Black music of the ‘60s, part 1:Black music of the ‘60s, part 1:

MotownMotown

Black music in the ‘60sBlack music in the ‘60s

• After first crossover artists, black rock After first crossover artists, black rock follows different pathsfollows different paths– Doo-wop influenced pop-rock style of Brill Doo-wop influenced pop-rock style of Brill

BuildingBuilding– Closer affiliation to R&BCloser affiliation to R&B

• R&B charts discontinued in 1963R&B charts discontinued in 1963– Black music of period called Black music of period called soulsoul

What is Soul?What is Soul?

• Examples:Examples:– Edwin Starr, WarEdwin Starr, War– The Shangri-Las, RememberThe Shangri-Las, Remember– The Supremes, Stop (in the name of Love)The Supremes, Stop (in the name of Love)– Sam Cooke, You Send MeSam Cooke, You Send Me

What Is Soul?What Is Soul?• Umbrella term for a number of different stylesUmbrella term for a number of different styles

– R&B + pop rock = Motown (Detroit)R&B + pop rock = Motown (Detroit)– Gospel + R&B/rock + pop = Stax Gospel + R&B/rock + pop = Stax

(Memphis)(Memphis)– R&B + jump blues + gospel = Chicago, R&B + jump blues + gospel = Chicago,

Philadelphia soundPhiladelphia sound

Berry GordyBerry Gordy

• Owned jazz record storeOwned jazz record store

• Starts own record company - Tamla Starts own record company - Tamla Records - in 1959Records - in 1959

• 1960 changes name to Motown1960 changes name to Motown– aka “Hitsville, U.S.A.”aka “Hitsville, U.S.A.”

• Aim: produce black music accessible to Aim: produce black music accessible to mainstream pop audiencemainstream pop audience

Berry GordyBerry Gordy

• Hands-on producer, managerHands-on producer, manager

• Relies on other producers as wellRelies on other producers as well– Smokey RobinsonSmokey Robinson– Holland-Dozier-Holland (HDH)Holland-Dozier-Holland (HDH)

• Produced 28 hits for labelProduced 28 hits for label• 17 straight hits for The Supremes17 straight hits for The Supremes

• Control of image, behavior of actsControl of image, behavior of acts

The Motown “Process”The Motown “Process”

• Songs written by professional Songs written by professional songwriterssongwriters

• Recorded by several Motown artists with Recorded by several Motown artists with different arrangements, producersdifferent arrangements, producers– Funk BrothersFunk Brothers – Motown – Motown house bandhouse band

• Gordy chooses version to be releasedGordy chooses version to be released

The Motown Sound The Motown Sound

• aka “The Sound of Young America”aka “The Sound of Young America”

• thick, “wall-of-sound” texturesthick, “wall-of-sound” textures

• 8-beat rock style beat8-beat rock style beat

• AABA, pop formsAABA, pop forms

• Frequent appearance of hook - “in the Frequent appearance of hook - “in the first groove”first groove”

The Motown Sound The Motown Sound

• End-weighted End-weighted

• Tag line provides endingTag line provides ending

• Simple, appealing, non-challenging Simple, appealing, non-challenging lyricslyrics

• Ex. The Temptations – My GirlEx. The Temptations – My Girl

My GirlMy Girl

• Intro establishes rhythmic foundationIntro establishes rhythmic foundation– 2 bar bass riff starts on “and” of 42 bar bass riff starts on “and” of 4– Guitar riff reinforces rock style beatGuitar riff reinforces rock style beat

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + x x x x x xx x x x x x

– snaps on backbeatsnaps on backbeat• Lightly syncopated vocalsLightly syncopated vocals

My GirlMy Girl

• Verse chorus formVerse chorus form– Transition: I'd guess you'd sayTransition: I'd guess you'd say– Leads to chorus = hookLeads to chorus = hook

• End weightedEnd weighted• Melodic saturationMelodic saturation

Marvin GayeMarvin Gaye

• Hired by Motown as drummerHired by Motown as drummer

• Then singer and arrangerThen singer and arranger

• Becomes biggest star of Motown labelBecomes biggest star of Motown label

• Songs in the Motown style, but sound Songs in the Motown style, but sound somewhat differentsomewhat different

Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On (1971)(1971)

• Ground breaking song/LPGround breaking song/LP– Commentary on racism, Vietnam warCommentary on racism, Vietnam war– New for MotownNew for Motown

• Sixteen-beat style beatSixteen-beat style beat

– Rock style beat with beats subdivided Rock style beat with beats subdivided againagain

– Even more possibilities for Even more possibilities for syncopation, rhythmic varietysyncopation, rhythmic variety

Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell - Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell - Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing, Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing,

BabyBaby1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 21 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2

I’ve got your pic-ture han-gin’ on my wallI’ve got your pic-ture han-gin’ on my wallO X X X X X X X X X XO X X X X X X X X X X

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1e + a 21 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a 1e + a 2

I’ve got your pic- ture han-gin’ on my wallI’ve got your pic- ture han-gin’ on my wall

OO X OX OX O XO XO O O X X X OXO XOO X OX OX O XO XO O O X X X OXO X

Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ OnOn

• Sixteen-beat rhythmic foundationSixteen-beat rhythmic foundation

• Clear jazz influences in sax solos, Clear jazz influences in sax solos, relaxed syncopationrelaxed syncopation

• Still has “Motown sound” - thick texturesStill has “Motown sound” - thick textures

• But very topical, political lyricsBut very topical, political lyrics

Other Important Motown Other Important Motown ArtistsArtists

• Smokey Robinson (VP of Motown) and Smokey Robinson (VP of Motown) and the Miraclesthe Miracles– You Really Got A Hold On Me; Baby, BabyYou Really Got A Hold On Me; Baby, Baby

• Four TopsFour Tops– I Can’t Help MyselfI Can’t Help Myself

• Martha and the VandellasMartha and the Vandellas– Heat Wave, Dancin’ In The StreetsHeat Wave, Dancin’ In The Streets

• Jackson FiveJackson Five

• Stevie WonderStevie Wonder