"Going way, way, WAY back to Motown's beginnings. Three selections from the early days when Motown was just another local record company trying to establish themselves. In fact, Motown wasn't even the main label in the beginning, it was TAMLA that was where all the action was. Interestingly sometimes if one of Tamla's/Motown's records started to really sell, Motown founder Berry Gordy would place the record with a bigger company that had the power to fully exploit a record's sales possibilities. Unfortunately, this didn't happen a whole lot in these early years. There was some good music, but a lot of stuff that just didn't sell either. Plus, Motown had not yet developed the behemoth network for sales and promotions they would be famous for only a few years later.
Humble beginnings.
Included here:
1. Bad Girl (William Robinson-Berry Gordy) published Jobete 16-Mar-59
The Miracles; recorded Detroit, Jul-58 ; produced by Berry Gordy
27-Jul-59; 45 (M): Chess 1734 A [dark blue,black,light blue labels used]
Sep-59; 45 (M): Motown TLX 2207 A
Sep-59; 45 (M): Motown G1 A
2. Whisper (Berry Gordy-Marv Johnson) published Jobete,Medlin 22-Oct-62
Marv Johnson; recorded United Sound, Detroit ; produced by Berry Gordy ; accompaniment The Rayber Voices
21-Jan-59; 45 (M): Tamla 101 B [address on label 1719 Gladstone]
18-Feb-59; 45 (M): United Artists UA 160 B
3. It Moves Me (Berry Gordy-Billy 'Roquel' Davis-Gwen Gordy Fuqua) published Bengal
Eddie Holland; recorded United Sound, Detroit ; produced by Berry Gordy ; [no tape]
Feb-59; 45 (M): Tamla 102 B [address on label 1719 Gladstone]
18-May-59; 45 (M): United Artists UA 172 B
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