Recently, a 45 yr old, never heard Motown Master, of a 20ish white haired, Blued Eyed Soul wannbe... was discovered. It is me.
Dale Martin, longtime Detroit rocker guitar player and 35+ year band and recording mate, co-musician producer with myself... and best friend...brought this up out of the blue. "What about the Motown tape in the tour trunks?"
My Motown produced E.P.? I never thought about it. For 45 years. In the stuff are guitars, keys, mics, power amps, racks, cabs, cords, computers, stage stuff etc etc etc.....Ive been on to other things...as a 1st. Emergency Responder and author.
You couldnt tell me anything back in '74. I was the best in my rock field with slide especially....and would have told you so...except across town at the other Motown studio with Dennis Coffey. It goes without saying that Dennis is the originator, there is no other Dennis Coffey. Im lucky to even have crawled around in his shadow. (Dennis? You know we ALL love you! Youre an inspiration to us guitar players.)
So friends...Ill becoming back RIGHT HERE in 2 weeks to tell this whole convoluted story about what the hell happened to me...we'll have heard the tapes, Ill have obtained material and interviews....and for the 1st time in 45 years...hear my Motown Records/Duane Thomas E.P.
And Mr. Martin, blood brother, has always been the Angus Young to my Barry Manilow, keeping us both in the middle....
Dale: "You had it always. You knew you had it. I knew you had it! Crap, Duane? Motown knows you had it! Did you pay for it? No. Who paid all the production costs? No clue. Why the hell you walked away to go to Miami on tour? That was Stupid!". Yes, showbands were the thing on a show circuit....dumb move now in retospect.
And that friends is the million dollar question. We'll find out here together.
"DRIVIN' SIDEWAYS in DETROIT"...though PARKED....is driftin' right back 'atcha! God Bless everybody...Stay Well
Duane
