Motown-Your Ticket to The Greatest Show on Earth

T4e4STo0dVcc1

black woman association | black on asian amateur video | short black woman | big black beautiful women 2 | `>

Motown-The Greatest Record Label in The World

If you wanna hear more Great Motown Music

You are most welcome to join me on my You-Tubes sites too. www.youtube.com/user/megamusicman09 and www.youtube.com/user/somme1916somme Thankyou

Latest Blog Entries

Apr 1, 2012 5:48 AM The Majority from Liverpool... Talent gone to waste..or has it?
Mar 31, 2012 1:56 AM My own Motown Story-From No-Town to Mo-Town..
Mar 30, 2012 10:01 PM A Tribute to The War Heroes of the past and present-My own video tribute

Motown-Things you might want to know

When Motowns songwriting team of Brian Holland Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland left the label in1967 in a dispute over money..it led to a 6 year legal battle..An out of court settlement was reached

Motown-To Dream The Impossible Dream

Berry Gordy..A man who dared to dream what was thought the Impossible Dream..A group of immensely talented artists and musicians who had a passion for music and a burning desire to reach their own dreams in life..To bring their music to the ears of the world..Not without tough times and a range of hurdles to climb they achieved their goal and made Motown what it is today..The Greatest Record Label in The World..

Three Girls who Dared to Dream

Motown-Things you might want to know

Motown is the only record label to get into The Collins English Dictionary

This weeks 'Record of The Week'

The Almighty Funk Brothers..

Motown-Things you might want to know

The Funk Brothers-the unsung heroes of The Motown success story performed on more No1 hits than The Beatles..Elvis..The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys combined

My Top 20 Greatest Songs of all Time

Please do let me know some of your favourite all time songs..

1.The Temptations-Papa was a Rolling Stone

Formed in Detroit Michigan in 1960 as The Elgins and not to be confused with another Motown group of the same name..The Temptations have always featured at least 5 male vocalists/dancers..Known for their recognisable choreography..distinct harmonies and flashy on stage suits..The Temptations have been said to be as influential to soul as The Beatles were to Pop and Rock..Having sold tens of millions of albums The Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history..

2.The Beatles-The Long and Winding Road

Formed in Liverpool in 1960 and one of the most commercially successful and critically aclaimed acts in the history of popular music..Rooted in skiffle and 1950,s rock and roll the group later worked in many genres ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways..Their enormous popularity first emerged as 'Beatlemania' as their songwriting grew in sophistication by the late 1960,s..they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the eras sociocultural revolutions..

3.Marvin Gaye-Whats Going On

Started his career as a member of the doo-wop group The Moonglows in the late 1950,s..he ventured as a solo artist after the group disbanded in 1960 singing with Motown subsidiary Tamla..He started off as a session drummer but later ranked as the labels top selling solo artist during the 1960,s..He was crowned The Prince of Motown..In 2008 Rolling Stone ranked Gaye at No6 on its list of The Greatest Singers of all Time and ranked at No18 on 100 Greatest Artists of all Time..He was also ranked at No20 on VH1,s list of The 100 Greatest Artists of all Time..

4.Procul Harum-Whiter Shade of Pale

A British Rock band formed in 1967 which contributed to the development of progressive rock and by extension to symphonic rock..Their best known recording is their 1967 single 'A Whiter Shade of Pale'..Although noted for its baroque and classical influence Procul Harums music also embraces the blues..R&B and soul..

5.The Ronettes-Be my Baby

The Ronettes were a 1960,s girl group from New York City and best known for their work with Phil Spector and were the only girl group to tour with The Beatles..In 1963 the group was signed by Phil Spectors Philles Records where they reached the peak of their success..Becoming one of the most popular girl groups of the 1960,s they placed a total of 8 songs on The Billboard Top 100 five of which became top 40 hits..In late 1964 the group released their only studio album the now classic 'Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica which ranked No427 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of all Time..

6.Bob Dylan-Like a Rolling Stone

An influential figure in popular music and culture for 5 decades..Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960,s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest..A number of Dylans early songs such as 'Blowin in The Wind and 'The Times they are a Changin' became anthems for The US civil rights and Anti War Movements..Dylans 6 minute single 'Like a Rolling Stione has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in 1965..

7.Aretha Franklin-Say a Little Prayer

Referred to as The Queen of Soul..Franklin is also adept at Jazz..Blues..R&B..gospel and rock..Rolling Stone ranked her atop its 100 Greatest Singers of all Time as well as No9 in The Greatest Artists of all Time..She has won 18 grammys and received two honorary grammys..She has had 20 No1 singles on The Billboard R&B singles charts and 2 No1 hits on The Billboard Hot 100..Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame..

8.Etta James-Id rather go blind

James is regarded as having bridged the gap between R&B and rock and roll and is the winner of 6 Grammys and 17 Blues music awards..She was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993..The Blues Hall of Fame in 2001 and The Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008..Rolling Stone ranked James No22 on their list of The Greatest Singers of all Time and No62 on their list of The 100 Greatest Artists...

9.The Temptations-My Girl

Over the course of their career The Temptations have released 4 Billboard Hot 100 No1 singles and 14 Billboard R&B No1 singles..Their material has earned them 3 Grammy awards while 2 more awards were conferred upon the songwriters and producers who crafted their 1972 hit 'Papa was a Rolling Stone'..The Temptations were the first Motown act to earn a Grammy award..Three classic Temptations songs 'My Girl'..'Aint to proud to Beg' and 'Papa was a Rolling Stone' are among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fames 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll...

10.The Impressions-People Get Ready

The Impressions are best known for their string of hits many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement..They are also 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees for their hit 'People Get Ready' and are winners of Rhythm and Blues Foundations Pioneer Award in 2000...

11.Sly and Family Stone-Family Affair

Active from 1966 to 1983 the band was pivotal in the developmet of soul..funk and psychedellic music..Headed by singer/songwriter record producer and multi instrumentalist Sly Stone..and containing several members of his family and friends the band was the first major American Rock Band to have an integral multi gender line-up..In the preface of his 1998 book 'For The Record-Sly and The Family Stone:An Oral History',Joel Selvin sums up the importance of Sly and Family Stones influence on African American music:black music before Sly Stone and black music after Sly Stone..The band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993..

12.Sam Cooke-A Change is gonna come

Considered to be one of the founders and pioneers of soul music and commonly known as The King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and influence on the modern world of music..His contribution in pioneering soul led to the rise of Aretha Franklin..Bobby Womack..Al Green..Curtis Mayfield..Stevie Wonder..Marvin Gaye and popularised the likes of Otis Redding and James Brown..Cooke had 29 Top 40 Hits in The US between 1957 and 1964..He also took an active part in the American Civil Rights Movement..

13.The Beach Boys-Help me Rhonda

Signed to Capitol Records in 1962 and became an International success and one of the biggest acts of their time gaining popularity across The US for their close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a Southern Californian youth culture of surfing..cars and romance..The Beach Boys have often been called 'Americas Band' and Allmusic has stated that the bands 'unerring ability' made them Americas first best Rock Band..The group has had 36 US Top 40 hits and 56 Hot 100 Hits including 4 No1 singles..Rolling Stone listed The Beach Boys at No12 on their 2004 list of The Greatest Artists of all Time the highest ranking for an American Rock Band..Having sold over 100 million albums wordlwide since their debut in 1961..

14.The Staple Singers-If your ready come go with me

Best Known for their 1970 hits 'I,ll take you there' 'Respect Yourself' and 'Lets do it Again'..The family appeared in Chicago area churches in 1948 and signed their first professional contract in 1952..It was on Epic that the Staple Singers began moving into mainstream pop markets..In 1968 the group signed to Stax Records and released two albums..The first Stax hit was 'Heavy makes you Happy'..Their 1971 recording of 'Respect Yourself' written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice peaked at No2 on the R&B charts and was a No12 pop hit as well..The songs theme of self empowerment had universal appeal released in the period immediately following the intense American Civil Rights Movement of The 1960s..In 1972 the group had a huge No1 in The US with 'I,ll Take you There' it topped both R&B and Pop charts,,'If your ready' would become another big hit reaching No9 pop and No1 on the R&B chart in 1973..

15.The Beatles-Across the Universe

The Beatles releases in The US were hindered for over a year by EMIs American subsidiary Capitol Records who intitlally declined to issue Beatles material including their first 3 singles,,Concurrent negotiations with the independent US labels Vee Jay and Swan led to the eventual release of the singles but legal issues with royalties and publishing rights proved an obstacle to the successful marketing of the group in the US..Capitol began to issue the material in 1963 excercising complete control over format..they compiled distinct US albums from the bands recordings and issued songs of their choosing as singles..American chart success began after Epstein arranged a $40,000 US marketing campaign and secured the support of US disc jockey Carrol James who first played the bands records in mid Dec 1963 intitiating their musics spread across US radio..This caused an increase in demand leading Capitol to rush release 'I want to hold your Hand' later that month..Released Dec 26th 1963 it sold 1 million copies in The US by 10th Jan 1964 and by 16th January the single was a No1 hit in The US..

16.Judy Clay & William Bell-Private Number

Singer/Songwriter and one of the architects of the Stax-Volt Sound..As a performer he is probably best known for 1961s 'You dont miss your water'(his debut single)1968s 'Private Number' a duet with Judy Clay and a top 10 hit in The UK..and 1976s 'Tryin to Love Two'..Bells only US Top 40 hit which also hit No1 on the R&B charts..Upon the death of Otis Redding Bell released the well received memorial song 'A tribute to a King'

17.Edwin Hawkin Singers-Oh Happy Day

Edwin Hawkins a Grammy Award winning American Gospel and R&B musician..pianist..choir master..composer and arranger and one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound..He and The Edwin Hawkin Singers are best known for his arrangement of 'Oh Happy Day' 1968-1969 which was included on The Songs of The Century list..

18.The Beatles-Hey Jude

Initially a 5 piece line-up that included Stuart Sutcliffe(bass) and Pete Best(drums)the band built their reputation playing in clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a 3 year period from 1960..Sutcliffe left the group in 1961 and was replaced by Ringo Starr the following year...Moulded into a professional act by Brian Epstein their musical potential was enhanced by the creativity of producer George Martin..They gained popularity in The UK after their first single 'Love me Do' became a modest hit in late 1962 and they aquired the nickname ;The Fab Four' as Beatlemania grew in Britain over the following year..By early 1964 they had become international stars leading the 'British Invasion' of The US pop market..

19.Otis Redding-Sittin on the dock of the bay

Considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B his open throated singing was an influence on other soul singers of the 1960s and he helped to craft the lean and powerful style of R&B that formed the basis of The Stax Sound..After appearing at The Monterey Pop Festival he wrote and recorded 'Sittin on the dock of The Bay' which went on to become a No1 record on both the pop and R&B charts after his death in a plane crash..Reddings death was devastating for Stax which was on the verge of bankruptcy..Later Stax discovered that Atlantic owned the rights to the entire catalogue..Redding won numerous awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame..His legacy remains solid..he recieved the honorific title 'The King of Soul'

20.Nina Simone-Aint got no I got life

A civil rights activist and widely associated with jazz music Simone aspired to become a classical pianist while working in a broad range of styles including classical..jazz..blues..folk..R&B..gospel and pop..Simone aspired to be a concert pianist as a child but was denied a scholarship to the prestigous Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia despite a well received audition..Simone was later told by someone working at Curtis that she was rejected because she was black..After 20 years of performing she became involved in the civil rights movement and the direction of her life shifted..Simones music was highly influential in the fight for equal rights in The US.

Motown-Things you might want to know

The biggest selling Motown singles in The UK were Stevie Wonder 'I just called to say I love you' and Lionel Richie 'Hello'

One Almighty Masterpiece of a song

Motown-Things you might want to know

In 1966 Berry Gordy refused to sign The Jackson 5 because he did not want to work with any more children..It was Gladys Knight who persuaded him to change his mind a year later

The Marvelettes

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Motown-Things you might want to know

Motown was the name of Berry Gordys second Record Label... the first Tamla Records began on Jan 12th 1959..Motown has owned or distibuted releases from more than 45 subsidiaries in varying genres..

The First Lady of Motown

Diana Ross

The Supremes-You Keep me Hangin on.

Mr Marvin Gaye

The Andantes & The Funk Brothers

The Jackson 5

The Commodores

The King of Pop

The Undisputed Truth

Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye

Mary Wells-First Lady of Motown

R Dean Taylor

My other Music Influences

Apart from Motown and the labels you see in my top friends below such as Stax etc..so many other bands and artists have influenced me greatly and have brought a richness to my life I would never have had without them..Here we go(in no particular order)..The Beatles(The Greatest Band in the World)The Allman Brothers..The Marshall Tucker Band..Al Green..Aretha Franklin..Jethro Tull..Neil Young..The Beach Boys..Louis Armstrong..Etta James..The Staple Singers..Phil Spector..The Ronettes..America..Neil Diamond..Fleetwood Mac..Sister Rosetta Tharpe..The Moody Blues..Luther Vandross..Teddy Pendergrass..Gerald Levert..Luther Allison..Bob Dylan..James Brown..Otis Redding..Bill Withers..Dusty Springfield..Petula Clarke..The Hollies..The Byrds..Lynrd Skynrd..James Taylor..Carole King..Sam Cooke..Franki Valli & The Four Seasons..Earth Wind and Fire...Edwin Hawkin Singers..Ella Fitzgerald..Nina Simone..Sly & The Family Stone..Bread..Glenn Miller..Al Bowlly..Gerry Rafferty..10cc..Steely Dan..Canned Heat..Harold Melvin..Ben.E.King..Nat King Cole..E.L.O..The Impressions...Gil Scott Heron..John Denver..Glen Campbell..TSOP...

Teena Marie

Boyz 11 Men

Dusty-A great supporter of Motown

Mr Stevie Wonder

The Fabulous Brenda Holloway

Barratt Strong-Money

The Originals

Top Friends (36)

The Spinners

Who is This?

A very famous female actress back in the early 1970s signed on The Motown Record Label..I have mixed her first and second name up just to tease you and in there is her first and last name ..Here we go E-Y-I-E-N-A-N-R-R Drop me a line or message if you know who it is...Have fun....

Mr Jimmy Ruffin

Motown Trivia

The Supremes song 'Stoned Loved' should have been called 'Stone Love'..but a printing mistake at the printing presses of the record led to it being called 'Stoned Love'

The Almighty Four Tops

Motowns Tata Vega

Motown Trivia

Meatloaf was once signed to the label..He performed with Shaun Murphy under the name of Stoney and Meatloaf

The Spinners

Junior Walker & The Allstars

The Dynamic Superiors

That 'Motown Sound'

The Contours

Major Lance-This is Hot!!!!

Motown Trivia

The Beatles were hugely influenced by Motown and recorded cover versions of 4 Motown tracks

James Jamerson & The Temptations

The Supremes

The Elgins

Marv Johnson

Shorty Long

Motown Trivia

Motown founder Berry Gordy was once a professional boxer before The US Army draft for The Korean war put paid to his fighting ambition...In 1959 he created Motown with a $800 dollar loan from his family.

The Fabulous Kim Weston

The Great Edwin Starr

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Mr Jackie Wilson

Chris Clark

The Monitors

Franki Valli & The Four Seasons

Bet you did,nt Know this!!

You remember Irene 'Granny' Ryan out of The Beverley Hillbillies..Well I bet you did,nt know she was actually signed to Motown Records back in the early 1970,s...

The Velvelettes

Frank Wilson Chris Clark Funk Brothers

Motown-A Lifetime of Music

As of summer 2011..Motown has been re-activated under The Island/Def Jam Music Group..a division of Universal Music Group

The Brilliant Isley Brothers

Blinky

Terry Johnson

One big beautiful Motown Classic

El DeBarge

Brenda Holloway

The Supremes-Reflections

Greatest Female Live Performer

J J Barnes

Thelma & Jerry on Motown

Motown-Roll of Honour 1950/60,s

The Andantes/J J Barnes/Blinky/Dorsey Burnette/Choker Campbell & his 16 pc band/Chris Clark/The Contours/Caroline Crawford/Debbie Dean/Billy Eckstine/The Elgins/The Four Tops/Marvin Gaye/Eddie Holland/Brenda Holloway/Patrice Holloway/The Isley Brothers/Chuck Jackson/Mable John/Marv Johnson/Gladys Knight & The Pips/Shorty Long/Martha and The Vandellas/The Marvelettes/Brenda McNair/Smokey Robinson & The Miracles/The Monitors/The Originals/Otis Redding/Barbara Randolph/David Ruffin/Jimmy Ruffin/San Remo Golden Strings/Edwin Starr/Barrett Strong/The Supremes/Diana Ross/Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers/R Dean Taylor/The Temptations/Tammi Terrell/The Valadiers/Earl Van Dyke/The Funk Brothers/The Velvelettes/Jr Walker and The Allstars/Mary Wells/Kim Weston/Stevie Wonder/Syreeta Wright/Gerald Alston/Brass Monkey/G C Cameron/The Cats/Tom Clay/Commodores/Crystal Mansion/Bobby Darin/Kiki Dee/The Dynamic Superiors/The EasyBeats/Duane Eddy/Dennis Edwards/High Inergy/Thelma Houston/Willie Hutch/Impact of Brass/Jermaine Jackson/Michael Jackson/The Jackson 5/Keff James/Rick James/Eddie Kendricks/The Lost Nation/Love Sculpture/Magic/Matrix/The Messengers/Bonnie Pointer/The Pointer Sisters/Poor Boys/Power of Zeus/Billy Preston/The Pretty Things/Rare Earth/Smokey Robinson/Rustix/Valerie Simpson/Sounds Nice/The Spinners/Dennis Stoner/Stoney and Meatloaf/Sunday Funnies/Switch/Toe Fat/UFO/The Undisputed Truth/Franki Valli and The Four Seasons/Mary Wilson/Wolfe/XIT/98 Degrees/702/Georgio Aleentini/Another Bad Creation/Erykah Badu/Boyz 11 Men/Charlene/Angela Clemmons/Dazz Band/DeBarge/Bunny Debarge/Chico Debarge/El DeBarge/Siedah Garrett/Valerie George/Johnny Gill/The Good Girls/Sam Harris/Kreuz/Stacy Lattislaw/Betty LaVette/Teena Marie/Mary Jane Girls/Brian McKnight/MC Trouble/Debelah Morgan/Pal/Queen Latifah/Lionel Richie/Rockwell/Phyllis St James/Shanice/Felicia Taylor/Today/Tonyl Tonil Tonel/Vanity/Jason Weaver/Bruce Willis/Val Young/Yours Truly/Zhane-All signed on The Motown Record Label or one of its subsidiaries...

Motown-Your Ticket to The Greatest Show on Earth

Login