Motown
Motown is perhaps one of the most instantly recognisable, and most commercial of all the soul genres, which was always the intention. The trademark ‘Motown Sound’ had a huge impact on the music scene, and was the first Afro-American music genre that entered the mainstream pop arena, and appealed to a white audience. It was a product of racial integration, and was influential all over the world.
All the songs that belonged to the Motown stable were highly crafted, and typified by powerful and melodic bass lines, and chord structures, simple backing vocals, and a spiritual call and response element, often heard in Gospel material.
If the Motown genre had a spiritual home, then it was in Detroit, Michigan, commonly nicknamed ‘Motor City’ or ‘Motown’. It was here in 1959 that Berry Gordy Junior set up his first business. This became the powerhouse that was Motown Records, which got its name from the cities nickname. Although Motown is now part of the Universal Music Group, as a stand alone label it produced some of the biggest hits of the 1960’s and 70’s, and made stars out of many of its artists.
Two of the earliest success stories for Motown were that of The Supremes, and their lead singer/turned solo star Diana Ross. They have been widely credited for helping to shape the Motown sound in the 1960’s, with hits like ‘Where Did Our Love Go’, ‘Baby Love’, and ‘Stop In The Name Of Love’. When Diana Ross left The Supremes to persue a solo career, she also had hits on the Motown Label, such as ‘I’m Coming Out’, ‘Remember Me’, and ‘Aint No Mountain High Enough’. Girl Power was rife in the Motown stable, with Martha and The Vandellas also becoming a key signing for the label, and The Marvelettes holding the accolade of first Motown signed act to reach ‘Gold’ status with their record sales. But the success of Motown records wasn’t just down to the girls, the boys had their part to play as well.
Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Tops, all became award winning soul legends through the Motown label and their hit factory, which included studio band The Funk Brothers, writer Norman Whitfield, and the producing/songwriting partnership of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Who could forget songs like The Temptations hits ‘My Girl’, and ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’, or ‘I Can’t Help Myself’ and ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ from The Four Tops, and‘Sexual Healing’ from Marvin Gaye. The list could go on and on, but it would be remiss not to mention The Jackson 5. These guys were one of the biggest pop success stories of the 1970’s, and charmed millions of fans worldwide with their catchy repertoire of tunes. These hits included ‘ABC’, ‘I Want You Back’, and ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’. The Jackson 5, is also famous as the first career move of the late, great, never forgotten Michael Jackson.
You only have to look at one or all of the biographies of these artists, to realise what a huge impact they, and their Motown songs had on the world. Their hits have been covered time and again by a variety of stars, featured in compilation albums, and played countless times on radio, on TV and in films. There’s also new products like Singstar Motown hitting the market, and some of the original Motown stars revisiting their early hits, or influencing todays crop of singers and bands. Not forgetting the lasting legacy, that is the Motown Historical Museum, built on the site of the original Motown Records Building in Detroit. All in all, it’s safe to say our love affair with this music genre shows every sign of continuing for many years to come.
