January 2009 sees a year long celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the most important record label to ever have come out of America...Motown
Motown Records. Probably the greatest roster of recording artists ever collected together under one label.
The label that, to many, rewrote both the musical and business structures that most fail to perfect still now.
The History
After years in the army, on production lines at Detroit's Ford Motors plant and in his own failing jazz records store Berry Gordy began the eventual
process that would lead to his forming Motown Records. A songwriter and producer in his own right, it was in January of 1959 that he first released
a single on his own Tamla Records, that song was Marv Johnson's "Come to Me".
On borrowed money, Gordy purchased the home at 2648 W. Grand Blvd. that later became Hitsville U.S.A. All of the early Motown hits by artists such
as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Temptations, The Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas,
The Jackson 5, and The Four Tops, among others, were recorded in the studio at Hitsville.
Following the riots in Detroit, Gordy moved to Los Angeles, California, and expanded Motown's offices there. Recording continued at Hitsville U.S.A.
until 1972, when the decision to relocate was made.
As the Los Angeles offices continued to grow Gordy relocated the entire Motown Records company and closed the Hitsville studios, the following year.
Throughout the 60's and 70's the Motown Sound was all over the radios and concert halls of the world. It spawned innumerable stars and countless
hit records that time will never forget.
Hitsville today
The building is now a museum where disciples of the label can come and see the original studios in all their glory. 
Owned and operated by Esther Gordy Edwards, sister of Berry Gordy, the Motown Museum contains exhibits featuring costumes,
photos, and records from Motown's success era. Also featured are Motown's "Studio A" and Berry Gordy's upstairs apartment, decorated to appear
as they did during the 1960s. The museum is one of Detroit's most popular tourist destinations.
The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959
until 1972, when the company moved to Los Angeles. The Funk Brothers played on Motown hits such as "My Girl", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine",
"Baby Love", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", "The Tears of a Clown", and "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave".
Paul Justman's superb 2002 documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, proclaims the Funk Brothers as "having played on more number-one
records than The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys combined."
Today the musicians are finally getting the credit and respect their genius deserves. Do yourself a favour and find a copy of Alan Slutsky's
documentary "Standing In The Shadows of Motown" and discover the true genius of James Jamerson, Earl Van Dyke, Joe Messina, Jack Ashford,
Bob Babbit, Uriel Jones, Pistol Allen and Benny Benjamin to name check a few. It's an amazing, inspiring and sometimes touching story.
Motown 25:
Can you believe its 25 years since that show and that dance? Relive the magic again Moonwalking Michael.
Perhaps the best way to learn about what Motown was, and is now, is to visit the official site,
Motown50.com.
To view all of the Motown and related label items in stock including new arrivals, click here.
Check out our Top 5 Motown collectables right here.
Have you seen this beauty?
Motown: The Complete No. 1's a superb 202-track 10-CD album set containing every Motown No. 1 single [and that does mean every – from international chart from
every genre], adding up to a staggering 190 tracks that hit the top, plus 12 Bonus Recordings whose cover versions were No. 1.
We asked 'The Professor of Pop' broadcasting legend, Paul Gambaccini if he could pick his favourite Motown track for 991 and he didn't hesitate with his reply. "My Girl by The Temptations" was his immediate unwavering response.
You can hear Paul Gambaccini and a host of others including Paul Weller and Smokey Robinson as part of BBC Radio 2's Motown celebrations.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/documentaries/motown_index.shtml.
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