The "All Things Motown/Stax" Thread

[harmless]

Let's do this. Let's do this hard.

I'm halfway into the fourth "disc" of Hitsville U.S.A - The Motown Singles Collection, and after having paid more attention to several black artists of the era over the last few days (Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Sly and the Family Stone, The Temptations, and others here and there) I'm convinced that musically, black 60's / 70's > white 60's / 70's. It's all more interestingly structured, and clearly more influential. I can hear so many ideas that originate here but have been ascribed to white guys. As a drummer, the rhythmic innovations of Motown and Stax are what stick out; the drumming and bass guitar-work is so much more intricate than any white music of its era, and clearly a real progression of 50's Rock and Roll. The ghost-notes on the snare drum, the interplay between hats and snare, and backbeats! One track on Hitsville U.S.A is the earliest song I've heard which makes me think of Drum 'n Bass and Breakbeat (I was aware that Breakbeat originated in the seventies, when DJ Kool Herc used to play isolated drum-breaks from funk and soul songs back to back). Here's the track I'm referring to, "Twenty-Five Miles" by Edwin Starr:



Question: Which artists are more correctly labelled 'Stax' than 'Motown'?

[Jorge]

Question: Which artists are more correctly labelled 'Stax' than 'Motown'?

The ones on the Stax record label rather than the Motown record label

[harmless]

Question: Which artists are more correctly labelled 'Stax' than 'Motown'?

The ones on the Stax record label rather than the Motown record label

Facts are clarifying! Was the one I posted Stax or Motown?

Edit: never mind, via the powers of Google I have deduced he's Motown.

[harmless]

As well as Edwin Starr I'm really enjoying Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.

[harmless]

"Smiling Faces Sometimes" is so good.

[Strat]

Could this be considered an updated version of motown? Anyway, I love this song.

[harmless]

[doug rr]

[Strat]

[harmless]

That was fantastic.

[Lament]

As well as Edwin Starr I'm really enjoying Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.

Smokey Robinson's voice is magical.

I was listening through the box last night while I was uploading and thinking to myself that it's very possible that (behind Reach Out I'll Be There) Do You Love Me is my second favorite Motown single. There is so much damn conviction in the vocal performance there.

[Lament]

This was another one I used to love when I was a kid and my parents would play it in the car...

[Lament]

I'm convinced that musically, black 60's / 70's > white 60's / 70's. It's all more interestingly structured, and clearly more influential. I can hear so many ideas that originate here but have been ascribed to white guys.

I'm inclined to agree with this as well.

[harmless]

This was another one I used to love when I was a kid and my parents would play it in the car...

Yeah that's a good song.

[Lament]

[harmless]

One of my favourites. I love that trademark drum fill that starts it.

[warehouse]

I'm convinced that musically, black 60's / 70's > white 60's / 70's.

i dont think it needs to be limited by decades. musically, blacks > whites.

i watched a documentary on Stax last night called "Respect Yourself". look it up, its awesome.

[harmless]

I'm convinced that musically, black 60's / 70's > white 60's / 70's.

i dont think it needs to be limited by decades. musically, blacks > whites.

i watched a documentary on Stax last night called "Respect Yourself". look it up, its awesome.

Well, I don't think it needs to be separated racially either, I'm just only really interested in a handful of 60s / 70s bands consisting of white guys, but I'm less interested in hiphop and R&B after the early-mid 90s (and that's what black music has devolved to now, by and large). Of course there are black artists I like now, but.

[Lament]

This is an invitation across the nation. A chance for folks to meet.

[Lament]

It doesn't matter what you wear. Just as long as you are there.