Two Sides by Detroit’s Freddie Gorman

• Listen to this song on youtube: In A Bad Way, Take Me Back
• Listen to these 45s in a Spotify playlist here  with other 45s from the blog (though note, spotify doesn’t have all / many of the songs featured on the site so some playlists may be incomplete or feature slightly different versions than the original 45s I’m referring to here.
• This song is available on Musical Episode #016: Singles Mixer v. 5

Freddie Gorman may not be a name that immediately rings bells with many listeners but his contributions to American musical history are deserving of a much greater place in our collective memory.

A native of Detroit, Gorman was tied in with the nascent soul scene of the early 60’s writing and releasing records on smaller independents Golden World and Ric-Tic as heard here today but was tied in with the soon to be global powerhouse Motown.  It was Gorman, a postman by day, who co-wrote Motown’s first #1 hit “Please Mr. Postman”  along with a parade of records for other Motown recording artists.

When not recording solo, penning hits for The Reflections, singing back ups for Jimmy Ruffin, Gorman was also a member of The Originals, recording with them from 1966 until they stopped actively recording and performing in the mid-80’s.

Today’s 45s are from the period in between his early success with Motown and his return to the label as a member of The Originals w hen Ric-Tic and sister label Golden World and their holdings were bought up by Gordy and folded into Motown. 

I hope you enjoy today’s records and check out more of Freddie Gorman’s music, whether solo, as a writer or with The Originals.

Best,

-Snack Attack / George

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