Detroit 1-8-7 The Temptations

[Seymouro]

Three all-time classics. The Temps were the sh!t!

Detroit 1-8-7 theme song...

"Ball of Confusion".

There were some live performances, including one with Smokey Robinson, but the original is the best, and it defined Detroit as well as the nation in 1970...


"Unemployment's rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas!"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Qh-8ZMoLeY&feature=related


This one is not on the show, but I have everlasting love for it. This band went through very distinct phases in their evolution (much like the Beatles). I loved it all, including the David Ruffin era that preceded this "psychedelic" era, which I loved most.


"Papa Was a Rolling Stone"


God, could these guys write it and deliver it! Easily the TOP Motown band and an all-time legendary group! The bass playing is haunting! Not to mention the harp and the violin! Can you believe that young kids today worship this sampling "crap", yet never heard this absolute masterpiece? Wow!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2QkgMvTtM&feature=related
 

Finally, the inimitable "Cloud Nine".


Dennis Edwards and Paul Williams put all memory of the "cokehead" Ruffin to rest in 1968...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7157FdxSX38&feature=related


Honorable mention to "Runaway Child Running Wild" and  "Psychedelic Shack".


What a group...

[Mark M]

I've always been a motown fan and it's permanently imbedded in me since I grew up listening to in on the "Big 8" . I remember my mom telling me that she thought I was part black because I listened to so much black music as a kid :-)

I agree with everything you said but a huge amount of cred needs to go to others for their success.

  1. Hitsville USA for recording, promoting, etc.

  2. Holland-Dozer-Holland for writing most of the songs as well as many other Motown hits.

  3. The Funk Brothers who were the unsung heroes and the band that played the music behind the Temp's and many other Motown bands.

Those 3 items made Motown.

Check out this video which is from a movie about the Funk Bro's featuring Joan Osborne.

Joan Osborne + The Funk Brothers = A W E S O M E.  Joan's vocals on this tune sends shivers down my spine. Watch the whole thing... will not dissappoint. The Funk Bro's ARE the Motown sound and these old dudes can still do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=gA0GcXV2njY

That's what I'm talkin' about.

[Big Jer]

WOW!  What a great performance! The Motown sound is so good & unique. It is still the pride of Detroit!

Motown music will always be present on my iPod or any future music device I own.

Berry Gordy Jr. sure knew what the heck he was doing!

[Seymouro]

Funny you mention the "Funk Brothers"...I got the DVD titled "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" from Netflix just after posting this!

They rule the WORLD!! They were involved in EVERYTHING Motown!

If you have not seen the movie...GET IT!

They are GODS...

[Seymouro]

Joan Osborne...WOW did that one cook!

You find them all Mark...

My mom said the same about me and black people, and frowned. My dad said go with what you know.

Color should always be approached with an open mind like all things. There are so many factors at work that it is but one thing to consider, and to me, it is among the last of all objective criteria. Many make it a first point of judgment. Foolish.

I have personally dealt with a lot of color and the outcomes would lead me to believe that dark color is not good. But I know enough to evaluate the circumstances and the big picture to see different...that these folks are dealing with a stacked deck of cards and are endeavoring to overcome.

The net results are still not encouraging. But I have met, spoken to, and hired black folk and see that many are evolving out of the difficult environments and meting if not surpassing expectation. And in fact, at times excelling.

There is but one race and that is the "human race".

People like us rush to judgment and attack rap music or Justin Bieber. True enough...I have no use for any  of it. But the current generation has as much right to enjoy "their" music as we had to enjoy "ours".

We can dislike it all we want like the Andy Williams and Jerry Vale generation "hated" on Jagger and "Bowie", and the "Beatles".

But, just like we deserved the right to hear what we liked, so does the generation of today.