Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Fabulous Sounds Of Detroit!

The view from my window.

STWOF Mix #3:
01. Stevie Wonder
Higher Ground (0:00) (buy)

02. The Stooges
1969 (2:59) (buy)

03. MC5
Shakin' Street (7:01) (buy)

04. Marshall Crenshaw
Cynical Girl (9:16) (buy)

05. The Temptations
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (11:48) (buy)

06. John Lee Hooker
The Motor City's Burnin' (18:42) (buy)

07. Funkadelic
If You Don't Like The Effects, Don't Produce The Cause (21:26) (buy)

08. The White Stripes
Hand Springs (24:56) (buy)

09. Jackie Wilson
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher & Higher (27:40) (buy)

10. Aretha Franklin
Respect (30:29) (buy)

Statue, Detroit style

For those who don't know, this blog comes to you from Detroit, Michigan. Once the fourth largest city in the country and hailed as "the great arsenal of democracy," Detroit has seen some hard times lately.

And we are tired of hearing about it from the rest of the country!

This article explains exactly what I'm talking about. Reading it the other day inspired me to put together a little podcast to remind you all about one area in which Detroit has always excelled: Music.

So, the next time you think about Detroit, don't think about our historically bad football team or the failing automobile industry; think about these great tunes.

Food, Detroit style

The list above covers only some of the musical talent from the Motor City. Other artists from Detroit include: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen, Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, Junior Walker & The All-Stars, Bob Segar, Sufjan Stevens, Martha & The Vandellas, The Contours, The Marvelettes, The Spinners, Freda Payne, Mary Wells, Paul Chambers, Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson, Donald Byrd, and, of course, Madonna and Eminem.

The view from Canada.

We just want a little respect. Just a little bit. That's all.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's a nice counterpoint to the Albom article:

http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/mitchalbomresponse17308.aspx

Paul said...

Dave D,

Thanks for sharing that article. It makes a great point.

Unknown said...

wow.

paul, i had no idea that ou were coming to us from detroit. i stumbled across your blog a few months ago and check it religiously. you have great taste and a great approach.

i live in rochester hills, so if you ever need anyone to go to shows with, let me know (david allan coe this friday?? haha)

keep up the good works.


barrett

Your driver said...

Through a series of very fortunate accidents, I spent three formative years of my young adulthood in Detroit. I worked at Rouge and Jefferson Avenue. I drove a bus for the old DSR (Now the DOT). It was a short time, a long time ago, but it was very important to me. I owe Detroit a lot and I've never hesitated to tell people that it is a great city. I always laugh when I hear Shakin' Street by the MC5, because that's virtually the true story of my arrival, age eighteen, in Michigan. Just in from New Jersey and looking for the White Panthers. As a music city, Detroit ranks with New Orleans and Memphis.

Anonymous said...

Excellent mix Paul, really enjoying it, a true heavyweight line up. I must admit to having no idea that some of these great artists have Detroit origins. One question though Paul, why no Eminem? Seriously though, is there any artist from Detroit who recorded the classic Bobby Bare cut
'Detroit City'. One of my favourite
country songs of all time. Jerry Lee Lewis does a great version. Great stuff Paul, much appreciated.

Anonymous said...

Paul:

Many thanks for another great, thoughtful and damn fun collection.

Anonymous said...

Never been there but one thing I know for sure...Detroit ROCKS!
Thanks for the cool mix.

Anonymous said...

Indeed, it is rock city, although I understand there ain't no decent dick there.

Anonymous said...

The Stooges were from Ann Arbor... but the PRoAA allows Detriot to borrow them.... but it's good to see someone holding up the D for what it's given the world besides cars...

Paul said...

I'm counting bands from Ann Arbor within the broader Detroit musical tradition.

I do realize that it's a separate city and really shouldn't be lumped in for most purposes.

I lived in Ann Arbor from 1984-1993. Worked at the old Schoolkids Records for awhile. Great town.

Mark said...

Many good memories of Detroit: Aretha at Joe Louis Arena, Mark Fidrych at at Tiger Stadium, Ella Fitagerald and Joe Pass, outdoors, right downtown. Flaming cheese in Greektown, Stevie Wonder at the Fairgrounds, Bob Seger's "Live Bullet" album, all that great P-Funk, James Carter as a teenage sensation at the Institute of Art, and don't forget, Yusef Lateef!