January 9, 2009
Celebrating Motown all year long Monday starts a week of activities at the Motown Historical Museum on West Grand Boulevard, including a news conference with Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., on-site radio broadcasts and half-price admission Monday through Friday. Motown figures such as Duke Fakir and Maxine Powell are to act as tour guides from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The museum's 2009 events include its annual fall gala presented as an old-style Motortown Revue concert. The popular "NOW!" singles compilation series spotlights Motown with a 25-track hits disc; it's due Tuesday. Fakir and Martha Reeves are to reminisce at 7 p.m. Friday at Borders in Dearborn. Hallmark's 3,500 retail stores are embracing Motown for Valentine season, selling Motown-themed cards, gift wrap and other merchandise. "Motown: The Complete No. 1s," a 192-song CD set from Universal Music Group, is to be boxed in a replica of the Hitsville, USA, house. Universal's ongoing Motown releases are to be presented with a 50th theme this year. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland last week unveiled "Motown: The Sound of Young America," an exhibit that pulls together memorabilia from its collection. Universal's official 50th site is to include anniversary merchandise and in-depth podcasts. (www.classic.motown.com) A 2-hour documentary, produced by Berry Gordy Jr. and slated to premiere in September, is intended as a survey of "the whole Motown experience, through my eyes," said Gordy. It's being aimed for theatrical release. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> <waistli...@aol.com> 01/13/2009 5:11 AM >>> 25 years ago during the Motown 25 celebration, Michael Jackson moon walked into history. Motown 50 seems to be passing without much fanfare. What a sad day. Where Did Our Love Go?: The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound by Nelson George remains the best overall book on the origins of the Motown Sound and the individuals behind the music. Of the thousands of songs sung by the Motown family and hit records and hit albums, if one album had to be crowned the best, exemplifying Motown, my submission would be "Innervisions" by Stevie Wonder with Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" in strong competition. Greatest song writer and song writer/producer: Bill "Smokey " Robinson with Stevie Wonder running a tight second. Best collaborative song writing team: Holland Dozier Holland. Best Studio band: Motown studio band with James Jamerson revolutionizing the base and meaning of bass line. Greatest male vocalist group in American history: The Temptations. Best female group: The Supreme's. Greatest song sung to a women: My Girl. Most underrated album at its time of release: "The Temptations Sing Smokey." Best male group with lead singer openly homosexual (gay) and best song; The Dynamic Superiors and "Shoe Shoe Shine (only cost a dime)." Best album cover: "I Want You" by Marvin Gaye. Most versatile individual singer: Marvin Gaye (four distinct voices). Somewhere in all of this is Lionel Richie in the 1980s. Best live recorded song: Fingertips part 2 by Stevie Wonder (James Brown Live at the Apollo runs a tight second.) Group to do better after leaving Motown: Glady Knight and the Pips (Spinners running a close second) Individual to do better after leaving Motown Michael Jackson. Career cut short by death: Shorty Long (Original writer of "Devil with the Blue Dress On" often attributed to Mytch Ridder) Best song not consistent with the Motown Sound: "Shot-gun (Shoot him fore he runs)" by Junior Walker and the ALL Stars. Best classical song collection Motown produced: "Temptations in a Mellow Mood." Close second: Temptations: "For Lovers Only." Best cover song: "Blowin In the Wind" sung by Stevie Wonder written by Bob Dylan. Best self critique song: "Stature of a Fool" by David Ruffin. _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18RBbHY16-4_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18RBbHY16-4) The past half century was a blast. WL. **************New year...new news. Be the first to know what is making headlines. (http://news.aol.com?ncid=emlcntusnews00000002) _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis This message has been scanned for malware by SurfControl plc. www.surfcontrol.com _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
