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
1968 - The Magnificent 7 - Superb Blue-eyed soul version on Dial.
1968 - Robert John - another blue-eyed version
1968 - Blinky - Motown unreleased version

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 - Honey Cone - a 'strange' version!
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 - 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
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.

00s (16)

2002 - Stan Sykes - nice 'deeper' version
2002 - Maxwell - live at Maxwell reunion 2002 - NOT Maxell of Ascension fame!
2005 - Brenda Holloway from Motown Sings Motown Treasures Vol. 2 (one of the best versions)
2006 - Peter Cox - ex Go West member released on his Motor City Music CD consisting of all Motown covers.
2007 - Lil Rob - hip-hop version sampling it.
2007 - Vesta
2007 - Human Nature - acapella live in front of Smokey - you've got to watch just to see Smokey's face and reaction!
2007 - Musiq Soulchild - a bonus track on Luvanmisic CD
2008 - Fingazz - vocoder
2009 - Daryl Hall & Smokey Robinson Live @ Daryl's House Episode #22
2009 - Teena Marie Live in front of Smokey and another live in concert in Mar 2010
2009 - The Legendary Orioles - a segment from 'Let's Go Back Medley'
2009 - Chuck Wansley - Japanese CD only Weekend Romance - nice version which changes it up a bit
2009 - Kimberli

10s (14)

2010 - Enchantment - live version
2011 - Seal
2013 - The Milk - a Liverpool band with a live video in studio
2015 - Ricky Susie - nice job by young teenager!
2015 - Neal Conway' - Conway's Nasty Retro Rewerk - converted to a dance track ... and not bad at all!
2016 - Lina
2018 - Leon Chavis & The Zydeco Flames Feat. Joe Chopper & Jayden Chavis - if you a get past the accordion!, it's an upbeat version
2019 - Ana Roxanne (Live @ Union Station)

20s (6)

2020 - Paul Stanley (from Kiss ... yes believe it or not) live 'lockdown' recording
2020 - Durand Jones & The Indications - another live 'lockdown' version
2020 - John Splithoff - yet another live 'lockdown' version!
2020 - DJ Wright - a neo soul version
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Shirley Edwards [1966] - Dream My Heart [Shrine SR 110]


One of the best records on one of the rarest soul labels Shrine.  Arranged by that man Dale Warren again. I Was prompted to post this after listening to Vann Yatiste play it in his set on Gilly's Soho Soul Spectaular on Saturday.  It's super rare, as with most of the Shrine records as most were destroyed in a warehouse fire, so the only way you'll acquire this without shelling out a small fortune is via a CD compilation or the Shrine reissue from 2007.

I couldn't resist this ...


... as he's male and his name IS Shirley!  ... a bit ironic coming from a man called Leslie (Neilsen)!

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We're Not Too Young (To Fall In Love)

Hearing this played by Vann Vatiste on the Soho Soul Spectacular on Sat night (during the launch of Gilly's new book which I posted a few days ago within the Little Ann post) has prompted me to post several known versions of the song.

I 'presume' that it was originally recorded by Jackey Beavers is it was co-written by him under his real namd Robert Lewis Beavers with Jerome Teasley and released as The Jackey Beavers Show in 1968 on Jaber label which is believed to have been owned by Jackey Beavers. In the same year it came out by The Camaro's on Dar Cha.  It was the Camaro's version that Vann played which is a more down tempo 'sweter' version. It was then released again on Jaber by Karen Striblin in 1970 followed by a version from The Continental Showstoppers on Seventy 7 in 1972.

1968 - The Jackey Beavers Show [Jaber #JB 7112]

Price Guide: £175-£250

1968 The Camaro's [Dar Cha #AR 1151]

This is the only know release by The Camaro's and on the Dar Cha label out of Detroit.

I have only been able to find 2 listed on Popsike, one sold for $621 in 2012 and another for $900 in 2014.  This is currently a popular 45 so would expect the price to be considerably higher now, IF you could find one for sale!

1970 - Karen Striblin [Jaber JB 7117]

This is the only known release from Karen Striblin.

Price Guide: £120-£130

1972 - Continental Showstoppers [Seventy 7 #77-107]

This is a more 'crossover' version than the others. It is the only known release from this group.

Price Guide: £270-£500


By sheer coincidence, whilst researching this post I came across a poll done on Soul Source in Nov 2018 comparing the 4 different versions and Camaro's topped the poll with 38.14% of the votes, followed closely by Jackey Beavers on 36.98%, with Continental Showstoppers receiving 22.5% and poor Karen Striblin got only 3.09% of the votes.  

Personally I like them all as they all offer something slightly different.  Jackey Beavers has the most raw energy, Camaro's is more of a soul harmony, sweeter, sound, whilst Continental Showstoppers has more of a 70s crossover appeal and Karen Striblin sort of sits between the Jackey Beavers and Camaro's version and, just to be awkward and go against the flow!, I think if I had to choose I would choose this version as my favourite as it has a naive, honest feel about it.  Her voice sounds young so possibly a teenager when it was recorded and the male backing adds something different.

I'm not sure if there was a connection between Jackey Beavers and The Camaro's, but guess thare must have been some sort of a connection, as The Camaro's also released another Beavers song 'Lover Come Back' on the flip side to their only (known) 45.

Camaro's [1968] - Lover Come Back [Dar Cha #AR 1151]

Jackey Beavers [1968] - Lover Come Back [Jaber #JB 7111]

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