Motown M 1028 (B), June 1962

B-side of Sleep (Little One)

(Written by Barney Ales, Irving Biegel and Brian Holland)

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I don’t get this at all, to be honest.

It says Herman Griffin on the label, but there are no vocals on this record, and I’ve never read Griffin described as a musician anywhere (on any instrument), so this is just an instrumental band track, mostly pounded, bluesy piano and stabbed, repetitive organ.

What it sounds like, actually, is a take on the first Funk Brothers instrumental single release back in the earliest days of Motown, the rollicking Snake Walk, credited to “The Swinging Tigers” – it shares an identical bass riff and tempo, and is very similar in a great number of other respects – although it’s not nearly as much fun as that record, of course. The drums are pale in comparison, there’s no coruscating sax, the bass is a joke.

And then there are the writing credits – the great Brian Holland, his magical touch and otherworldly chord changes nowhere to be seen on this record, joined by two of the key figures in Motown’s sales department. I don’t get it.

One to miss, unless you somehow forgot to buy The Complete Motown Singles: Volume 1 and so don’t have access to Snake Walk.

MOTOWN JUNKIES VERDICT

(I’ve had MY say, now it’s your turn. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment, or click the thumbs at the bottom there. Dissent is encouraged!)

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Herman Griffin “Sleep (Little One)”	Lamont Dozier “Dearest One”