So, what have you been listening to lately?

[uwe]

Yeah, "soul classics" should really be the new answer to this ancient question here:

I tell ya somethin', when you're down in the dumps and you need something to bring you up, there is only one thing that's gonna do it the way you want it ... What's that? I can't hear you?!!!




(And yes, Simmons' meaty bass playing on that track is - no pun intended - absolutely ace.)

LOL, I had forgotten that the only lifelong teetotaler of the band actually sang this song, what irony ... But Kiss being Kiss, I'm sure the, uhum, Demon Non-Alcohol approved of this belated (2021) offspring of the Frehley-penned song ...

[Dave W]

I was about to write how someone who claims to disdain Motown should like the music it developed from, but then I thought it would come out all mean and smart-alec'y so I decided against it. Restraint is my middle name.

For some reason, they were missing in my collection though I of course knew their songs - I've rectified this untenable status via an Amazon order, danke för ze inspiration!

PS: That actor in the second vid taking the table with the lady looks uncannily like Kevin Spacey/Frank Underwood. Who is he?

Motown groups were a lowest common denominator corruption of music like this.

The actor is Johnny Johnston. This is a scene from Rock Around The Clock (1956). Ernie Freeman Combo backing them up.

[uwe]

Danke for the identification!

"Motown groups were a lowest common denominator corruption of music like this."

OMG, grudging assent? I shall make an entry in my diary. 

[westen44]

I totally agree with Dave's analysis. 

[uwe]

Uhum, I wouldn't call Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues and What's Goin' On or The Temptations' Papa Was A Rolling Stone a low denominator of anything.


(Wow, I never knew he was that good a piano improviser, just listen at 04:12.)

The music on that label progressed over time quite a bit.

But I also always liked the tunefulness and the rhythmic buoyancy of even the early Motown stuff. I'm not against convenience music in any shape or form, I even liked a lot of Phillysound and disco. What I do have issues with is dance music without lyrics/vocals which is why you can count me out on a lot of what is played on dance floors today. Just a beat/groove is not enough for me.

[Dave W]

Uhum, I wouldn't call Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues and What's Goin' On or The Temptations' Papa Was A Rolling Stone a low denominator of anything.

I didn't say or imply that every song was bad. But Motown called itself Hitsville USA. That says a lot. The goal was to get hits by any means possible, never mind the quality of the music. That's why they wound up putting out so much utter crap (e.g. The Supremes) instead of finding good artists who put out good music.

[Dave W]

This was posted by a member at TDPRI because his son is the bassist.

I like.

[Pilgrim]

I loved the Supremes and still have their greatest hits double LP.

I really liked most of Motown, which is much as I can say for any record label.

[uwe]

The Supremes aren't my favorite Motown act - a bit too thoroughly cleansed for white tastes for me -, but there is no denying that they were a blueprint for black female vocal groups like Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience were a blueprint for rock bands: No Supremes, no Destiny's Child; no Cream, no Metallica. It's that basic.

Without Motown and what it stands for, black music wouldn't be what it is today. The Blues was at one point almost wholly ... culturally appropriated (is the term you would use today) by whites and they turned it into Rock'n'Roll and then Rock with its million subgenres. But black (do I have to capitalize it?) people retained artistic control of Gospel, Soul and Funk and it spawned Motown, Stax, Reggae, Phillysound, Disco and what is today called RnB plus - urbanized - Hip Hop and Rap. Motown is not just music, not just a record label, it's a cultural and social phenomenon of Black America (I think it deserves capitalization here).

"The goal was to get hits by any means possible, never mind the quality of the music." Yes, of course - and your point being? It was black people wishing to entertain, make money and leave a cultural imprint in an era when the single and radio reigned supreme (no pun intended) in the media world.

[uwe]

In the year of our Lord 2022, the early 80ies are alive and well!



The lead guitarist, Sonja Anubis (her real name I'm sure), is eine Holländerin Dutch, I thought I'd mention that.

Flashdance (the movie) really needs a remake.

[Basvarken]

All the ridiculousness of mid-eighties Metal crammed into one video.
What's next; a grunge revival to eradicate all this?

[Pilgrim]

The goal was to get hits by any means possible, never mind the quality of the music.

IMO the resulting music quality was quite good, highly listenable, and is still popular today.  That speaks well for the music.

[Dave W]

IMO the resulting music quality was quite good, highly listenable, and is still popular today.  That speaks well for the music.

I disagree strongly but there's no disputing matters of taste.

[westen44]

Motown isn't my least favorite music to listen to, but it's close. 

[westen44]

In the year of our Lord 2022, the early 80ies are alive and well!



The lead guitarist, Sonja Anubis (her real name I'm sure), is eine Holländerin Dutch, I thought I'd mention that.

Flashdance (the movie) really needs a remake.

Speaking of Flashdance, Irene Cara died a day or two ago.  I still haven't heard exactly what happened.  Irene Cara, RIP.