1. Black music of the ‘60s, part 1: Motown

2. Black music in the ‘60s After first crossover artists, black rock follows different pathsAfter first crossover artists, black rock follows different paths –Doo-wop influenced pop-rock style of Brill Building –Closer affiliation to R&B R&B charts discontinued in 1963R&B charts discontinued in 1963 –Black music of period called soul

3. What is Soul? Examples:Examples: –Edwin Starr, War –The Shangri-Las, Remember –The Supremes, Stop (in the name of Love) –Sam Cooke, You Send Me

4. What Is Soul? Umbrella term for a number of different stylesUmbrella term for a number of different styles –R&B + pop rock = Motown (Detroit) –Gospel + R&B/rock + pop = Stax (Memphis) –R&B + jump blues + gospel = Chicago, Philadelphia sound

6. Berry Gordy Owned jazz record storeOwned jazz record store Starts own record company - Tamla Records - in 1959Starts own record company - Tamla Records - in 1959 1960 changes name to Motown1960 changes name to Motown –aka “Hitsville, U.S.A.” Aim: produce black music accessible to mainstream pop audienceAim: produce black music accessible to mainstream pop audience

7. Berry Gordy Hands-on producer, managerHands-on producer, manager Relies on other producers as wellRelies on other producers as well –Smokey Robinson –Holland-Dozier-Holland (HDH) Produced 28 hits for labelProduced 28 hits for label 17 straight hits for The Supremes17 straight hits for The Supremes Control of image, behavior of actsControl of image, behavior of acts

8. The Motown “Process” Songs written by professional songwritersSongs written by professional songwriters Recorded by several Motown artists with different arrangements, producersRecorded by several Motown artists with different arrangements, producers –Funk Brothers – Motown house band Gordy chooses version to be releasedGordy chooses version to be released

9. The Motown Sound aka “The Sound of Young America”aka “The Sound of Young America” thick, “wall-of-sound” texturesthick, “wall-of-sound” textures 8-beat rock style beat8-beat rock style beat AABA, pop formsAABA, pop forms Frequent appearance of hook - “in the first groove”Frequent appearance of hook - “in the first groove”

10. The Motown Sound End-weightedEnd-weighted Tag line provides endingTag line provides ending Simple, appealing, non-challenging lyricsSimple, appealing, non-challenging lyrics Ex. The Temptations – My GirlEx. The Temptations – My Girl

11. My Girl Intro establishes rhythmic foundationIntro establishes rhythmic foundation –2 bar bass riff starts on “and” of 4 –Guitar riff reinforces rock style beat 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + x x x x x x –snaps on backbeat Lightly syncopated vocalsLightly syncopated vocals

12. My Girl Verse chorus formVerse chorus form –Transition: I'd guess you'd say –Leads to chorus = hook End weightedEnd weighted Melodic saturationMelodic saturation

13. Marvin Gaye Hired by Motown as drummerHired by Motown as drummer Then singer and arrangerThen singer and arranger Becomes biggest star of Motown labelBecomes biggest star of Motown label Songs in the Motown style, but sound somewhat differentSongs in the Motown style, but sound somewhat different

14. Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On (1971) Ground breaking song/LPGround breaking song/LP –Commentary on racism, Vietnam war –New for Motown Sixteen-beat style beatSixteen-beat style beat –Rock style beat with beats subdivided again –Even more possibilities for syncopation, rhythmic variety

15. Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell - Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing, Baby 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 I’ve got your pic-ture han-gin’ on my wall O X X X X X X X X X X I’ve got your pic-ture han-gin’ on my wall O X X X X X X X X X X 1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1e + a 2 I’ve got your pic- ture han-gin’ on my wall OO X OX OX O XO XO O O X X X OXO X I’ve got your pic- ture han-gin’ on my wall OO X OX OX O XO XO O O X X X OXO X

16. Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On Sixteen-beat rhythmic foundationSixteen-beat rhythmic foundation Clear jazz influences in sax solos, relaxed syncopationClear jazz influences in sax solos, relaxed syncopation Still has “Motown sound” - thick texturesStill has “Motown sound” - thick textures But very topical, political lyricsBut very topical, political lyrics

17. Other Important Motown Artists Smokey Robinson (VP of Motown) and the MiraclesSmokey Robinson (VP of Motown) and the Miracles –You Really Got A Hold On Me; Baby, Baby Four TopsFour Tops –I Can’t Help Myself Martha and the VandellasMartha and the Vandellas –Heat Wave, Dancin’ In The Streets Jackson FiveJackson Five Stevie WonderStevie Wonder