what Frank is listening to #60- GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS – Neither One of Us – (Tamla Motown) – 1973
A disclaimer. I'm not a big soul music aficionado though I do have a few greatest hits compilations and some other albums that tickle my fancy. So, cut me some slack.
1970s soul was of course, inevitably, funky or disco-y. There was a time when I was listening to a lot of the O'Jays music which was alternatively funk or disco but always very socially relevant like a lot of Philly soul. Berry Gordy of course is second only to Phil Spector in dictatorial habits (and not as talented IMHO) with his artists at Tamla Motown. As I have said to some of you in the past … the sheer volume of Tamla hits speak for themselves … but so does the volume of non-hits. His "hitmaking style" was getting his roster of artists to put out a "soul" album in every genre and seeing what hits(sic) with the public (seriously his roster of acts all, just about, put out straight soul, R&B, standards, Christmas, psychedelic, duet, live, and even country, albums). On top of that Gordy had his artists cover each other songs. Still, he did have good writers (including himself), session men and talented acts but a lot of Tamla was very "cookie cutter" like.
Gladys Knight and the Pips came through the Motown factory in the 1960s with a few Top 20 pop hits including "I Heard it through the Grapevine", "Every Beat of My Heart" and transitioned into the 1970s easily and where they had most of their hits. They really were on fire between 1971-75, though they had to leave Motown (after this album) to prove their worth (they went to Buddah records).
Marvin Gaye, and especially Stevie Wonder, really opened the Tamla doors to self expression, both lyrically and musically … and that timed very well with the 70s where very personal songs were being released in popular music forms (rock, country and soul), but taking its emotional cues from the singer-songwriter explosion of the early 70s. In soul, the songs may be personal but the themes (generally) remain constant. As I have said somewhere else a lot of black soul is about sex, dancing, sex, making out, sex, heavy petting, sex, etc. I should qualify that by saying that that is black male soul. Female black soul is about sex, your man cheating on you, love, your man cheating on you, sex, and getting even on your man for cheating on you. But, what I like most about about 70s soul is that it's all very "street" and reminds me of my youth …..the dark, rainy streets with pimps in fedoras, the hustlers and jive talk on every corner, the thrill of urban decay … in, errrr Brisbane?… OK … it reminds me of the "Shaft" and blaxploitation films, and the "Good Times", "Chico and the Man", "Welcome Back Kotter" TV shows I watched as a kid in the 70s.
Though very few of the tracks are written by Gladys or the Pips this album is very much in that mould….slightly funky, personal songs, usually about sex (or sexual politics) sung in a "street" way. The Pips harmonizing is kept in check and Gladys really belts out the songs. Its pretty good.
Best Tracks:
- Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) – a #2 hit written by Jim Weatherly – a white country singer who wrote three or four songs (and hits) for Knight.
- For Once in My Life – a slow, deep soul version of the Stevie Wonder hit.
- This Child Needs Its Father – great lines … "I'm trying to do the best I can, 'cause I refuse to let this bed hold another man"
- Who Is She (And What Is She to You) – don't argue with a angry Afro-American lady …here she confronts her man … I'm scared (and a little aroused).
- Daddy Could Swear, I Declare – a #19 hit … unfortunately, this could be a fuckin' theme song around here.
- Don't It Make You Feel Guilty – a Marvin Gaye "What's Goin On" themed type of song.
The album did well: #9 Pop, #1 R&B
Will I keep this?
Maybe …. it could be one of those soul albums that tickles my fancy.
Sound:
Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX8fZ-lWhFA
This Child Needs Its Father
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7kwgxf2ri0
Who Is She (And What Is She to You)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qarmg8i-_V0
Daddy Could Swear, I Declare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4uSzldTo3w&feature=related
Don't It Make You Feel Guilty
attached
Internet:
http://www.vocalgroup.org/inductees/gladys_knight_pips.html
http://www.gladysknight.com/home2.html
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Gladys%20Knight.html
Trivia:
- The Pips were either siblings or cousins I think.
- oh, Gladys was one "foxy lady" (pronounced "foxeee lay-day" I believe).
(originally posted: 08/07/2009)
