"Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign!"

By: “Hurricane Duane” Thomas
For the Week of: March 26th, 2007
This Week: “Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign!”
Detroit is a large melting pot of all kinds and colors of folks who make this one great city. With all the different nationalities here, I often wonder about all the different signs we see on the roads and highways throughout Motown. Here’s a sampling of the more common, and sometimes more confusing ones.

“35 MPH Ahead”
Does that mean if there are 2 people in the car, that’s 35 mph (a-head!) x 2 so you can go 70 mph?

“No Double Parking”
I can only drive ONE vehicle at a time anyway!

“Stop”
That red sign that orders you completely STOP when hardly anyone does? And it never tells you when its OK to START again!

“Warning! Deaf Child in Area”
Now, this one is confusing. Do I drive through honking my horn REALLY LOUD so that the child knows I’m coming through? And, hey! I’m sensitive to disabilities…but shouldn’t the CHILD be looking out for cars?

“Slow School Crossing”
AM I too SLOW? Or is the school CROSSING very slowly? (I’ve never seen a school building tip-toeing across the road slowly inching its way across!)

“Slow Curve Ahead”
Now is the CURVE SLOW? Or am I to GO SLOW?

“No Standing, Stopping or Parking”
Outside an elementary school near my home, is this sign. Now…what’s a student’s parent supposed to do? Drive by and TOSS the kid out of the window as the car drives pass the school without stopping?

“Prison Area. Do not pickup hitchhikers next 5 miles”
Here’s a good one. Like anyone in their right mind would…pickup a hitchhiker IN A PRISON AREA! Is it ok to pick one up say…SIX miles away? What’s the darn difference with one mile? Can’t the escapee walk another mile OVER 5 and thumb a ride still?

“No Turns”
When you see this sign…can you EVER make your turn? Or do you have to go down and turn around only to face the same “NO TURN” sign?

“Handicap Area”
Now then…this one seems self explanatory. But I DID see a man sitting in his car with a racing form figuring out the horse racing handicaps for the 3rd at Belmont!

“No Standing”
I’m IN A CAR for gosh sakes! Try standing up in a car!

“No Parking Fire Zone”
Is this because this is where all the fires will be at?

“No Standing or Stopping”
Now, if I can’t stop…certainly not stand…how in the heck is someone supposed to get out of the vehicle?!

“Decoy Area”
In N. Detroit’s notorious crime-ridden 8 Mile area, there are Police prostitute decoys to bust soliciting “johns”. I keep expecting to see DUCK decoys in the middle of the road! And speaking of that, there is a sign to that effect. “Mama and baby duck crossing!” is a picture of a Duck with 4 ducklings on it in walking in a straight line.

“Slow Children”
This sign is just plain CRUEL! I mean, if a child is SLOW…should he or she even BE out in the road?

“Yield the Right of Way”
But what if I’m on the left? Exactly which way is right?

“Warning! This vehicle may back up”
No kidding! I back up out of my driveway everyday! Don’t MOST vehicles back up at one time or another?

“No Stopping Under Overpass”
So, let’s say its’ a terrific storm or blizzard. I’m supposedly to stop BEFORE the shelter of the overpass?

“Emergency Vehicles Only” (Usually in the middle of a stretch of highway)
Hey! It IS an emergency if I have to use it to turn around!

“Wrong Way”
No kidding! I think those headlights comin’ straight at me doing 50 would be a good indication I’m going the wrong way!

“Complete Left Turn after Stop and Traffic Clears”
Ah, another good one. I stop, no traffic. I begin to proceed into the turn. Ahead a quarter mile I see a car. Do I stop again and wait for it to get here? And what if I don’t want or need to MAKE a COMPLETE left turn?

“Hidden Driveway Ahead”
Now, whoever lives or works on this property is taking their lives in their hands. How about CLEARING the field of vision and bushes and trees on the property, so it’s NOT HIDDEN?!

I definitely can imagine how bewildering these signs can be to foreign visitors and new citizens of the Motor City. And the need for more instructional and clearly defined and implied signs is evident. Hopefully, that little State Highway Commission guy who sits in office thinking these signs up, will realize how confusing they can be to some.

Ah, only in a perfect world I suppose. And, another thing about driving in Detroit and the Great Lake State. That sign that says “DEER CROSSING”? The next time you see it, look closely at the picture.
I SWEAR….it’s a MOOSE!

Well, thanks all! Till next week….tank’s full….revvin’ engine….just remember….Keep your hands on the wheel, and your foot to the floor, when you’re….”Drivin’ Sideways in Detroit!” C’ya!

*Special Thanks: The “Hurricane Shelter” offices, Verena Reuter, LA Grizzy, Treasure Island Gold & Larry Patterson, Ralph Terrana and “Lucky” the Wonder Dog

A concert with The Motown Legends Tour has just been announced. Spyder Turner, the Temptation’s Review featuring Dennis Edwards and Ali Woodson, The Miracles and the Contours will hit the stage at the beautiful Chevrolet Center in Youngstown Ohio on May 19th, 2007. This will prove to be a dynamic, explosive show of showmanship, great music and good time to be had by all.

Spyder Turner and his family and myself, go way back. Wonderful “Momma Turner” would feed this skrawny ‘lil “white boy from the suburbs” (me) macaroni and cheese while we were picking up Robin or Skipper Turner for band practice and shows. And this was during the Detroit race riots of 1967. Talk about unconditional love! It was that unconditional love she had for her family, and me… and music overall, that I took with me throughout life. She beamed when talking about Spyder. We all tried to emulate Skip and Robin’s older brother and his band. But I don’t think we ever got close at all to Spyder’s dynamics on stage. The man would FLY out of a kitchen or backstage, and hit the stage wailin’ and on his knees. We were BLOWN AWAY!

Onstage, there is no one better than the Spyder-man. He comes alive on stage. When he sings his hit “Stand by Me”, the audience always cheers. His newest single “I don’t wanna go home tonight” gets the same reaction. There is probably no original Motown artist still doing what he has been doing all these years. And he’s never stopped. With James Brown’s passing, I believe Spyder Turner should be the new “Godfather of Soul”! And I might add, that a nicer friend to me, I could ever hope for.

“First I look at the Purse” and “Do you love me?” were the most defining moments that brought the Contours into their own. Around Detroit for over 30 years, they have never stopped touring and performing. Their shows are legend around the world. “Do you love me?” became a hit all over again in the movie “Dirty Dancing”. “First I look at the Purse” brings audiences to their feet, and fully captures the Motown Sound of the ‘60s. 20-some years ago, Buster Bennett my bassist, a Detroit Police Officer, was their musical director. I couldn’t believe it THEN…that they were still around. And they are STILL around now, after all these years!

Dennis Edwards started out as a member of the Contours himself in the ‘60’s. After replacing David Ruffin in the Temptations, he went on to be the voice of “Papa was a Rolling Stone” and “Cloud Nine”. The Temptations will always be thought of 1stt every time someone mentions “Motown”. With hits such as “Get Ready”, “How I wish that it would rain”, “Papa was a Rolling Stone”, the infamous “My Girl”, and many, many others, their shows have become legendary for their vocal harmony and tight choreography. No one group has personified the sound of Motown. Current line-up includes Dennis Edwards, Ail Woodson, David Shea, Mike Patillo and Chris Arnold.

One of the 1st original Motown artists in the early part of 1960, The Miracles with Smokey Robinson were one of the very 1st of Motown groups to achieve international success. With hits such as “Shop around”, “Tears of a Clown”, “I Second that Emotion”, “Tracks of my Tears”, and of course “Mickey’s Monkey”, their vocal harmonies are second to none. The Miracles were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. I wonder just how many romances began to the background their music? Even though Smokey has gone on to management and producing with Motown, the Miracle’s signature sound has stayed the same. You will be transported back in time, to that place we all remember so well from our youth.

You will never get the chance in one single night to get the music, sounds and happy-heart-happy-feet feelings of Motown music in its’ most purest form. Taken back to the past, and forward to the future, those arrangements, harmonies and performances of excellence, will amaze you. From Spyder Turner’s heart-felt dedication to all that is Soul Music, to the Contours “First I look at the Purse”, these two alone would be worth the price of admission. And when we add the Miracles and the Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards and Ali Woodson, one could hardly duplicate a one-time event of this scope and nature.

I don’t think I can personally remember a night of hits and Soul music like this in any recent years. It could only come from Motown, Spyder Turner, the Contours, the Miracles, the Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards and Ali Woodson, and the Motor City. The “Motown Legends” tour is a Cheers and Severino Production. After the performance in Youngstown, there’s of course, a strong possibility other dates will be announced, and I’ll post them here. *

Well, thanks all! Till next week….tank’s full….revvin’ engine….just remember….Keep your hands on the wheel, and your foot to the floor, when you’re….”Drivin’ Sideways in Detroit!” C’ya!

*Special Thanks this Week to my friends Spyder Turner and Ms. M, and all our friends at the Soulful Detroit Music Forums.

Detroit "LIVE"

Monday March 12th. 2007

Detroit “Live”

Trying to get an accurate list of all of the albums recorded here in Motown is not so easy. Some will in fact be missed. Detroit has always been known as “the place” to record “Live Albums”. Admittedly, some are bootleg, and not all are known or listed here.
Although live recording here in the Motor City really took of with the combined success of Seger’s “LIVE BULLET” and KISS’s “KISS ALIVE” album, there are many others out there that continue to capture the energy and intensity of Detroit audiences. One of my all time favorites is the Temptations Live at The Roostertail Upper Deck, but I’d highly recommend giving a listen to any of those mentioned below.
Whether it’s J. Geil’s “Detroit Breakdown”, or KISS’s “Detroit Rock City” or even Nugent’s “Motor City Madhouse”, just about any of these albums is more than enough to wet your appetite.

The Temptations
*Live at the Roostertails Upper Deck (mid-late ‘60’s)
Peter Frampton
*Live in Detroit 2000
Doors
*Cobo Hall 1970
MC5
*68-96
*Ice Pick Slim 1995
*Kick out the Jams 1969
Herbie Hancock
*Detroit-Chicago Live 2005
Blue Oyster Cult
*Detroit 1972
George Carlin
*Take-offs and Put ons1967
Faces w Rod Stewart
*Real Good Time Live in Detroit 1974 (Bootleg)
Aretha Frankln
*One Lord One Faith One Baptism 1987
Funkadelic
*Live 1971
Grand Funk Railroad
*Live 1997
J Geils
*Full House Live 1972
*Live! Blow your Face out 1976
*Showtime 1982
Jethro Tull
*Detroit 1969 (Bootleg)
*Live Detroit 1977 (Bootleg)
King Crimson
*KCCC 18 Live in Detroit 1971
Kiss Alive
*Live 1975
Roscoe Mitchel
*Live in Detroit 1988
Morphine
*Live- Detroit 2000 (Bootleg)
Ted Nugent and Ted Nugent and The Amboy Dukes
*Double Live Gonzo 1978
*Survival of The Fittest 1970
Pearl Jam
*10-07-00
The Rationals
*Temptations’ Bout to get me 1995
Linda Ronstadt
*Detroit Blues Live in Detroit 1974 (Bootleg)
Beg Seger
*Live Bullet 1976
*Nine Tonight 1981
The Stooges
*Metallic Ko 1976
*10-06-73 Michigan Palace
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
*Live+Compilation 2002
Hank Williams Jr
*Live at Cobo Hall 1969
Frank Zappa
*Live in Detroit 1988
*Conceptual Continuity 1992 (Bootleg)
*11-25-81 Cobo Hall (Bootleg)
*Live Cobo Hall in Detroit 1976 (Bootleg)
The Vikings
*Live in Detroit 2003
Johnnie Bassett
*Live at Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival 1995
Bare Naked Ladies
*Au Natural Live Detroit 2004
Willie D. Warren & Mystery Train
*Live (2004?)
Camper Van Beethovan
*Live from Detroit 2005
Kid Rock
*Live Trucker 2006

Ok…Gassed n’ ready…keep your hands on the wheel and your foot to the floor…when your’e…”Drivin’ Sideways in Detroit!” C 'Ya!
"Hurricane Duane" Thomas

www.myspace.com/duanethomas1
hurricane.duane@atilarecords.com
www.johnnyandthehurricanes.com

Recognize Any? Detroit's Musicians Past and Present

"Drivin' Sideways in Detroit!" by Hurricane Duane Thomas



Im from Johnny + The Hurricanes. RED RIVER ROCK-ROCKIN GOOSE- CROSSFIRE- REVILLE ROCK- DOWN YONDER- TIMEBOMB- SHEBA- JA DA- BUCKEYE

This Week: Detroit's Musicians Past and Present.

The prominence of Detroit music began between the 1920's and 1940's in "Black Bottom" on Detroit's East side, a black community where traditional music of the south was enjoyed by a predominantly black audience. Everything from Big Band to Blues to Gospel was performed each week there, and in the ballrooms bars, speakeasys and nightclubs up and down the
Woodward Ave Corridor and streets of Detroit.

When John Lee Hooker hit the streets of Detroit in the 1940's, he along with Baby Boy Warren, Bobo Jenkins, Calvin Frazier and others transformed the acoustic blues music into an electronic conglomeration of instruments and styles to create a new sound not heard before.

This set the foundation for the Blues and Rock and Roll electric-sound of the future. And there was no turning back. With the coming of the Motown Sound, the Motor City streets and it's suburbs were flooded with 3, 4 and 5 part harmonies and garage and basement style rock and roll bands too numerous to count.

By the late 1950's and into the mid 60's, there were hundreds of
recording studios and labels, and music was everywhere in Detroit and its Suburbs. If I miss anyone here, I apologize. But this list is only a small sample of those great artists who called and still call themselves "Detroiters".

Some of our more famous that have called Detroit home are Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Jackie Wison, Bill Hailey and The Comets, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Grand Funk, The Four Tops, Glen Frey, Thymes, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Lamont-Dozier-Holland, Alice Cooper, Jamie Coe and The Giggolos, Aretha Franklin, Della Reese, Sippie Wallace, Kim Weston, Frijid Pink, Brownsville Station, Mary Wilson, Edwin Starr, Andre Williams, The Diablos, Reverend CL Franklin, Little Willie John, ? & the Mysterians, Marshal Crenshaw, Gallery, McKInney's Cotton Pickers, Don Redman, Rose Royce, David Ruffin, Oliver Green and the Detroiters, Marcus Belgrave, Jonathon Round, Suzi Quatro Jack Scott, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Junior Walker and the All-Stars, Tammi Terrel, George Clinton/Parliment-Funkedelics, Catfish Hodge, Kenny Burrell, Carolyn Crawford, Temptations,Tommy Flanagan, Wison Pickett, Little Tommy Tucker, Hank Ballard, the Commodores, and The Jackson Five. Even KISS called Detroit home.

The list grows even larger when we add Spyder Turner, Smokey Robinson, James Jamerson, Bootsey Collins, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, Gladys Knight, Rare Earth (the Sunliners), Bob Babbitt, Popcorn Wylie, Tidal Waves, Del Shannon, the Royaltones, The Rockets, Darrell Banks, Eddie Willis, The Underdogs, George McGregor, The Velvelettes,
The Holidays, The Southbound Freeway, Cactus, The Flamingos, The Fantastic Four, Johnnie Mae Matthews, The Falcons, Emanuel Lasky, The Originals, Detroit Emeralds, The Mohawks, Chuck Jackson, Joe Hunter, John Sinclair, Ted Nugent, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, Panera, The White Stripes, Dennis Coffey, The Reflections, The Romantics, The Spinners, The MC5, Was (Not Was), The Funk Bros, Contours, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Sponge, Shades of Blue, Anita Baker, The Knack and yes, even my old group Johnny & The Hurricanes.

In more recent years, The Insane Clown Posse, D-12, 50 cent, Eminem, Slum Village, Kid Rock, Twiztid, Uncle Kracker and the techno artists Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Carl Craig, brought a new sound of rap and electro-techno to Detroit and the rest of the world. Though there were many, many more, we cannot forget the contributions and tragic losses of Aaliyah and Marvin Gaye.

One mention I have to make is about a character-friend of ours to the local Ann Arbor-Detroit Michigan scene, "Shakey Jake" Woods. Each year when I see him at the Top of The Park Concerts there, I shake hands with this colorful man-of-mystery. He’s even played the famous Grande Ballroom. Reputed to be around 90 years old, he sings the blues on street corners and rides the buses with his guitar...always out of tune, in a plastic shopping bag with his ever-present pink sunglasses, straw hat, and zoot suit of a hundred different bright and psychedelic colors, and beads around his neck.

He hangs downtown all day, reaching into his shopping bag for tapes and c.d.s and photos of himself he sells for $5.00. When he's tired enough, he may take a cab if he’s made enough money hawking his stuff, or he jumps the last bus outta town, to parts unknown....but he's always back the next day, concert or festival...year after year. Shakey Jake symbolizes the freedom of expression here.

Though most of these artists have "jumped the rails' too so to speak, and taken their music to the world, it's here in Motown, the Motor City, that they honed their skills, talents and professionalism, and many still call “home”.

I've heard its the grit here, or the auto factories. Perhaps it's the river and Canada, a stones-throw across. Though many have written about our artists and our music and it's roots here, I'm not sure WHAT it is that breeds such great music and musicians.
Maybe it's the water...or the auto exhaust fumes!

Well folks...my tanks full, engine's revvin' up...so...always keep your hands on the wheel and your foot to the floor when you're...Drivin' Sideways in Detroit!.

Hurricane Duane Thomas
March 5th, 2007

Next Week: Detroit "Live".