Soul Strutter: Ooh Baby Baby - Version Excursion

Friday 11 December 2020

Ooh Baby Baby - Version Excursion

OK ... this one will keep you entertained for a few hours over the weekend! ... I've found links for well over 50 different versions of the classic Smokey Robinson song! Some better than others but I haven't posted any that I don't particularly like. but have left a few from the list either because I can't find a clip or they just aren't good enough to make the cut.

What has been a surprise when doing this is how few Motown artists have covered it. The only ones I have come across are an unreleased 1968 version by Blinky (Williams) and her duet of it with Edwin Starr the following year. The Temptations covered in much later in 2006 and one-time Motown artist Teena Marie did some live versions, but as far as I'm aware never actually recorded it.

To kick it off here's a lovely video of street buskers The Connections in Washington Square Park, NY in 2014 with an impromptu interjection from a lady in the street. Made me smile!

60s (11)

1965 - The Miracles - the original version

Here's a 2006 Tom Moulton Remix and an acapella mix

196? - Little Ray (Jimenez) - live East LA college early 60s

1965 - Stu Phillips & The Hollyridge Strings - a bit of a MOR instrumental version

1967 - Five Stairsteps

1967 - Lawrence & The Arabians

1968 - The Magnificent 7 - Superb Blue-eyed soul version on Dial.

1968 - Robert John - another blue-eyed version

1968 - Blinky - Motown unreleased version

1969 - Edwin Starr & Blinky

1969 - Ella Fitzgerald

196? - Jean Kerr & The Soul Sounds

70s (15)

1971 - The Fuzz - a much different arrangement, slightly more upbeat and a crossover almost reggae style. I'm liking this version!

197? - The Moments - this is a 'firme rola'! I don't think it's the Moments that recorded on Stang as can't find it listed anywhere so must be pretty rare?... and pretty darn good!

1971 - The Moments - Here's The (Stang) Moments live version on album Live In New York part of a medley (starts 2 min in)

1972 - Donny Elbert

1972 - The Whatnauts

1972 - San Francisco TKO's

1972 - Honey Cone - a 'strange' version!

1973 - The Escorts

1975 - Ralfi Pagan

1977 - Shalamar - NB this is pre Howard Hewett with Gary Mumford on lead.

1978 - Linda Ronstadt - don't knock it - give it a listen!

1978 - Smokey Robinson Live

1978 - The Counts - 45 on TCB

1978 - Tamiko Jones

1979 - Sonia - lovers rock version

1979 - The Ebonaires

???? - Aretha Franklin & Smokey Robinson - impromptu on Soul Train some time late 70s/80s?

80s (4)

1981 - Sylvester

1987 - Romeo

1988 - Ruby Turner

1989 - Zapp

1989 - Hugh Masekela - jazz instrumental

90s (4)

1991 - Patti LaBelle & Luther Vandross - from Soul Train Awards 12th Mar 1991

199? - Luther Vandross - Live @ Smokey Robinson Tribute - as you'd expect brilliant!

1992 - Janet Lee Davis - a UK lovers rock version

1993 - Spirit Traveller - can't find this but there is a version of Since I Lost My Baby which is a jazz laden guitar instrumental so assume this to be similar?

1998 - Todd Rundgren - a live radio broadcast on WMMR-FM from Sigma Sound Studios.