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Standing in the Shadows of Motown!
November 18, 2002

This issue includes...

1) Contest Winners!
2) Review: Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Movie
3) Review: Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The CD
4) Music News: Michael Jackson's New Look
5) A Helping Hand
6) Concert Dates
7) Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: Lyric Power
8) Tell Us What You Think

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1) Contest Winners: From Ohio USA to Portugal

Congratulations to Rodney Van Cleaf, from Columbus, Ohio, our grand prize winner in the Powerhouse Radio "Tasty Tunes with Heart & Soul Contest."

Rodney's terrific prize package includes Patti Labelle's Greatest Hits CD, Patti Labelle's La Belle Cuisine, Recipes to Sing About cookbook, Isaac Hayes' Ultimate Collection CD, Isaac Hayes' Cooking with Heart and Soul Cookbook, and, last but not least, the collector's edition Powerhouse Radio mouse pad.

We had one international winner, who picked up the Powerhouse Radio collector's edition mouse pad, Manuel Fonseca, of Lisboa, Portugal.

Congratulations to all of our winners!

2) Review: Standing in the Shadows of Motown: the Movie

Christmas, 1965. I wasn't in junior high school yet, but I remember the first time I heard "Come See About Me," by the Supremes blast through the AM car radio, as my best friend's mother drove me and my friend to the Green Acres Shopping Center mall in Hempstead, Long Island, New York.

The pulsating beat of the Funk Brothers was the perfect showcase for Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson's pop gem. These and other Motown stars are legendary household names, but...

It's the unsung heroes of Hitsville USA in Detroit that are the focus of this excellent docu-drama concert film. The Funk Brothers, the fantastic studio musicians...the band that along with legendary producers Norman Whitfield and others created the magic of Motown, they are the focus of Standing in the Shadows.

The Chuck Berry, Elvis, Fats Domino era is winding down, and Berry Gordy is canvassing Detroit jazz clubs in the late 1950's to recruit the best musicians he can find for his new record company.

As we learn about each Funk Brother, enjoyable new versions of Motown hit songs are performed by an interesting mix of artists, young and old. See the review of the CD in the next section.

Between the dawn of the 1960's, and 1970, where the story ends, we are treated to insider Motown anecdotes, humorous stories, snapshots of the tumultuous times, and yes, the awesome music.

At the end of the screening I attended, on a Saturday night, people cheered. Today, that's rare.

This movie is dynamite. Extremely well produced, it will be enjoyed by young fans who are tying to learn what's going on, as well as by an older crowd who grew up with the music.

The sound quality of the technical mix is fantastic. You won't be disappointed.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown is not in general release yet, and may be hard to find. Here are some of the places you can find it. Check the specialty theaters in your area.

* Detroit: Phoenix Theatres Bel-Air Centre
* Los Angeles: Southland Theaters
* New York City: Magic Johnson Harlem USA
* Washington, DC: Loews Cineplex Dupont 5
* Philadelphia, PA: Ritz at The Bourse

Review written by King
https://powerhouseradio.com

3) Review: Standing in the Shadows of Motown: the CD

How do you top 'What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye, 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' by either Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, the Diana Ross version, or any of the other Motown classic soul originals?

In fairness to the artists who are given this Herculean task, the renditions on the CD and in the movie work best when the more seasoned performers add their own personality to the songs.

Consider too that just to pull stock footage of the original performances would have given the production the look of a straight documentary. Standing in the Shadows of Motown is anything but.

The appearance of these new live performances in the movie serve as examples of the timelessness of the music, and to amplify points made by the Funk Brothers as they talk about their contributions to the Motown empire.

Boosty Collins handles his songs with humor and charisma. Bootsy has been around a long time, having played bass guitar for James Brown's band before hooking up with his own Rubber Band group.

Joan Osborne does a Linda Rondstadt type take on (Love is Like A) Heatwave (a hit for Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, & Rondstadt).

Gerald Levert really gets into both 'Shotgun,' and 'Reach Out I'll Be There.'

Meshell Ndegeocello handles 'You've Really Got a Hold' on Me, and 'Cloud Nine' in a jazzier, subdued manner.

Ben Harper tackles 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg,' and 'I Heard it Though the Grapevine.'

Jazz fans, note that Tom Scott is prominently featured in horn solos on the CD, and on camera in the film.

If you like karaoke, take the amazing instrumental version of 'You Keep Me Hangin' on and record your own vocal version.

My personal favorites are the two Chaka Khan contributions. She energizes 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' in a spirited duet with Montell Jordan, and gives her own improvisation to Marvin Gaye's 'What Going On.'

Out of the 15 songs on the CD, there's material here that everyone can enjoy.

Review written by King
https://powerhouseradio.com
------------------------------

We have several copies of the Standing in The Shadows of Motown CD to give away. This is a free newsletter subscriber special, and we won't be announcing this contest on Powerhouse Radio.

For your chance to win, just go to

Powerhouse Radio Motown

and fill in the contest form for your chance to win the CD. We will draw several winners from all entries submitted by Friday, November 22, 2002. Good luck!

4) Music News: Michael Jackson's New Look

Michael Jackson is being sued by a concert promoter because Michael allegedly failed to perform several European and Middle Eastern concerts on his last tour.

If you saw the pictures of him in court recently, without any "disguise," you may be wondering, what's up?

The official word is that Michael has plaster on his scarred nose. He's wearing pink lipstick, has heavy black penciled eyebrows, and is beginning to grow a goatee-styled beard. Whatever!

5) A Helping Hand

Paul recently posted this question in the alt.music.soul newsgroup.

> Does anyone know who wrote "It's Christmas All Year
> Round"? The version I have is on Please Come Home
> For Christmas (King KCD-5019) by Charles Brown. The
> disk has VERY little documentation. Help please.
>
> Also, does anyone know what year this song was first
> released?

Here is how I responded to his question...

The fastest way to find out this kind of information is to search through the free online databases provided by music license organizations BMI.com, ASCAP.com, or SESAC.com.

The info you wanted turns up in the BMI database. "It's Christmas All Year Round" was written by Charles Brown. It is licensed BMI Work #742268.

If you search for album info at AllMusic.com, you'll find that only 8 of the 16 tracks on the album have specific writers listed. You could then assume that Brown wrote all of the other tracks. The only way to know for sure, is to search ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

There is a typo at AllMusic.com, so it's hard to determine the original release date of the song. Someone in this community who knows other resources may be able to track that down.

I hope this info helps all of my fellow music researchers!

King
Powerhouse Radio
https://powerhouseradio.com
Legendary R&B stars and their friends

end------------

So there you have it. With just those four web sites, you can find virtually any information about every kind of recorded music.

6) Concert Dates

Taj Mahal
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA

Earth, Wind, & Fire
Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29th
Tokyo, Japan

Hall & Oates
Friday, November 29, 2002
Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ
9:00pm

Chaka Khan
Friday, November 29 & Saturday, November 30th
The Spotlight at the Trump 29 Casino
Coachcella, CA

KC and the Sunshine Band
Friday, November 29 & Saturday, November 30th
Resorts International, Atlantic City, NJ

Gerald Levert
Sunday, December 1, 2002
Louisville Palace Theater, Louisville, KY

Earth, Wind, & Fire
Monday, December 2, 2002
Osaka, Japan

Snoop Dogg
Wednesday, December 4, 2002
DECC Arena, Duluth, MN

Richie Havens
Friday, December 6, 2002
The Barns of Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA

India.Arie
Friday, December 6, 2002
Massey Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada

Ray Charles
Friday, December 6, 2002
UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL
8:00pm

Patti Labelle
Thursday, December 12, 2002
Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA

Jody Watley, Peabo Bryson
Friday, December 13, 2002
Weidner Center, Green Bay, WI
7:30pm

Earth, Wind, & Fire
Thursday, December 19 - Sunday, December 22
Paris, Las Vegas, NV

Tower of Power
Friday, December 20, 2002
Canyon Dinner Theater, Agoura Hills, CA
8:00pm

India.Arie
Friday, January 17, 2003
Radio City Music Hall, NY, NY
8:00pm

Kirk Franklin
Saturday, January 18, 2003
Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA

7) Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood: Lyric Power

Courtesy of The Archive of Misheard Lyrics at amiright.com

Song: Reach Out I'll Be There
Artist: Four Tops

The real lyrics:
"And your life's filled with much confusion,
until happiness is just an illusion...
just look over your shoulder, I'll be there..."

Misheard as:

"And your life's very much confusion,
until actually it's all an illusion...
this is gonna be shorter, I'll be there..."

King's comment: This person must have had cotton in their ears.

Song: Dancing in The Street
Artist: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

The real lyrics:
"Dancin'in the street"

Misheard as:

"Dancin' indiscreet"

Song: Nowhere to Run
Artist: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

The real lyrics:
"I know you're no good for me,
but free of you I'll never be"

Misheard as:

"I know you're no good for me,
but three of you I'll never be"

King's comment: I always thought she was saying, "free abuse." Oh well.

8) Tell Us What You Think

We would love to hear what you think of this issue of the
Powerhouse Radio Newsletter.

Use our feedback form

More 2002 Powerhouse Radio Newsletters:

December -	Music Review: En Vogue, The Gift of Christmas
Nov. 6 -	The Legacy of Jam Master Jay
October -	Welcome to Our New Listeners and Subscribers
September -	SPECIAL EDITION
August -	The Satellite Radio Revolution
July -	How to Listen to Internet Radio on your Home Stereo
June -	Why Aretha Franklin is the number one diva

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