DIVING INTO DISCO - PART5 - GOING TO A GO-GO

Written by Claude Lemaire

For Part-4: http://soundevaluations.blogspot.com/2022/01/diving-into-disco-part4.html

While The Supremes supported by H-D-H continued their winning streak with "I Hear a Symphony" in October 1965, and "My World Is Empty Without You" in December; Smokey Robinson and the Miracles marked a major hit with "Going to a Go-Go" nearly the same month. 

Second in line to the Motown mantle were The Temptations–the five-part harmony vocal group whose lineup kept changing throughout the years. Broadly keeping pace with their close singing sisters, the polished choreographed quintet from Detroit definitely hit their stride with the energetic "Get Ready" in February 1966, the last single produced by Smokey Robinson, with singers David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks sharing the spotlight. 

Rare Earth would release their own much longer harder version three-and-a-half-years later. Hot on the heels in May was "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"–the first single produced and co-written by Norman Whitfield–both songs being featured on Gettin' Ready. 

The Supremes countered with "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" in April, and "You Can't Hurry Love" in July, both reunited a month later on The Supremes A' Go-Go LP. 

The latter feeding on the short-lived go-go craze; itself derived from the first Whisky à Gogo discothèque launched in Paris in 1947, and the Americanized venues in Chicago in 1958, and on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California in 1964. Featuring go-go dancers in ceiling-suspended go-go cages the club even had the first female deejay–Joanie Labine–spinning records between live music sets, also suspended over the crowd.

Hits kept on happening with "You Keep Me Hangin' On" in October. Both formations gained greatly from numerous appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show which still drew a vast viewership in those years. 

Not to be outgunned The 'Tempts' counterpunched with "(I Know) I'm Losing You" in November, foreshadowing a shift in melodic mood, the group would soon adopt. "All I Need" in April 1967 would be their last hit single fitting the Holland-type style. Both songs would appear on The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul in July. 

Familiar to them, The Four Tops were a vocal quartet from Detroit originally called The Four Aims, who had a few feel-good hits circa 1964-65 such as "Baby I Need Your Loving"–covered by Carl Carlton in 1982–"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)"–covered by Bonnie Pointer in December 1979–and the top 10 charter "It's the Same Old Song". They reached their zenith in October 1966 with "Reach Out I'll Be There"–revisited by Gloria Gaynor on her debut album in early-1975. 

Equally excellent is the similar sounding "Standing in the Shadows of Love" just a month later–itself covered by Barry White on his debut album in March 1973. Lastly is the song "Bernadette" released in February 1967. All three tracks ending up on Reach Out in July.

Breakin' out a sweat!

That same month, inspired by Miles Davis' "So What" from Kind of Blue, saxophonist, musical director, composer, and arranger Alfred Pee Wee Ellis integrated its horn intro into James Brown's landmark piece "Cold Sweat". 

Unlike previous pieces by Brown, this one marks a definite departure from traditional pop or soul songs of the past as it espouses nearly no chord changes save for the bridge. His own singing style starts to add more percussive signature traits such as "Ha!", "Ho!", "Huh", "Uh!", and "Ohhh". 

As well, code words or band instructions such as "Maceo"–for saxophonist Maceo Parker to 'blow' his improvised solo, similar as jamming in jazz–or "Give the drummer some"–silencing all other musicians, save for drummer Clyde Stubblefield's funky solo–suddenly appear. This in fact is the first "break" or "breakdown" put on record, and will become a defining characteristic in disco music, as well as the following "buildup" part, where the bass line groove reenters the scene. As importantly, the funky drum break will be reappropriated in early hip hop sampling. Lastly Brown shouts "1-2-3-4-Hit it!" cueing the band to make a triumphant return. 

In October the frenetic "Get It Together" highlights the band's impressive staccato playing, executing–especially in (part 2)–the Godfather's every whish or whim at a moment's notice. You can even hear him call out throughout the track the band members' names–'Jabo', 'Rasbury', 'Waymon', 'Joe', 'Pee Wee', 'St. Claire', 'Country', 'Maceo', and 'Bernard'. 

Let's hit it and quit!

Next time be sure to wear flowers in your hair...

Reference List (Singles, albums, and labels): 

"I Hear a Symphony" [Motown M-1083 or MS 643]

"My World Is Empty Without You" [Motown M-1089 or MS 643] 

"Going to a Go-Go" [Tamla S-267 or T 54127] 

"Get Ready" [Gordy 7049] 

Get Ready [Rare Earth RS 507] 

"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" [Gordy 7054]

Gettin' Ready [Gordy G 918]

"Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" [Motown M-1094] 

"You Can't Hurry Love" [Motown M-1097]

The Supremes A' Go-Go LP [Motown MS649]. 

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" [Motown M-1101] 

"(I Know) I'm Losing You" [Gordy G-7057] 

"All I Need" [Gordy G-7061] 

The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul [Gordy GLPS-922] 

"Baby I Need Your Loving" [Motown 1062 or MS-622]

"Baby I Need Your Loving" [RCA Victor PD-13314]

"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" [Motown M-1076 or MS-634] 

Bonnie Pointer  [Motown M7-929R1] 

"It's the Same Old Song" [Motown M-1081 or MS-634]

"Reach Out I'll Be There" [Motown M-1098]

Never Can Say Goodbye [MGM Records M3G 4982] 

"Standing in the Shadows of Love" [Motown M-1102] 

I've Got So Much to Give [20th Century Records T-407] 

"Bernadette" [Motown M-1104]

Reach Out [Motown MS-660]

"So What" Kind of Blue [MoFi MFSL 2-45011, Columbia]

"Cold Sweat" [King Records 45-6110 or 1020]

"Get It Together" [King Records 45-6122 or 1020] 

For the translated French version, visit: https://www.pmamedia.org/fr/accueil/plongeons-dans-le-disco-allons-a-un-go-go

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