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The Soul of Tamla Motown

Tony Blackburn looks at the music of Tamla Motown, a label set up in the UK to release material produced by Berry Gordy Jr.

Welcome to the first in a short series of programmes where we look at the music of four of the most influential soul music labels of the twentieth century. Tamla Motown, a label set up in the UK to release material produced by Berry Gordy Jr who borrowed $800 from his family to start the label, originally to be called 'Tammy' after a number one hit by Debbie Reynolds but as it was already registered as a label in the States, had to change it to Tamla his first label followed by Motown, an abbreviation of the motor town of Detroit. Tamla Motown as a single label never existed in America.

Motown was built on the idea that there was only one way to survive in such a competitive world-single by single, song by song and hit by hit. In 1959 when Gordy Jr, released 'Come To Me' by Marv Johnson, the first single on Tamla, the odds against the company changing the face of the music business wasn't even worth contemplating but today their labels are still held in the highest esteem by soul fans all over the world.

57 minutes

Last on

Mon 16 Dec 2013 22:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

Music Played

  • DeBarge

    Rhythm Of The Night

    • Dancing In The Street (Various Artis.
    • Universal Music Tv.

  • Kiki Dee

    Love Makes The World Go Round

    • Love Makes The World Go Round: The Motown Years.
    • Spectrum Music.

  • The Elgins

    Put Yourself In My Place

    • Big Motown Hits & Hard To Find Classi.
    • Tamla Motown.

  • Four Tops

    I Can't Help Myself

    • The Singles Collection.
    • Polygram TV.

  • Gary Byrd & The G.B. Experience

    The Crown

    • A Complete Introduction To Tamla Motown (Various Artists).
    • Motown.

  • Marvin Gaye

    I Heard It Through The Grapevine

    • Songs Of The Century (Disc 2).
    • Global Records & Tapes.

  • Gladys Knight & the Pips

    Take Me In Your Arms and Love Me

    • Gladys Knight & The Pips - Singles Al.
    • Pro-Tv.

  • The Isley Brothers

    This Old Heart Of Mine

    • Soul (Various Artists).
    • Polygram Tv.

  • The Jacksons

    I Want You Back

    • The Best Michael Jackson & Jackson Five.
    • Polygram Tv.
    • 1.

  • The Marvelettes

    Please Mr. Postman

    • Marvelettes-Compact Command Performan.
    • Motown.
    • 3.

  • Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

    Dancing In The Street

    • Dancing In The Street (Various Artis.
    • Universal Music Tv.

  • Rockwell

    Somebody's Watching Me

    • Dancing In The Street (Various Artis.
    • Universal Music Tv.

  • Diana Ross

    I'm Still Waiting

  • Jimmy Ruffin

    What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted

    • Motown Forever (Various Artists).
    • Motown.

  • Shanice

    I Love Your Smile

    • Now Yearbook '92 (Various Artists).
    • Sony Music.

  • The Supremes

    Stop! In The Name Of Love

    • Diana Ross & The Supremes - 40 Motown.
    • Polygram Tv.

  • The Temptations

    My Girl

    • The All Time Greatest Movie Songs.
    • Columbia/Sony Tv.

  • Stevie Wonder

    Uptight (Everything's Alright)

    • Dancing In The Street (Various Artis.
    • Universal Music Tv.

Broadcast

  • Mon 16 Dec 2013 22:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2