Human Nature “Reach Out” with a Little Help from Smokey Robinson

Human Nature is Australia’s most popular and successful vocal group with 17 Top 40 hits and 5 top ten hits since 1996 and 23 platinum awards.

They have toured the world with artists like Michael Jackson and Celine Dion and their largest audience to date was a crowd of over nearly 4 billion when they performed at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic games.

Their album ‘Reach Out’ is a collection of Motown hits and was released exclusively this week at Barnes and Noble and is available worldwide digitally.

On this album they have collaborated with some Motown greats, including the Temptations and their friend and mentor Smokey Robinson, who is currently presenting their Las Vegas show at the Imperial Palace “The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound” (which will run until May). Sometimes the initial reaction to cover albums tends to not be a positive one but the album is done to perfection (hence why Smokey decided to get involved) and how can anyone not help but to smile when hearing these timeless tracks?

They have worked with some of the most legendary Motown artists that their Vegas show continues to get rave reviews. They have a handful of TV slots slated for the fall and will be doing some exclusive performances (in between their Vegas dates in LA and NY).

Buy Music:

Human Nature on amazon.com

Human Nature on amazon.co.uk

Videos

Baby I Need Your Loving:

Dancing in the Streets

Audio Streams

Get Ready (w/ Smokey Robinson)

My Girl

Ooo Baby Baby

Additional info:

Human Nature – Reach Out

“Human Nature are amazing!” – Michael Jackson

“Wonderful vocalists who really know how to entertain a crowd.” – Celine Dion

Australia’s most popular and successful vocal group, Human Nature released their first album – ‘Reach Out’ in the U.S. on September 1st. ‘Reach Out’ was released exclusively via Barnes & Noble physically and will be available widely digitally. The album will be released to all retailers physically on February 2, 2010.

Since they signed with Sony in 1994, Human Nature have earned 23 Platinum Awards in their native Australia and have toured throughout the world. Their largest audience was at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 where they performed before 4 billion viewers worldwide. The band has had 17 Top 40 Hits and Five Top Ten Hits since 1996, has opened tours of Asia and Europe for both Michael Jackson and Celine Dion, and have won several Arias (Australia’s version of the Grammy’s) and virtually every other major entertainment award that country has to offer. Their last four releases in Australia have reached #1 on the charts there!

Now Human Nature has set their sites on America.

Human Nature are launching their assault via a headlining run at The Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, in a show presented by their mentor and friend Smokey Robinson.

The show, billed as “The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound” is running now through May, 2010. During their run, the boys will also be performing select dates in key US markets around national media and promotional activities.

‘Reach Out’ is a collection of songs from their last three studio themed recordings in tribute to some of the best songwriters and performers in Motor City – it is a tribute to the renown recording studio and record company that brought the sound of young America to the world.

In ‘Reach Out’, Human Nature – Toby Allen, Phil Burton, Andrew Tierney,and Michael Tierney – pay loving tribute to the sounds that influenced their global success, and bring an infectious energy and their amazing vocal talents to the proceedings.

THE SONGS:

Reach Out I’ll be There*
You Keep Me Hangin’ On
Baby I Need Your Loving*
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Get Ready w/Smokey Robinson
The Way You Do The Things You Do w/The Temptations
My Girl
Stop! In The Name Of Love
ABC
You Are The Everything
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Uptight (Everything’s Alright)*
Twenty-Five Miles
Dancing In The Street*
Ooo Baby Baby

Barnes & Noble Bonus Track:
River Deep Mountain High w/ Mary Wilson of The Supremes

* denotes there is a video of this track available on youtube.
The videos are also viewable on the sites below.

Buy Music:

Human Nature on amazon.com

Human Nature on amazon.co.uk

Human Nature Las Vegas
MySpace
Human Nature Official Website

On a special Wednesday, March 25, 2009 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) performance show, the Top 10 finalists (Kris Allen, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Megan Joy, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver) will return to the AMERICAN IDOL stage to celebrate and pay tribute to “50 Years of Motown” as well as perform classic Motown songs.

Ruben Studdard on amazon.com

Ruben Studdard on amazon.co.uk

Tune in the following night Thursday, March 26th (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) to find out if the judges use their save or if America sends another finalist home. Also, Smokey Robinson will perform, and AMERICAN IDOL winner Ruben Studdard will return to the IDOL stage to perform his new single, “Together.”

Since winning the second season of AMERICAN IDOL in 2003, Ruben Studdard’s impact on the music charts has been impressive. His single “Flying Without Wings” debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100, and his version of “Superstar” peaked at No. 2 on the R&B chart. In December 2003, his first album, “Soulful,” had advance orders of over a million copies, which automatically qualified it for platinum certification and allowed the record to enter The Billboard 200 at No. 1. His follow-up single, “Sorry 2004,” reached No. 9 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart.

Studdard’s new album, ‘Love IS,’ helmed by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, is scheduled for release on May 19, 2009 through a joint venture with Hickory Records and 19 Recordings.

The album is a collection of love songs featuring original recording as well as covers of classic hits.

RUBEN STUDDARD BIOGRAPHY

Six years ago, Ruben Studdard’s life changed in an instant. And it’s been changing ever since. This year will bring even more changes, as Ruben releases his fourth album, continues touring the country in “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and celebrates his first wedding anniversary.

The new album, ‘Love IS,’ is helmed by two of the most successful producers in the business, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Scheduled for release on May 19 through a joint venture with Hickory Records and 19 Recordings, this is the album that Ruben’s fans have been waiting for. The collection of love songs features originals as well as covers, including Ruben’s versions of Extreme’s classic hit “More Than Words” and Michael Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It.” The first single, “Together,” produced by Stargate, is at Urban AC Radio. Another original song on the album is “A Song For Her,” a very personal song co-written by Ruben for his wife.

Ruben was signing copies of his third album at a Wal-Mart in Atlanta in 2006 and one of his biggest fans who worked in a law firm wanted to stand in line for his autograph but couldn’t leave her office. She asked her best friend, flight attendant Surata Zuri McCants, if she would wait in line for her.

It was Ruben’s 10th and final Wal-Mart signing in a row and he was feeling fidgety. He looked up and saw a beautiful woman standing in front of him, explaining she was just there to get an autograph for her friend. “What about you?” Ruben asked. “You’re alright,” she responded.

After she left, Ruben sent his best friend to ask her to please wait for him. He asked for her phone number and a friendship began that led to romance and a wedding on June 30, 2008. Now Ruben is a husband, and a proud stepfather to seven-year-old daughter Khobi.

A new album and a new family are just part of the picture for Ruben in 2009. He is starring in a 30th anniversary production of the Fats Waller musical, “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” It’s Ruben’s first musical theater work since he was in a high school production of “Grease.”

“Fats was a cool cat,” says Ruben. “I love getting dressed up, sitting at the piano and winking at the girls, just like he did.” Ruben also loves being on the road with Frenchie Davis and Trenyce, who were both contestants with him on the second season of “American Idol.”

“Every day is different and we’re all having a great time,” he says. “The songs are great and that keeps us all happy about doing this play.” The national tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” began in November 2008 and will conclude on May 17 in New York.

Ruben Studdard was born Sept. 12, 1978, in Frankfurt, Germany, where his father was stationed in the United States Army. Ruben was nine months old when his mother brought him home to Birmingham. His musical talent was evident early in life: he was a three-year-old pre-schooler when he started singing at the Rising Star Baptist Church. As a member of the Cherub Choir, he sang a majority of the solo vocals, making his debut with “I’m Yours Lord.”

By the age of seven he was singing at school, in various churches and at banquets and local functions. His mother was a fan of Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross and the O’Jays and Ruben learned to sing their songs. “I was the number one New Edition fan and in middle school I switched over to Boyz II Men. My father bought a lot of records, and that’s how I heard John Coltrane and Miles Davis. I became a big jazz fan.” In high school, Ruben joined the football team as an offensive tackle. “I loved to sing and play sports so I went back and forth between the two,” he recalls. “But sports was just recreation for me. I became serious about singing and learning everything I could about music.”

In ninth grade, Ruben was a member of the mixed ensemble choir, the male chorus and the concert choir and sang in a male quartet called Eternal Harmony. “We did a lot of talent shows around Birmingham and achieved some popularity but I don’t think anyone will remember us now.”

Ruben majored in music at Alabama A&M University where his studies included opera. “Can you believe that!” he exclaims. “I loved Pavarotti and I worked very hard at becoming an opera singer. I was going to get an agent but in my sophomore year I joined a gospel group, God’s Gift. I left school after two-and-a-half years to pursue a career in gospel music. We worked at it seven days a week. It seemed like it was about to happen. Then everything came to a standstill.”

Ruben moved on, joining a group called Just a Few Cats. “A girl who was one of our background singers wanted to audition for ‘American Idol’ but she didn’t want to go by herself,” Ruben remembers. “She asked me to go with her and I didn’t want to, but I went just to support her.”

They drove to Nashville and she didn’t make it through to the second round of auditions. But Ruben did. “Once I was actually there trying out, I felt like I could really do something. I just gave it my best shot.”

Everyone knows what happened next. Simon, Paula and Randy sent Ruben to Hollywood, where he advanced from a semi-final round into the top 12 and quickly became America’s favorite, surviving every elimination to win the title of “American Idol” in a dramatic finale on May 21, 2003.

Ruben’s impact on the charts was immediate. His single “Flying Without Wings” debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100 while his version of “Superstar” peaked at No. 2 on the R&B chart. In December 2003, his first album, “Soulful,” had advance orders of over a million copies, automatically qualifying for platinum certification. The record entered The Billboard 200 at No. 1. A follow-up single, “Sorry 2004,” reached No. 9 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart.

Ruben’s next album was “I Need An Angel,” released in November 2004. The sophomore set topped Billboard’s gospel chart and was the magazine’s No. 1 gospel album of the year.

Ruben’s third album, “The Return,” found him back in the top 10, peaking at No. 8 on The Billboard 200 and No. 2 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The first single, “Change Me,” spent an impressive eight weeks at No. 1 on the Adult R&B list.

As well as he has done on the charts, Ruben has also earned his share of awards and nominations. In 2004, he won the NAACP’s Image Award for Best New Artist. That same year, he was nominated for Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist at the American Music Awards, Best Male R&B Performance at the Grammys, Best New Soul/R&B or Rap Artist at the Soul Train Awards and Best New Artist and Best Male R&B Artist at the BET Awards. The following year Ruben was nominated as Best Gospel Artist at the BET Awards.

It’s been an amazing six years for the man from Birmingham and he feels blessed to have experienced it all. “My grandmother used to tell me that the race is not given to the swift nor to the strong but to the one that endures to the end. I feel like I’m on a course to have a very long career. I just completed my fourth album and a lot of people don’t get to that point. I’m a very happy man.” Fred Bronson

Ruben Studdard MySpace

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Motown Records (on January 12th 2009) Universal Music has released Motown 50 – a compilation of tracks chosen by Motown fans worldwide.

Motown 50 on amazon.co.uk

Motown on amazon.com

Universal Motown embraced social networking and the internet to create a unique compilation album by partnering with www.pollthepeople.com, a global online polling community, to launch the Greatest Motown Songs poll. The poll ran for four weeks throughout October and the ultimate Motown Top 50 has been selected combining the entries from both the UK and International polls*.

No surprises that (drum roll) Marvin Gaye’s phenomenal “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” topped the poll worldwide as the world’s no 1 Motown hit!

The top 5 also consisted of Diana Ross – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, The Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love”, Diana Ross “I’m Still Waiting” and the legendary Stevie Wonder with “Superstition”.

As well as 50 of the hottest Motown tunes of all time from the 60s to the 80s, the 3 CD UK version also features some hard to find covers with some of the most outstanding artists singing songs from their peers. The legend that is Stevie Wonder gives us a mesmerising and very funky take on “Light My Fire”. There’s also a cracking version of “Everybody’s Talking” by The Four Tops followed by unbelievable renditions of classic tracks from The Temptations with “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas with girly sing-along favourite “I Say A Little Prayer”.

The album also contains three rarely compiled Stevie Wonder tracks; “Superstition”, “Sir Duke” and “Masterblaster (Jammin)”.

The public have decided on their favourite 50 to mark the anniversary of arguably the most influential record label ever.

—

The Motown Sound went worldwide in the ’60s, and that sound still resonates today. With more than 180 No.1 songs and counting, Motown hits continue to appear in commercials, TV series and movies, and remain a massive influence on today’s biggest pop and R&B stars.

But Motown stands for more than just the music. It’s a reflection of the hard work of dedicated individuals overcoming incredible obstacles to achieve great success. Berry Gordy Jr., a young African American man, founded Motown Records with a loan of $800 from his family. Through determination and support of the Motown family of artists, Gordy forged new grounds for minorities and made the “Motown Sound” a worldwide phenomenon adored by millions.

Track List

CD1

1) Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
2) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Dancing In The Street
3) The Supremes – Baby Love
4) Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
5) The Velvelettes – Needle In A Haystack
6) The Temptations – Get Ready
7) The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love
8 The Elgins – Heaven Must Have Sent You
9) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Nowhere To Run
10) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Jimmy Mack
11) The Isley Brothers – This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)
12) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears Of A Clown
13) Jackson 5 – ABC
14) Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston – It Takes Two
15) Mary Wells – My Guy
16) The Contours – Do You Love Me
17) Frank Wilson – Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
18) R. Dean Taylor – There’s A Ghost In My House
19) The Supremes – Stop! In The Name Of Love
20) Jr. Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun
21) Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)
22) Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
23) Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye – You Are Everything
24) Diana Ross – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

CD2

1) Stevie Wonder – Superstition
2) The Temptations – Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone
3) Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
4) Commodores – Brick House
5) Edwin Starr – War
6) The Temptations – My Girl
7) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tracks Of My Tears
8 Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – Endless Love
9) Commodores – Easy
10) Diana Ross & The Supremes – Reflections
11) Four Tops – Reach Out, I’ll Be There
12) Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On
13) Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted
14) Michael Jackson Got To Be There
15) Smokey Robinson – Being With You
16) Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke
17) The Miracles – Love Machine
18) Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Night)
19) Diana Ross – Love Hangover
20) Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way

CD3

1) Stevie Wonder – Masterblaster (Jammin)
2) Commodores – Nightshift
3) Diana Ross – Upside Down
4) Rick James – Super Freak
5) The Temptations – Treat Her Like A Lady
6) Lionel Richie – My Destiny

THE COVER VERSIONS

7) Stevie Wonder – Light My Fire
8 Four Tops – Everybody’s Talking
9) Rare Earth – Get Ready
10) Kim Weston & Marvin Gaye – Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)
11) Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – I Say A Little Prayer
12) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Wichita Lineman
13) Thelma Houston – Jumpin’ Jack Flash
14) The Temptations – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
15) The Supremes – Come Together
16) David Ruffin – Put A Little Love In Your Heart
17) Michael Jackson – You’ve Got A Friend

*Top 50 was subject to track clearance and artist consent.

Motown Official Website

Starting in December 2008 and running through 2009, Universal Music will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of America’s greatest record label and global music icon: Motown.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Motown Records, Universal Music is releasing the album Motown 50 on 1st December, 2008.

With the British nation’s endless love for Motown, Universal Music is inviting the public to vote for their favourite Motown tracks and the album will be compiled purely from the top 50 tracks chosen by them.

Universal Motown are embracing social networking to create this unique compilation album by partnering with Poll The People – www.pollthepeople.com/motown50 the global online polling community – to launch the GREATEST MOTOWN SONGS poll. It will run for 4 weeks from Monday 15th September, 2008 to determine the ultimate Motown Top 50.

People can select their Top 5 Motown songs from the database and their votes are entered into the poll. They will also be connected to other members of the community who match some or all of their Top 5 choices so they can meet like minded people and discover new gems from the legendary Motown catalogue.

Celebrities will be invited to submit their Top 5 Motown Songs which will also count towards the final tally of votes as well as helping to introduce a broad audience across all age groups to the Motown label.

Whether it’s the iconic “I Want You Back” from the most famous brothers in the world the Jackson 5, the song that melts every girls heart “My Girl” from the Temptations or the unmistakeable vocals of Marvin Gaye on “Lets Get It On”, the public will decide on their favourite 50 to mark the anniversary of arguably the most influential record label ever.

Motown 50 – Today, Tomorrow, Forever…

The Motown Sound went worldwide in the ’60s, and that sound still resonates today. With more than 180 No. 1 songs and counting, Motown hits continue to appear in commercials, TV series and movies, and remain a massive influence on today’s biggest pop and R&B stars.

But Motown stands for more than just the music. It’s a reflection of the hard work of dedicated individuals overcoming incredible obstacles to achieve great success. Berry Gordy Jr., a young African American man, founded Motown Records with a loan of $800 from his family. Through determination and support of the Motown family of artists, Gordy forged new grounds for minorities and made the “Motown Sound” a worldwide phenomenon adored by millions.

Motown on amazon.co.uk

Greatest Motown Songs Poll

Universal Music Group

Motown 50 Official Website

The Satintones probably thought they had a really good idea when they responded to The Shirelles “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” with their recorded version “Tomorrow and Always”. The only problem with that though, was that the songs are very similar. Actually The Satintones version is too similar to the original, written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. I can see why the song was pulled. Some of the words are different and they changed the title to “Tomorrow and Always”, but the melody is exactly the same.

Either way, here is a video link to The Shirelles “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” and the rare recording of The Satintones response, “Tomorrow and Always”.

Answer records – or response records were big in the 60’s and continue to be recorded today. Most aren’t as obvious as “Tomorrow and Always” and the subject makes for good music trivia. Here is a list of Answer Records on Soul of the Net that will keep you busy for awhile. There is a difference between a cover song and a response song, so for some this could get confusing.

Anyway, here are two more recent, more explicit response songs by Eamon and Frankee that came out in 2004. Not as gracious as some of the other examples throughout the years!

By: Jenny May