As a fan of a wide variety of popular (and not-so-popular) music from the 1950s (and sometimes even earlier) up through the present, one of my bucket list projects for years has been to put together a list of my 100 favorite songs of all time. At some point I decided that, once I got around to figuring that out, I could put it out on a blog, for the infinitesimally small proportion of the Internet world that might be interested. So, here we are. While the Top 100 will be a major focus, I also plan to post on a variety of other musical (and occasionally non-musical) topics, in which you may or may not be interested. (If a particular posting doesn’t ring your bell, you’re only a few clicks away from a dancing cat video on YouTube.)

Friday, August 12, 2022

Lamont Dozier

https://variety.com/2022/music/news/lamont-dozier-dies-motown-1235336883/

 

This is somewhat embarrassing. Several years ago, when I wrote up one of the finest pure pop classics of all time, I completely missed the fact that “Two Hearts” was co-written by Phil Collins and … Lamont Dozier.

 

Dozier, of course, is best known as part of the legendary Holland-Dozier-Holland Motown song-writing threesome, along with Brian and Eddie Holland. Dozier, however, continued to have success even after leaving the Motown conglomerate, both with the Hollands and on his own.

 

I was also reminded of another personal favorite, Billy Bragg’s “Levi Stubbs' Tears”, which contains the following couplet at the end of the bridge:

 

Holland and Holland and Lamont Dozier too

Are here to make it all okay with you

 

Favorite HDH Motown songs (short titles were obviously not their thing):

Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) – Martha & The Vandellas

This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) – Isley Brothers

Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) – Kim Weston, with a great cover version later by the Doobie Brothers

Baby I Need Your Loving – Four Tops

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You – Marvin Gaye

 

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8 comments:

  1. John G FenimoreAugust 12, 2022 at 4:38 PM

    10. Come See About Me
    9. Nowhere to Run
    8. Heat Wave
    7. I Hear a Symphony
    6. You Can't Hurry Love
    5. Take Me in Your Arms
    4. Reflections
    3. You Keep Me Hangin' On
    2. The Happening
    1. Love is Like an Itching in My Heart

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    Replies
    1. Mike RhoadsAugust 13, 2022 at 9:45 AM

      That's a "Supreme" list! ;-)

      I decided to limit mine to 5 -- I could have gone on for hours -- and go with all different acts for a little variety. Would have trouble picking one favorite Supremes song.

      Delete
  2. John G FenimoreAugust 14, 2022 at 5:01 PM

    This week from 1963 shows a representative list of pop hits from the pre-Beatle era:
    1 FINGERTIPS (Part 2) –•– Little Stevie Wonder
    2 HELLO MUDDUH, HELLO FADDUH! –•– Allan Sherman
    3 CANDY GIRL –•– The Four Seasons
    4 MY BOYFRIEND’S BACK –•– The Angels
    5 JUDY’S TURN TO CRY –•– Lesley Gore
    6 BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND –•– Peter, Paul and Mary
    7 WIPE OUT –•– The Surfaris
    8 MORE –•– Kai Winding and Orchestra
    9 (You’re the) DEVIL IN DISGUISE –•– Elvis Presley
    10 DENISE –•– Randy and the Rainbows

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    Replies
    1. Mike RhoadsAugust 15, 2022 at 10:32 AM

      "More" is pretty much a relic of the pre-rock era ...

      Delete
    2. AnonymousAugust 15, 2022 at 4:36 PM

      ...and a classic. Every one of these old lists seem to include at least one instrumental we grew up with.

      Delete
    3. Mike RhoadsAugust 16, 2022 at 5:28 PM

      I still prefer Mr. Acker Bilk doing "Stranger On The Shore". ;-)

      Delete
    4. AnonymousAugust 19, 2022 at 10:40 AM

      I knew that!

      Delete
    5. Mike RhoadsAugust 19, 2022 at 10:52 AM

      Also: Floyd Cramer, Last Date

      Delete

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