Rod Temperton 2016 Claims Another Great

[Mykesbass]

Amazing songwriter, and, according to an old friend who knew him, a really great guy. Only 66

[bubinga5]

Oh man no.. Really.!!?

Edited October 5, 2016 by bubinga5

[bubinga5]

That is very sad. One of my favourites. He was a genius. His stuff with Heatwave was just amazing. Nevermind the Thriller masterpeice etc.

[Funky Dunky]

Genuinely saddened by this. Rod's a dude. I often used to ask people "Did you know Thriller was written by a white dude from Cleethorpes?"

Cue open-mouthed disbelief.

R.I.P. fella, thanks for the funk

[lowdown]

Oh dear.
Seriously Terrific musician and writer.

[spongebob]

Just saw this on the NME site. Shocking.

His songwriting talent was simply stellar - aside from Heatwave/Jacko, he penned so many greats for so many artists.

He also wrote the majority of the 'Give Me The Night' album for George Benson. What an amazing run.

[Huge Hands]

RIP to Rod. I got to do sound for Heatwave a few times in the 2000s - no Rod, but listening to his tunes played well was a fantastic experience!

Another hero of mine gone in 2016

[Mickeyboro]

'Johnnie Wilder's Chicago Heatwave' were playing a college dance, mid Seventies.

I had no idea who they were but, like Chic, they changed my view of 'disco-dance music' from something for the great unwashed to a musical phenomenon to be appreciated.

RIP Rod.

[bubinga5]

I think this is a soul funk masterpeice. It sounds like a Micheal Jackson record. The harmony change with the bass on this record is very very clever @ 3.20 . Rod Temperton all over it.
http://youtu.be/hsCu4RbRoM0

Edited October 5, 2016 by bubinga5

[wombatboter]

Sweet freedom, etc....absolute genius !

[plumbob]

Bloody 2016, not another one!

Great songwriter/musician, I remember seeing a documentary with Quincy Jones, saying how he asked his people to get hold of the cat that wrote the Heatwave stuff.
Rod duly turned up, and wandered around the studio for a while till Quincy asked who he was, it came as a big surprise to him that the cat who wrote all that funky Heatwave stuff was actually a white fishmonger from Grimsby!!!

Suffice as to say they became great friends and were involved in many things.
The other thing that always makes laugh is that Quincy was saying that they had more or less done the Thriller track when he picked up Rod in his car one morning, and told Rod “ you know that idea you had about Vincent Price talking over the track, well he’s agreed to do it, he’s coming to the studio right now, got any words!” Rod wrote the words on the way to the studio, and well Quincy stalled Vincent out the front, Rod got the secretary to type it up ready to put on the stand!

[Roger2611]

I didn't know much about him and certainly didn't know he had written so many huge songs, RIP Rod

[lowdown]

[quote name='wombatboter' timestamp='1475690146' post='3148031']
Sweet freedom, etc....absolute genius !
[/quote]

Yes, that one always goes under the radar because Michael McDonald was such a prolific writer himself.
http://youtu.be/U-xetxYwyak

Just so many, and I seemed to have liked them all over the years.
I was really into his music.

Another classic.
http://youtu.be/aevz1jqG3SY

[spectoremg]

Rock With You, possibly one of the perfect pop songs. RIP Rod.

[oldbass]

My busiest working days were mid/late 70's early 80's...and his presence seemed to be everywhere....amazing songwriter....simple hooks, great arrangements...clever stuff.

Edited October 5, 2016 by ians

[lojo]

Wasn't thriller just heatwave tracks with a different singer ?

Yep those early heatwave albums where fantastic

[lowland]

Agreed, lojo - the cadence at 3.53 is pure Heatwave IMO. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIx_HbmRnQY"]https://www.youtube....h?v=xIx_HbmRnQY[/url]

Edited October 6, 2016 by lowland

[lowdown]

[quote name='lowland' timestamp='1475739260' post='3148283']
Agreed, lojo - the cadence at 3.53 is pure Heatwave IMO. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIx_HbmRnQY"]https://www.youtube....h?v=xIx_HbmRnQY[/url]
[/quote]

He also drops in a bit of a teaser for that sequence at 1:45

[quote name='ians' timestamp='1475697004' post='3148116']
his presence seemed to be everywhere....amazing songwriter....simple hooks, great arrangements...clever stuff.[/quote]

All very true.

Edited October 6, 2016 by lowdown

[chris_b]

His was a name I vaguely knew but didn't know why. In going through his songs, I find I know nearly all of them.

What a great song writer.

Sad news.

[bubinga5]

Alot of people think this song was written by Quincy Jones. It was co written with Rod Temperton. I do think Temperton got a huge influence from Quincy with his sound. http://youtu.be/ariYiRhFtDc

Edited October 6, 2016 by bubinga5

[lowdown]

I thought it was a Rod Temperton tune?

[bubinga5]

He co wrote it with Quincy. http://youtu.be/xIx_HbmRnQY

Edited October 8, 2016 by bubinga5

[bubinga5]

It's broken down by Incognito,s brilliant remix guy Ski Okenfold. This guy is so talented. http://youtu.be/MyWQdktB5zM

[bubinga5]

This for me is the ultimate Rod Temperton record sung by a genius performer. It was a perfect match. Soul music perfection. http://youtu.be/hG9OzYVSg3c

Edited October 6, 2016 by bubinga5

[lowdown]

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1475788546' post='3148852']
He co wrote it with Quincy.
[/quote]

He co-arranged with QJ and Jerry Hey, but wrote the song/tune.
That aside, just a terrific album all around with some top, top playing and singing.
Terrific assortment of musicians and vocalists, they all played their part.
https://www.discogs.com/Quincy-Jones-The-Dude/release/320334

Classic Rob Temperton.
http://youtu.be/dfzs00EuWMg