I am so thrilled !! I grew up not far from Manchester and first became aware of Soul music in 1966. It was the most exciting thing ever, I was 14 at the time and music had the power to move my soul. We emigrated to Canada in 1967 to a small town where no one had ever heard Motown!! imagine. I never forgot how much that music meant to me and once I got out in the world continued to be a life long fan. Now at 71 I play guitar with a bunch of other old timers and play some of those great tunes. I just loved watching this. Thank you, whoever you are for reading my comment. Peace🎸
I experienced racial hate as a young black kid. Motown music and seeing people like me on TV made a world of difference in my life. I had the privilege of meeting my role model a figure Mr. Levi Stubs. What a man. Changed my life.
I'm so sorry to hear this, and I'm so glad you met your model figure, Mr Levi Stubs, Play your music and do what you want to do in your life, take care.
I was born, raised and still live in Metro Detroit. I remember hearing new Motown singles on the local radio station in the 60's as a little kid. Local DJ's evidently had early access before they were played nationally. It was a gloriously melodic and uplifting sound even then. It literally jumped out of the speakers. I feel immense pride that music from my hometown, that started so humbly, became an international sensation, and still, to this day, influences so many.
As a Black American I really enjoyed watching this documentary. Music can be such a powerful unifying and healing force. I love how Black American music has transcended international waters and land borders.
I am 66 and everytime I think or hear Motown music I always cry tears of sheer joy and happiness! It will never die😢and I was born and raised in north London at the time ❤❤❤truly timeless🎉
1962, 11 years old, on holiday in Cleethorpes England, Motown show on the pier, Supreme, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Gladys Knight an audience of perhaps 100. What a night, spoke with all of them, got the programme signed by many. Absolutely fantastic experience for a young lad, wish I had had a camera with me. Loved Motown ever since,
i was lucky enough to visit Detroit and the Motown Museum back in 2015. I'll never forget the day and the sight/sound of 60 grey-heads singing along with the music as we did the tour !! Go to Detroit. It is now an amazing city that has risen from the ashes.
In the early 1960s I lived in a musical desert also: Colorado. I learned about Motown from a late night radio from Oklahoma City. The only time one could hear it was after 10pm. With my little transistor radio under my pillow I danced to The Supremes and all the other great Black bands. Thank GOD for Barry Gordy and radio stations who dared played that music. This documentary brought back so many memories. Thank you!
Bloody brilliant! Born in uk, 1959, I have always been a soul fan, stevie wonder stole my heart and soul. He still does! All I listen to is R&B, soul here in usa.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be :)) I loved this documentary. I was 15 in 1960 and 25 in 1970. I believe I lived through the most magical and important period of pop music EVER, and that includes the arrival of Motown. The music of those artists is eternal!
I grew up outside of Detroit in the 60's we had Motown and doo wop summer of 61-63 great music . Went to Fox Theater New Year's Eve 1965 saw the Motown Revue what a great show . My GOD so much talent in our city , 76 years old still love this music
@32:53 David Ruffin had the best singing voice out of anyone anywhere. It’s such a shame he left the Temptations. No group before or since could harmonize as good as the Temptations.
The Dramatics are are such an underrated American R&B band. The Dramatics are equally talented as The Temptations especially their harmonies on my favorite song, Be My Girl.
As an abused (by a parent, unfortunately) and bullied gay kid in Illinois in the early '60s I can tell you that it was my 45 RPM records that helped me survive. I think my first Tamla/Motown singles were "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "You Beat Me to the Punch". I absolutely freaked over "Where Did Our Love Go"," My Guy", "Fingertips", "Heat Wave", etc. so I started mowing lawns (hated it!) to buy my records and began scooping up every Tamla/Motown/ Gordy/VIP single I could get my hands on. That was it : I became a lifelong addict to the Sound, the Magic of Motown. And if you think for a minute that Motown was anti-gay you are wrong. In the "70s the label released such tracks as "I Was Born This Way" by Carl Bean (later known as the Rev. Carl Bean who opened the first hospice in L.A. for black men with AIDS). I saw him perform live in a gay disco and he was great. Even The Miracles put out a song referencing gay people, "Everybody's Gay in L.A.", a track on their "City of Angels" album. To this day I believe Motown is the greatest record label that ever existed and not a day goes by that I don't listen to at least a few Motown tracks. Most recently I've been rediscovering Eddie Kendricks's "Girl, You Need a Change of Mind" (pure STEAM), "Keep on Truckin', Pt.1 and 2, and the Undisputed Truth's "Smiling Faces Sometimes", all awesome tracks. Motown is part of my life and always will be.
@FriendofDorothy I’m very sorry that you were abused. I’m gay, too, and was bullied at school. I kind of lived under a rock, and so many things that were happening at the time totally escaped me. I was mainly worried that I might have to fight in Viet Nam, but that ended just in time for me. When I graduated high school, I came out and started going to bars where Motown hits were played on the juke box. I’d never heard them before. The Supremes are my favorite and I play their songs constantly at my house. I love Diana Ross. I didn’t know about Claudette Robinson before watching this, and think she is a great lady. I also look up RU-vids and one of my favorites to watch is “Da doo run run” because everyone looks like they are having so much fun! This kind of music makes me feel happy.
I was 19 in 1965. I was one of the many oblivious to Motown. It was a colleague I worked with who I bumped into outside a record shop who, introduced me to the phenomenon that was to change my popular musical preferences for the rest of my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen some of these wonderful artists perform. Sadly not all.
30:23. “Dusty was a wonderful spirit, you know, she was a great door-opener for Motown, for Motown’s act, for Motown’s music, the acceptance of Motown. So she was that kind of a power, you know, a power player that she really showed and appreciated the love of Motown and with her being who she was, people would listen.” - Otis Williams of The Temptations
What Otis Williams might not have known was that The Beatles had 3 Motown numbers on their 'With The Beatles' album - a few years before Dusty was a solo artist. Other UK groups played Motown numbers in their live acts. Unlike the racist white population in the USA, the UK got exposed to and into blues, soul, r'n'b from at least 1957 - Reet Petite by Jackie Wilson was co-written by Berry Gordy and made him enough money to start looking at getting his own studio together. Black artists who came to the UK didn't have to worry about segregation, either. I bought my first Motown single back in 1960 when I was 13 and in Glasgow - Shop Around by The Miracles. The UK music press was into black American music from the early 60s, too. Like Liverpool, Glasgow was a major trading port with the USA and add in that, in Scotland, we had, post WW2, US navy and air force bases and lots of black personnel bringing their music in - and the black guys and gals weren't racially restricted once over here, either.
A wonderful blast from my past. Also the cubicles in record shops where we could listen to new releases. Had those in the UK. We had the best of the music' years in so many ways. 😊😍
I love motown, Northern soul. Almost any kind of R&b soul from other labels too. I would love to see more footage from the snake pit where they actually recorded all the motown songs. The musicians were wonderful too!
There are two great documentaries about Motown and the musicians: Hitsville: The Making of Motown. The second one is Standing In the Shadows of Motown. This doc is about the Motown house band, the Funk Brothers. Both are excellent. Well worth the time.
I went to England (from the USA) in the summer of 1965, so I just missed the Motown tour shows. However, at 14, I was already learning guitar and performing and already loved Motown records and artists. I've performed Motown tunes (and blues and R&B) ever since. I enjoyed the video. Thanks!
I grew up in Germany in the Eighties and Nineties, listening mainly to classical music, then electronic music, and only later discovered Motown...instantly became, and still am, addicted - Thanks for this excellent documentary! It must have been a most exciting time! Cheers from Munich - keep on making your audience happy with these excellent documentaries, Chris...PS: The Hacienda documentary is fantastic, too...folks, have a look at it!
I'm only at the fifteen minutes mark from the start and already have tears of pure joy, running from my eyes, this is so good and so right! So thankful I did not miss this joyous retelling again of how early single records from Motown and other record companies, literally tip-toed it's way rite into Britain's front door via 1 brand new jukebox that arrived at a back corner of a pub in the city of Bexley-Heath, already pre-loaded with 45s from America's` new rhythm & blues record company in Detroit, Michigan, so fittingly called, Motown, Hitsville USA and into the hearts, minds & souls of each & every English man and English Woman making history forever -as this documentary has confirmed- to me, I've missed out on all the good feels triggered by not thinking of not seeing, or knowing when each or many Motown groups, duos or solo artist' very 1st performed to the last back then in the United Kingdom. I'm so glad, overjoyed even, I will finally know & learn it now....
WHAT AN AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL, AND WELL PIT TOGETHER DOCUMENTARY. DAVE GODIN WAS AWESOME TO START THE TAMLA MOTOWN FAN CLUB. THANKS FOR THIS GREAT DOCUMENTARY.
This was such a brilliant watch, thanks for posting. Motown will forever be the sound if young America such amazing evocative memories. How times have changed, hard to imagine Diana Ross is still going strong and the ultimate diva 58 years later.
Nothing compares to the Motown Sound. I was in 5th grade when i heard Dancing in the Street my friend had a small transistor radio we just Danced in the school yard. I felt soecial my first Black friend she taught me how to Dance in the street . Saw the Temptations 1967 in the Copa Cabana to this day I listen almost everyday. This music brought so many people from all walks of life together. To this day I play motown every chance I get. It makes me feel alive and brings joy. Im 71 yrs old but when this music is in the air Im that little girl sgain its heaven.
The first 45 I bought was Jimmy Ruffin - what becomes of the broken hearted . Loved Motown ever since and a fantastic time to grow up. This documentary is great.
As a 16 year old boy in Glasgow Scotland we were all Mods and loving the Tamla Motown Sound and treated The Four Tops and The Temptations almost the same way the Americans treated The Beatles... We also loved The Who but the main sound was Motown. We rode Vespa and Lambretta Scooters, 125cc or 150cc, and I would get half a bottle of Vodka, and some Dexies and Blueys, ( Diet Pills) we would swallow them down followed by the Vodka, my friend would drink half the bottle straight up and I would put some Lime Juice in the bottle, shake it up and drink the rest then we would dance ALL night to the sounds of The Four Tops and The Temps at a Club on Buchanan Street called the Picasso Club... With girls, not each other. That was around 1963-64 so we knew who these great artist were then... I was born in 1948. If you ever seen the movie Quadrafina then that was us Mods, in fact Sting the main star was based on a guy I knew in Glasgow called Cecil. Then along came the Beatles and the 1960s changed but The Tops and The Temps and Marvin and The Vandells and the Supremes all still sound wonderful today. We seem them as Americans, just Americans, so I guess black people in the UK seen them as something other than that, and many decades later I became a proud American Citizen in the 1990s.. Now Im 75 and wondering where all those years went. Great Documentary as I had never heard of Dave Godin or is that God In Dave.
Grew up in Windsor Ontario, Motown to me, I dropped the name Detroit and I forever referred to it as Motown, it was a spectacular splash of fresh vibes.
What a great documentary! I wasn’t aware how Motown reached England. I grew up in Germany in the 1960’s. The German top 50 hits were mostly American and English hits, and that included Motown. Diana Ross and the Supremes were tremendously popular, I was an instant fan! There were many other black artists’ music we enjoyed, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, The 4 Tops, The Jackson 5 come to mind, but Diana Ross was way up there on our list! I was fortunate enough to see her in the Bay Area maybe 10 years ago. She was still fabulous! My favorite male black artist from that era is, hands down, Otis Redding. Don’t know if he was with the Motown label, but OMG… Sittn on the dock of the Bay still gives me shivers! Thank you Motown for the wonderful music! Part of the incredible soundtrack of my youth!
Oh my, this made me shed tears of joy and melancholy and never mind the memories. I was a teenager in NY where it was what everyone listened to and danced to, no matter what race and nationality. I loved all the groups. ❤ Soul music was the best !! I never stopped dancing to those great musicians. Thank you for posting.
I was so surprised that so many people loved Motown in its heyday. I was a homey looking kid in the South, believing I was so ugly because of being Black in a White town, but when I saw Diana Ross and the Supremes, I truly felt I had seen beautiful Angels. When I saw them, all I could do was stare! And then I saw them sing “Stop In The Name of Love” on American Bandstand, I was floored!❤😌👌
I was born in 1970, but by the early 80's I was going through my Father's Albums and Cassette Tapes, because I loved the R&B Music I heard on the Radio and Soul Train. The Artists that captivated my attention was Sister Sledge, The Jones Girls, Patrice Rushen, Stephanie Mills and Deneice Williams. I actually had a young crush on Neicy and Patrice. So glad she still going strong and in great health. Still Beautiful!
I wasn't old enough to catch the Motown Tour, but feel blessed to have seen many of the Motown artists in the early '70s and met several, as well as getting to know the late Dave Godin quite well from 1974 - after reading his column in Blues & Soul for a few years previously of course, like thousands of others. Once I persuaded my parents to buy me a record player, I was a Motown fanatic from the age of 15, inevitably leading to a long involvement with the Northern Soul/Rare Soul scene. Many of the great people I met back then are still good friends today. :-)
Bravo! Brilliant job. As a life-long Motown fan (who even dated Marvin Gaye's widow) I'm ashamed to say I knew noting about this-amazing bit of history. Thank the producers for making this and thanks for sharing it.
Listening to Tamla now gives me exactly the same feelings and emotions it did back in 1967....my first single record I bought though was 'Rescue Me' by Fontella Bass on Chess label..Great video I've learned quite a bit about what was going on.
This is wonderful, thank you! I've been a fan since the early 60's thanks to my parents. We must acknowledge the Funk Brothers: the musicians that made the Motown sound come to life. Jazz and blues artists that came together and made music history without being given credit until after many had died. Love to the Funks! Check out Standing in the Shadows of Motown, a wonderful documentary about these incredible musicians.
I saw that documentary and have watched it so many times. I love the Funk Brothers as well lindaredwood-kahn8143. yes yes yes yes I've watched the doc about Motown many times to learn and enjoy.
Yes, Yes, Yes!! The FUNK BROTHER'S made the written word a magical journey. The GUYS knew their instruments and they could and would "work" them effortlessly!! WQ, they should have been recognized much earlier -- as far as receiving a "Star"!!❤🙏🏾❤
@@missjoyceakaladyj6628 Well, even recognized earlier on the albums of the artist. According to the movie their names did not appear until later years. We still have maybe two still living. Have a great night Miss Joyce. (smile)
My parents listened to Motown as did I growing up in NYC. I live in UK now and took my half American kids 12 and 15 to see "Ain't to Proud to Beg" in the West End, Now they are hooked. I got a little misty eyed introducing them to a bit of my childhood. Great show, hard not to sing and dance during the show.
It was lovely to see David Nathan after so many years. Hung around with him for short while early 1970s. He was living in north London at the time and working with the magazine 'Blues and Soul'.
This music has followed my life since my mid teens in the mid sixties until my seventies. So many cherished memories as a mod dancing to Motown, still gets me every time I hear these groups. My grandchildren and greatgrandchildren still find Motown facinating whenever I play it. Went in hand with all that was happening to British music at that time. Long may this music last. Buy the way we never paid any attention to the colour of the Motown artist, they just sounded cool and that was all that mattered.
As soon as I heard Motown, that was me, I loved almost single release, I think I have around 100 singles and not sure how many Lps, but I still have a record player to listen to them, Just to let you know I'm a 73 year old pensioner
I have always loved Motown since it came to the uk I still listen to it now .I always watched ready steady go as a lot of Motown artists used to be on there Ktf, long live Motown soul ❤❤❤🎉🤩😊😎🤗
Motown was so much more fabulous than things like the Beatles and the Stones in the UK! .. And when Marvin Gaye sang 'What's Going On' .. Fergedabout it!! Genius!
@@annalisavajda252 How Gaye died doesn't detract from his genius, and as for rap music today, who is behind the big record labels promoting it. BTW, The Beatles and The Stones, they were heavily influenced by Motown and other Black music. They literally copied the style, and admitted that they did, (anyone with ears can hear the influence of Black music). Ever notice that it's Black American artists who are the creators and innovators of all original American music which is literally enjoyed around the world.. Yes, pure genius!
A kid when Motown had it's heyday, glad that the Brits and the rest of the world got to experience what was then " The Sound of Young America "...This needs to be shown on regular TV like PBS so the youngins today will know..
My parents raised us on stax and motown, beatles, wings and queen. 70s and 80s siblings. Nowadays northern soul nights get my groove on. Soulie from Dublin
@@1funkyflyguy No. I mean Radio London (Big L) - the most famous, most successful, most professional Pirate radio station of them all. Dec '64 - Aug '67 . . Still sadly missed by millions.
An Absolutely Fascinating Documentary !! I was keenly aware of the British Invasion with The Beatles , the Stones, and other now Legendary English groups , But I was totally Oblivious to how Motown Invaded England !! This Documentary was a REVELATION !!!
Been there seen em all, never see them up-close as in Stringfellows the Mojo club Sheffield again. 73 yrs old now and remember them like it was yesterday, marvellous !
I was a teenager in 1954 right at the start of Rock & Roll which was an excellent time for me. Then came Tamla Motown which I really loved and still do today. I share my birthday with Diana Ross but I am 5 years older.
Teenage years in the '60s were stimulating musically, in part because of the burgeoning of British pop. But there was a strong sense that much of it was second-hand, copied - sometimes better, often worse - from across the Atlantic. And the 'authentic' sound of 60s America was without doubt Motown, by virtue of its power to excite in a quite extraordinary way, purely through sheer musicality. I don't think there was much awareness of the context of Black opression - but the emotional dimension certainly played a subliminal part. It may sound trite, but for those of us who grew up with Motown it's remained the formative 'soundscape' of our lives, and even now when I want to lift my mood I turn to Motown - both the old favourites (of which there are hundreds) and the extra stuff on RU-vid, such as unreleased songs and alternative takes of published versions. Detroit may have ownership, but the main Motown artistes had so many tours of the UK that they were almost regarded as British .. !
I was 5-6 weeks old when The Supremes went to number 1 and had no interest, really, in Motown growing up, 1976 year zero musically, but then heard and fell in love with "Lately" and have devoured everything since. This is great, I don't mind payng my BBC liecene fee when they do stuff like this. Thanks for Posting this.
Motown is the iconic music industry. Many legends open doors for others and indeed the music was wonderful. Thanks for those that made the difference and those who shared their talents and are gone. Thanks Motown for putting the rhythm in my feet. ❤❤❤❤
It's just about the most riveting documentary I've every seen ,it's monumentus big real life happenings and these persons in documentary where so bloody lucky times
Thanks for sharing that enormois piece of history! It was then that my love for soul music,R& B,funk has born! I'm 70 years old and still enjoy that music, it was real music!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Dave Godwin is one of my great heroes. I read Blues and Soul magazine obsessively as a young teen in the 70s. His musical insights were brilliant and the I cried over his obituary of the wonderful Esther Phillips. He was such an important part of my youth
@@jeanmyers1787 The Top Notes first recorded _Twist and Shout_ on the Atlantic label. The Isley Bros then recorded it on the Wand label. Not Tamla Mowtown.
@@johnburns4017 Thé Beatles first recorded Twist & Shout on their first album Please Please Me then on their With the Beatles they recorded Please Mr Postman.
One thing that can be credited to the Brits is maintaining interest in the precursors and realizations of the Motown sound because I could in 1986 go into the Tower Records in Picadilly Circus and find all types of recordings from years earlier on cassette that you could not find in the USA. The expensive $150 compact cassette player helped. It was one of the few things i brought back from London after my semester abroad.
I actually got a VHS copy of Motown on Ready Steady Go in the 80s at Sam the Record Man in Toronto, Canada. Lost track of it during my many moves over the years. My sister actually danced on that show before Motown arrived there.
This was great to see!!! Such history !!! Thanks for this documentary!!!! We know about their journey in the USA this gives another perspective!!! I remember when I first saw them in this country as a teenager!! Makes their achievements more amazing!!!
I was 17 in 1965 which was for me at least the time when soul/motown sound was at its height at that time especially at the all night clubs in London like the Scene, Last Chance Saloon and Flamingo. This was well before the northern soul became a 'thing'.
