oliver
Junior Member
Posts: 67
|
Post by oliver on Jun 30, 2006 16:51:21 GMT 1
Dear Boney M. 2006,
you really can't stop it, can you ? Everytime things have calmed down on this page and people start discussing the music again and enjoy themselves you have to write something agressive and amke other people react heavily. How come that you have this obsession with Liz Mitchell ? And after all your remarks about the other members I really have to call it an obsession. I won't go into the discussion about who sang what- we all had this and I think most of us are tired of this discussion. All four members were an important part of Boney M. and I really am disgusted by all the hatred that point towards Maizie Williams and the others. Why do you have to start that all over again ? Don't you realize that none of the people here sympathize with the agressive tone of yours ? And why do write personal letters to Maizie on this site ? Write them to her, give a copy to Liz and get an autograph with "Love and thanks" in return. Sorry, but it really gets on my nerves how personal you take everything. And again I say: I'm not a member on this page just to hear what a goddess Liz Mitchell is. And really- I don't understand why had to start this all over again. Maizie may have never sung a note for real but she was a member of Boney M. Full stop. Same goes for Bobby. And Marcia. And Liz. The four of them were Boney M. And please stop telling us how stunning all those vocal performances of Liz Mitchell were. I'm sorry to write this but calm down a bit. Be a fan and enjoy yourself.
|
|
|
|
Post by richardjohn on Jul 2, 2006 20:04:15 GMT 1
I really think that it's time we moved on from the 'who's the best in Boney M' debate. Everyone has their favorite and everyone has the right to their own opinion.
I think that anyone who cares, knows by now that the Boney M vocals were done by and large by Liz. Marcia and Frank. All three were vital to the overall sound. I love Liz's and Marcia's solo stuff, but none of it compares to the golden era of Boney M 1976-1979.
But pop music has always been about more than just the sound.
Image was important in the 70s as it is now. Boney M had a very strong image created by Liz,Marcia,Maizie and Bobby. All were imortant and no other Boney M line up can compare to the original.
I think that the fact that Boney Ms image was so strong at their peak was one of the things that brought about their downfall.
When Frank tried to tinker with the image and the line-up it just didn't work.
Some time ago, in a posting, I said that Liz's face and voice was what people remember. I am big enough however to admit that I may have been wrong. It was pointed out to me that Bobby is the one that people remember, and i can see know that that may be true. i am sure that most people could pick out Bobby in a line-up maybe more so than any of the others. Someone also said to me recently that they had assumed that Boney M was Bobby and that the girls were his backing singers! Ouch!!!
Maizie for me , was always the one that I didn't like as much. Nothing personal, I just couldn't see what she contributed. But she is part of that classic line up and should be respected. I would also have to say that at the time i thought that Liz was beautiful and Marcia was the sexy one, but wow has Maizie looked after herself well. She looks stunning.
Anyway, in conclusion I have to say that they all played their part and I wish Frank Farian would respect them all and invite them all to the Daddy Cool premier. Can't the man see the publicity potential apart from it just being good manners?
|
|
|
|
Post by jdbaptist on Jul 2, 2006 20:59:57 GMT 1
Liz Mitchell as good as Donna Summer?! Diana Ross?! Are you off your rocker? She hasn't a patch! Liz Mitchell's voice works best when she has the support of Frank Farian's and the balance of Marcia Barrett's. She is the lead vocal but it only works when she has this combination to complete it. On stage it's much the same for her performance. In fact. Marcia Barrett is a much better vocalist live.  And much more cool.... Whatever shortcomings that Bobby and Maizie may have to the recording process for Boney M. they were very much part of the band live (remember? Boney M. was a group y'know!) and Liz Mitchell could not and still can't pull it off without them.... X |
|
|
|
Post by richardjohn on Jul 2, 2006 21:34:07 GMT 1
l think you've misread what i have said. I was saying that Liz is NOT in the same league as Donna Summer or Diana Ross.
|
|
|
|
Post by jdbaptist on Jul 4, 2006 21:45:32 GMT 1
My apologies richardjohn, yours are not necessary. When I posted this entry it was in response to, ahem, earlier comments made on the previous page and not directed at you. You talk beautiful sense as most of us do on this board.
I agree with you when you say that the group's best period was 1975-1979/80 and it has never been equaled because, as you said, there was too much tinkering from Farian (I think he basically attempted to wipe out any individuality they may have shown and use the group without any consideration of their development for the future. Although I like some of the 'Boonoonooonoos' LP I think that he really was just stamping himself all over it (he seems totally obsessed with control and things exactly his way). It's overblown production is exactly like himself. And I also believe that he did as much harm to Liz Mitchell's career as he did to the rest of them.
|
|
|
|
Post by summerleeway on Jul 4, 2006 21:59:37 GMT 1
I totally agree with you . Frank always put his stamp on most of his Productions. He did not only Vocals on Boney M. Tracks. You can hear him on both Precious Wilson Albums. On the La Mama Album. It's the Same on some Milli Vanilli tracks and also No Mercy.
But the badest thing you can hear on his Far Corporation Project. On Stairway to Heaven he's Grumbling '' And it makes me wonder''- I think me too.
|
|
|
|
Post by jdbaptist on Jul 4, 2006 22:09:38 GMT 1
It's such a shame, particularly with Boney M. I know that half an effort and a bit of enthusiasm and he could have easily used all of the group on the records. It's really not that difficult to do to make the least original vocalist to sound better in the studio. Bobby Farrell 'mimics' that male studio vocal better than Farian can. Farian couldn't (and still can't) do it. He sounds more like a German 'Bee Gee'!!.
I personally think that he was just trying to prove to all the boys (Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Cerrone and Peter Levay) that he was as good as them!
Imagine the slating at the producers annual Christmas Party! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by richardjohn on Jul 4, 2006 22:13:48 GMT 1
Thanks John. For a moment i thought i had missed out an important word in my posting.
I love Liz's voice but Diana Ross and Donna Summer are something else. I'm sure Liz wouldn't put herself above those legends. l've never seen Boney M or Liz or Marcica live, but i have seen Diana Ross twice and she is spectacular. No frills,no dancers, minimal lighting effects but pure entertainment. One woman holding the attention of her audience. Pure class. Due a comeback later this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by jdbaptist on Jul 4, 2006 22:30:39 GMT 1
Donna is on tour aswell !! She's announced the US dates already and I'm hoping the European ones soon...
A legend like Diana Ross could get up in a mikman's uniform, banging two milk bottles for percussion and still be amazing. I don't think so of Liz. I don't think that she has good stage presence really. Liz worked in the original Boney M. because she had such huge stage support from Maizie, Marcia and Bobby. That energy came from all four of them. They were called an 'eight-legged sex machine' on stage for a reason...
|
|
|
|
Post by boneyMitchell2006 on Jul 4, 2006 23:28:49 GMT 1
one word for miss ross "dusty" she could sing diana in to the next world vocaly dusty is a stunning singer totaly unique and dare i say the best singer from the uk ever! what a voice pop rock disco soul dance she could do them all  i still miss her  shes class k |
|
|
|
Post by jdbaptist on Jul 5, 2006 18:35:09 GMT 1
Now Dusty! Yeah, she's one of my faves aswell. I really like Dusty as a person too; something that you couldn't really say about Ms. Ross. She literally clawed her way to the top but in her day as a solo artist (early to late Seventies) she was truly an amazing singer. A pity she's gone a bit ga ga too....  Diana Ross started off in Florence Ballard's band The Primettes along with best friend Mary Wilson. By the time that Diana had gotten into bed (literally) with Motown Boss, Barry Gordy Jnr, The band's name had been changed to The Supremes, Diana was out in front and Florence and Mary (who had previously sang their own leads) were reduced to backing singers (sound familiar?). As years went on the band became Diana Ross & The Supremes. She even got her own dressing room and her 'best friend' and Florence were in the dressing room next to her, the one without the Star on to door... Mary Wilson still does not speak to her and Ms. ballard took her own life with alcohol addiction in the early Seventies. There's no business like show business..... |
|
|
|
Post by richardjohn on Jul 5, 2006 20:30:11 GMT 1
Of course I can't vouch for Diana Ross as a person, but I like to think that not everything we read is true. However, without her pushed to the front I believe that they would have been forever known as 'The No-Hit Supremes'. Like it or not she was the one with charisma and what we would call today the x factor.
|
|
|
|
Post by jdbaptist on Jul 7, 2006 16:16:38 GMT 1
I agree that she should have been out in front: her voice is meant to sing pop songs and she does it very well. What I like about the end of her time with the Supremes they did a last tour together and then released a farwell concert album. She also introduced her replacement, Jean Terrell, at these concerts.
On March 7, 1970 the Jean Terrell led Supremes reached the Billboard charts with "Up the Ladder to the Roof" (#10) and proved the name still had power even without Ross. In fact, their Right On album with Terrell did better (#25) than the double live farewell album with Ross (#46).
The new Supremes third single "Stoned Love" (#7 pop) was a million seller in 1970, and became the Supremes eighth number one on the R&B charts.
Now, imagine if that was the scenario with Boney M. when Liz decided to leave and do her solo work?
|
|
|
|
Post by richardjohn on Jul 7, 2006 17:03:30 GMT 1
l agree John, much as I love Diana, some of the singles from the Supremes after she left were amongst their best (Stoned Love,Nathan Jones, Automatically Sunshine, Up the ladder to the Roof). I think it's probably a mistake that they carried on for quite so long with so many differrent Supremes coming and going. It's as confusing as all the people claiming to have been in Boney M!
I also think that Dusty at her peak was unbeatable, but she also had her share of ga-ga moments.
|
|
|
|
Post by jdbaptist on Jul 7, 2006 19:42:35 GMT 1
I love Dusty too, especially the 'Memphis' album. 'Son Of A Preacher Man' was the first single I ever bought! I often thought that a cover of this song by Marcia Barrett would be excellent! Maybe 'Windmills of The Mind' for Liz Mithell - her voice would be great on lead for this. have you heard Liz'z version of 'Somewhere'? This would have been another good Boney M. cover because I think it would work better with the Liz/Marcia/Frank combination. Maybe itis because Liz's voice is so connected to the Boney M. sound that it does not sound right (to me) if she hasn't got that back-up combination with Marcia (and Frank).
|
|
And much more cool....
i still miss her 
