R.I.P. Motown's Lamont Dozier

Very sad to hear of his passing. He was the meat in the Holland-Dozier-Holland team.

Dozier along with the Holland brothers literally defined the black pop experience between 1964 and 1968. An absolute titan of the 20th Century, musically.

Unfortunatately, they weren't being appreciated by Motown and Gordy for what they were doing and achieving, and were not being financially rewarded, and so they had to leave Motown, and their legacy of songs behind.

Fortunately, they managed to start up their own record labels, despite supposedly being under contract to Motown for years to come, Hot Wax and Invictus. One could argue that their departure was the beggining of the end for Motown, coupled with the move from Detroit to Los Angeles.

They didn't reach the dizzy heights of Motown, as they had to find, and come up with new acts, but they definitely delivered some great artists and songs that can happily sit side by side with the majority of their Motown work.


RIP to one of the greatest song makers ever.



Ty Hunter & The Voice Masters - Free



Freda Payne - Unhooked Generation



Parliament _ The Silent Boatman



Holland Dozier - Why Can't We Be Lovers

I'm really glad you enjoyed it, and you're right, the extent of Dozier's contribution is probably limited to just releasing it on his label, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had a 'hand' in the orchestration.

I put it in the mix in the hope of this reaction, as it's one of my all time favorite tracks, coupled with the other Ruth Copeland track, 'Come in out of the Rain', which is not on the Osmium album. Her rendition of 'The Silent Boatman' on her solo album does not have bagpipes, but does retain Eddie Hazel, et al. Also does cracking versions of 'Play with Fire' and 'Gimme Shelter', which does not measure up to Merry Clayton,  but still, it's Parliament!