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Whitfield

Real Name:
Norman Jesse Whitfield
Profile:
Norman Whitfield (born May 12th, 1940, in Harlem/New York - died September 16th, 2008, in Los Angeles) was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s.
He is credited as being one of the creators of the Motown Sound, as well as one of the major instrumental figues in the late-60s sub-genre of psychedelic soul.

Whitfield left Motown in 1973 and created Whitfield Records, garnering chart success with Rose Royce, who started out as Edwin Starr's backing group. He won a Grammy Award in 1976 for his work on the "Car Wash" film soundtrack. He later retired from music in the late '80s.

The final months of his life were spent at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, undergoing treatment for diabetes and other ailments.
Variations:
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Discography

Production:
He Was Really Sayin' Somthin' (7")   V.I.P. 1964
Needle In A Haystack / Should I Tell Him (7") Needle In A Haystack V.I.P. 1964
Too Many Fish In The Sea / A Need For Love (7", Single, Mono)   Stateside 1964
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / You're What's Happening (In The World Today) (Single) (3 versions) I Heard It Through The... Tamla ... 1966
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby / Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) (7", Single)   Tamla 1966
(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need / Don't Send Me Away (7", Single) (Loneliness Made Me Re... Gordy 1967
Everybody Needs Love (Album) (2 versions)   Soul ... 1967
I Am The Man For You Baby (7", Single) My Weakness Is You Gordy 1968
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (7", Single) I Heard It Through The... Tamla Motown 1968
I Wish It Would Rain / It's Summer (7", Single)   Soul 1968
The End Of Our Road (7", Single)   Soul 1968
I Can't Get Next To You (7", Single)   Tamla Motown 1969
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / It's Time To Go Now (7")   Tamla Motown 1969
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / Need Somebody (7", Single) I Heard It Through The... Tamla Motown 1969
Psychedelic Shack / That's The Way Love Is (2 versions)   Gordy ... 1969
Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You) / I Can't Get Next To You (7")   Gordy 1969
The Nitty Gritty / Got Myself A Good Man (7", Single)   Soul 1969
Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) / It's Summer (7", Single)   Gordy 1970
I'll Say Forever My Love (7", Single) Everybody Needs Love Tamla Motown 1970
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (7")   Tamla Motown 1970
War / He Who Picks A Rose (7", Single)   Gordy 1970
Involved (Album) (2 versions)   Tamla Motown 1971
Sky's The Limit (LP)   Tamla Motown 1971
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (2 versions)   Tamla Motown 1972
Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) (7")   Tamla Motown 1972
Help Me Make It Through The Night (LP)   Tamla Motown 1973
Let's Get It On (7", Single) I Wish It Would Rain Tamla Motown 1973
I've Passed This Way Before / Sad And Lonesome Feeling (7", Single) Sad And Lonesome Feeling Tamla Motown 1975
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (7")   MCA Records 1976
The Best Of Marvin Gaye (LP)   Tamla Motown 1976
The Best Disco Album In The World ...Ever! (2xCD, Comp) Car Wash Virgin, Virgin 1997
The Temptations (CD, Comp) Beauty Is Only Skin Deep Universal 2000
Wish It Would Rain & In A Mellow Mood (CD, RM) I Could Never Love Ano... Motown 2000
The Complete Motown Singles | Vol. 7: 1967 (7", Single, RP + 5xCD, Comp, RM, Ltd) I Heard It Through The... Hip-O Select 2007
The Complete Motown Singles | Vol. 8: 1968 (7", Single, RP, Mono + 6xCD, Comp, RM, Ltd, Mono) I Heard It Through The... Hip-O Select 2007
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) / Get Ready (7", RE) Just My Imagination (R... Tamla Motown  
The End Of Our Road / Me And My Lonely Room (7", Single)   Tamla Motown  
Appears On:
A Collection Of 16 Tamla Motown Hits (LP, Comp, Mono) Needle In A Haystack, ... Tamla Motown 1964
He Was Really Sayin' Somthin' (7")   V.I.P. 1964
Needle In A Haystack / Should I Tell Him (7")   V.I.P. 1964
Too Many Fish In The Sea / A Need For Love (7", Single, Mono) Too Many Fish In The Sea Stateside 1964
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / You're What's Happening (In The World Today) (Single) (4 versions) I Heard It Through The... Tamla ... 1966
Pride And Joy / One Of These Days (7", Single, RE) Pride And Joy Tamla 1966
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby / Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) (7", Single) Too Busy Thinking Abou... Tamla 1966
(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need / Don't Send Me Away (7", Single) (Loneliness Made Me Re... Gordy 1967
Everybody Needs Love (Album) (2 versions) Everybody Needs Love, ... Soul ... 1967
Dusty Definitely (LP, Album) Ain't No Sun Since You... Philips 1968
I Am The Man For You Baby (7", Single) My Weakness Is You Gordy 1968
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (7", Single) I Heard It Through The... Tamla Motown 1968
I Wish It Would Rain / It's Summer (7", Single)   Soul 1968
Special Occasion (LP, Album) Everybody Needs Love, ... Tamla Motown, Tamla Motown 1968
The End Of Our Road (7", Single) The End Of Our Road, D... Soul 1968
Written On The Wind / Everybody Needs Love (7", Single) Everybody Needs Love (... Jugoton 1968
I Can't Get Next To You (7", Single)   Tamla Motown 1969
I Can't Get Next To You / It's Your Thing (7", Single) I Can't Get Next To You Cadet Records 1969
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / It's Time To Go Now (7")   Tamla Motown 1969
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / Need Somebody (7", Single) I Heard It Through The... Tamla Motown 1969
Psychedelic Shack / That's The Way Love Is (2 versions)   Gordy ... 1969
Run Away Child, Running Wild / I Need Your Lovin' (7")   Tamla Motown 1969
Running Away (Ain't Gonna Help You) / I Can't Get Next To You (7")   Gordy 1969
The Nitty Gritty / Got Myself A Good Man (7", Single) Got Myself A Good Man Soul 1969
Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) / It's Summer (7", Single) Ball Of Confusion (Tha... Gordy 1970
Cosmo's Factory (Album) (8 versions) I Heard It Through The... Fantasy ... 1970
I'll Say Forever My Love (7", Single) Everybody Needs Love Tamla Motown 1970
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (7") Just My Imagination (R... Tamla Motown 1970
Spacing Out (LP, Album) Can't Get Next To You Duane Records, Duane Records 1970
Stop The War Now (7")   Tamla Motown 1970
War / He Who Picks A Rose (7", Single) War, He Who Picks A Rose Gordy 1970
Houston Express (LP) Just My Imagination Prestige 1971
Involved (Album) (2 versions) War, Ball Of Confusion... Tamla Motown 1971
Sky's The Limit (LP)   Tamla Motown 1971
Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby / Everyday I Have To Cry Some (7", Single) Too Busy Thinking 'Bou... Pink Elephant 1971
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby (7") Too Busy Thinking Abou... Bell Records 1971
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (2 versions)   Tamla Motown 1972
Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) (7")   Tamla Motown 1972
Coast To Coast Overture And Beginners (LP, Album) I Wish It Would Rain Mercury 1973
Creedence Gold (Comp) (2 versions) I Heard It Through The... Jugoton ... 1973
Help Me Make It Through The Night (LP) I Wish It Would Rain, ... Tamla Motown 1973
Hot Hits 16 (LP, Comp) Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Music For Pleasure 1973
Let's Get It On (7", Single) I Wish It Would Rain Tamla Motown 1973
Pool Hall Richard (7", Single) I Wish It Would Rain (... Warner Bros. Records 1973
The Gentle Rain (LP, Album) Plastic Man Polydor 1973
Greatest Hits (LP) Don't You Miss Me A Li... Tamla Motown 1974
Philadelphia (LP, Album) Smilin' Faces Sometimes RCA Victor 1974
Greatest Hits (Comp) (2 versions)   Hi Records ... 1975
I Heard It Through The Grapevine (12", Promo)   Fantasy 1975
I've Passed This Way Before / Sad And Lonesome Feeling (7", Single) Sad And Lonesome Feeling Tamla Motown 1975
Just Wanna Rock 'N' Roll (LP) I Can't Get Next To You RCA Victor 1975
Others By Brothers (Album) (2 versions) I Heard It Through The... RCA Victor ... 1975
20 World Hits - Oldies Revival Vol. 4 (LP, Comp) I Heard It Through The... EMI Electrola 1976
Person To Person (2xLP) I Heard It Through The... Atlantic 1976
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (2 versions) Put Your Money Where Y... MCA Records 1976
The Best Of Marvin Gaye (LP) I Heard It Through The... Tamla Motown 1976
20 World Hits - Oldies Revival Vol. 5 (LP, Comp) Ball Of Confusion EMI Electrola 1977
Do Your Dance (7")   Whitfield Records 1977
Music Machine (LP, Comp) Car Wash K-Tel 1977
The Best Of The Faces (2xLP) I Wish It Would Rain Riva Records Ltd. 1977
Theme Song From "Which Way Is Up" (7") Theme Song From "Which... MCA Records 1977
'Live' (2xLP, Album, Gat) Can't Get Next To You Musik-Projekt 1978
Boogie Fever (LP, Comp, Album) Which Way Is Up Ronco 1978
Hobo With A Grin (Album) (2 versions)   EMI ... 1978
Lancelot Discotheque (LP, P/Mixed) Do Your Dance WEA 1978
Love Is So Easy / Which Way Is Up (12", Ltd) Theme From "Which Way ... MCA Records Ltd. 1978
Some Girls (Album) (10 versions) Just My Imagination (R... Rolling Stones Records ... 1978
The Stud (Cass) Car Wash CBS 1978
What You Waitin' For / Smile (2 versions) What You Waitin' For (... MCA Records 1978
Black Gold - The Greatest Hits Of Black Music (LP, Comp) Papa Was A Rolling Sto... Arcade Deutschland GmbH 1979
Cream Of Al Green (LP, Comp) I Can't Get Next To You Disques Vogue 1980
Greatest Hits (Comp) (2 versions)   Whitfield Records ... 1980
I Heard It Through The Grapevine / You Taught Me To Dance (12")   Roy B Records 1980
Motown Highlights 1964-1966 (LP, Comp) Needle In A Haystack Motown 1980
Motown Highlights 1966-1969 (LP, Comp) Cloud Nine, I Wish It ... Motown 1980
Motown Highlights 1969-1971 (LP, Comp) Ball Of Confusion, War... Motown 1980
Ain't No Stoppin' (Single) (2 versions) Car Wash Accord ... 1981
Estrellas En 45 Vol. 2 (LP, Album, Mixed) Papá Era Un Rolling S... Mercury, Phonogram S.A.I.C. 1981
20 Beat Classics (LP, Comp, Album) Pride & Joy RSO Records, Inc. 1982
Beat Surrender (12") War Polydor, Polydor 1982
Charthits 82 Vol. 2 (LP) Really Saying Somethin... K-Tel 1982
Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero (EP) (3 versions) War Polydor 1982
Really Saying Something (Maxi, Single) (5 versions) Really Saying Somethin... Mercury ... 1982
Still Life (American Concert 1981) (Album) (4 versions) Just My Imagination (R... Rolling Stones Records ... 1982
Touchdown (LP + 12", S/Sided) I Can't Get Next To You Fontana, Fontana 1982
War On 45 (12") War Fringe Product 1982
(I Know) I'm Losing You (4 versions)   Oak Lawn Records ... 1983
Deep Sea Skiving (LP) Really Saying Somethin... London Records 1983
Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm (Extended Version) (12", EP) Just My Imagination (R... WEA 1983
Lost Boys (CD, Album) I Heard It From The Gr... Ten Records Ltd. (10 Records) 1984
Two Tribes (Carnage) (Single, Maxi) (9 versions) War (Hide Yourself) ZTT ... 1984
War (Hidden) (Single) (2 versions) War (Hidden) ZTT 1984
Welcome To The Pleasuredome (Album) (15 versions) War (...And Hide) ZTT ... 1984
What We Did On Our Holidays (LP) I Heard It Through The... New Rose Records 1984
Bangs & Crashes (CD, Album) Ball Of Confusion (Live) Chrysalis 1985
Greatest Hits (3xLP, Comp)   Warner Special Products 1985
Love Ain't No Toy (12")   Ultra Phone 1986
Love Ain't No Toy / Lover To Lover (7", Single) Love Ain't No Toy Ultra Phone 1986
Ain't Too Proud To Beg / The High Dance (12") Ain't Too Proud To Beg Gipsy Records 1987
Ball Of Confusion (12")   State Of Emergency, Pyramid (3) 1987
Blockbusters (LP, Album) I Wish It Would Rain Fantasy 1987
The Drifters (CD, Comp) Ain't Too Proud To Beg Europa 1987
Hold Me In Your Arms (LP) Ain't Too Proud To Beg... RCA 1988
The Greatest Hits Collection (Comp) (2 versions) Really Saying Something London Records 1988
A Fridge Too Far (2 versions) Needle In A Haystack Musidisc ... 1989
Billboard Top Rock 'N' Roll Hits - 1969 (CD, Album, Comp) I Can't Get Next To You Rhino Records (2) 1989
Billboard Top Rock'n'Roll Hits - 1970 (LP) War Rhino Records (2) 1989
Solid Gold Party Rock (4xLP, Comp) Just My Imagination Warner Special Products, Silver Eagle Records, Inc. 1989
The Haunted Fish Tank (VHS, PAL) Ball Of Confusion Beggars Banquet 1989
Pop-Dreams - Golden Pop Classics (2xCD) I Wish I Would Rain Down Imtrat 1990
Rev Up - The Best Of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels (LP, Comp) Too Many Fish In The S... EMI Records 1990
The Complete Hit-Album 2 (LP, Comp) I Heard It Through The... Arcade 1990
Top Hits '90 Volume 1 (CD, Comp) Papa Was A Rolling Stone Arcade 1990
Zorch Factor 3 (LP, Album) I Heard It Through The... Nervous Records (2) 1990
Greatest Hits Side By Side (CD, Comp)   Dino Entertainment 1991
It Should've Been Me (7", Single)   Cooltempo, Cooltempo 1991
Just My Imagination Vol. 2 - Tears Of A Clown (LP, Comp) I Wish It Would Rain, ... Trojan Records 1991
Midnight Swinging Dance Party (CD, Comp) Too Busy Thinking Abou... Paradiso 1991
Creedence (CD, Comp) I Heard Through The Gr... Carrere 1993
Harmony (12")   Union City Recordings 1993
Party Power Pack (2xCD, Comp) Car Wash Polystar Records, Polystar Records, Polystar Records 1993
Levenslijn '94 (CD, Album) I Heard It Thru The Gr... Polydor 1994
Live Wood (CD, Album) (Can You Heal Us) Holy... Island Records 1994
Make Way For The Originals (CD, Smplr) Got Myself A Good Man BGP Records 1994
Monster Funk (CD, Comp) I Heard It Through The... Warner Special Products, Essex Entertainment, Inc. 1994
The Best Of The Average White Band - Let's Go Round Again (CD) I Heard It Through The... Red Bullet 1994
World Hits 1971 (CD, Comp) Just My Imagination Spectrum Music (2) 1994
World Hits 1972 (CD, Comp) Take A Look Around Spectrum Music (2) 1994
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing / The Greatest Hits In Concert (CD, Comp) I Heard It Through The... Prism Leisure 1996
Love Hurts (CD, Comp, RM) I Wish It Could Rain Slam Music 1996
The First 20 Years (2xCD, Album, Comp) Needle In A Haystack EMI Music (Australia) 1996
The Best Disco Album In The World ...Ever! (2xCD, Comp) Car Wash Virgin, Virgin 1997
Solar Soul Classics (2xCD, Comp) Papa Was A Rolling Stone Sequel Records 1999
The Upsetter Shop, Volume 2; 1969 To 1973 (CD, Comp, RM) Cloud Nine (Take 3) Heartbeat Records (2) 1999
Dance Classics Volume 7&8 (2xCD, Comp, RM) Theme Song From "Which... Universal TV 2000
Journey Inwards (2xCD, Album, Dig) Rhodes To Freedom Kinetic Records 2000
Maximum Joy (2xCD) War Wagram 2000
Mislyde (2xCD, Comp) Grapevine Kick Music 2000
Mixmania Vol. 8 (CD, Mixed, Comp) G-Train Antler-Subway, EMI Music (Belgium) 2000
On Air Party Airlines - Flight 2000.1 (CD, Comp) The G-Train (Short Edit) Arcade Music Company (Belgium) 2000
Psychedelic Soul (CD) Papa Was A Rollin' Sto... Spectrum Music (2) 2000
The Temptations (CD, Comp) Ain't Too Proud To Beg... Universal 2000
The Ultimate Creedence Clearwater Revival (2xCD, RM, Enh, Comp) I Heard It Through The... ZYX Music, Fantasy 2000
Wish It Would Rain & In A Mellow Mood (CD, RM) I Could Never Love Ano... Motown 2000
Classic Soul Volume 2 (CD, Comp) I Can't Get Next To You Musicbank Records Ltd. 2001
Dance Classics Volume 13&14 (2xCD, RM) Car Wash Universal TV 2001
Dance Classics Volume 15&16 (2xCD, Comp, RM) R.R. Express Universal TV 2001
In The Beginning (LP) Heard It Through The G... Get Back 2001
The Essential Collection (CD, Comp) I Gotta Find A Way To ... Spectrum Music (2) 2001
Twelve Inches (2xCD, Album) War (Hidden) ZTT 2001
United World Of Music - Disco (CD) Car Wash Rajon Music Group 2001
PowerPicks - Hot Chart Hits: Pop/Rock Picks - Vol. 169 (CD+G) Oh Boy (Radio Version)... Sound Choice (2) 2002
Letters From Vietnam (Featuring The Most Important Songs From A Troubled Time) (2xCD, Comp + Box) I Heard It Through The... New Sound 2000 Ltd., New Sound 2000 Ltd., New Sound 2000 Ltd. 2003
Live In Montreux 1980 (2xCD, Album) I Heard It Through The... Eagle Records, Eagle Records 2003
Memories (CD, Comp) I Heard It Through The... Music Club 2003
Rockin' After Midnight - The Last Concert (CD) I Heard It Through The... Dynamic Entertainment Ltd 2003
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle - The Album (Comp) (2 versions) I Wanna Get Next To You Razor & Tie ... 2004
Strange Brew - Weird & Wonderful Covers From The Warner & Atlantic Vaults (2xLP, Comp) I Heard It Through The... Warner Music UK Ltd., Warner Jazz 2004
Uptight And Outasight (CD, Comp, Mono) Girl (Why You Wanna Ma... Circle Records (6) 2004
Drama (Album) (4 versions) Really Saying Somethin... Blanco Y Negro (2) ... 2005
Internationale Oldie-Hits 100 (5xCD, Comp, Car + Box, Car) Law Of The Land Eurotrend 2005
War On 45 - March To The End (CD, Comp)   Sudden Death Records 2005
Can I Get A Witness (CD, Comp) Pride And Joy, I Heard... Hear Music, Universal Music Special Markets 2006
Monkey vs. Shark (CD, EP) I Can't Get Next To You Monotreme Records 2006
Party Starter: Funk (CD, Comp) Car Wash Universal Music Special Markets 2006
The Twelve Inches Of Bananarama (Comp) (2 versions)   Warner Platinum 2006
Trojan Motor City Reggae Box Set (3xCD, Comp, Ltd + Box) Whereever I Lay My Hat... Trojan Records 2006
Clubland 12 (2xCD, Comp + CD, Comp, Mixed) Grapevine Universal Music TV 2007
Meanwhile... Acoustically (CD, Album) Needle In A Haystack Liberation Music 2007
The Complete Motown Singles | Vol. 7: 1967 (7", Single, RP + 5xCD, Comp, RM, Ltd) I Heard It Through The... Hip-O Select 2007
The Complete Motown Singles | Vol. 8: 1968 (7", Single, RP, Mono + 6xCD, Comp, RM, Ltd, Mono) I Heard It Through The... Hip-O Select 2007
The Platinum Collection (CD, RM) I Heard It Though The ... Warner Platinum 2007
40th Anniversary Editions Box Set (7xCD, Album, RM + Box) I Heard It Through The... Fantasy 2009
Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits (CD, Comp, RM) I Heard It Through The... Fantasy, Fantasy  
Flash Back - La Grande Storia Del Rock (3xLP, Comp) I Heard It Through The... Curcio, Curcio, Curcio, Curcio  
Get Ready / Ain't Too Proud To Beg (7", RE) Ain't Too Proud To Beg Collectables, Motown  
Hey Tonight (LP) I Heard It Through The... Metronome  
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) / Get Ready (7", RE) Just My Imagination (R... Tamla Motown  
Recorded Live The Motortown Revue Vol. 2 (LP, Comp, Album, RE) Pride And Joy Motown  
The Best Of The Marvelettes (LP, Comp) Too Many Fish In The Sea Tamla Motown  
The End Of Our Road / Me And My Lonely Room (7", Single) The End Of Our Road, M... Tamla Motown  
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby / Girl I've Got News For You (12") Too Busy Thinking Abou... Music Service  
War / Stop The War Now (7", RE, Single)   Motown  
Why You Wanna Make Me Blue / Baby Baby I Need You (7", Single) Why You Wanna Make Me ... Tamla  
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by Stoffeler10 Apr 11, 2005 (edited over 4 years ago)
Arguable one of the greatest sound creators and innovators in 70`s Soul and Disco . With his stock of excellent session muscians like Melvin Ragin, better known as Wah Wah Watson, or Aaron Smith and Earl van Dyke, he was capable to make his mark on any of his projects. Whether it was UNDISPUTED TRUTH, THE TEMPTATIONS ,DAVID RUFFIN or ROSE ROYCE.
Whitfields "recycling technique" - recording hits like Superstar or Papa Was A Rollin`Stone and many others - again and again in new versions with different bands, reveals him as one of the first producers using the mix as an instrument of interpretation as we know it today. His way to arrange and produce was unique. His introduction of using the beat box instead of drums not only on tracks like 1990 or Big John Is My Name is so much forward, that one has to look on the record sleeves again to believe when they were recorded. No doubt: "Produced By Norman Whitfield" was one of the best certificates of quality a record could get during this time.

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