We Are The World


I feel like this is another album I don’t really need to explain why I purchased it. Recorded the year before I was born, I still remember people talking about it when ever they talked Michael. Anyone who is anyone from the 80’s is on this one. I feel like if there was a zombie apocalypse or alien invasion and 100 years from now, somebody found this in our home and had to piece it all together, they’d have everything they’d need to know for the 1980s!

“We Are the World” is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. With sales in excess of 20 million copies, it is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold at least 10 million copies worldwide.

Awarded numerous honors—including three Grammy Awards, one American Music Award, and a People’s Choice Award—the song was promoted with a critically received music video, a home video, a special edition magazine, a simulcast, and several books, posters, and shirts. The promotion and merchandise aided the success of “We Are the World” and raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US.

Soloists (In order they appear):

Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles

Chorus (alphabetically)

Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, Mario Cipollina, Johnny Colla, Sheila E., Bob Geldof, Bill Gibson, Chris Hayes, Sean Hopper, Jackie Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, The Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson

AreTheWorld

Side One

We are the World

Side Two

Grace

The Greatest Motown Original Hits


The Greatest Motown Original Hits

Various Artists

Album One

Side One

Diana Ross – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Stevie Wonder – Uptight (Everything’s All Right)
The Four Tops – Standing In the Shadows of Love
The Temptations – I Wish It Would Rain
Edwin Starr – Twenty-Five Miles
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Ooo Baby Baby
Marvin Gaye – How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You

Side Two

Marvin Gaye – Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)
JR Walker & The All Stars – What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)
The Four Tops – Bernadette
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – I Second That Emotion
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Love Child
The Temptations – Ain’t Too Proud To Beg

Album Two

Side One

Martha & The Vandellas – Love Is Like a Heat Wave
The Four Tops – It’s the Same Old Song
Michael Jackson – Got To Be There
The Temptations – (I Know) I’m Losing You
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Diana Ross & The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love
Gladys Knight & The Pips – I Heard It Through the Grapevine

Side Two

Diana Ross & The Supremes – Someday We’ll Be Together
The Jackson 5 – ABC
The Temptations – Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
Martha & The Vandellas -Jimmy Mack
The Temptations – Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Shop Around
Marvin Gaye – Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Album Three

Side One

The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tracks of My Tears
Stevie Wonder – My Cherie Amour
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go
Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
The Temptations – Psychedelic Shack
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – You’re All I Need To Get By
Mary Wells – My Guy

Side Two

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Ain’t Nothin’ But the Real thing
Rare Earth – I Just Want To Celebrate
Stevie Wonder – If You Really Love Me
The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There
The Marvelettes – Don’t Mess with Bill
The Temptations – You’re My Everything
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Reflections

Album Four

Side One

The Undisputed Truth – Smiling Faces Sometimes
Gladys Knight & The Pips – If I Were Your Woman
Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through the Grapevine
The Four Tops – Still Water (Peace)
Diana Ross & The Supremes – You Keep Me Hanging On
Rare Earth – Born to Wonder
JR Walker & The All Stars – Shot Gun

Side Two

Diana Ross & The Supremes – Baby Love
David Ruffin – My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)
The Temptations – My Girl
Martha & The Vandellas – Dancing In the Street
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears of a Clown
The Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself
Stevie Wonder – Finger Tips (Part One)

Christmas In June (Cooling You Down During This Heat Wave!)


A Motown Christmas

Various Artists

Side One

The Jackson 5 – Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Stevie Wonder – What Christmas Means to Me
The Temptations – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Diana Ross & The Supremes – My Favorite Things
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Deck the Halls / Bring a Torch Jeannette, Isabella
The Jackson 5 – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Side Two

Stevie Wonder – Ave Maria
The Temptations – Silent Night
Michael Jackson – Little Christmas Tree
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Jackson 5 – The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Joy to the World

Side Three

The Temptations – The Little Drummer Boy
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Silver Bells
Stevie Wonder – Someday At Christmas
The Jackson 5 – Frosty the Snowman
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Jingle Bells
The Temptations – My Christmas Tree

Side Four

Diana Ross & The Supremes – White Christmas
Stevie Wonder – One little Christmas Tree
The Jackson 5 – Give Love On Christmas Day
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – It’s Christmas Time
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Children’s Christmas Song
The Jackson 5 – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Presented by Smokey Robinson: Human Nature


I know I haven’t posted many updates about local music or concerts just yet, but my mom and aunt at the Orpheium Theater in Boston this weekend. It was “Presented by Smokey Robinson: Human Nature”. The show was an amazing tribute to Motown.

The guys, Human Nature, are from Australia and are quite successful. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was released. The group has certified sales of 1.6 million records in Australia. They covered everyone at the show from Marvin Gaye to the Jacksons to the Supremes.  I’ve posted some pictures for you to check out so I hope you enjoy them!

Opening Act: The Nor’easters from Northeaster University. I’m really into a cappella right now. I love The Sing Off on TV and how far the genre has come. This group was great! Since they’re college kids (in the arts field, which let me tell you – is NOT easy), you should probably support them and check them out here!

Human Nature covering some Marvin Gaye.

The guy playing piano was insanely good. They put together a great tribute for him since he’s played with all the Motown greats.

Couldn’t seem to snag a great picture of the back up band, but these guys had incredible energy all night long. I could honestly just listen to them without singing all night.

The finale! What a great show. The guys had everyone up and dancing at the end. I’ll admit, this was scarring. White men, over 50 should be banned from attempting to dance.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures!!