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#motown is a portmanteau of Motor and Town, a nickname for Detroit where this music was born. The record label was started by Berry Gordy Jr.
Please welcome @jodontchaknow @KarenDyk and @undrea2000 as we celebrate the music of Motown with another #CollaborativePlaylist
#SpoutingClassics
Please welcome @jodontchaknow @KarenDyk and @undrea2000 as we celebrate the music of Motown with another #CollaborativePlaylist
#SpoutingClassics
11:10 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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The very first label started by Berry Gordy was Tamla Records in 1959. Early artists were Mabel John, Eddie Holland, and Mary Wells.
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I will start with a duet of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell ... Ain't No Mountain High Enough. #motown #SpoutibleClassics
11:16 AM - Aug 12, 2023
11:16 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Eddie Holland really only had one song that was moderately successful. He then became part of the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team for Motown.
11:17 AM - Aug 12, 2023
11:19 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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And who can forget Mary Wells? This was her first hit.
11:19 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Smokey Robinson was in from the start. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles were Motown’s “Super Soul Group”.
11:22 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Deep cut for The Marvelettes - Too Many Fish in the Sea. Covered later by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels and Phil Collins. #motown #SpoutibleClassics
11:23 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Smokey Robinson and the Miracles also hit it big with Tears of a Clown.
11:24 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Stevie Wonder got signed at age 11. His first hit at age 13 was Fingertips. Youngest artist to top Billboard top 100.
11:26 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Let's do a more recent The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing (and I know y'all are singing along ...) #motown #SpoutibleClassics
11:30 AM - Aug 12, 2023
(Edited)
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I Heard It Through the Grapevine was another big hit for the Prince of Soul/Prince of Motown.
11:31 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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There's no where to run to, so just take your shoes off and let's dance. #motown #SpoutingClassics
11:33 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Smokey Robinson left the Miracles in ‘72. He struggled a bit as a solo artist until he hit it big with this one.
11:33 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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More Jackson 5 with little Michael from American Bandstand - a Saturday morning staple ... ABC #motown #SpoutibleClassics
11:34 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Tamla Records merged with Motown Records in 1964. The Primettes, later named the Supremes, were the signature group now. The Supremes were Motown’s most successful commercial group.
11:38 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Another later entry (1971) - Marvin Gaye got political and pulled no punches. Inner City Blues #motown #SpoutibleClassics
11:39 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Did you know that this song was originally written for the Marvelettes but they said no. The Supremes didnt want it either but were coerced into it.
11:40 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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More Supremes magic. Can you see why they were money in the bank for Gordy?
11:42 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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The Four Tops were under the Tamla/Motown umbrella.
11:44 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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and we're gonna bring the lights down low. This goes out to all the lovers out there ... Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers - Baby I'm for Real (The Bells) #motown #SpoutibleClassics
11:44 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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The Temptations came in under Gordy’s third label called Gordy.
11:47 AM - Aug 12, 2023
(Edited)
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They were so successful that they didnt need to do this. Their choreography and clothing was so smooth.
11:50 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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More Temptations. I saw them in concert in York, PA. Otis Williams was a lot older but still cool as hell.
11:52 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Martha and the Vandellas were under Gordy’s label named after himself.
11:54 AM - Aug 12, 2023
11:58 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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An early one from The Contours, Just A Little Misunderstanding. The Contours auditioned in fall of 1960 but Gordy turned them down. Member Hubert Johnson asked his cousin Jackie Wilson to help and got the group a 2nd chance. Even though they sang the same song, Gordy signed them after the 2nd time.
11:58 AM - Aug 12, 2023
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Berry Gordy’s fourth #motown label was VIP. The Spinners aka the Detroit Spinners and the Motown Spinners were signed under this label.
12:01 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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The Spinners had limited success in the beginning. Motown used them for road managers, chaperones, and chauffeurs. Later, they signed to Atlantic Records and their songs were finally very very popular. You might say they bounced back.😉
12:08 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Not as well known as the other female #motown singers - here's Blinky showing off her gospel training with her first song - I Wouldn't Change the Man He Is. She would go on to sing the theme to the hit TV show Good Times.
12:09 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Chris Clark was a successful #motown Artist. She even co-wrote the screenplay for Lady Sings the Blues. Here is one of her songs.
12:11 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Gordy added a fifth label to #motown named Soul. Here’s where Jimmy Ruffin, older brother to David Ruffin of the Temptations, was signed.
12:14 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Gladys Knight and the Pips were signed under Motown’s label Soul in ‘66. This song belonged to them before Marvin Gaye.
12:21 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Gladys Knight and the Pips were openers for The Supremes in the beginning. It wasnt long before they found the limelight.
12:24 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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The Originals were Motown’s Best Kept Secret. They were used for background singing but had songs of their own.
12:30 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Let's bring it into the modern era with an early Boyz II Men singing about, well, singing about #motown
12:31 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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More from the Soul Label, Jr. Walker and the All Stars.
12:33 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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The Commodores with Lionel Ritchie were a Motown group.
12:37 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Another big hit before Lionel left to strike it on his own.
12:40 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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I'm so glad I have @jodontchaknow and @KarenDyk to help me with this thread. You two have way more Motown knowledge than I do. Thank you so much for volunteering.
12:40 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Just following your lead! This is a great time ...
12:45 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Did you know that Nikolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson were music writers for Motown? They wrote this song.
12:46 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Ashford and Simpson also wrote this song for Chaka Khan.
12:52 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Let's discuss the holidays. Motown, like other labels, loved celebrating Christmas by releasing those tried and true classics performed by their stable of artists. Here's The Temptations doing Silver Bells
12:55 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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But most people know Ashford and Simpson as a duo who were solid…as a rock.😉
12:56 PM - Aug 12, 2023
12:58 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Keeping with the Xmas theme but bringing it closer to this time - This Christmas performed by Ne-Yo #motown #SpoutibleClassics
12:58 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Yea, even the Prince of Soul recorded a Christmas song.
01:00 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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One more holiday song from the modern era - India Arie & Joe Sample, featuring Tori Kelly - Favorite Time of Year #motown #SpoutibleClassics
01:06 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Speaking of Ne-Yo, he joined Motown in 2012 and took on a big management role in artist development.
01:08 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Back to the classics - co-written by Marvin Gaye, Ivory Joe Hunter, and William Stevenson, here's Martha and the Vandellas version of Dancing In The Street. This song will be redone by the likes of Van Halen and Mick Jagger/David Bowie. #motown #SpoutibleClassics
01:11 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Did you know Erykah Badu was a Motown artist?
01:12 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Ok, back to the roots then; Marvin Gaye, a prolific writer and singer.
01:18 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Another of his socially conscious songs - with a message that still resonates today - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) Marvin Gaye #motown #SpoutibleClassics
01:20 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Upside Down - Ms. Diana Ross, solo
01:25 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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How about some Diana Ross after the Supremes?
01:27 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Just some Motown trivia, from 1961 to 1971 Motown Records had 110 top ten hits. Pretty successful, right?
01:31 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Money (It's What I want) was a collaborative effort from Berry Gordon and Janie Bradford, the Hitsville receptionist (which was a regular thing). The first version of this song was recorded by Barrett Strong. Another version was recorded by some lads from Liverpool. #motown #SpoutibleClassics
01:35 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Berry Gordy was a genius. He required his artists to be schooled in grooming, dressing, & choreography. He wanted them to represent the Black Community as royalty to achieve crossover into white popular music. The only artists who were exempt were Jr. Walker and Marvin Gaye.
01:43 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Berry Gordy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. President Barack Obama gave him the National Medal of Arts in 2016. In 2022 he was inducted into The Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame.
01:51 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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I could go on forever but Ill leave my friends, @Whoa and @jodontchaknow with this. Thanks for a great time.😘
01:54 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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I would love to add Aretha Franklin - Respect, but she was NOT on #motown . However, Berry Gordon considered her family.
01:58 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Thanks, Karen - this was a blast. Your picks were so so good.
01:59 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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We would neglect the current #motown legacy if we failed to include Queen Latifah - It's Alright #SpoutibleClassics
02:03 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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@jodontchaknow and @KarenDyk thanks so much for participating today. This was a lot of fun. Much better than just posting music on my own.
02:47 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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I'll say it again - I had a blast. Thanks for letting me join!
02:49 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Hope I didnt hijack the thread. It was a great project. ☺️
02:50 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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So I woke up late. But...here's a few I'll drop.
Switch was signed to Motown in 1976-77. The group included Bobby & Tommy DeBarge. This is their hit song I Call Your Name. This song was later sampled by hip-hop artists Rich Boy.
Switch was signed to Motown in 1976-77. The group included Bobby & Tommy DeBarge. This is their hit song I Call Your Name. This song was later sampled by hip-hop artists Rich Boy.
04:06 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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Here's Stevie Wonder with his version of Happy Birthday. Yes...he re-did the Birthday song. Musical genius.
04:23 PM - Aug 12, 2023
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On last post to make it even. @KarenDyk & I had a chat about the California Raisins. Here they are singing Ain't Too Proud to Beg. This song was originally by The Temptations.
04:30 PM - Aug 12, 2023
I remember my sister's Hi We're the Miracles album, when Smokey's (soon to be or was his) wife was in the group. The song Bad Girl, from the album, became a great 45, if memory serves me.
In response to Whoa!.
07:27 PM - Aug 13, 2023