Ed Sullivan showcased most of the legendary Motown acts on his television show throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, including the Jackson 5, the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations and the Four Tops. These superb performances have now been fully restored for release in the US and Canada on a 2-DVD set titled “Motown Gold from The Ed Sullivan Show“

Also on the way on DVD are “The Best of the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show and “The Best of The Temptations on The Ed Sullivan Show,” which celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary groups.

“Motown Gold from The Ed Sullivan Show” promo:

“Motown Gold from The Ed Sullivan Show” is a three volume set presented across two DVDs. The following performances are included:

DVD One

Volume 1

1. The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back, ABC

2. The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love

3. The Temptations – Don’t Look Back

4. Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There

5. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – I Second That Emotion, If You Can Want, Going To A Go-Go

6. Gladys Knight & The Pips – If I Were Your Woman

7. Stevie Wonder – Fingertips Pt. 2

8. Diana Ross & The Supremes – I’m Living in Shame

9. The Temptations – Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

10. Marvin Gaye – Take This Heart of Mine

11. Diana Ross & The Supremes – Love Child

12. The Temptations – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There,My Sweet Lord

13. Diana Ross & The Supremes – Someday We’ll Be Together.

BONUS

14. Gladys Knight & The Pips – I Heard It Through The Grapevine.

Volume 2

1. The Jackson 5 – Stand, Who’s Lovin’ You,I Want You Back

2. The Supremes – Come See About Me

3. Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life

4. Martha & The Vandellas – Dancing In The Street

5. The Temptations – Get Ready

6. The Supremes – My World Is Empty Without You

7. Four Tops – When You’re Smiling, It’s The Same Old Song, Something About You, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)

8. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Abraham, Martin & John

9. The Supremes – Come See About Me, Stop! In The Name Of Love, You Can’t Hurry Love, You Keep Me Hangin’ On, I Hear A Symphony

10. The Temptations – Runaway Child, Running Wild

11. The Supremes – Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart.

BONUS

14. Four Tops – All In The Game, Nice & Easy.

Disc Two

Volume 3

1. Diana Ross & The Supremes – Forever Came Today

2. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Doggone Right

3. The Jackson 5 – The Love You Save

4. The Temptations – I Can’t Get Next To You

5. The Supremes – The Happening

6. Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), Bernadette, Climb Ev’ry Mountain

7. Gladys Knight & The Pips – Nitty Gritty, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Stop and Get a Hold of Myself

8. The Temptations – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy

9. Diana Ross & The Supremes – In And Out Of Love

10. The Temptations – Psychedelic Shack

11. Diana Ross & The Supremes – Love Child.

BONUS

12. Four Tops – Put A Little Love In Your Heart.

“The Best of the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show”

“The Best of the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show” features 22 classic performances from the group, including the smash hits “Come See About Me,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Stop! In The Name of Love” and “Baby Love.” This DVD includes performances that are not featured on the Motown Gold set and vice versa, so if you want to own the lot it will be necessary to double-dip.

“The Best of the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show” promo:

“The Best of the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show” tracklist:

1. Come See About Me

2. You Can’t Hurry Love

3. Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart

4. My Favorite Things

5. The Happening

6. More

7. Love Child

8. Always

9. You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You

10.No Matter What Sign You Are

11.Medley: Baby Love, Stop! In The Name of Love, Come See About Me, My World Is Empty Without You, You Can’t Hurry Love, The Happening, You Keep Me Hanging On, Reflections, Love Child, I Hear A Symphony

12. Forever Came Today

13. BONUS Up The Ladder To The Roof.

“The Best of the Temptations on the Ed Sullivan Show”

“The Best of the Temptations on the Ed Sullivan Show” presents 21 great performances, including “My Girl,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Psychedelic Shack.” The collection includes two Medleys not featured on the Motown Gold DVD, including one with the Supremes.

“The Best of The Temptations on The Ed Sullivan Show” promo:

“The Best of the Temptations on the Ed Sullivan Show” tracklist:

1. Medley: Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue), All I Need, My Girl, I’m Losing You

2. Don’t Look Back

3. Medley with The Supremes: Get Ready, Stop! In The Name of Love, My Guy, Baby Love, I’m Losing You

4. Runaway Child, Running Wild

5. I Can’t Get Next To You

6. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy

7. Psychedelic Shack

8. Get Ready

9. Medley: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, My Sweet Lord

10. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

BONUS

11.Hello Young Lovers

12. Autumn Leaves.

The three releases are out on September 13 in the US and September 20 in Canada. All can be pre-ordered now from:

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“Light My Fire” was The Doors’ breakthrough hit in America. Their previous single, “Break On Through,” had failed to break into the Billboard Hot 100, but “Light My Fire” really captured the imagination of the youth of America.

The song was not obvious single material in its original form, which ran for 7:05, thanks largely to the lengthy instrumental break, which took inspiration from John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things.” To secure more airplay, the song was edited down, removing much of the break. Although the break does highlight the strong chemistry between guitarist (Robby Krieger), keyboardist (Ray Manzarek) and drummer (John Densmore), the edit retains the song’s key elements.

The keyboard work of Ray Manzarek is a major highlight of the song. His intro is particularly memorable and is repeated to great effect after the lengthy instrumental break. Ray Manzarek spoke to Collider.com last year about the composition of “Light My Fire”:

This great clip from the documentary “Classic Albums – The Doors” features the remaining members of the Doors talking about “Light My Fire”:

The Doors famously upset Ed Sullivan by agreeing to amend the line “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher” when performing the song on his show, but then going back on the decision. The Ed Sullivan sponsors asked for the change because it was believed that the lyric referred to drug taking. The band were not invited back. However, Morrison did not sing the offending line in the exaggerated fashion suggested when the scene was reconstructed for the Oliver Stone movie in 1991.

The Doors – “Light My Fire” (album version)

Authorship

The full band (Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Jim Morrison) are credited as composers on “Light My Fire.”

Recording date/location

“Light My Fire” was recorded in August 1966 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA. These were the sessions that produced the Doors’ self-titled debut album.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “Light My Fire”:

The Doors did not have a regular bassist, so session musician Larry Knechtel was used. As a member of the Wrecking Crew, Knechtel is one of those unsung heroes of rock ‘n’ roll who featured on countless classic recordings by artists as diverse as Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, the Byrds and the Beach Boys.

Chart performance

“Light My Fire” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 23, 1969 and remained on top for three weeks.

The song was also a number one hit in Ireland, but peaked at 49 in the UK. In 1991, in the wake of the popular movie “The Doors,” it was reissued on single in the UK and reached a more impressive number seven.

The band’s debut album, “The Doors,” reached number two on the Billboard album chart and would go on to become a multi-platinum selling album.

Covers

José Feliciano – “Light My Fire”

José Feliciano’s 1968 cover was hugely successful and would become a bigger influence on some subsequent cover versions than the Doors original. The organ part that made The Doors’ version so memorable is eliminated from Feliciano’s cover. Instead, the emphasis is on latin rhythms and flamenco guitar lines, which takes the song into easy listening territory.

Feliciano’s cover of “Light My Fire” won him a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 1969.

Stevie Wonder – “Light My Fire”

Stevie Wonder recorded a soulful, heavily orchestrated cover of “Light My Fire” for his 1969 album “My Cherie Amour,” which included a trademark harmonica solo. The Feliciano arrangement of the song had some influence on Wonder’s cover, particularly during the chorus.

There will be a new Song of the Week on August 1.

“Light My Fire” is available on the album “The Doors.”

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The Gala Benefit Concert and Awards Ceremony will be a star-studded event to raise funds for the non-profit theater’s initiatives for emerging artists and community and educational programs in New York City and beyond.

Past inductees into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame include Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Little Richard, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Here’s three good reasons for Wonder’s induction into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame.

Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”

Stevie Wonder – “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)”

Stevie Wonder – “Living for the City”

Stevie Wonder was entering his most productive and critically acclaimed period in 1972 – his so-called “classic period.” For “Talking Book” he reunited with electronica pioneers, Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, with whom he had co-produced his previous album “Music of My Mind.”

Although it is one of the tracks most associated with Stevie Wonder, “Superstition” very nearly wasn’t recorded by him. Wonder had offered it to guitarist Jeff Beck, but was persuaded by his manager to record it first. Beck did record it the following year for the album “Beck, Bogert and Appice.” Wonder and Beck also reunited to perform the song on last year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden.

“Superstition” is particularly notable for the opening drum beat (created by Jeff Beck and played by Wonder), Wonder’s immediately recognisable clavinet riff and the distinctive horn arrangements, which were written by Wonder.

Stevie Wonder picked up two Grammys for “Superstition” in 1974 – Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. At the same ceremony, he won awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and Album of the Year for “Innervisions“, which was the follow up to “Talking Book”.

Authorship

“Superstition” was written by Stevie Wonder.

Recording date/location

“Superstition” was recorded in the summer of 1972 at Electric Lady Studios, 52 West 8th Street, in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The studio was built by Jimi Hendrix in 1970.

Musicians

Under the supervision of Margouleff and Cecil, Wonder would make use of multiple synthesisers in a set-up that was nicknamed Tonto. Tonto was an important component of the Stevie Wonder sound in this period.

The following musicians appear on “Superstition”:

• Stevie Wonder – vocals, clavinet, Moog synthesiser, drums
• Malcolm Cecil – ARP synthesiser
• Steve Madaio – trumpet
• Trevor Laurence – tenor saxophone.

Chart performance

“Superstition” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This was Stevie Wonder’s first US number one since “Fingertips Pt 2″ in 1963. He would hit the top spot a further eight times, including with his next single “You are the Sunshine of My Life.” “Superstition” peaked at number 11 in the UK.

The album on which “Superstition” appeared, “Talking Book”, hit number three on the US albums chart.

Cover

Stevie Ray Vaughan – “Superstition”

Stevie Wonder admired Stevie Ray Vaughan and liked his cover of “Superstition” enough to appear at the end of the music video in 1986. Vaughan also featured “Superstition” on the live album “Live Alive” released in the same year.

Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is available on the “Talking Book” album and a number of compilations, including the 2-CD “Stevie Wonder Definitive Collection.”

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The shows took place over two nights last October and featured a top line up, including Bruce Springsteen, U2, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, John Forgerty, Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Sting, Mick Jagger, Simon and Garfunkel, Metallica, Ray Davies, Dion DiMucci and more.

This set will contain the four-hour edit that aired on HBO last November, as well as many bonus performances and a collector’s issue of Rolling Stone magazine featuring behind-the-scenes stories. The total running time for the set is 330 minutes.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts – trailer

I’ve been looking forward to this release since I first saw the shaky audience-shot footage a day or so after the shows. I’d be tempted to buy it for the Springsteen footage alone, as it’s guaranteed to raise a smile. Here’s the duet between Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty on “Fortunate Son.”

Another highlight was Simon & Garfunkel’s fine set, including the classic “The Boxer.”

The full track list is as follows:

Introduction:
My Prayer
Tom Hanks

Jerry Lee Lewis
Great Balls of Fire

Crosby, Stills & Nash
Woodstock
Almost Cut My Hair
Love Has No Pride with Bonnie Raitt
The Pretender with Jackson Browne
Love the One You’re With with James Taylor

Stevie Wonder
For Once in My Life
The Tracks of My Tears with Smokey Robinson
The Way You Make Me Feel with John Legend
The Thrill Is Gone with B.B. King
Higher Ground/Roxanne with Sting
Superstition with Jeff Beck

Paul Simon
Intro montage
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (Bonus performance not seen on HBO)
You Can Call Me Al
Here Comes the Sun with David Crosby and Graham Nash
The Wanderer with Dion DiMucci
Little Anthony and the Imperials:
Two People in the World

Simon & Garfunkel
The Sounds of Silence
The Boxer
Bridge over Troubled Water

Aretha Franklin
Intro montage
Baby I Love You
Don’t Play That Song
Chain of Fools with Annie Lennox

Metallica
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Sweet Jane with Lou Reed
Iron Man/Paranoid with Ozzy Osbourne
All Day and All of the Night with Ray Davies
Enter Sandman

U2
Vertigo
Magnificent
Because the Night with Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith and Roy Bittan
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For with Bruce Springsteen
Gimme Shelter with Mick Jagger, Fergie and will.i.am
Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of with Mick Jagger
Beautiful Day

Jeff Beck
Intro montage
People Get Ready with Sting
Let Me Love You Baby with Buddy Guy
Foxey Lady with Billy Gibbons
A Day in the Life

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Hold On! I’m Comin’/Soul Man with Sam Moore
The Ghost of Tom Joad with Tom Morello
Fortunate Son with John Fogerty
Oh, Pretty Woman with John Fogerty
Jungleland
A Fine Fine Boy with Darlene Love
New York State of Mind with Billy Joel
Born to Run with Billy Joel
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher with Darlene Love, John Fogerty, Sam Moore, Billy Joel and Tom Morello

Bonus footage

Crosby, Stills & Nash
Mexico with James Taylor
Teach Your Children with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and James Taylor

Stevie Wonder
Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
I Was Made to Love Her
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) with John Legend

Simon & Garfunkel
Mrs. Robinson/Not Fade Away

Metallica
Turn the Page
Iron Man/Paranoid with Ozzy Osbourne (Full-length version not seen on HBO)

U2
Mysterious Ways
Where Is the Love/One with the Black Eyed Peas

Jeff Beck
Freeway Jam
Big Block

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
London Calling with Tom Morello
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher with Darlene Love,John Fogerty, Sam Moore, Billy Joel and Tom Morello (Full-length version not seen on HBO).

There’s such a diversity of artists on this set and such an array of talent that there is a performance to match most moods. It is set to be one of the best music DVD releases of the year.

The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concerts three-DVD set will be released on September 28. It is available for pre-order now at:

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The song also appeared on Ray’s first album titled “Ray Charles” in 1957, which featured tracks recorded between 1953 and 1957. “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” remained such a popular song that when this album was re-released in 1962 it was named after that song.

Recording date/location

“Hallelujah, I Love Her So” was recorded on November 30, 1955 at Atlantic Studios in New York City at the same session that produced “Mary Ann,” “Drown In My Own Tears” and “What Would I Do Without You.”

Authorship

“Hallelujah, I Love Her So” was written by Ray Charles, but adapted from a traditional gospel hymn.

Musicians

Ray Charles was joined by the Ray Charles Orchestra on the track.

Here’s the personnel:

• Ray Charles – lead vocal, piano
• Don Wilkerson – tenor sax
• Cecil Payne – baritone sax
• Joe Bridgewater – trumpet
• Joshua “Jack” Willis – trumpet
• Paul West – bass
• Panama Francis – drums.

The track was produced by Atlantic Records head Jerry Wexler.

Chart performance

“Hallelujah, I Love Her So” reached number five on the Billboard R&B charts. The album on which it appeared, “Ray Charles,” failed to chart.

The song was actually sandwiched between two R&B number ones for Charles – “A Fool for You” and “Mary Ann.”

Covers

There have been many very high quality covers of “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” from artists of very different backgrounds. Here’s a few that I enjoy.

Stevie Wonder – “Hallelujah, I Love Her So”

Stevie Wonder was still Little Stevie Wonder when he recorded “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” for his 1962 album “Tribute to Uncle Ray.” This was Stevie’s second album, following “The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie” earlier that year. Neither were a great commercial success, but he was soon to hit it big with the single “Fingertips.”

Jerry Reed – “Hallelujah, I Love Her So”

Jerry Reed recorded “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” on January 8, 1968 at RCA Studio in Nashville at a session produced by Chet Atkins. It was released on Jerry’s album “Nashville Underground” in March of 1968 and then as the B-side of the single “A Thing Called Love” in September 1969. Jerry’s version is very appealing, with his trademark guitar picking and laidback, good humoured vocal delivery.

Eddie Cochran – “Hallelujah, I Love Her So”

Eddie Cochran released “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” on single in November 1959, backed with “Little Angel.” It was also part of Cochran’s stage repertoire and he performed the song three times on the UK television show “Boy Meets Girl” in Jan/Feb 1960.

Peggy Lee – “Hallelujah, I Love Him So”

Many great female artists have performed the song as “Hallelujah, I Love Him So,” including Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Connie Francis, Brenda Lee and Eva Cassidy. Here’s Peggy Lee’s jazzy version, which was released as a single in 1959 (reaching number 77 on the US pop chart) and appeared on the 1960 album “All Aglow Again.”

There will be a new Song of the Week on August 9.

“Hallelujah, I Love Her So” is available on many compilations of Ray Charles’ music, including the great single disc “Genius! – The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection” and the more comprehensive “Pure Genius: Complete Atlantic Recordings 52-59.” You can pick these up from the following online retailers:

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Wonder delighted the crowd with some of his biggest hits, including “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” “Superstition” and “Uptight.” He closed the show by paying homage to the 40th anniversary of Glastonbury with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

Stevie Wonder’s full Glastonbury set was as follows:

• “My Eyes Dont Cry”
• “Master Blaster”
• “We Can Work It Out”
• “If You Really Loved Me”
• “Higher Ground”
• “Dont You Worry “Bout A Thing”
• “Living For The City”
• “Human Nature”
• “Uptight”
• “For Once In My Life”
• “Fingertips”
• “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”
• “You Can Feel It All Over”
• “I Just Called To Say I Love You”
• “Superstition”
• “Free”
• “Happy Birthday.”

Here’s Stevie playing the brilliant “Superstition.”

This was a highly successful weekend for Wonder, who also headlined the Hard Rock Calling Festival in Hyde Park, London on Saturday.

McCartney’s concert is being streamed live in support of the Born HIV Free campaign and it will be available on the campaign’s Youtube channel for a month.

The charity’s Global Fund Ambassador, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, said:

Sunday’s line-up also includes Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Crowded House, Elvis Costello, Joshua Radin and More Than Me. Only McCartney’s concert will be streamed live. Stevie Wonder is headlining today and there are also appearances from Jamiroqiao, James Morrison, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mary Mary and Micki Free American Horse. Wonder is also headlining Glastonbury on Sunday.

McCartney’s Hard Rock Calling concert will be the first concert streamed globally from Europe on YouTube. The concert will begin around 8.30pm and can be viewed at:
YouTube.com/BornHIVFree

The President paid tribute to McCartney’s long career:

In accepting the award, McCartney called the event “a fantastic evening for me” and then paid his own tribute to President Obama.

The White House was also rocked by a lively concert, featuring McCartney and a number of top musicians who had gathered to mark the occasion.

McCartney opened the show with “Got to Get You Into My Life” and this was followed up by appearances from Stevie Wonder (“We Can Work It Out”), the Jonas Brothers (“Drive My Car”), Emmylou Harris (“For No One”), Jack White (“Mother Nature’s Son), Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae (“Blackbird”) and Faith Hill (“The Long and Winding Road”).

“Paul McCartney In Performance At The White House – Library of Congress Gershwin Award” will air on PBS in the US on July 28.

The other headliners for Hard Rock Calling are Pearl Jam on Friday night and Paul McCartney on Sunday night.

Click here to buy Stevie Wonder tickets