When LAMONT DOZIER died on August 8, 2022, we misplaced one of many chief architects of the Motown sound: a grasp craftsman who helped outline common music through the Sixties. Right here EDDIE HOLLAND pays a transferring, in-depth tribute to his buddy and former collaborator – taking us from the manufacturing unit ground at Hitsville USA throughout Motown’s imperial section to revelations about more moderen plans to revive the Holland-Dozier-Holland partnership. “Lamont, Brian and I had been collectively so lengthy, the connection we had was lovely,” he tells Nick Hasted, within the newest problem of Uncut journal – in UK outlets from Thursday, Sept 15 and available for purchase from our on-line retailer. “I nonetheless don’t actually need to take into consideration him being gone.”
PLUS: The 4 Tops, The Chairmen Of The Board, Mick Hucknall and extra salute Dozier’s songwriting genius.
The final time I noticed Lamont Dozier was in 2020. He was dwelling in Las Vegas and Barbara, his spouse, requested if I might go to a gathering. I used to be very stunned. I’d been wanting him to do one thing with Holland-Dozier-Holland once more and that’s what he wished to speak about. Barbara requested if I might think about letting Lamont get entangled with a tune Brian and I had written. Might we work out an association as Holland-Dozier-Holland once more? I stated, “Certain.”
You see, when Hitsville was actually buzzing, it was magic. We had been on one other form of excessive. It was nearly as if one thing took over – one thing stronger than us. For 4, 5 years, we had been on a circulate. However again there at Motown, I don’t suppose Holland-Dozier-Holland ever reached their full potential. Actually, we’d solely simply obtained began. So I wished to work on some songs once more, do one thing collectively. However, in some way, we by no means actually obtained round to it.
I heard about Lamont’s passing from his brother Reggie. I’m nonetheless not over it. Intellectually, I perceive he’s not right here. However emotionally, I don’t need to settle for it. I don’t need him not being right here. Lamont, Brian and I had been collectively so lengthy, the connection we had was lovely.
Lamont had already began working along with Brian at Motown in 1962. However it was my thought to place them collectively, with me writing lyrics. Don’t get me flawed, Lamont was a superb author. However they had been so musically fluent, writing lyrics was holding them up. So I stated to my brother, “How about I do the lyrics? This fashion, we may cowl a whole lot of floor actual quick.” We labored collectively like a appeal. Matter of reality, we’d provide you with so many data so typically and so quick, I’d say, “My God, is it that straightforward?” However it wasn’t that it was straightforward – it’s simply that after we had been producing data, we had been instinctive, uninhibited. We had individuals coming from New York saying, ‘Wow, do you realise you’ve had this many High 10 and No 1 data?’ Nicely, probably not. We by no means talked about how profitable we had been amongst ourselves. As aggressive as all of the writers had been at Motown, we at all times helped one another. The very fact is, we had been very, very younger and we had a sure naïveté. We had been simply within the temper and the second. We had been doing what we felt, man.
That is the best way it labored between Lamont and Brian. Brian was very, superb on melodies. Lamont was too, however generally he tended to ask Brian to right some chord he was in search of. Marvin Gaye’s “Can I Get A Witness”, or “Jimmy Mack” by Martha & The Vandellas – these are straight R&B. That’s Lamont, not Brian. The primary actual huge tune we did on the Vandellas, “Warmth Wave” – that was principally Lamont’s melody and manufacturing. Lamont was superb at shuffles.
I requested my brother as soon as, “Why does Lamont do these sorts of rhythms?” No person can sing that stuff however him and me – I’d should sing them to translate them to the artists. Brian stated, “Ed, let me let you know one thing. Lamont was a drummer. He nonetheless has the rhythms he realized from that.” I stated, “Wow! That’s why it’s tough like that.” It’s the best way he syncopates, it’s nearly an off-timing factor, that doubles up in a sure beat – bababa-bababa, ba-ba ba-ba.
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