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Paul Petersen- From The Donna Reed Show to Motown
hear it and see it: youtu.be/H771jzmx168
Paul Petersen became a part of the Motown family in the latter part of the 60's and it's interesting to hear his recordings. I knew he played Jeff Stone on the Donna Reed Show and had done recordings prior to Motown. What is nice about these Motown recordings is that the producers didn't attempt to turn him into a Blue-Eyed Soul singer, but capitalized on his easy-going way with a lyric.
"Your Love's Got Me Burning Alive" was the first Motown record I was able to find by Paul. I was really curious and excited about what I would hear and this song was a fantastic revelation. To my ears, it didn't have a typical Motown Sound, but a sort of pop-country feeling. The biggest thing I got out of this record was that it was FUN!
It's those "OOOH WEEE's" that grabbed me right away. This is one of those Summertime, drive-with-the-windows-open-and-belt-along type of songs. Producer Hal Davis did everything right. A great western guitar opening gives way to a big, bright and everybody's-gonna-be-happy arrangement. A finger-snapping tempo with just the right amount of horns to sharpen the edge a bit. A fantastic piano figure plays throughout. The backing vocal group seems to be having a ball.
Paul Petersen sounds right at home. He sounds simultaneously young and grown-up. I love his cool, laid-back delivery. When he gets going on the "OOHH WEE" refrain with the ladies joining in, it all sounds catchy enough that you can't help but find yourself singing along. Isn't that what a good song shoud do?
Writers Frank Wilson, Ruth Talmadge and Vance Wilson supplied fine lyrics that could play well as pop or country-western. Motown's West Coast team scored many fine productions that added a nice California flair to Motown's output.
Paul Petersen- From The Donna Reed Show to Motown
hear it and see it: youtu.be/H771jzmx168
Paul Petersen became a part of the Motown family in the latter part of the 60's and it's interesting to hear his recordings. I knew he played Jeff Stone on the Donna Reed Show and had done recordings prior to Motown. What is nice about these Motown recordings is that the producers didn't attempt to turn him into a Blue-Eyed Soul singer, but capitalized on his easy-going way with a lyric.
"Your Love's Got Me Burning Alive" was the first Motown record I was able to find by Paul. I was really curious and excited about what I would hear and this song was a fantastic revelation. To my ears, it didn't have a typical Motown Sound, but a sort of pop-country feeling. The biggest thing I got out of this record was that it was FUN!
It's those "OOOH WEEE's" that grabbed me right away. This is one of those Summertime, drive-with-the-windows-open-and-belt-along type of songs. Producer Hal Davis did everything right. A great western guitar opening gives way to a big, bright and everybody's-gonna-be-happy arrangement. A finger-snapping tempo with just the right amount of horns to sharpen the edge a bit. A fantastic piano figure plays throughout. The backing vocal group seems to be having a ball.
Paul Petersen sounds right at home. He sounds simultaneously young and grown-up. I love his cool, laid-back delivery. When he gets going on the "OOHH WEE" refrain with the ladies joining in, it all sounds catchy enough that you can't help but find yourself singing along. Isn't that what a good song shoud do?
Writers Frank Wilson, Ruth Talmadge and Vance Wilson supplied fine lyrics that could play well as pop or country-western. Motown's West Coast team scored many fine productions that added a nice California flair to Motown's output.