NORMAN WHITFIELD R.I.P. ROCK N PERPETUITY
September 17, 2008
NORMAN WHITFIELD 5/12/40 – 9/16/08
During the early ‘70s, I was the General Professional Manager Of Warner Brothers Music. One day I’m up at Motown Records, sitting in the outer office waiting to see what producer or artist will walk in that I can pitch a song to. Just when I’m about give up for the day, in walks songwriter/producer Norman Whitfield (”I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, “Cloud 9”). After briefly, but enthusiastically, discussing his body of work with him, he invites me into his office to listen to a track he’s starting to work on. I sit there and listen to a track for twelve minutes that consists of only of an electric bass with percussion, and I’m a bit confused. I ask him if there is a song that goes along with it. He starts the track again, and this time he sings…
“Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Wherever he lay his hat was his home and when he died…All he left us was alone.”
Over the next few months, Norman lets me hear the recording in its various stages of development. There are layers of vocals put on and taken off, string and horn sections edited or deleted, countless re-mixes. Finally, I get to witness the last step, which is the mysterious mastering process that sets Motown apart from all the rest! This is when I meet Iris Gordy, head of Quality Control, who allows me to watch and listen as she performs her magic, not only bringing out the best of what’s on the tape, but also doing things to it that will make it jump out at you, when it’s played on the radio. The Temptations “soon to be classic” is finally released and zooms up the charts. I run into Norman Whitfield in the lobby of Motown, the day the song hits #1 on the Billboard charts and congratulate him.
From my forthcoming book, “I Did It For A Song”
Copyright 2009 by Artie Wayne
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September 19, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Artie,
Thanks for sharing your memories of Norman with us….
he wrote some cool songs….
Best,
Steveo
September 22, 2008 at 3:42 am
As you may know, some stations – including my local oldies one – are airing 1970′s episodes of “American Top 40.” Well, whoever picked today’s rerun must have known something – the countdown was from mid-September 1970, and the #1 song was Edwin Starr’s “War” – which, to me, ranks up there with “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” as the supreme achievement of Norman Whitfield. RIP, Norm.
September 22, 2008 at 7:05 pm
How sad.
I had done tons of work with Norman back in the mid-80′s. He was a regular at Fiddler’s Studio on Melrose Ave.(long gone)
Norman introduced me to a completely different (for me) approach to commercial songwriting and production. The things I learned from him were maintained and I still draw upon those lessons. He was an amazingly talented individual and has certainly left behind a huge volume of great work.