Taking Sides: Motown (The Sound of Detroit) v. Gamble & Huff (The Sound of Philadelphia)

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well, disco did foreground rhythm that's true. but that doesn't mean that disco lacked melody!

Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 00:53 (twenty years ago) link

and isn't one of the lessons of the 20th century that aesthetics is NOT always so easily separable from politics?

Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 00:53 (twenty years ago) link

dead right, eisbar!

funk is to Hongro what jazz was to the Nazis. had he been around in the 40s he'd have been calling Vidkun Quisling a saviour of his people.

robin carmody (robin carmody), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 00:54 (twenty years ago) link

I don't give a damn where the beat is. The beat is unimportant. The beat is there just to keep the pulse for the lead singer and his backing musicians.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 00:54 (twenty years ago) link

Hitler's musical taste was not a result of his political views. It was just his musical taste, and nothing else than that. Political views are completely uninteresting in this case.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 00:55 (twenty years ago) link

"Hitler's musical taste was not a result of his political views."

you clearly know ABSOLUTELY FUCK ALL about the interconnectedness of all the elements within Nazism. your post reads like you only learnt today that Nazi Germany ever actually existed at all. "uninteresting" is also a fucking tasteless word to use to describe such a murderous doctrine as Nazism. to infer such things is to move closer and closer to being David Irving.

robin carmody (robin carmody), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 00:57 (twenty years ago) link

i'm not aware of hitler or any other nazi rockin' out to stravinsky, duke ellington, schoenberg, or the musical product of any other Untermenschen. and the nazis sure loved their wagner (and certainly had no problem with his views towards the jews).

Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 00:58 (twenty years ago) link

You're wrong there Geir. Hitler's musical views were largely an exaggerated reflection of musicological thought at the time, including the identification of the 'racial' qualities of certain elements in music. I'm afraid Geir your ideas are very Nazi.
Im not being flippant.

x-post

pete s, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 01:01 (twenty years ago) link

Godwin's Law Has Been Activated

Jon Williams (ex machina), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 01:02 (twenty years ago) link

Musical ideas may not be political. That is just impossible, and it is a completely wrong way to judge music.

My musical views, however, like Hitlers, are very "German", in that I like the idea of "absolute music", and of music as an intellectual thing, something that appeals to your head rather than your body, which is very much the same thing that Brahms or Mendelsohn would have spoken about in the 19th century. Obviously, this "German" heritage may have appealed to Hitler, but you can't call Brahms, Mendelsohn, or even Wagner, nazis just because Hitler later shared their musical views.

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 01:04 (twenty years ago) link

mendelsohn was a jew, under the nuremberg laws. for that reason alone, i doubt that hitler would've liked his music very much. which disproves your argument.

Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 01:05 (twenty years ago) link

For future reference, here is a definitive list of the things Geir knows NOTHING about:

1) Classical Music
2) History
3) Cultural History
4) Politics, including its vital and unavoidable connections with music

pete s, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 01:07 (twenty years ago) link

Mendelsohn's musical views were still very "German".

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 01:10 (twenty years ago) link

I like the idea of absolute music too Geir, which is why i prefer Bach and Mozart to Debussy and Liszt. But i know its made by human beings. Hence the Lutheran chorale themes EVEN in the Well Tempered Clavier. Wagner's music is not absolute music as you know because it depicts things. The Nazis didn't like absolute music because it could be saying anything, potentially something anti-nazi. Hence they prefered R. Strauss, Wagner and Beethoven (whose music can be interpreted programatically).

pete s, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 01:18 (twenty years ago) link

In a way, yes. Because absolute music was used to express disagreement with nazi politics (On the other hand, Shostakovich managed to express disagreement with Stalin using Stalin's "approved" melodic music style too).

Of course, the entire idea of a politician banning a style of music just because he doesn't like it (for "objective" reasons or not) is completely absurd and grotesque. And, I mean, even as much as I hate the idea of 12 tone music, having 12 note composers killed because of their music was, well... ... quite undescribable, really...

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 02:07 (twenty years ago) link

why the fuck are you arguing with geir goebbels hongro?

amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 09:40 (twenty years ago) link

I was going to defend Geir on the grounds that musical taste and politics are seperable (like, you can dislike rap and believe black ppl should have the vote) but then he writes shit like this:
My musical views, however, like Hitlers, are very "German",
Lordy.

sym (shmuel), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 10:07 (twenty years ago) link

jesus christ, what the fuck is wrong with you people? i go away asking a perfectly reasonable question and you have to start an argument.

if you cannot answer the question that i asked, hongro, then get off this thread. i'm not interested in your views on musical purity, nor is anyone else on this board. go and talk about them somewhere else please.

thank you.

Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 10:20 (twenty years ago) link

(Ignoring him would be an easier thing to do. Why reply knowing he'll stand by his opinion?)

nathalie (nathalie), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 10:24 (twenty years ago) link

because i asked a SIMPLE QUESTION about buying philly on CD and i hoped to come back today to find some helpful advice. so far only matos' reply, and a few others upthread from him, has actually been useful in any way (incidentally, while record shopping over the weekend it struck me just how completely philly has been erased from the History of Soul - lots of Motown comps, lots of funk/Northern soul/disco etc., but no Philly anywhere) and i don't appreciate my query being hijacked by an underemployed norwegian imbecile.

have you seen "elephant" yet? that's what happens when you "ignore" people.

Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 10:29 (twenty years ago) link

sorry about losing it there but that's what systematic hongro-isation does to people!

Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 10:33 (twenty years ago) link

maybe that's because Philly gets blanketed in with disco so often? there's also the fact that Philadelphia International (and Sony, who owns them) are less profligate compilers than Motown, who are historically shameless, and the funk/NS/disco brigade, whom ditto (plus the rights are easier to come by in those cases). obviously that leaves out the non-PI stuff from the question, though. but maybe that's one explanation (out of many).

(Marcello, the phrase "underemployed Norwegian imbecile" is so matter-of-fact and dead-on and really rude all at once it cracks me up something fierce. nice one.)

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 10:33 (twenty years ago) link

anyone know owt about producer bert de coteaux? amg renders him a bit of a rent-a-arranger but his work on main ingredient's tasteful soul lp is stunning. side 2 might be my fave thing ever, in turns chilling and rapturous. it's the one with 'spinning around (i must be falling in love)'... og main ingrdient line up seems vastly underrated

prima fassy (bob), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 10:51 (twenty years ago) link

is there any evidence that geir is employed at all? maybe he's employed seasonally, it would explain is occasional disappearance from ilx and then his sudden and passionate reappearances, sort of like a roach infestation.

marcello i started a thom bell vs gamble and huff thread which might have stuff for you on it

amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 11:15 (twenty years ago) link

wow! i bought that philly box set out of reckless on saturday (£15)! wasn't your copy, was it?

Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 11:20 (twenty years ago) link

maybe that's because Philly gets blanketed in with disco so often? there's also the fact that Philadelphia International (and Sony, who owns them) are less profligate compilers than Motown, who are historically shameless, and the funk/NS/disco brigade, whom ditto (plus the rights are easier to come by in those cases).

How many number one hits did Motown have?
How many number one hits did Philly have?

I think you have to take that into consideration too when you look at the number of compilations etc...

Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 12:01 (twenty years ago) link

HONGRO ARE YOU FUCKING ILLITERATE? DID THEY NOT TEACH YOU HOW TO READ OR WRITE IN THE ORPHANAGE?

GET OFF THIS FUCKING THREAD. SHUT UP. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR WORTHLESS OPINIONS OR YOUR WORTHLESS LIFE.

GOT IT?

Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 13:21 (twenty years ago) link

I am in a weird MONDO-KIND-OF-WAY.

Jimmy the Saint (Jimmy the Saint), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 13:22 (twenty years ago) link

In the early to mid 70s, no one did the Motown producer/artist style of production better than Gamble & Huff.

During that time, Motown artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye were getting away from Motown model of producer/artist and making the calls themselves.

What Gamble and Huff were trying to do was completely based upon how Motown was run, but they had their own production sound, which many producers of that period seemed to emulate. Bowie even tried to channel their sound somewhat on "Young Americans", which says how influential their sound became.

earlnash, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 13:43 (twenty years ago) link

This thread is amazing! Geir is clearly an agent provocateur, but he brings out some bomb posts from other people. Hats off. May Polly Toynbee google this and find out the truth about those friendly left-liberal Scandinavians.

Enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 13:44 (twenty years ago) link

Jesus Christ you are all fucking mentalists.

Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:08 (twenty years ago) link

Well, some of you.

Carlin, in case you haven't bothered to read the top fifteen or so posts, this is NOT YOUR THREAD. People are perfectly entitled to talk about stuff unrelated to your question, even if they are talking complete nonsense. Fuck's sake...

Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:10 (twenty years ago) link

Geir have you ever heard the Paper Faces remix of Grey Day by Zoot Woman.

(maybe only I get this joke)

Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:15 (twenty years ago) link

yes the vitriol directed at Geir is ridiculously ott once again

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:17 (twenty years ago) link

I know, how can you hate someone with so much love in their soul (well, rock)

chris (chris), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:20 (twenty years ago) link

Bad person saying geir is illiterate when his args, while wrong, are always very clearly argued.

Anyhow, Philly soul (great btw) gave way to 'disco' (not good, as in bee gees/whitebread stuff). That was what was bad. 'disco' eventually gave way to idunno better stuff.

FWIW, i never liked chic/beegees/etc, but things got better. oh yes they did.

mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:39 (twenty years ago) link

robin, i don't hate the way geir calls The Beatles "The Beatles", because the definite article is part of The Beatles' name, if they were simple called "Beatles", minus the "The", then they would be the Beatles. it's only like calling The Rapture "The Rapture" or The The "The The" (after all, "the The" would look silly and be wrong). i don't believe there is any political motivation here, just him being right. everything else he is saying is tosh, but then again, according to you, i'm just a right-wing lunatic who wants to keep black people/music in their/its place aren't i? equally as bullshit and baseless a postulation as any of the gibberish geir has spouted here.

Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:47 (twenty years ago) link

Can we have a moratorium on accusing one another of racism please?

Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:00 (twenty years ago) link

nazi!

Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:01 (twenty years ago) link

But interestingly enough...

http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/images/29/r33.jpg

mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:01 (twenty years ago) link

hahaha!

Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:02 (twenty years ago) link

it looks stupid!

Dave Stelfox (Dave Stelfox), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:02 (twenty years ago) link

Did they cover The Wall or something? It wouldn't surprise me.

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:08 (twenty years ago) link

why this sudden rush to the defence of hongro?

is it because i attacked him?

one law for carlin, another law for everybody else on ilx part 2450.

you people would probably come out in favour of paedophilia if i attacked it.

Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:12 (twenty years ago) link

People have been defending Geir pretty much since he started posting.

Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:13 (twenty years ago) link

enoch powell's arguments were always clearly very argued.

so let's get rid of this relativism. hongro is a stinking racist piece of shit who, if the moderators had any guts at all, would long have been banned from these boards.

his mother should have had an abortion rather than make us suffer.

in future when i ask a question on ilm or ilx i expect relevant answers. if you can't give them, keep your shit to yourself.

Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:15 (twenty years ago) link

"suffer"

in what way do we suffer, really?

chris (chris), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:17 (twenty years ago) link

Marcello, quit it with the paranoia. You have been allowed to get away with all sorts of crap on these boards, including, it would appear, to wish that someone's mother had had an abortion instead of them.

Ricardo (RickyT), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:19 (twenty years ago) link

Nah.

I'm not defending him.

I'm just finding it weird like a mondo film.

Jimmy the Saint (Jimmy the Saint), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:20 (twenty years ago) link

My patience w/Geir waxes and wanes - at the moment it is at a low ebb though it wasn't HIS fault I clicked on the class part 3 thread. TS threads are to Geir as a monster great pot of honey is to a bear though so derailment is hardly unexpected.

The sad answer to your question AFAIK Marcello is "apart from the one Matos mentioned there aren't any good ones in the UK", the fashion in soul and disco reissues seems to cycle along with the fashion in pop reissues, so it's all 80s soul weekender stuff now and no love for Philly. It's hard to find on soulseek too :(

Xpost: if you want Geir to be banned ask on the Mods board Marcello. As it stands I don't think anything he does merits banning - he has some spectacularly wrong-headed ideas which he debates politely and without flaming or threatening other people. It's also not as if he's the thin end of any unpleasant wedge or is corrupting the hearts and minds of ILM - everyone disagrees with him all the time.

Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 15:23 (twenty years ago) link


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