Tammi Terrell   “Irresistible”   Motown Records (1969)   “Irresistible” is a collection of Tammi’s solo releases including “I Cried,” “I Can’t Believe You Love Me” and “Come On And See Me.” “All I Do” which is my favorite Tammi Terrell solo recording, wasn’t released until 2002 in the UK (in the compilation A Cellarful of Motown!).

The song was written for her in 1966 by a sixteen year-old Stevie Wonder (with Clarence Paul and Morris Broadnax), and was recorded that year by Tammi and also by Brenda Holloway (also not released until 2005).   Stevie Wonder finally released his own version on the 1980 album “Hotter Than July.”   (Michael Jackson, Eddie Levert and Walter Williams of the O’Jays, Charie and Ronnie Wilson of The Gap Band and Betty Wright all provided background vocals!)

Tammi began her singing career in 1960.   In 1967, she met Marvin Gaye.   Their eternally beautiful and romantic duets include “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Your Precious Love”, “You’re All I Need To Get By”, “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You”, “If This World Were Mine” and “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” !

In late 1967, she collapsed on stage with Marvin and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.   After eight surgeries failed to save her, Tammi passed away in March of 1970, causing Marvin Gaye to sequester himself from the studio until he returned with “What’s Goin’ On” in 1971.   Worse yet, her illness and death at just 24 years-old prevented her from realizing her potential as a solo artist.   “All I Do” is nice way to remember her.

(56 votes, average: 3.79 out of 5)

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An audio comic book/musical from Archie Comics on Tifton Records with book, music and lyrics by Bean Clayton and Raol Alland   “Idol-ness in Riverdale” (no date on the record – early 70’s?)   The Archie look that I grew up with in the sixties and seventies was the work of pin-up and glamour girl illustrator Dan DeCarlo whose previous cartoons were most seen in the “adult” men’s digests of the Forties and Fifties (with titles like “Humorama”, “Gee-whiz”, “Eyeful of Fun” and “Romp” to name a few).     He toned down his sexy drawings to make the Riverdale teens suitable for young readers, but I’m sure that Betty and Veronica couldn’t help but spark many tween libidos – and Josie and the Pussycats – forget about it.

(48 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)

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Dick a la “Mod”   (Click for more Dick)

(52 votes, average: 3.37 out of 5)

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Vedettes A GoGo

(51 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

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What were they thinking?     The “Best of Brahms”   Westminster Gold Records     Classical music for those on a budget or … Brahms for the poor (?)

(57 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)

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“By Grace We Sing”   The Grace Quartet   Harbor Records

(39 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

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“Takin My Time”   Bonnie Raitt’s third LP released in 1973.   A personal favorite.   And what a cast of players!   Bonnie, Freebo, Lowell George, John Hall, Milt Holland, Jim Keltner, Taj Mahal, Earl Palmer, Van Dyke Parks and Ernie Watts.   Produced by John Hall (see the story below)   Art direction: Tom Gamache, Sandy Kroopf   Cover photo: Michael Dobo

In an interview given in 1982, Raitt would reveal that “Takin’ My Time is one of my favorite records to listen to, although I started out with Lowell George producing it, and he and I got too close to be able to have any objectivity about it. That’s the problem when you’re a woman and you get involved with the people you work with – and I just don’t just mean romantically. It becomes too emotional. It’s hard to have a strong woman telling the man her ideas when, in fact, the man wants to take over the situation. So that album had a lot of heartache in it. At the time it was a difficult one to make, but now I like it.”

(42 votes, average: 3.45 out of 5)

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“Little Miss Dynamite” Brenda Lee sings her biggest hit “I’m Sorry” with another great one “Sweet Nothin’s” and “Weep No More My Baby”!!!   This is a Decca Records EP from 1960.

(45 votes, average: 3.33 out of 5)

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The always well-manicured, coiffed and accessorized Zeki Muren.   This found at a cool site called Ponytone:

ZEKI MUREN – Hatira (1973)   Celebrated as the “Sun” of Turkish music and affectionately called “Pasha”, Muren dressed effeminately and wore ornate rings and heavy make up. It was commonly believed that he was gay, and although he never confirmed nor denied this, he had a pioneering role in making Turkish society more accepting of homosexuality. He paved the way for many later, more openly gay or transsexual artists.

(54 votes, average: 3.19 out of 5)

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