Jump to content

Unsung


Eric83

Recommended Posts

  • Members

unsung-logo.jpg

Show that discusses R&B/Hip Hop artists from yesteryear that never got the recognition they deserved (in most cases)

What are some of you guys' favorite episodes?

My favorite is the Marvelettes, I will come back and discuss why when I have more time just wanted to hurry and make the thread lol.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 299
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Members

Re: The Marvelettes -- Instead of "erasing" each departing member's face and body from the group photo, they should have used red X's instead. Believe me, it would have been so much kinder.

Edited by Khan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

One of my favorites was definitely Sylvester and learning more about him and that was because of the teasers they kept doing for Unsung with using his music.

But I was a little sad to see that he wasn't happy that his back-up singers, who later became The Weather Girls, who got their time to shine eventually.

Tami Terrell's episode was really good and the guy from The Spinners I really liked his. I felt bad finding out how he died.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I'm so glad that you started this thread, as this is one of my favorite TV shows.

Favorite Unsung episode? I'd have to say the Phyllis Hyman one, though the DeBarge one clocks in at a close second.

Least favorite is the Sly Stone episode - hands down. Granted, the episodes were already becoming watered down by that point, but the way they blatantly skated around the fact that Sly was and is mentally ill was just too much for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Yes, I loved the DeBarge episode. My aunt always used to go on and on about how Time Will Reveal was her and her boyfriend's song back when she was in high school. I love the song "I Like It" and never knew how tragic their story was. Especially the oldest brother and how he eventually died of HIV/AIDS.

The Marvelettes one was so interesting to me. If you asked me who scored Motown's 1st #1 hit on the Pop Chart I would tell you The Supremes. Please Mr. Postman was sucha good song, and it was sad that they usually came in third (behind the Supremes and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) when it came to girl groups. Even Martha Reeves and co. have memorable hits like "Dancing in the Street" and "Heatwave" but the Marvelettes was just forgotten. Gladys was my favorite member and I loved her vocals on "Too Many Fish in the Sea", song was stuck in my head for weeks after watching the episode, Wanda also sang some classics like "Don't Mess With Bill".Also loved how Katherine kept it so real in her interviews. I felt sorry for the girl who wrote Please Mr. Postman and couldn't join the group because her father wouldn't allow her to, but considering the group's fate maybe it was for the best. I am about to go look up who else they covered because I am sure I had some other faves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Love this thread!

My least favorite was Bootsy Collins! Noise making clown!

I loved Sylvester's eppy and Regina Belle. I love that she lived a really good life. You hear so much garbage about how some don't fair very well once the spotlight is over, but she just excelled in other areas. She even overcame a brain tumor.

Tina Marie's was good as well as Angie Bofil.

I think Vesta's eppy really bugged me. She really hated herself because of the weight gain. Some of the things she said during the Unsung interviews were really unsettling. I was uncomfortable watching her. Was shocked to learn she passed not long after that Unsung.

DeBarge - Yes!

Donnie Hathaway's was sad. To this very day, somme of his family members and friends still won't admit he was mentally ill. That was not something you acknowledge in the black community.

Tammy Terrell's was really sad. Very talented young woman who lost her life at 24 years old.

Florence Ballard. Lots of truths told. Not a Diana Ross fan, but it cleared up many thing that were said about her in relation to Ballard that were not true.

Edited by ChitHappens
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I watched a bunch of episodes on YouTube back-to-back-to-back on a Sunday afternoon about a year and a half ago, and I absolutely loved them. My faves were Tammi Terrell, Shalamar, Evelyn Champagne King, Deniece Williams, Rose Royce, Heatwave, and Sylvester.

ECK, if I remember right, went through some bad things, but she was such a vibrant, fun personality all throughout the episode, still can sing well, and she even performs with her husband. Definitely a happy ending.

The Rose Royce episode was SO sad, and nobody died. It was just all about how the guys all got together first, then their label put Gwen Dickey in as the "face" of the group, and the guys all resented her and treated her like sh!t because they were jealous. She left the group and, even though she's proud of the work she did with them, she's basically chosen to rise above them and not have anything to do with them anymore.

The Shalamar ep bugged me a bit. They all acknowledged that they were pretty young and stupid with their money and fame, but it seemed like they still stood by some of their stupidity, especially Howard Hewitt. And that sucka said he hated disco!

And Tammi Terrell...just tragic sad.png

I NEED to see the Millie episode. That's my girl! And they need to make a Betty Wright episode.

Edited by All My Shadows
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Didn't they do an episode on Ray Parker, Jr.? I seem to recall him talking about how Leo Sayer took songwriting credit for "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" even though Ray actually wrote it. (Of course, given what happened later regarding the "Ghostbusters" theme, perhaps Ray isn't being completely honest?) Knowing that upsets me, if only b/c Richard Perry, who produced "Dancing" along with the rest of Sayer's album, Endless Flight, happens to be my all-time fave music producer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • Oakland Tribune, 14 July 1985   AW is another show with Schenkel at helm By Connie Passalacqua For the most part, dictators of South American banana republics enjoy better reputations than executive producers of daytime soap operas. Total authority is vested in these producers, who can kill off a character (thus firing an actor) with a stroke of a pen, or completely change life in his or her soap opera dominion (both in its fictional locale and backstage at the studio) on any kind of whim.  Most rule despotically, inspiring fear in their actors and writers. Which inevitably surfaces on the screen and subtracts from a show's quality. Then there's Stephen Schenkel who became executive producer of Another World last fall. He's been described by one of his actresses as "a teddy bear." He has noticeably improved the show, mostly because his natural warmth encourages backstage cohesiveness, and he believes in personally nurturing his staff and cast. 'I like to be supportive', he said.' I like to generate a certain amount of enthusiasm. I love actors and writers and technical people. And I like to laugh..  ' Schenkel said that most of the factors that have led to the shows improved ratings existed before he took over. There were well defined characters, outstanding writers and excellent production values, he explains. 'These things were in place but needed to be stimulated. There wasn't a lot of excitement. What really was missing was an adequate story. We added Gillian Spencer as a writer. (she also plays Daisy on All My Children), who's wonderful, and it just coalesced. The writers energy and commitment to the show began to give it an emotional intensity and some real passion within the characters." Schenkel, a former ABC programming executive who helped develop Ryan's Hope, is a strong believer in stressing romantic and comedy elements in soap operas. AW is also one of the only soaps with an established group of comic characters, including Wallingford (Brent Collins) and Lily Mason (Jackee , Harry). Schenkel raves about the talents of all his actors, and even has something good to say about the Brooklyn location of the shows studio, which most of his Manhattan-oriented staff loathe. I like the people here. I like to walk down the street and feel their energies, he said. He also violateda soap opera no-no, ' inviting actors and writers to the same party. "Everyone got to know one another, he said. And I didn't get any complaints about actors ' begging for story lines, he said. 
    • Since it's pride month.

      Please register in order to view this content

         
    • National City Star-News, 5 May 1977 TV topics by Peter Blazi Lear’s ‘All that Glitters’—doesn’t The best thing that can be said about Norman Lear’s newest soap opera“All That Glitters” is that it comes on so late at night most people will miss it. Role reversal is supposed to be the big draw, with women the breadwinners, mainly executives of a huge conglomerate. The men either fuss with the housework or fidget at the office as secretaries to their bawdy bosses. A female fantasyland? I doubt it. While the role reversal idea has some possibilities, the show pushes too hard for laughs and winds up with raucous females and effete males. A confident, independent woman is indeed a sight to behold and attract, but femininity need not be sacrificed. Unlike Lear’s “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” "Glitters” doesn’t, but you’ve got to give him credit for trying. Today’s experimental comedy is what tomorrow’s hits are made of. Better luck next time, Norman. (“All That Glitters” can be seen weekday evenings at 11 p.m. on Channel 6.) .
    • Actually Kim Zimmer got six weeks off to test the waters for pilot season in L.A. - she said later she went on many auditions and got one offer for a sitcom, but she would one of many in an ensemble. She turned it down, because it wasn't worth leaving Guiding Light for a supporting role on a sitcom. 
    • I'm not even sure why Zoe would care, even if they know each other offcamera.  I can't see Jean going, but if she is - good riddance at this point.
    • I just found the commercial on YouTube, with several other GL'ers doing the same commercial - how fun!

      Please register in order to view this content

        She did the same for me once Ghost Reva arrived (the anxiety and paranoia) - which is when the storyline for Rick/Annie started, with their Chicago past and her alcoholism. But before all that, when she was new and tending to Josh's broken leg, she was just normal, sweet and very cute/flirty. 
    • I have to admit Annie exhausted me somewhat before she went nuts. So much anxiety. She and Robert were OK I guess. Didn't ever stick out much one way or the other.
    • I meant to ask in the May thread, but hey...it's not like it won't come up...   ...has our opinions of Jessica changed at this point? I know we debated at one point if she was sincere in her feelings for Ty or if she was in on his bullying. Now that a little more time has passed, what do we think? 
    • Which is why I said...and continue to say mind you...that the designer is still trying to figure out what works for which character...highlight my points with particular characters. And as I also agree with you, too many misses. She has not found a clear, firm rhythm for me. Yet.   I also agree that BTG does a much better job. But I'll give credit where it's due. 
    • I watch many episodes from the Vault, a secret source here on SON, because the quality is much better than YouTube. But, it has commercials that I have to skip through, although even these commercials give me serious nostalgia vibes. All that said, there is a consistent 1996 commercial for Excedrin with Frank Beatty!  He talks right into the camera about his feelings, and it's like Brent Lawrence never left. I wonder if GL fans back in the day ever saw this and had feelings about it. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy