I need a guide to Motown - what, when, how, who, why? What are the classics and what are the duds?
― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:46 (eighteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 4 July 2005 17:56 (eighteen years ago) link
And the girls:Where Did Our Love GoYou Can't Hurry LoveStop in the Name Of LoveNowhere To Run
And the Five:The Love You SaveABCI Want You Back
Later Motown is all about Stevie and Marvin:What's Going OnSuperstitionMercy, Mercy MeSigned, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
After that things go downhill and you get Maxwell.
― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 4 July 2005 18:08 (eighteen years ago) link
The original, typical, Motown sound didn't exist anymore around the formation of The Commodores. So, no.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 4 July 2005 18:30 (eighteen years ago) link
― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Monday, 4 July 2005 18:35 (eighteen years ago) link
― Sixty eight (David Allen), Monday, 4 July 2005 18:49 (eighteen years ago) link
― bg (creamolafoam), Monday, 4 July 2005 18:54 (eighteen years ago) link
Standing in the Shadows of Motown is also essential for its highlighting of the Funk Brothers' talent as well as the enduring quality of so many of those songs.
― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 4 July 2005 19:44 (eighteen years ago) link
― Myonga Von Booty (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 4 July 2005 19:49 (eighteen years ago) link
― Affectian (Affectian), Monday, 4 July 2005 20:05 (eighteen years ago) link
Completely disagree on Standing in the Shadows. Ben Harper and Meshell Ndege'ocello weren't great fits, but Joan Osborne was perfect for "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted." And how could you not love Bootsy on "Do You Love Me"?
― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 4 July 2005 20:08 (eighteen years ago) link
― Affectian (Affectian), Monday, 4 July 2005 20:20 (eighteen years ago) link
Standing in the Shadows is worthwhile for fans but for newbies I'd say not so much.
― Keith C (kcraw916), Monday, 4 July 2005 23:50 (eighteen years ago) link
The other key artist not mentioned by Keith is Gladys Knight. Don't miss her!
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 07:10 (eighteen years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 07:16 (eighteen years ago) link
― Taste the Blood of Scrovula (noodle vague), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 07:50 (eighteen years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 07:56 (eighteen years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 07:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― Taste the Blood of Scrovula (noodle vague), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 08:04 (eighteen years ago) link
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 08:41 (eighteen years ago) link
― ppp, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 08:57 (eighteen years ago) link
― Affectian (Affectian), Tuesday, 5 July 2005 09:02 (eighteen years ago) link
― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:13 (eighteen years ago) link
― Esteban Buttez (Esteban Buttez), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:14 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:23 (eighteen years ago) link
― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:31 (eighteen years ago) link
― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:35 (eighteen years ago) link
― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:37 (eighteen years ago) link
― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:38 (eighteen years ago) link
― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 13:41 (eighteen years ago) link
― Marxism Goes Better With Coke (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 19:54 (eighteen years ago) link
ABSOLUTELY OTM
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 21:33 (eighteen years ago) link
The Temptations Psychedelic SoulWillie Hutch The MackThe Jackson 5 Dancing MachineSmokey Robinson Quiet StormThe Miracles City of AngelsDiana Ross Diana (produced by The Chic Organization)
"Walk Away From Love" -- David Ruffin"It's A Shame" -- The Spinners"War" "25 Miles From Home" -- Edwin Starr"Girl You Need A Change of Mind" "Date With The Rain" "Keep On Trucking" "Boogie Down" -- Eddie Kendricks"Smiling Faces Sometimes" "Law of the Land" -- The Undisputed Truth"Get Ready" "I Just Want To Celebrate" "Born to Wander" "Hey Big Brother" "Ma" -- Rare Earth"Stoned Love" "Floy Joy" "Let Yourself Go" The Supremes"Don't Leave Me This Way" -- Thelma Houston"Got To Give It Up" -- Marvin Gaye"Brick House" "Machine Gun" "Nightshift" -- Commodores"Cruising" "Being With You" -- Smokey Robinson"That Girl' -- Stevie Wonder"Let It Whip" -- Dazz Band"Let Me Tickle Your Fancy" -- Jermaine Jackson"Rhythm of the Night" -- DeBarge"Somebody's Watching Me" -- Rockwell"Don't Look Any Further' -- Dennis Edwards
― m coleman (lovebug starski), Wednesday, 6 July 2005 22:12 (eighteen years ago) link
I've just today come to the extremely belated conclusion that Motown is the single greatest record label ever to have existed in terms of ethos, breadth, consistency, imagination and pure hit rate. No other label or imprint can touch it.
Oder?
― Background Zombie (CharlieNo4), Monday, 3 August 2009 15:04 (fourteen years ago) link
Can't argue with that.
― Chewshabadoo, Monday, 3 August 2009 15:42 (fourteen years ago) link
i'll say it again, that standing in the shadows film was one big steaming pile of cash-in shit. how could they get it SO wrong
― NI, Tuesday, 4 August 2009 09:59 (fourteen years ago) link
"Walk Away From Love" -- David Ruffin
song is amazing
― amateurist, Tuesday, 4 August 2009 10:51 (fourteen years ago) link
so has anyone been buying those "complete motown singles" things? only one volume left to go, i believe. i don't have the cash, but jesus...
― amateurist, Tuesday, 4 August 2009 11:16 (fourteen years ago) link
who has the time to hear them all
― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Tuesday, 4 August 2009 11:23 (fourteen years ago) link
Thought this revive was going to be about recent Supremes bio.
― Horace Silver Machine (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 7 August 2009 02:28 (fourteen years ago) link
In which Jack Ashford both vigorously defends the Funk Brothers legacy and claims that most of the stories about them were made up by him, presumably to mess with Slutsky.
― Horace Silver Machine (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 7 August 2009 22:27 (fourteen years ago) link
Matos review of said book: http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-supremes,30144/
― Horace Silver Machine (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 10 August 2009 01:19 (fourteen years ago) link
I just watched the Temptations miniseries--when I checked it out of the library I thought it was just footage of the Temps. Turns out it was some made-for-tv thing that would never end. It was good in the late 50s when the boys were just singing on street corners and getting started and wearing pegged jeans with loafers, but then it would never end. I had to fast forward through the last half of it. No wonder--just found out it was 4 hours long.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temptations_(TV_miniseries)
Recently read Barry Gordy's biography, after interest being resparked after seeing him speak at MJ's funeral. Might read Smokey's bio next, maybe not. Read Nelson George's book on Motown--surprisingly wasn't that insightful to me.
― Virginia Plain, Monday, 10 August 2009 16:14 (fourteen years ago) link
VP, you should read the Marvin Gaye bio Divided Soul by David Ritz. You could also read the Dennis Coffey book, I know QBPL has a copy.
― Horace Silver Machine (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 10 August 2009 16:20 (fourteen years ago) link
Thanks for recs. I kind of want to read "Dancing in the Street: Motown and Cultural Politics of Detroit" but I fear I am too lazy. I love Marvin Gaye. I checked out his "Live in Montreaux" video, which I think was recorded the year before his death. It was good, but I think I fell asleep in the middle.
― Virginia Plain, Monday, 10 August 2009 18:53 (fourteen years ago) link
i hadn't noticed before today how much of a motown cop hall & oates's "maneater" is!
nelson george's book is zzzzzzzzz. so is david ritz's marvin gaye bio. i wish i knew some good writing on motown.
― amateurist, Monday, 10 August 2009 22:47 (fourteen years ago) link
I just watched the Four Tops 50 year anniversary celebration. I thought it would be cheesy, but it was actually very strong. Levi Stubbs came out in a wheelchair for one song with Aretha Franklin that was very affecting.
Motown v Stax Smackdown on WNYC Soundcheck right now.
― Virginia Plain, Tuesday, 11 August 2009 18:22 (fourteen years ago) link
is the berry gordy book worth reading? it's been a few years since i read smokeys. i enjoyed it but it got incredibly bleak & sad toward the end (think he wrote it in the late 80s, early 90s, just after he fixed the crack habit)
― NI, Tuesday, 11 August 2009 20:00 (fourteen years ago) link
smokey robinson had a crack habit?
― thomp, Wednesday, 12 August 2009 02:17 (fourteen years ago) link
that's actually a massive downer to think about
I was surprised to learn recently about Smokey's late-period coke habit, but I assumed it was powder, no? Crack would be really o_O
― & they talked about "fucking a behive", literally, 4 times (Whitey on the Moon), Wednesday, 12 August 2009 02:25 (fourteen years ago) link
Berry Gordy's book is a light, easy read. Apparently he and Marvin were into the coke as well. It's slanted very favorably to Gordy, of course. The one surprise I had was that Gordy actually came from a prominent African American family--I think their picture was in Life Magazine in the 40s.
― Virginia Plain, Wednesday, 12 August 2009 14:11 (fourteen years ago) link
RIP at 93 guitarist Joe Messina from Motown’s Funk Brothers band
http://www.soultracks.com/story-joe-messina-dies
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 5 April 2022 16:35 (two years ago) link
My hero! RIP :(
― Came Here to Roll the Microscope (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 5 April 2022 16:37 (two years ago) link
Messina was a teen guitar prodigy at Detroit’s Cass Tech high school, and as a young man became part of the ABC television network studio band, where he had the opportunity to work with many of the all-time jazz greats, from Charlie Parker to Dizzy Gillespie
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 5 April 2022 16:38 (two years ago) link
My understanding was that that was on the Soupy Sales show and that pretty much any touring jazz act that came through would play on that.
― Came Here to Roll the Microscope (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 5 April 2022 18:47 (two years ago) link
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2022/04/04/joe-messina-motown-guitarist-and-member-funk-brothers-has-died-age-93/7271120001/
Recommend me some obscure sublime tracks...I get tired of working my way through the catalog.
Thanks!
― I Met Mr. Mathis (I M Losted), Monday, 27 June 2022 18:23 (one year ago) link
i and others have beaten the drum for solo Eddie Kendricks in case you haven't heard those albums
― Heez, Monday, 27 June 2022 18:42 (one year ago) link
Seconding.
Nixon-era Motown is tops: spookier, thicker bottom.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 June 2022 18:44 (one year ago) link
I've always liked this Spinners track from the band's early Motown era (when they were variously credited as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmMlVm85RRQ
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Monday, 27 June 2022 18:54 (one year ago) link
This whole album is great, but this is especially magical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWNwpCnraIc
― politics is about vibes and the vibes are off (stevie), Monday, 27 June 2022 19:10 (one year ago) link
this immediately popped in my head when i read that
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99FrA6KAua0
― Heez, Monday, 27 June 2022 19:46 (one year ago) link
Stop the War, also off that Temps album, is S*T*U*N*N*I*N*G
― politics is about vibes and the vibes are off (stevie), Monday, 27 June 2022 21:47 (one year ago) link
Barrett Strong, Motown artist known for ‘Money,’ dies at 81
― knock-knock-knockin' on kevin's door (morrisp), Monday, 30 January 2023 05:29 (one year ago) link
Realised today that of course The Complete Motown Singles are on streaming! When the CDs of that came out I felt like it was a step too far for me as a collector, yet I felt slightly sad that I wouldn't be taking the plunge.
― Daniel_Rf, Sunday, 2 April 2023 15:45 (one year ago) link