francis The Daily Record “I Want You Back” not only introduced America to the biggest post-Elvis superstar in the world. It also kicked off...
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Jackson 5 – “ABC”
Jackson 5 – “ABC,” Pop # 1, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis The Daily Record Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon and, of course, Michael Jackson blasted to the top of the chart with their debut single, “I Want...
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Jackson 5 – “The Love You Save”
Jackson 5 – “The Love You Save,” Pop # 1, R&B # 1 By Joel Francis The Daily Record The process behind the J5’s two previous singles was too successful and irresistible not to try again. And for...
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Jackson Five – “I’ll Be There”
Jackson Five – “I’ll Be There,” Pop #1, R&B #1 By Joel Francis The Daily Record To say that the Jackson 5’s formula was successful would be a terrific understatement. Three upbeat, bubblegum hits,...
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Review: Modest Mouse (2010)
(Above: Modest Mouse perform “Dashboard” at the previous stop in Kansas City, at the Uptown Theater in March, 2009.) By Joel Francis The Kansas City Star Early in his first visit to Crossroads, Modest...
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A Christmas conversation
(Above: Jimmy Smith’s “Christmas Cooking,” released in 1964, is a classic, overlooked holiday album.) By Joel Francis The Daily Record The other day I was in a retail bookstore when I noticed the...
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