I've noticed from another thread that there are a number of Motown fans here. Just wondering what peoples favourites are? Also, any suggestions for further listening? I've been a massive Motown fan for years but am still discovering new artists all the time.

My favourites:

Brenda Holloway
Doris Duke
The Marvelettes
Lamont Dozier
J.J. Barnes
Chris Clark

Motown was massive when I was a kid in the late 60/70's, and the mainstay musoc of school discos. I saw most of the artists live in the 70's.

My favourites where the Isley Brothers when they were on Motown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGyszX-Hs30

Always a good song for the girls to wiggle their bums to

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell always sang well together because they were genuinely in love, it nearly wrecked his career when she died of a brain tumour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tEIW3w4_-o&feature=related

I've got loads of old Motown records, some on US labels. But probably haven't got them out and played them for over 25 years.

I was thinking of making this thread myself, well done Dom!

This year is the 50th anniversary of Motown records. They were essentially a mass production music machine, turning out hit after hit, but they're a million miles away from todays commercial pop market. The music they made had REAL passion and feeling, what I call perfect pop.

Some of my favourites;

Stevie Wonder - so many; Sir Duke, As, Another Star, Uptight, Superstition, My Cherie Amour, Master Blaster, Do I Do, I was Made To Love Her
Smokey and The Miricles
The Four Tops
The Supremes (highly under-rated)
The Marvelettes
Gladys Knight and the Pips - Heatwave (one of my most fave songs ever)
The Jackson 5 - I want You Back, ABC
Edwin Starr - War
Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts (another one of my most fave songs ever)
The Temptations - Loads, especially Aint To Proud To Beg
Marvin Gaye - this bloke was AMAZING, Whats Going On
is one of my all time favourite albums, I listen to it all the time, especially on Sundays. All his stuff was great.

Loads more!

They were AWESOME!!!

True perfection!!!
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I've just seen on a music forum that this stuff is on tonight

STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN is a fantastic documentary, the other stuff looks great too...


20:00 Motown at the BBC

To mark the 50 year anniversary of Motown, a compilation of some of the iconic record label's greatest names filmed live in the BBC studios. Visitors from Hitsville USA over the years have included Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops and the Jackson 5. (Repeated at 2:25 am).

21:00 Legends: The Motown Invasion.

Documentary revealing what made Motown special though the lens of two decisive moments in 1965 - the Motown Revue UK tour and the Sounds of Motown Ready Steady Go! TV Special.

Arriving in London in March 1965, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder were bussed across Britain on a tough but crucial tour.

The TV special, recorded during the tour, kicked open the door, thrusting Motown's slick routines and magical music into front rooms across the nation.

(Repeated at 1:25 am)

22:00 Storyville: STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN

Documentary that tells the story of the Funk Brothers, the Motown session musicians who were behind more number one hits that the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined. Drawn together from Detroit's jazz and blues scene, the film recounts their evolution of the Motown sound from its origins to its demise in LA during the 1970s, and reunites the surviving Funk Brothers for the first time in thirty years.
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Oh, and for a fave Motown number that has not been mentioned yet, go for I'll Say Forever My love - Jimmy Ruffin. *bow*

Just watching the doc on the MArch-April 65 Uk tour now.

So to assist with flagging ticket sales they roped in Georgie fucking Fame?!Those were the days eh..?

Been listening to a lot of Chris Clark tonight. In my opinion she is one of the most under-rated Motown artists of all time.

I'm a huge Motwon fan too. I love it all, I'm afraid my favourites are the obvious ones. I'm a fan of all music really, but Motown has provided some of the greatest songs ever.
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I really like Motown too.

Especially Earth, Wind and Fire