R. Dean Taylor - Candy Apple Red

Issued July 1971 on Rare Earth 5030.

Toronto native R. Dean Taylor began his musical career in 1961, with a couple of extremely rare singles released in Canada and the US. In 1964, he moved to Detroit to work for Motown and was signed as a writer and performer on the V.I.P. subsidiary label. His first single would have been a Beatles-related novelty, but it was withdrawn before release.

In 1967, he began to work with Motown production team Holland/Dozier/Holland, and wound up playing tambourine on many of the hits of the day, and progressed to co-composer of songs for The Four Tops and The Temptations. After H/D/H quit Motown, Taylor became part of the team assigned to The Supremes. For them, he co-wrote and co-produced "Love Child" and "I'm Livin' In Shame," among others.

Dean made several singles for Motown that did not do well in the US due to lack of promotion, but were huge hits in England. Motown created the Rare Earth label for the band of that name, as they were the only white artists on Motown. Dean was signed to it in 1970. After some initial uncertainty, his first record on Rare Earth, "Indiana Wants Me," was a smash, going to #1 in Canada, #5 in the US and #3 in the UK. Four more singles followed, including a reissue of his 1967 recording, "Gotta See Jane." He released an album with the impressively deep title of "I Think, Therefore I Am" in the fall of 1970.

"Candy Apple Red" was the single between "Gotta See Jane" and "Taos New Mexico." It Bubbled Under at #104, but managed decent airplay in some Canadian markets by virtue of being Canadian content. It was recorded after his album was released, although its B-side is on the LP.

Dean remained with Rare Earth until it was discontinued in 1976. He now lives in Los Angeles and has his own label to release his material, called Jane Records.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• R.
• Dean
• Taylor
• Candy
• Apple
• Red
• 1971
• Canadian
• pop
• Motown
• northern
• soul

[pickypete0]

Weird how I grew up in Toronto back then and don't remember some these songs by R. Dean. I just found out he was from there. wow.

The first white band Rare earth signed to their label back around 69 was what later became one of the best All til and most influential and probably most under rated rock bands of all time....UFO from England!! They're still out there touring and making records..they have so mant amazing albums solid through out no crap filer songs!!!

[mojofilter02]

@pickypete0

Rare Earth Records: Established in 1969 after the signing of Rare Earth (after whom the label was named), Rare Earth Records was a subsidiary focusing on rock music by white artists. Notable acts included Rare Earth, R. Dean Taylor, The Pretty Things, Stoney & Meatloaf, Toe Fat, The Cats and Shaun Murphy (singer). The label also was the subsidiary to house the first white band signed to Motown: The Rustix. The label was dissolved in 1976, and its acts moved to the Prodigal label.

[kinkkinda]

thanks for the many informations

[mojofilter02]

You're welcome!

[secordman]

Was there anybody like R. Dean Taylor? He was always a guy on the run, or at least desperate for something. Never heard this one before, he sounds almost Neil Diamond-like here, with a dose of solo Mark Lindsay.

[Loviekinz]

My mom has this record I always loved this song...it's my suicide song totally...

[jec3791]

I'm waiting for Wes Anderson to put this in a movie.

[pappy15445]

@secordman As a Neio Fan--I think see a bit of that too---tho Neil never went quite so to the brink as this song..But the raw emotion is there...as is in most of Neil's compositions....for instance the reprise version of I am ...I said that closed the album stones.

[MrDmc44111]

This song is hilarious! Great sound, though.

[Lavolanges]

This came out the year I graduated from high school but it rapidly disappeared from play. For decades I searched for it and started to wonder if I'd just dreamed it. I went so far as to get in touch with a former Golden Oldies DJ in the city where I was living and gave him the bit of lyrics that I remembered but he couldn't help me. Then, about 3 years ago I finally found it on iMesh. Love this song.

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

First time for Candy Apple Red. He's a Canadian singer & I've been in Vancouver Cda all my life, so there is no excuse as to why this song didn't go places here on top 40 radio. Yet Gotta see Jane & Indiana Wants Me were played & still being played to this very day, on oldies fm. I don't care for that Indiana song whatsoever, especially the ending, that song should of squeeked in at # 39 and no better & Candy Apple Red being the one to crack the top 10, but it didn't!, isn't that the brakes!

[Loviekinz]

You were the sweetness of my life, my hopes and dreams and you always were. When they'd ask me who i'm living for, i'd smile and say her. Then he became a part of you I just never was, I tried to pretend it doesn't hurt because it does...........

[pappy154451956]

what a beautiful troubling song/

[pickypete0]

@mojofilter02 You're very right UFO was signed in 71.