This is an excellent thread. Such a shame that it probably won't recieve the attention that it deserves.

Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me

Gene Chandler is best known for his 1962 hit record 'Duke Of Earl' (earning him the nickname "The Duke") though he wrote and performed on many more songs including 28 hits in the top 100.
Along with personal favourites, the fabulous Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler, Chandler was a major player on the 60's Chicago soul scene and collaborated with some of the top stars of the soul and R&B world.
By the time the 70's arrived Chandler was a manager and record producer, notably for A&M and owner of two record labels.

'Nothing Can Stop Me' (written by Curtis Mayfield) was also recorded by another favourite of mine Major Lance, but it's Chandler's more understated version that wins it for me.
'Nothing Can Stop Me' tells the tale of a man humiliated by his girl in front of her male friends.

Willie Mitchell - That Driving Beat

A student at the Chicago Conservatory of Music, Willie Mitchell was competent on several musical instruments, but particularly outstanding on the trumpet.
Almost all of Willie Mitchell's singles were instrumentals apart from songs like, 'Everything Is Gonna Be Alright' and this posts highlighted track, the flipside, 'That Driving Beat'.
As wydchr pointed out earlier in this thread, "Papa Willie" signed Al Green to Hi Records in 1969 and was involved in all the production of Al Green's records.

'That Driving Beat' is synonymous with the legendary Twisted Wheel Club and was a Wigan Casino dancefloor favourite.

All posts updated with mp3 links to each track by clicking on the artist/song title at the top of each post.

stumbled on this forum after a random google search and started reading this thread - brilliant work right-track...i'll add some of my favourites at some point too... :)

You're welcome to...look forward to your choices.

Thanks for the updates right-track the knowledge you impart is always a revelatation and I really appreciate the links.

I will try and add some more to the thread soon... home from the rig today :)

I'd love it if you did, but don't feel obliged mate. :)

JJ Barnes is another one of those Motown artists that are better known in the UK than they are in their native America.
Born in Detroit, Michigan 1943, Barnes started his career singing Gospel with The Halo Gospel Singers, a group which included his sister Ortheia Barnes.
From there he went on to record songs with Kable, Sceptor and the Ric Tic label (where he recorded a version of The Beatles - Day Tripper) all with limited success.

When Berry Gordy bought Ric Tic records, Barnes moved along to the Motown stable where he already knew members of the Funk Brothers.
But incredibly, Gordy decided not to release anything by Barnes (the story goes that Gordy thought Barnes sounded too much like Marvin Gaye) and instead used him for his songwriting abilities.
He co-wrote tracks such as; 'Don't Make Hurting Me a Habit' for the Marvelettes and 'Show Me the Way' for Martha & the Vandellas.
Barnes was later released to Groovesville and later moved to Revilot.

It wasn't until his old friend Edwin Starr from his Ric Tic days invited him over to England, (where Starr was enjoying more attention than he ever got in the U.S.) did Barnes truly make his name on the soul scene.

'(Tell Me) Aint It The Truth' was co-written and produced by JJ Barnes in 1966, with lyric changes (same tune) to the above Martha & the Vandellas - 'Show Me The Way'. Please pay particular notice to the understated piano.

Written by Stevie Wonder and recorded by Tammi Terrell in 1966.
'All I Do Is Think About You' is a beautiful mid tempo soul song that inexplicably remained unreleased until 2002 and only then on a Motown archive compilation CD.
Another notable version was done by Brenda Holloway, which was basically a stripped down version of Tammi's (vocals removed) with Brenda's vocals put on top of the same rhythm track. After reworking the track in 1977, Stevie Wonder later released his version of the song under the shorter title, 'All I Do' on his 'Hotter Than July' album as late as 1980.

In my opinion, neither Stevie Wonder nor the incredible Brenda Holloway versions can touch Tammi Terrell's.
And don't just take my word for it either... Paul Weller has gone on record as stating 'All I Do Is Think About You' as being his favourite soul song of all time.

Tammi Terrell is better known for her duets with Marvin Gaye, recording well known hits like, 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' and 'Your Precious Love'.
In 1970 while touring with Marvin, she collapsed into his arms during a live performance and was later diagnosed with having a brain tumour, which sadly led to her death...at the age of only 24 years.

Following her tragic death, Marvin Gaye took a 2 year rest from performing and reportedly went into self isolation.
It's been speculated that the sudden death of Tammi Terrell had a profound effect on Marvin Gaye and that the introspective 'What's Going On' album was born of his time spent reflecting on his loss.

I know on these boards that soul is what some members here describe as, "not really my thing", but at least give this tune several plays and at least try and understand why this song means so much to me.

Sang with the voice of an angel sent down from heaven.

Tammi Terrell RIP.