marvin Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Nice story in the Plain Dealer about the 50th Anniversary of "Hitsville": http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2009/01/motown.html The stories those walls could tell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Interesting article. Here is a link to the "Motown: The Complete No. 1's," on Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Motown-1s-Box/dp/B001H5HWSK The box is very cool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Just to let you know how "square" I am, I never realized how important Cleveland is/was to the music scene. Don't throw tomatoes at me... I know the reality NOW!I always thought of Detroit, Philly... and, later LA as the music capitols. Growing up in Detroit... and "driving out of the way" down W. Grand Blvd to pass "Hitsville USA" was always a real treat. This is the era In which I grew up as a teen: (My ex used to sing this song to me... should have dumped him sooner!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YPdVqwk978 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 I visited the Hitsville Museum in Deroit a couple of years ago....and all I can say is,"Wow"! There's a story in each each room, but as you come to the studio,the Snake Pit, you stand in awe of the magic that preceeded you in that room...quite small as a matter of fact. Here you stand where the greats did! That slight reverb on those early hits weren't made by some electronic rack device....but by a microphone and speaker in the attic!!!Truely, an inspiring musical destination!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy McLintock Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 That was a great article Marvin. Thanks for posting it.An interesting way of running a company, but not unheard of or rare. I was entertained by the fact that everyone had to be at the meeting at exactly 9 O'Clock or else. Only heard of that once at the airlines I almost worked for. The closeness, support, and general well-being of all of the artists was very special, I take it. They were lucky. Those were the good ole days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 "They were Lucky". Might want to check with Flo Ballard on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy McLintock Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Just to let you know how "square" I am, I never realized how important Cleveland is/was to the music scene. Don't throw tomatoes at me... I know the reality NOW![Throws a couple of tomatoes at Barbara]Yeah there's something about the Midwest that churns out great musicians. I haven't figured out just why that is, yet.I was thinking that Guitar Hero sells best in the Midwest compared to the east or west coast but I haven't been able to confirm that. The regions that Activision lists are worldwide, and that's not what I am after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy McLintock Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Yes you're right about Ballard being swifted out of the Supremes, but just as well, there were many who got lucky. Life is that way. Maybe he saw more potential in Ross, more dynamic energy, and more charisma. Who knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 I've spent the better part of the last 30 years reading every book I could find about Motown. For every amazing success story that came out of that hit factory, there is an equal one of heartbreak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy McLintock Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 And what have you deduced from that, Marvin?What made one win out over another? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 And what have you deduced from that, Marvin?What made one win out over another? What have I "deduced"? I'm very biased about Motown music, so take this with a grain of salt: Motown had a stable of musicians and singers without parallel. Berry Gordy is an interesting dichotomy: He deserves much of the credit for recognizing talent, for being able to get the right people to nurture that talent, but I think he was also to blame for much of the sadness. The interesting part is, many of the stars who were mistreated, even though they were cast-out by Motown, still for the most part hold Berry in high regard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 My comment had little to do with Ballard being replaced in the Supremes, it has to do with her being on welfare at the time of her death.A travesty and embarrassment.Anyone vaguely familiar with Motown knows that Gordy saw Ross as a star, which she was. There is no maybe about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Also...Ballard was by far the best singer in the Supremes. Ross's voice was and is nothing special...As I said, it's all about her charisma and star power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy McLintock Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Thanks for the heads up on it being a bias. It is no problem at all. I agree with Gordy being a dichotomy. As much as I sympathize with the ones who were outcast, it is a business. I really hate saying that but gosh it's so true. Gordy acted much like a casting agency. Best fit for the job gets the job? Not sure if I'd want to be in Gordy's position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Gordy may not have been the nicest guy...but he was an absolute genius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy McLintock Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Also...Ballard was by far the best singer in the Supremes. Ross's voice was and is nothing special...As I said, it's all about her charisma and star power. That's what I wanted to know -- whether charisma sometimes overrides talent, and you answered that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Hmmm, Gordy acted like a dictator...which he was. It seemed to work out well for him. I certainly would have liked to be in his position...working with incredible talent and being filthy rich. Sign me up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 Gordy may not have been the nicest guy...but he was an absolute genius. Berry was driven. No doubt about it. He also had the business sense to know that Motown in order to have universal appeal (i.e. make a lot of $$$), had to appeal not to only to "black America", but to "Young America." That was the main difference between Motown and Stax. They both had an incredible stable of musicians and singers, but one was definitely more 'soul' than the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Let's not forget Gordy had some musical talent too... He wrote 'REET PETITE' and LONELY TEARDROPS! Impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 He also wrote (ironically), "Money (That's What I Want)." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 In Florence Ballard's own words, why she got thrown out of the Supremes http://video.google.com/videosearch?clie...5&ct=title# Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy McLintock Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Just heard the whole thing. Interesting. It appears that you have to be exactly what the record label wants you to be. They need to be able to mold you. Just like they molded Marilyn from a brunette to a bleached blond, and they did a fab job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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