Legendary songwriter (and singer of the world's most valuable 45 RPM record) Frank Wilson has passed away at age 72. Frank Wilson, born in Houston and relocated to Los Angeles as a teenager, was hired by Motown's Berry Gordy as part of Motown's then-brand-new west coast office (along with Hal Davis and Marc Gordon). Gordy left Motown and the music business in 1976 when he became a born again Christian. Along the way, Wilson wrote and or produced dozens of fantastic records for Motown and beyond; records which seemingly push higher and higher into orbit with each snare drum hit. Los Angeles' Brenda Holloway is a singer and songwriter of great reknown and a lady of pure class; in collaboration with Wilson, she penned one of her finest records, 1967's "You've Made Me So Very Happy". I saw her perform it in L.A a few years back, and she explained that the song was written as a goodbye to a former lover who left her. Not showing any spite, Brenda shows off that pure class in these lyrics and delivery on this track that reduces me to a mess of goosebumps every time I hear it.
You've Made Me So Very Happy
Shortly before b
eing hired by Motown, Wilson co-wrote the positively uplifting 'I'm So Thankful" for The Ikettes (1965), and everything about the song from the beat to the arrangement criest out Motown west; perhaps it was this song that convinced Gordy that Wilson was the right man for the job! A superb record, and one that perfectly captures the innocent and stomping sound of 1965.
I'm So Thankful
Of course Marvi
n Gaye needs no introduction; he was an artist of the highest order, and one who consistently progressed and reinvented throughout the 60's and 70's. By 1968, his music had taken on a harder edge, and the success of his incredible duets had shown that the man was capable of ANYTHING. With Wilson behind the pen and the mixing board both, "Chained" shows Marvin at his most propulsive; the track is driven so strongly by the Motown piston drums and the sound of the conga; an important new sound to soul music that became ubiquitous in the 1970's.
Chained
Shortly after he was hired at Motown, Wilson wrote and recorded a track with himself as the artist. Berry Gordy squashed the idea, and wanted to keep Wilson strictly behind the scenes. Pity to the world, as "Do I Love You' (Indeed I Do)" is one of Motown's greatest hits, although allegedly only 2 copies escaped the destruction ordered by Gordy (only promo copies were pressed). Wilson turns in a STELLAR lead vocal full of attitude on top of a song that has a guarnteed HIT stamped all over it. As years passed and the Northern Soul scene was raging in 1970's England, a copy of "Do I Love You' made it onto the turntables and created a fury of interest in the record, eventually leading to it being officially issued for the first time in 1978. A genuine copy (signed by Wilson) sold in 2009 for $25,000!
Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
"Do I Love You"'s backing track was also used for a take with the great Chris Clark on lead vocals; this one was also left unreleased. Perhaps Gordy was just feeling spiteful and ignored the obvious hit on his hands!
Do I Love You (Indeed i Do)
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