And the Class of 2024 Inductees are... #RockHall2024 #MusicsHighestHonor

The Rolling Stones - Just My Imagination

Rest In Peace…..BARRETT STRONG (February 5, 1941 – January 29, 2023) was an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, (Money, That’s What I Want “)

Although he is best known for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield. Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by the Temptations(”Popa Was A Rolling Stone”) and Motown’s biggest hit “I heard It Through The Grapevine “ for Marvin Gaye.

BARRETT STRONG (1941-Died January 29th 2023,at 81). American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown,Money (That’s What I Want),which reached No.2 in the 1960 US R&B Billboard., although he is best known for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.Among his most famous work at Motown, Strong wrote the lyrics for many of the songs recorded by the Temptations.Writing alongside Norman Whitfield,he co wrote some of Motown’s greatest hits,including ‘i Heard It Through the Grapevine’ for both Marvin Gaye,and for Gladys Knight & the Pips, ‘War’,for Edwin Starr,Everywhere I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) for Paul Young,and many hits for The Temptations,including ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_Strong

The Temptations - Masterpiece (1973)

Norman Whitfield’s “masterpiece” of symphonic funky soul, kinda like part 2 of Papa Was A Rolling Stone. This is the extended 13 minute LP version, so get ready.

Break-ins, folks comin' home And finding all their possessions gone

The Tamlins - Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) (State)

Versatile LP, Soul and Reggae tunes.

wrt. Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong, 1976.

Get It Together (1973, Motown, M 783V1)

Cover of the Temptations.

Barrett Strong 1941 - 2023

Barrett Strong February 5, 1941 – January 29, 2023

American Singer | Songwriter Grammy Award Winner | Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee

Best Known for His Work as a Songwriter at Motown Primarily working as a lyricist, in collaboration with producer Norman Whitfield

Partial List of Barrett Strong/Norman Whitfield Works: Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine Edwin Starr - War The Temptations: Cloud Nine | Ball of Confusion | Papa was a Rollin' Stone | I Can't Get Next to You | Runaway Child, Running Wild Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)

Barrett Strong Songs have been Recorded by: The Rolling Stones | The Temptations | Marvin Gaye | Tom Jones | Gladys Knight and The Pips | Love and Rockets | Savoy Brown | The Slits | Al Green | Creedence Clearwater Revival | and others

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Barrett Strong, Motown Artist and Temptations Songwriter, Dead at 81 - RollingStone Artist sang Motown’s first major hit "Money (That's What I Want)"

Barrett Strong, singer, songwriter and Motown’s first star, dies aged 81 - The Guardian Strong sang on the label’s first hit "Money…" in 1960 and went on to co-write landmark songs including Heard It Through the Grapevine and War

Barrett Strong, Motown Singer and Temptations Songwriter, Dies at 81 - Pitchfork Strong’s 1959 hit “Money (That’s What I Want)” was covered by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin

Barrett Strong - Wikipedia

Congratulations to the #RockHall2024 Inductee Class for achieving Music's Highest Honor! 🤘 Learn more about this year's Inductees here: http://rockhall.com/2024-inductees

The #1 song from 50 years ago was The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”. _______________________ Papa Was A Rolling Stone Songwriter: Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield

It was the third of September That day I'll always remember, yes I will 'Cause that was the day, that my daddy died I never got a chance to see him Never heard nothin' but bad things about him "Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth" And Momma just hung her head and said...

"Son, Papa was a rolling stone, (my son) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (And when he died) All he left us was alone Papa was a rolling stone, (my son) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (And when he died) All he left us was alone Well, well"

"Hey Momma, is it true what they say That Papa never worked a day in his life? And Momma, some bad talk goin' round town Sayin' that Papa had three outside children and another wife And that ain't right Heard them talking Papa doing some store front preachin' Talked about saving souls and all the time leeching Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the Lord" Momma just hung her head and said...

"Papa was a rolling stone, (my son) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (And when he died) All he left us was alone Hey, Papa was a rolling stone, (my son) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (And when he died) All he left us was alone Uh"

"Hey Momma, I heard Papa called himself a jack of all trades Tell me, is that what sent Papa to an early grave? Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal to pay his bills Hey Momma, folks say that Papa never was much on thinking Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking Momma I'm depending on you to tell me the truth" And Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said...

"Son, Papa was a rolling stone (my son) (Well, well, well, well) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (And when he died) All he left us was alone Lone, lone, lone, alone Papa was a rolling stone (my son) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (And when he died) All he left us was alone I said, Papa was a rolling stone (my son) Wherever he laid his hat was his home (And when he died) All he left us was alone"

"Car wash" - Rose Royce

1976 Written by Norman Whitfield

Working at Let's Do It, my personal fifty favourite singles from 1954-76.

Funky horns. Slap bass. Massive Afro haircuts. Handclaps and a rhythm that sounds like a car wash. It's over a minute before Gwen Dickey begins to sing; while we wait, we're drinking in the sound, this new-fangled "disco" sensation.

"Car wash" was written for the film "Car Wash" (it's about everyday life at a car wash, nothing more), and works to summarise the plot of the film you're about to see. Or, in the case of "Car Wash", the lack of plot: the movie is a bunch of funny guys hanging out at their place of work, like "Clerks".

Norman Whitfield was the producer, and he was a hard taskmaster. He got Gwen to re-sing "a movie star or an Indian chief" until she got the enunciation absolutely perfect. He's bridging the gap between soul and funk, and it's almost impossible not to want to dance to the song.

Gwen's vocals add a laidback vibe to the song, it fits with the light movie, though there's plenty going on behind the vocals. Ultimately, it's easy listening, in the sense of I could listen to this every day and never tire of it.

“One of the Greatest Songwriters of the Rock and Roll Era” and Motown’s First Hitmaker, Barrett Strong Dead at 81

Barrett Strong, who in 1959 scored Motown’s first hit with “Money (That’s What I Want)” and went on to pen classics for the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and others, died Jan. 29, the Motown Museum said.

Strong was 81; no cause of death was given for the man the museum called “one of Motown’s top lyricists.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and Motown family and fans around the world,” the museum said in a statement.

Though he didn’t write “Money,” later covered by the Beatles, Strong went on to co-write, with Norman Whitfield, a number of indelible tracks including Gaye’s “I Heard it through the Grapevine;” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” for the Temptations; Edwin Starr’s “War;” and many others.

More recently, Los Lobos covered Strong’s “Misery” on their 2021 album Native Sons, because “Barrett moved to L.A. when Motown did,” as David Hidalgo put it in the liner notes.

“We say farewell and thank you to one of the greatest songwriters of the rock and roll era,” George Clinton wrote on social media. “Rest in eternal song, Barrett Strong.”

Strong was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.

1/29/23