Explain me Motown

smokey robinson had a crack habit?

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

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.

RIP at 93 guitarist Joe Messina from Motown’s Funk Brothers band

http://www.soultracks.com/story-joe-messina-dies

My hero! RIP :(

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

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.

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 and others have beaten the drum for solo Eddie Kendricks in case you haven't heard those albums

Seconding.

Nixon-era Motown is tops: spookier, thicker bottom.

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

This whole album is great, but this is especially magical
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWNwpCnraIc

Nixon-era Motown is tops: spookier, thicker bottom.

this immediately popped in my head when i read that

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99FrA6KAua0

Stop the War, also off that Temps album, is S*T*U*N*N*I*N*G

Barrett Strong, Motown artist known for ‘Money,’ dies at 81

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.