Barrett Strong
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The best things in life are free --"Money (That's What I Want)" (1959) by Barrett Strong Papa was a rolling stone --"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972) |
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Barrett Strong (1941 – 2023) was an American singer and songwriter.
As a singer he is particlarly known for "Money (That's What I Want)" (1959).
As a lyricist, he is credited along Norman Whitfield on such recordings as, "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" (1962), "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967), "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1967), "Cloud Nine" (1968), "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969), "Runaway Child, Running Wild" (1969), "War" (1970), "Hum Along and Dance" (1970), "Ball of Confusion" (1970), "Psychedelic Shack" (1970), "Smiling Faces Sometimes" (1971), "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1971) and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972).
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Career
Strong was born in West Point, Mississippi, on February 5, 1941.
Strong was among the first artists signed to Berry Gordy's fledgling label, Tamla Records, and was the performer on the company's first hit, "Money (That's What I Want)", which reached No. 2 US R&B in 1960. The single was originally released on Tamla, Motown's first label, but was then leased to the Anna label as it was getting airplay, and it was on the Anna label that it was a hit. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. "Money" was later recorded by a number of acts, perhaps most famoysly by the Flying Lizards. Strong claimed that he co-wrote "Money" with Gordy and Janie Bradford; his name appears on the song's original copyright registration with the United States Copyright Office. Gordy disputed these claims, stating that Strong's name was only included because of a clerical error.
In the mid-1960s, Strong became a Motown writer lyricist, teaming with producer Norman Whitfield. Together, they wrote some of the most successful and critically acclaimed soul songs ever to be released by Motown, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by both Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips; "War" by Edwin Starr; "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" by Paul Young; "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by the Undisputed Truth; and the long line of "psychedelic soul" records by the Temptations, including "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Psychedelic Shack", "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", amongst others.
Strong received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1973 for "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". Strong and Whitfield also co-wrote the ballad "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", a 1971 Billboard No. 1 that also marked the last Temptations single to feature original members Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.
After Motown moved its operations base from Detroit, Michigan, to Los Angeles, California, Strong left the label and resumed his singing career. He signed with Epic in 1972. Strong left the label for Capitol Records, where he recorded two albums in the 1970s.
In the 1980s, Strong recorded "Rock It Easy" on an independent label, and wrote "You Can Depend on Me", which appeared on The Dells' The Second Time album (1988). He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.
Strong released his album, Stronghold II, which he wrote and composed in collaboration with Eliza Neals in 2008, in digital format only.
In 2010, Strong appeared in "Misery", his first music video in his fifty years of recording music, co-produced by Eliza Neals and Martin "Tino" Gross with Strong at the helm.
Strong died in Detroit on January 29, 2023, at the age of 81.
See also
Discography
Albums
- 1975: Stronghold (No. 47 – Billboard Black Albums chart)
- 1976: Live & Love
- 1987: Love Is You
- 2008: Stronghold II
Singles
- 1959: "Let's Rock" / "Do the Very Best You Can" – Tamla 54022
- 1959: "Money (That's What I Want)" / "Oh I Apologize" (No. 23 Pop / No. 2 R&B) – Tamla 54027(re-released as Anna 1111)
- 1960: "Yes, No, Maybe So" / "You Knows What to Do" – Tamla 54029 (re-released as Anna 1116)
- 1960: "Whirlwind" (with The Rayber Voices)" / "I'm Gonna Cry (If You Quit Me)" – Tamla 54033
- 1961: "Money and Me" / "You Got What It Takes" - Tamla 54035
- 1961: "Misery" / "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right" - Tamla 54043
- 1962: "Seven Sins" / "What Went Wrong" – ATCO 6225
- 1964: "Make Up Your Mind" / "I Better Run" – Tollie 9023
- 1967: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - Marvin Gaye, co-written with Norman Whitfield
- 1971: "Just My Imagination" - The Temptations, co-written with Norman Whitfield
- 1972: "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" – The Temptations, (US #1, UK #8) originally recorded by the Undisputed Truth
- 1973: "Stand Up and Cheer for the Preacher" / (instrumental version) – Epic 5-11011
- 1975: "Surrender" / "There's Something About You" – Capitol 4120
- 1975: "Is It True" / "Anywhere" – Capitol 4052
- 1976: "Man Up in the Sky" / "Gonna Make It Right" - Capitol 4223
- 1980: "Love Is You" / "You Make Me Feel the Way You Do" - Coup CP-2007
- 1981: "Rock It Easy" / "Love Will Make It Alright" - Phase II WS8 02048
