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Growing up in the 60's and 70's, the Motown sound was a huge part of radio top 40. Like so
many other things, my sister Nancy introduced me to these records when I was a kid and I still love them today. Let
me share some thoughts on the Motown company, artists and songs. Many of the Motown artists would eventually move
away from Motown to other labels and so I will include their after motown recording life as well.
Berry Gordy, had tried his hands at being a recording artist but had only minimul success after several
releases. This was a good thing for anyone who loves great pop music. Berry's greatest talent (along with
his staff of course!) was in developing young songwriters, dancers, singers, musicians and of course vocal groups. Together,
they made something something new and magical for the music world.
Behind every great Motown group and artist was a team of producers, dancers, songwriters and musicians.
The Funk Brothers band was the house band. Obviously they were 'instrumental' in these artists success.
Suzanne De Passe rose through the ranks of Motown eventually becoming Gordy's right hand. She
should have received credit for discovering the Jackson 5.
The songwriting-producing team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland Jr was a trio wrote
many of the greatest Motown tunes such as: "Where did our Love go", "Heatwave", "Can't help myself (Sugar pie Honey
bunch), and "Stop in the Name of Love" amongst many others. Holland-Dozier-Holland were especially strong
writers for The Supremes and Four Tops.
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Diana Ross & The Supremes
Mary Wilson, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Barbara Martin, Cindy Birdsong, Jean Terrell
With their hand clapping, foot stomping, not to mention perfect harmonies, The Supremes
were the defining Motown sound. Their records of yearning
for love, were joyous, emotional, and even if coming up on 40 years of age - still fresh in my heart. Lets
not forget those classic 60's boufant hairdo's! They were glamours and beautiful ladies.
Its unfortunate that politics within the group got nasty to the point that Mary Wilson
and Florence Ballard (and later Cindy Birdsong) weren't even used on many of the later recordings. Sadly Flo reacted
to these issues and group pressures with drinking and had to leave the group, eventually dying 10 years later. After
Diana left the group, Mary Wilson recurited Jean Terell (Tammy's sister) to replace Diana and the reformed
trio scored a major hit with "Up the Ladder to the Roof". Mary continues to perform today.
TOP 10: The Supremes
- Someday we'll be together
- Where did our love go?
- Stop! In the name of Love
- I hear a symphony
- Baby love
- I'm gonna make you love me
- You can't hurry love
- Reflections
- Up the ladder to the roof
- Love Child
Diana Ross (Solo)
Much of Diana's solo music was very much part of the soundtrack of Junior High and High School for me. So her
songs always remind me of girls I had crushes on back then! The hits kept on coming for Diana throughout the 70's
and into the 80's: "Ain't no mountain high enough" still gives me chills. It was her first big solo hit and
had been originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell; "Touch me in the Morning" or "Theme from Mahogony"
or do disco oriented hits like "Love Hangover" and "I'm coming out". "Endless Love" with Lionel Ritchie of the Commodores
is one of her most endearing recordings
In 1981 Diana flew the Motown nest and signed with RCA. From this point, I believe her
career was mis-managed. Though she made some memorable hits such as her tribute to Marvin Gaye
"Missing You", "Mirror Mirror", and "Chain Reaction", a collaboration with the Bee Gees.
Diana briefly reunited with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong at the Motown 25 concert in 1983, and had star turns
by headling the Superbowl XXX halftime show, and VH1's Diva's concerts. But unfortunately, Diana's huge
ego has hurt her time and again, with streaks of bad luck to boot. Her concert in New York's Central Park Park in
July 1983 became a rain soaked, riot, and financial disaster. More recently she had to cancel her "Return
to Love" worldwide arena tour. This fiasco had been billed as a "Supremes" reunion tour - but did not include either
Mary Wilson or Cindy Birdsong. She had been beset with personal issues the last few years but I hold out
hope she will get back into the studio and record a strong album of pop-blues-jazz, and get out and tour. Remix
versions of her hits have become popular in dance clubs..
TOP 10: Diana Ross
- Ain't no mountain high enough
- Love Hangover
- Endless Love
- Touch me in the morning
- Theme from Mahogany
- I'm missing you
- Reach out and touch
- Upside down
- I'm comin' out
- God bless the child
TOP 20: Other Favorites
- Dancing in the street - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
- I heard it through the grapevine - Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell
- My Guy - Mary Wells
- Reach out (and I'll be there) - Four Tops
- Baby I need your love - Four Tops
- Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
- Can't help myself (Sweetie pie, honey bunch) - The Four Tops
- What's going on? - Marvin Gaye
- Don't mess with Bill - The Marvelettes
- What becomes of the broken hearted - Jimmy Ruffin
- Love is like a Heatwave - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
- Neither one of us - Gladys Knight & the Pips
- Ask the Lonely - The Four Tops
- It's the same old song - The Four Tops
- Nowhere to run - Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
- Ain't nothing like the real thing -Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell
- Money - Barrett Strong
- Smiling faces sometimes - The Undisputed truth
- WAR - Edwin Starr
- How sweet it is to be loved by you - Marvin Gaye
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Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
William "Smokey" Robinson, Warren "Pete" Moore, Clarence "Humble" Dawson, Bobby Rogers, Claudette Rogers
The Miracles bio on VH1.com
I've always regarded Smokey Robinson as one of the ifnest songwriters of our day. He doesn't need my endorsement.
The man wrote such songs that tug at your heart like "Tracks of my tears", "You've really got a hold on me" and "My Girl"
which he gave away to the Temptations. Smokey was a company man who was an integral part of the hitmaking process for
many of the Motown artists. In his solo years he had several big hits and his tenor voice is always instantly recognizable
and beautiful. In the 80's, pop group ABC paid tribute by recording a song entitled, "When Smokey Sings".
TOP 10: Smokey Robinson & Miracles
- Tracks of my tears
- You've really got a hold on me
- Tears of a clown
- I second that emotion
- Cruisin'
- Shop Around
- Ooh baby baby
- Being with you
- Goin to a Go-Go
- Mickey's Monkey
Stevie was one of the the most consistent song-smihs of his era. A child prodigy nicknamed "Little Stevie"
in Motown, his early offerings such as "Fingertips", "Uptight", and "For once in my life" were vibrant records
- and especially amazing since he was but a teenager. But it is his 70's and early 80's records that blew people away.
They showed a social concious and romantic mood as well as fun pop funk. My favorite Stevie melody wasn't even a hit, "Ribbon
in the Sky" is so luciously written it stood out from a hits compliation album, "Original Musiquarium" back in the early 80's.
Stevie teamed up with Paul McCartney to record "Ebony & Ivory" in 1982. Who can forget Eddie Murphy and Joe
Priscopoe on spoofing them on SNL? Priscopoe did Sinatra instead of McCartney -totally funny! The hit "I just
called to say Love you" was probably one of the biggest records of the 80's - and a phone commercial too! Wonder
continues to make records and closed the recent "Live 8" concert in Philadelphia with a dyanamic performance.
TOP 10: Stevie Wonder
- Ribbon in the sky
- Superstitions
- My cherrie Amour
- Higher Ground
- Isn't she lovely?
- You are the sunshine of my life
- Sir Duke
- Signed, sealed, delivered
- Living for the city
- Send her your love
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas hit, "Dancing in the street" is one of the greatest of all time. It has ushered
in every summer I have known since I was a child. I came to appreciate them due to a friend in an online
oldies group
The Four Tops headed by Levi Stubbs were one of my favorites growing up. "Reach out", "Baby I need your loving",
and "I can't help myself" are three of my most loved songs. The Tops were great performers too. I had seen them
in concert twice in the 80's.
Marvin Gaye recorded as a team with Mary Wells and then Tammy Terrell in the early days of Motown. Later
his records became more soulful, socially relevant, and the kind to get you 'in the mood'. "What's goin'
on" and "Sexual healing". are 2 of the greatest 'make out' songs this side of Led Zepplin - not that I'm an exppert
on either 'making out' or Led Zepplin!
I was at a Barry Manilow concert some 15 years ago when Barry asked the audience, "Who wouldn't want to be a Pip?"
Some fun dance moves and sing doo wop? Sure sounds good! Get to hang out with Gladys Knight, a real lady too! So many
people made fun of the Pips - Carol Burnett always comes to mind when I hear them! They made great reocords asides
from being butt of jokes. They recorded the original version of "Heard it through the Grapevine" and "Neither one of
Us (Wants to be the first to say goodbye)" before leaving Motown in the mid 70's. Their most well known song,
"Midnight Train to Georgia" was one of the biggest hits of all time. Its a song about a woman who has put all her faith
in the man she loves. he goes away and she has the dilema of what to do. Can she belive he will return?
Should she go to Georgia and be with him? At one point in the song, Gladys shrieks, "I'll be with him!" and the Piips
answer back, "I hope you will!" I have always pictured this as comical with the Pips holding their hands to their
ears, begging her to go!!
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The Temptations
Otis Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Wiliams, Melvin Franklin, David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, Damon Harris, Louis
Price
The Tempting Temptations have become my favorite Motown artists. These guys could doo wop, dance and perform
electric hits like no other vocal group. Back about 5 or so years ago, Otils Williams, the leader of the group, had
his autobiography turned into a 4 hour television movie. I'm totally addicted to it anytime it airs on VH1! The
history of the group is so interesting as it went through so many personnel changes. Most important they were able
to adapt to the changing music scene in the 60's and early 70's releasing hit after hit, after hit. I love
the whole sound of the group, but especially love Eddie Kendricks.
TOP 10: Temptations
- My Girl
- Ain't too proud to beg
- Just my imagination
- Papa was a rolling stone
- You're my everything
- Get ready
- The way you do the things you do
- Ball of Confusion
- I wish it would Rain
- I can't get next to you
The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons
Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson, Janet Jackson
For me in the early 70's it was all about The Partridge Family, The Osmonds and The Jackson 5. Michael and
Donny were both just a year or two older than me and the Partridges made it look so easy on tv! I felt for certain I
could make records too! Unfortunately I didn't have the talent of the Osmonds, Cassidy or the Jackson family.
Those early hits in particular, "I want you back", "Abc", and "The Love You save" were so much part of the soundtrack
of my life that memories of the old days, people, and places pop up with every groove of their records. Some of
these grooves were on the back of cereal boxes!
Along with the Osmonds, the Jacksons were given the animated treatment. We always watched both shows every
satruday morning in my house!
Similarly to Stevie Wonder's early records, what is amazing about J5 is how much soul they had in their
records and performances. Michael Jackson in particular. Though his voice was 'high' as a child's voice should
be, it had ATTITUDE!
In the late 70's, the Jackson 5 left Motown (all but Jermaine), re-named themselves "The Jacksons" and released some
good pop-funk records. Michael released two huge solo albums, "Off the Wall" and "Thriller". The Thriller album
is a favorite of mine. Every track is perfect. "Human Nature" and "PYT" in addition to the well known hits ("Billie
Jean", "Beat it"), are my favorites. I have great memories of my friends who were caught up in Michael-mania of
the mid 80's. Everyone seemed to like him back then. MJ's other solo records have been good and more recently
he seems to hae lost his touch, listening to too many or not the right people in the studio. His personal problems of
course have turned him into a sad creature. I can only pray that he is not a child molester - just a screwed up man-child
Sister Janet began recording solo in the mid 80's in the dance-hip-hop style. "Nasty Boys" and "What have
you done for me lately" are probably her best singles.
Janet may be even more famous for her revealing appearance during the Superbowl halftime show in January 2004! Her blouse
'malfunctioned' during a duet with Eric Timberlake. Woah baby!
From time to time the Jackson brothers will reunite. In 1984 they recorded and toured for their "Victory" album;
and also appeared in a television special paying tribute to Michael airing September 10th 2001. A chance
to enjoy the innocence our youth once more before the world changed.
Their story has been told a thousand times, Jermaine even co-produced (With Suzanne De Passe) a tele-movie, "Jacksons
- An American Dream". This movie airs now and again on VH1 and I always tune in - I'm addicted to this one
too!
As much as I love the sound of Motown, the Jacksons are special because the others came before. They were
my sisters groups - the J5 were one of my very first favorite groups and I will always keep them in my heart.
TOP 20: Jacksons
- I want you back - Jackson 5
- I'll be there - Jackson 5
- Beat it - Michael Jackson
- She's out of my life - Michael Jackson
- The Love you save - Jackson 5
- Nasty Boys - Janet Jackson
- Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
- It's your thing - Jackson 5
- Mama's Pearl - Jackson 5
- Man in the mirror - Michael Jackson
- What have you done for me lately? - Janet Jackson
- Thriller - Michael Jackson
- ABC - Jackson 5
- Dancing Machine - Jacksons
- Never can say goodbye - Jackson 5
- Human Nature - Michael Jackson
- Ben - Michael Jackson
- Maybe Tomorrow - Jackson 5
- Enjoy yourself - Jacksons
- Going back to Indiana - The Jackson 5
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