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Tamla T 54058 (B), March 1962
B-side of I Out-Duked The Duke
(Written by Otis Hayes, Verlie Rice, Jeanne Dodd)
The underside of Chicago songwriter Otis Hayes’ one and only Motown single, this one at least bears his name on the label, as part of the writing credits. That said, it’s not one to be especially proud of.
Whereas the A-side, I Out-Duked The Duke, a charmless, grating parody of Gene Chandler’s Duke of Earl, had been raucous and (supposedly) comedic, this is just highly generic Fifties rock ‘n’ roll, at least five years behind the curve.
Both sides of the “Little Otis” single were handed to Motown as ready-made masters; this record, bearing as it does a prominent, crunchy rock guitar part a million light years away from the developing Funk Brothers’ tight, soulful, understated work, does serve as a useful yardstick to judge those early Funks performances. It comes across as quite jarring to be pitched back into a band track that apes the hottest rock grooves of 1957, and makes you realise just how far the Motown house musicians had come since those first early days.
So, yeah, as a historical document it’s kind of interesting. As a song, it’s dull as ditchwater and completely without character. “Little Otis” had no further part to play in the Motown story, but his two underwhelming sides at least help throw the quality of the best Motown records of 1962 into focus. Ironically enough, the very next record Motown put out would rank among the label’s best of the year.
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!)
You’re reading Motown Junkies, an attempt to review every Motown A- and B-side ever released. Click on the “previous” and “next” buttons below to go back and forth through the catalogue, or visit the Master Index for a full list of reviews so far.
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| Little Otis “I Out-Duked The Duke” |
The Temptations “(You’re My) Dream Come True” |
Motown Junkies 
I agree that this isn’t very good. The Leaner Brothers’ labels, One-Derful, Mar-V-Lus and M-Pac had much more Bluesy material than Motown, even in 1962. I really don’t understand why they decided to lease this to Motown, nor why Motown made the agreement to lease it. It makes no sense. Motown would have done better taking one of their smooth-voiced male singers (Marvin Gaye, Edward Earling, Eddie Holland), and recording their OWN “Duke of Earl” sequel/answer song. And, IF The Leaners were trying to gain record sales and income, and more exposure for their company and it’s productions, why didn’t they send more appropriate material, less Bluesy, and more in line with Motown’s product, such as McKinley Mitchell, Benny Turner, or The Duettes?
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