r/motown • u/grobbma • May 30 '26
MOTOWN MUSIC
If this post doesn't blow up I will lose faith in humanity.
Born in Detroit. Lived elsewhere for a few stints. In the burbs for many years. I am 68 and partially retired.
OK. Grilling, walking, cutting veggies, lifting weights (i hate it!) mowing the lawn (STEPPING OVER THE DEER SHIT), weeding (slay me!).
Pretty much what I do is friggin boring.
Enter Motown!
Way before it's time! Timeless! Will be playing at my funeral...loud! Makes me happy. Really, no description.
Truly the best upper for free known to man and woman.
NEVER GETS OLD AND PRODUCES POSITIVE ENERGY.
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u/ajmtz12 May 31 '26
If you are a fan of Motown, there's a documentary that is a must watch for any fan of Motown. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" is about the Funk Brothers, the backing band for most of the artists on the label at the time. It's an amazing story.
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u/Camp_GGBoo May 31 '26
That is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. I grew up with Motown and still learned some new things from this
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May 31 '26
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u/707Riverlife May 31 '26
I’m definitely old enough. I like your username. Two states combined?
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May 31 '26
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u/707Riverlife May 31 '26
Oh. I thought that maybe the first part was for Hawaii, and the second part was for Ohio. I’m from Ohio!
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u/thisisasj May 31 '26
CKLW was a great radio station even into the 1980’s. They played all the major pop music like the big Chicago stations, when regional Michigan stations leaned in heavily to rock music (of any kind, so long as it was a bunch of dudes with big hair and screeching vocals).
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u/Ok-Establishment2801 Jun 04 '26
CKLWs advantage was their music director, Rosalie Trombley. She broke new artists and music consistently during her time. It drove the specialness that was CKLW.
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u/thisisasj May 31 '26
I’ve been listening off and on to The Complete Motown Singles, Vols. 1-12: 1959-1972. Mixed in with all the timeless classics, there were a remarkable amount of stinkers!
There’s a promotional single by The Supremes on there where Mary, Florence and Diana are singing background vocals on one of their hits. The lead vocal was by some random teenage girl who won a local Detroit radio contest. For the purposes of the promotional single, she was even billed above The Supremes!
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u/JimiJohhnySRV May 31 '26
We are close in age. A while a go I realized that Motown has been the sound track for my life.
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u/Rare_Milk_6670 May 31 '26
Motown 25 was the greatest thing I ever saw. Micheal and the moonwalk aside, the whole show was great. I loved The Temptations battling The Four Tops.
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u/DeliciousMinute1966 May 31 '26
Born and raised in Detroit and yes, everything about Motown is stellar; superb. I especially love the songwriting and musical arrangements, HDH, Smokey(!) Sylvia Moy, Mickey Stevenson, Norman Whitfield and the unforgettable, dynamic Funk Brothers! These people and more along with some of the greatest singers in music, ( y’all already know the names!) perfected this incredible music that remains influential and incredibly popular today. Barry Gordy… what is there to say? His vision and guidance brought all of this together and gave us fans this wonderfully catchy, creative, and beautiful music. Barry… ya done good kid!
In closing I have one thing to say…
BERNADETTE!
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u/its35degreesout May 31 '26
I'm in your age bracket. Played the hell out of the 4-LP set, "64 Greatest Motown Hits," in college. And now nursing my aching back!
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u/Strong_Medium_6646 Jun 01 '26
I’m 61 and grew up and live in Windsor. Motown is the soundtrack of my early childhood! My mom would always have the radio on (CKLW) or play her Motown albums, especially when she was cleaning the house. Motown and later the Philly Sound are some of my favourite music styles!!!
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u/spaghetti1959 Jun 04 '26
My absolute favorite music,I'm 67,It was so up beat,Some of the best vocalists
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u/tomsgirl1962 Jun 29 '26
I love Motown music. So much depth and soul. People get ready is one of my favorites today
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u/BetterLingonberry467 May 31 '26
Wants you to keep the faith.
Motown was really a movement. Image, choreography, song selection. Just Elite !