F I VE MOTOWN FACTS
1:
The rarest record was initially scheduled for release via Motown subsidiary Soul in 1965. On vocals was Frank Wilson, the song being Do I Love You (Indeed I Do). Berry Gordy Jnr offered Wilson the option of being a vocalist or to work as a writer/producer for Motown. Wilson opted for the latter and most copies of the promotional presses of the Wilson single were ordered to be destroyed. During the 70s a copy of one of only a few remaining singles found its way to Wigan Casino, where it was first played, covered up and credited to Eddie Foster. The record has been reissued many times, however, the last time one of the two or three original ’65 copies changed hands it was reputed to be in the region of $30,000.
A year or so ago what for Motown collectors must be one of their holy grail items, a genuine acetate test pressing of Frank Wilson – Do I Love You, turned up in a Detroit record store. It sold at auction to Detroit-based American musician Jack White. An alternative, female version, cut by Chris Clark, remained totally unissued until it appeared back to back with the Frank Wilson version as part of a Motown singles box set released 2004.
2:
What became an Internationally renowned collection of record labels, that made up the Motown empire, started in 1959 when Berry Gordy Jnr loaned $800 from Gordy family funds to supplement songwriting royalties accrued from his friend, Jackie Wilson's hit single Lonely Teardrops. The first label was Tamla, first release was Marv Johnson – Come To Me, the first hit for Tamla was Barret StrongMoney (That's What I Want). First (US) pop chart number one single for the Tamla label was The Marvelettes – Please Mr Postman in 1961.
3:
One of Berry Gordy Jnr’s first signings was an act by the name of The Matadors, who after signing changed their name to The Miracles. In the line-up of The Miracles was a young singer and songwriter, William Smokey Robinson, who would rise through the ranks to become the vice president of the Motown corporation.
4:
In the UK, releases from the American Motown label stable were put out via Oriole, Fontana and then Stateside before, due to pressure, hard work and determination of journalist, record shop and label owner, and president of the (UK) Tamla Motown Appreciation society, Dave Godin, led in 1965 to the dedicated Tamla Motown label starting life, under the UK EMI records umbrella.
5:
Devastating riots due to civil rights issues in Detroit during ’67, made Berry Gordy Jnr's mind up to relocate his Motown company to Los Angeles. Although the move to LA actually happened in 1972.