So this week both Barrett Strong, cowriter of many Tamla Motown hits especially for the Temptations, and Tom Verlaine of proto punk band Television and have left us.

Strong had a 1950s hit with Money (That’s What I Want), later recorded by The Beatles. His writing credit for the song has been withdrawn twice.
Apart from that his most enduring work is probably the run of songs he wrote with Norman Whitfield for The Temptations. Including this one.

The Temptations: Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)

Barrett Strong: 5/2/1941 – 28/1/2023. So it goes.

Verlaine’s music has been an influence of many of those who came after him.

Television: Marquee Moon

Thomas Miller (Tom Verlaine) 13/12/1949 – 28/1/2023. So it goes.

It was just after I got back from my holiday that I saw the obituary of Joe Messina, one of the Funk Brothers, the session musicians behind the success of the Tamla-Motown record label.

Messina’s rhythm guitar was a potent driving force in the groove of those records. This is only one of the hits he played on.

The Temptations: I Know I’m Losing You

Joseph Lucian (Joe) Messina: 13/12/1928 – April 4/4/2022. So it goes.

Dennis Edwards died earlier this week. He replaced David Ruffin in the line-up of The Temptations and was an important part of the new grittier sound which had more chart success in the UK than the band’s earlier incarnation.

An example of one of those less romance-leaning songs is Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone from 1972.

The Temptations: Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone

Dennis Edwards: 3/2/1943 – 1/2/2018. So it goes