From 1959 until he sold the company in 1988, Berry Gordy, Jr. was the visionary patriarch of Motown Records. He assembled an array of talented writers and artists, the likes of which may never be seen again at one label.
At one time it was called "The Sound of Young America". It was a sound that I grew up on and wanted to emulate. The syncopated rhythms, and moving bass parts with an overlay of lush strings and stabbing horns and the nearly always present tambourine would immediately identify a song as coming from the Motown family.
There's a timeless quality to many of the greatest Motown songs. Songs that sound as good today as they did the day they were originally released. Many of the great Motown songs have been covered repeatedly by other artists and have been included in many movie soundtracks.
These are just a few of my all time favorites: Just My Imagination, My Girl, I'll Be There, Stop In The Name Of Love, Tears Of A Clown, Superstition, Three Times A Lady. There's really no way to make a list, because there's too many great songs that would go unmentioned in this space.
As a kid growing up, I listened to the songs with wonder. As a songwriter, I study them intently looking for the ingredients that made them special.
I remember reading that Motown writers were encouraged to write in the present tense. Give people a feeling that the action is happening now. It's difficult to identify a single or even a handful of elements that were responsible for "the sound". Some say it was the musicians, others say it was the studio; all I know is that when it all came together it often produced something you would have to describe as magic.
Maybe it was the competition that was encouraged by Mr. Gordy. All of the writers had to make sure that they were delivering their best, along with the artists and musicians. You had to pass their QA session, or your song wouldn't get released. Everyone involved wanted to score the next number one hit and add to the growing legacy.
By the mid 1980's many of the legends of Motown had left the company, but by then Motown had already made a lasting cultural impact. There will probably never be another Motown, but if you look around you might be able to find artists that will evoke the legacy, the spirit, and the magic of Motown Records.
If you strip away all of the cool sounds and fancy beats, is there still a melody you want to sing? Do the lyrics resonate with you? All of the great songwriters manage to achieve this feat. Songs, where if you just snap your fingers or tap your feet without anything else, and sing the words; it still feels good. I seek to join that group of writers. I invite you to take a listen and decide if I belong.
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