Overview

The music of 'Motown' needs no introduction. Berry Gordy's record label became a style unto itself, producing hit after suave, sassy and sophisticated hit, and shaped the careers of so many of the greatest musicians of all time. The label produced more US number-one hits than the Beatles, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys combined. Now, and with fresh new insights and an incredible visual narrative, the official, visual history of this momentous contribution to music and American culture is told in full. This book delves deep into the success stories of Motown's powerhouse creative team, including the Holland-Dozier-Holland triumvirate, and unpicks backstories of the Motown musicians envied by many, and covered by the rest. The roster includes Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, the Jackson 5, The Temptations and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Motown: The Sound of Young America is dense with information and materials gathered from the personal accounts and archives of many of the key players. It is a spectacular labour of love befitting an incredible story.

Full Product Details

9780500294857

Table of Contents

Reviews

A lavishly illustrated, wonderfully written history of Motown. Balanced insider knowledge packed with fabulous photographs and album art that celebrates the record label that provided the soundtrack to exciting and changing times. Not to be missed, this is a book to get lost in. Fans should be dancing in the streets. A visual history of the pride of Detroit, this book has behind-the-scenes photographs, album art, essential images and interviews with Motown legends that will have fans dancing in the street. Does an incredible job of examining just what happened in the building that housed America's most influential record label. This beautifully packaged book holds a staggering amount of interviews with the label's influencers and recording artists along with absolutely stunning photographs from all of the eras and iterations of Motown. Thoroughly engaging... Packed with iconic photographs of Motown stars, plus album covers, posters, and so much more. Should land on music lovers' Christmas lists. In the first official visual history of the label, new research and unprecedented access lend new insight to the legend. With more than 1,000 color and black-and-white photographs, this 400-page history deserves an honored space on your coffee table--if you can tear yourself away from this meticulously documented saga of autoworker Berry Gordy's brilliant business strategies and knack for identifying a hit song.

'Buy it, a real no-brainer' - The Beat magazine 'A joy of a thing ... the visual equivalent of a Temptations single' - The Herald, Book of the Year 'Definitive ... this is a riotous and political celebration of a great American brand' - Tatler 'A time capsule from one of the most colourful chapters in music history ... it'll splash your coffee table in swathes of sunshine, pastel shades and rainbow jackets' - Shortlist 'An illuminating path into a familiar story ... an essential Motown work' - MOJO

A lavishly illustrated, wonderfully written history of Motown. Balanced insider knowledge packed with fabulous photographs and album art that celebrates the record label that provided the soundtrack to exciting and changing times. Not to be missed, this is a book to get lost in. Fans should be dancing in the streets. A visual history of the pride of Detroit, this book has behind-the-scenes photographs, album art, essential images and interviews with Motown legends that will have fans dancing in the street. Does an incredible job of examining just what happened in the building that housed America's most influential record label. This beautifully packaged book holds a staggering amount of interviews with the label's influencers and recording artists along with absolutely stunning photographs from all of the eras and iterations of Motown. Thoroughly engaging... Packed with iconic photographs of Motown stars, plus album covers, posters, and so much more. Should land on music lovers' Christmas lists. With more than 1,000 color and black-and-white photographs, this 400-page history deserves an honored space on your coffee table--if you can tear yourself away from this meticulously documented saga of autoworker Berry Gordy's brilliant business strategies and knack for identifying a hit song. In the first official visual history of the label, new research and unprecedented access lend new insight to the legend.

A lavishly illustrated, wonderfully written history of Motown. Balanced insider knowledge packed with fabulous photographs and album art that celebrates the record label that provided the soundtrack to exciting and changing times. Not to be missed, this is a book to get lost in. Fans should be dancing in the streets. A visual history of the pride of Detroit, this book has behind-the-scenes photographs, album art, essential images and interviews with Motown legends that will have fans dancing in the street. Thoroughly engaging... Packed with iconic photographs of Motown stars, plus album covers, posters, and so much more. Should land on music lovers' Christmas lists. Does an incredible job of examining just what happened in the building that housed America's most influential record label. This beautifully packaged book holds a staggering amount of interviews with the label's influencers and recording artists along with absolutely stunning photographs from all of the eras and iterations of Motown. With more than 1,000 color and black-and-white photographs, this 400-page history deserves an honored space on your coffee table--if you can tear yourself away from this meticulously documented saga of autoworker Berry Gordy's brilliant business strategies and knack for identifying a hit song. In the first official visual history of the label, new research and unprecedented access lend new insight to the legend.

Author Information

Adam White has written about music and the music industry for more than forty years. He scripted a US radio documentary, 'The Motown Story', which was Grammy-nominated in 1983, was editor-in-chief at Billboard, and co-authored The Billboard Book of No. 1 R&B Hits. He was vice-president of communications at Universal Music Group International from 2002 to 2012. Barney Ales was Berry Gordy's indispensable right-hand man and the company's ultimate insider. Ales rose to become executive VP, but stayed in Detroit in 1972, when Gordy moved Motown to California. Three years later, Ales rejoined the company, and he served as its president from 1975 to 1978.

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