This is Genre 1, Motown, episode 3.
For those of a certain age this will bring back some fond memories and get your foot tapping. If you are a lot younger, as this is such good stuff, you will have heard most before, as it is a truly classic genre.
I give thanks to Wiki of course and for this genre and to Britannica.com and to Wiki.
No Motown act of the 1960s matched the success of the Supremes, a girl group that scored number-one hits with “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me” (all 1964), “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Back in My Arms Again,” “I Hear a Symphony” (all 1965), and “You Can’t Hurry Love” (1966). Not only were they the second most successful singing group of the decade—surpassed only by the Beatles—but they remain the most successful female singing group of all time. The group’s glamorous lead singer, Diana Ross, went on to a remarkable solo career as a singer and a moderately successful career as an actress.
Not only did Motown’s acts become famous but its songwriters and producers also became household, or at least familiar, names. Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, who wrote and produced most of the Supremes’ mid-1960s hits, were nearly as famous as the Supremes themselves, and their squabble with Gordy over money, which resulted in a nasty lawsuit and their departure from the company, was major industry news. Robinson was an important songwriter at Motown, as were Sylvia Moy, Norman Whitfield, Mickey Stevenson, Ivy Joe Hunter, and Gordy himself. All these songwriters were also producers. Some were assigned by Gordy to work with specific acts. Such fame did some of Motown’s writers achieve and such problems did their fame cause for Gordy that, when the Jackson 5 were signed by the company in 1969, the team that wrote the group’s early hits was credited simply as the Corporation.
The Tunes:
I shall carry on with a couple more of The Supremes as they were so good 50 years ago and when played, still just as good.
The featured song is from 1966, an absolute classic. So much better than those that copied it later. The Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love” on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Supremes – Come See me Again
The Supremes – Stop! In The Name of Love [The Hollywood Palace – 1965]
Now, how good is this from the marvellous Temptations:
The Temptations – My Girl
The Temptations – Just My Imagination – Later… with Jools Holland – A show I try to watch as he has some bloody good acts on, I remember tuning into this just to watch these guys. This is from 2016.
The Temptations- “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” 1972 (Reelin’ In The Years Archives) – Always like this.
No idea why but he did not have any big hits in the UK, apart from 1, which will be a featured song later.
Marvin Gaye – How Sweet It Is To Be Loved by You (1965). Sadly, he was shot and killed by his dad in 1984, the day before Marvin’s 45th birthday.
Marvin Gaye – LIVE It Takes Two 1976
Now on to Martha & The Vandellas “Dancing In The Street” on The Ed Sullivan Show. I suppose cashing in on The Supremes act. Still, rather brilliant tough.
Groovy Movies: Martha & The Vandellas “Jimmy Mack” on “Shebang!” U.S. TV 1967 – So good.
I finish with this classic:
Martha Reeves The Vandellas Nowhere To Run 1965 – To me whilst this is Motown, this is also proper Northern Soul.
Singalong, enjoy and be happy!
Links to Origins Series:
| Genre 1 Episode 1 – Motown – The Beginning | Genre 1 Episode 2 – Motown – The early Days | Genre 1 Episode 3 – Motown – The early Days Part 2 |
| Genre 2 Episode 1 –
|
Genre 2 Episode 2 – | |
| Genre 2 Episode 4 – Glam Rock – The beginning | ||
| Genre 3 Episode 1 – The Singers
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Genre 3 Episode 2 – The Singers – The early Days | |
| G4E1 – Origins of Northern Soul & Disco – The Beginning | G4E2 – Northern Soul and Disco – Early days | |
| G5E1 – Origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll – The Beginning | G5E2 – Origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll – Early Days | |
| G6E1 – Those different ones like what I like | G6E2 – Those different ones like what I like – Part 2 | |
| G6E3 – Those different ones like what I like – Part 3 | ||
Featured image: “Vintage Record Collection: The Supremes A’ Go-Go, Motown Records, Copyright 1966” by France1978 is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .
© Phil the ex test manager 2023
