All joking aside... fans of soul music have something to celebrate today. Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff are going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! (Mr. Gamble is the one standing in the photo above.) Hearty congratulations to them.Gamble and/or Huff are credited writers on more than 1,000 songs (including rap tracks that sample their music). Hey... let’s enjoy a few of their songs now!
Click the song titles below to make the music happen on my Vox blog.
1. “Hey Western Union Man” – Diana Ross & the Supremes
Written by Gamble, Huff and Jerry Butler. Originally recorded by Butler. Also covered by jazz guitarist Grant Green.
2. “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” – Nancy Wilson
Written by Gamble, Huff and Jerry Ross. Originally recorded by Dee Dee Warwick. Most famously recorded by Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations. (I never knew this was a Gamble & Huff tune!) Also covered by the Chi-Lites, Michael McDonald and many others.
3. “Drowning In the Sea of Love” – Joe Simon
Written by Gamble & Huff. Covered by B.B. King, Boz Scaggs, Ringo Starr and others.
4. “Show You the Way to Go” – The Jacksons
Written by Gamble & Huff. (One of my favorite Michael Jackson vocals evar.)
5. “Don’t Leave Me This Way (Almighty mix)” – Thelma Houston
Written by Gamble, Huff and Cary Gilbert. Originally recorded by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Also covered by the Communards, Sheena Easton and others.
We definitely agree on this. "Don't Leave Me This Way" is my favorite disco song of all time. My wife and I went to see the movie Looking For Mr. Goodbar solely because they played Thelma Houston in the preview.
ReplyDeleteGamble and Huff should've been in a long time ago!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd you didn't even list their hugest hits (by design, I'm sure).
Thanks for sharing.
"Show You the Way to Go" is one of my favorite J5 joints (tied with thed Holland, Dozier, Holland produced "Forever Came Today." If they haven't been nominated they should.)
ReplyDeleteI've always liked Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, and Thelma Houston's versions of "Don't Leave Me This Way."
Way to go, G&H! Congrats!
Damn, I forgot how great Joe Simon was. Oh, and wrong thread, but congrats on the WGA nom!
ReplyDelete^ Thanks, Doug. All praise is due to Simon (who rewrote me without mercy).
ReplyDelete^ Joe Simon rewrote your script?
ReplyDelete^ Hee-hee...
ReplyDeleteNow if they'll only make more of their beautifully executed but sadly obscure album cuts available somewhere as MP3s, iTunes or even CDs, we hardcore Gamble-Huff fans will really celebrate!
ReplyDeleteI'm talking about jams like Leon Huff's "I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin," The Futures' "Ain't Got Time Fa Nothin'," and Yellow Sunshine's "All Along The Seashore," among others.
How 'bout it, Kenny and Leon?
I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin
ReplyDeleteSnap! I forgot all about this one and how much I liked it!
I never have reached down deep into the G&H album cuts, Submariner. Don't know any of those tracks you named.
ReplyDeleteBut some of the lesser Philly International/Sigma Sound hits are absolutely killer... "Soul City Walk," Dee Dee Sharp's cover of "I'm Not In Love," Melba Moore's cover of "You Stepped Into My Life"...
Dave, been listening to the Black Michael Jackson today. Gamble and Huff penned their first post-Motown hit, "Enjoy Yourself." Nice cut. "Show You the Way to Go" is even better.
ReplyDeleteG&H made some nice disco (the real disco) cuts.
Prince Namor,
ReplyDeleteI recently heard Leon Huff's "I Ain't Jivin', I'm Jammin" on NYC radio for the first time. I only heard a snippet, but what a left hand by Leon Huff!!!
--The Wow Jones Report