Today’s Motown Underground Week Question: Who was Marvin Taplin?
Well, kids, Taplin was a Motown rarity. A guitar player who was not a member of the Funk Brothers, he was a full-fledged member of the Miracles. He was responsible for the gorgeous riff that opens and then runs through ‘Tracks Of My Tears’. He also co-wrote quite a few hits, both for Smokey and for other Motown artists, including Marvin Gaye.
He co-wrote this sophisticated hit for the Miracles (and came up with the opening guitar riff), which still remains relatively under the radar. Jerry Grant clued me into it, and he’s right. An understated masterpiece:
Oh, you say you missed that guitar riff on ‘Tracks Of My Tears’? Who am I to deny you the pleasure?:
