Product Description

The acclaimed best selling story of Tamla Motown records - the most successful independent record label in the world. Now acknowledged by critics in both the US and Europe as the definitive account of the rise and fall of the Motown Sound. It covers the careers of all the great Motown artists - The Supremes, Marin Gaye, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Top, THe Jackson Five and many more. It tells the story behind all their hits and how the company was run on factory like principles by Berry Gordy who as a result became the richest black American in history. it paints a portrait of gullible artists signing away their rights and, eventually, falling out with Gordy over monetary matters and that many of the back room boys at Motown - the writers and the musicians who played on the records - got a pittance for their efforts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #161154 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'...the most revealing and exciting account of a premier label in pop music history.' NME '...George's insightful research makes this an expertly told tale for the rest of us' Q

About the Author
Nelson George, often described as 'the best black writer on black popular music in America' has written a new epilogue to his classic history of Tamla Motown Records, abook that is regularly cited as among the best rock books ever written. George continues to write about music and popular culture for a number of US magazines. He lives in New York.

Customer Reviews

Gossip From Hitsville!
I felt lucky during 2009 to have finally made it To Detroit and a visit to West Grand Boulevard home of Hitsville and a wonderful tour at the original studios. The guide does a wonderful job and he really interacts with the crowd. You get the feel for the atmosphere so much you almost sense the presence Of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations & The Four Tops or Marvin Gaye. I definitely recommend a visit to West Grand Boulevard to notice that nothing has changed in the 50 years since Berry Gordy bought Hitsville.[ Except the artists have now gone] The next best thing to Going to see the Museum is reading this book by Nelson George. There are other books but this one was written around 1985 and was very balanced and fair. Also, George clearly had done his homework in researching all the facts.My only criticisms with all the books I have read on motown is the lack of information on The Isley Brothers. I was a long time fan of them and it was odd how after they left Motown it was as if they had never ever recorded there. I saw them live in 1994 and they didn`t perform one Motown song.And so, to re-cap, great book , great museum in Detroit and brilliant Motown music. You could read the book on the Aeroplane to Detroit.