"Drivin' Sideways in Detroit!"
With "Johnny & The Hurricanes"
Hurricane Duane Thomas
"The Future of 'Soul' music…and beyond."
One of Motown Records best known producer/engineers Russ Terrana has stumbled on some unknown and un-released Jackson 5 material, and has gotten busy editing it from the hard drive files for release. It ought to be amazing and well-timed after the un-timely passing of our beloved Michael recently. If there is anyone who can do it justice, it's Russ. Some of Motown's greatest recordings were at his hands. We can only wait anxiously in anticipation for that which the world has never heard, nor even knew existed. This brings to my mind a question. That which WAS before, like the bird the PHOENIX, shall rise again from the ashes to fly again. But, what does this mean for this 'new' Jackson's material?
One has only to wonder with something certainly not old, and by the very nature of it's newly discovered existence…'new'…what is it really? For sure it is the Jacksons many years ago, and although un-released, it is them and their sound from way back...and when it's released finally…it will be 'new'. Again! So this I question as to what IS the future of SOUL? It seems certain that what goes around, comes around again and again. But, does this make it 'new'? And, if not? Then what does that make it? Can we really re-create something so original as 'SUGAR PIE HONEY BUNCH' or "WHAT'S GOIN ON?" Or even "FINGERTIPS PART 2…or 7?" You have to wonder (no pun intended Stevie!)
But, I suppose if a brand new generation or generations of listeners get exposed to this wonderful music for the 1st time in their lives…then truly it is 'new'. But does 'SOUL' itself change? And if it does…does it change that far off the beaten path as to be very different than that which went before? I don't know. But to a new audience, and some of us old-timers as well…its like the re-birth of a nation. One we lived and breathed for over and over again. And still…it is to rise again.
For sure, the younger generation will have the chance to see and feel what made us love the music like we did and still do today. The only difference is they will not be able to 'live' it as we did. We danced to it, we played it, and we lived our lives through the turbulence of the 60's and the hippies and the riots in Watts, Detroit and Chicago. This thankfully, is something they won't have to relive. But it was because of those things along with inner city strife and suburban upheaval we experienced "SOUL" music for what it was and meant to us all. And ALL of us felt and experienced many different things and meanings and we took away from it whatever we each did in our own worlds. And dis-similar as this was, this brought us closer together. Black, white, yellow, brown and all colors in between…we loved the music and all it stood for.
I'm not sorry that the newer listeners and lovers of 'SOUL" don't have to go through what we did and how we did it. But, in that one instance, that will be something they can never understand without having gone through it themselves. We felt the music, and we lived it to. And we anxiously waited for the newest Temptations or Stevie or Diana's next song…yet the SOUND never really changed. Somehow, I feel that when Russ is done with the newest (or OLDEST) Jackson's material…it won't really be new…or old. It is what it is. And it was what it was. The more things change…the more they stay the same. And for that, I'm glad.
For without the Motown of old…there could be no Motown of the future. I don't think music itself could change that much anyway. Playing guitar and keys my whole life…its always the same chords. Different keys, similar structures, but always much the same. There are only 13 notes in all the music ever written. Of course, that would combinations of 13 to the 13th power. 13 x 13 x 13 x 13 etc…for 13 times. So, much has been written, yet so much is vastly different too. Its this anticipation that keeps us loving the sounds, groups and songs that we do.
So…you GO Russ! We all can't wait!
Peace 'n Love n' Light All…….God Bless
"Hurricane" Duane
www.drivinsidewaysindetroit.blogspot.com
duanethomas@johnnyandthehurricanes.com
