Sunday Documentary - When Motown Came To Britain (2009) 1 Hour

If you grew up in the '60s, you probably know all about the "British Invasion", nearly always described as being led by "four lads from Liverpool." But while British artists, led by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five and so many others were hitting the airwaves and record shops on this side of the Atlantic, in March of 1965, Berry Gordy and Motown Records returned the favor. British Invasion? This Is About The Time Motown Invaded England. Gordy and Motown Records sent almost all of their A-list artists on the trip. You could have seen (15 yr. old) Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and Martha and the Vandellas for about £ 1.00...$3.50. (Times change but have you seen what concert tickets go for now. And these were all future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.) The tour was twenty cities. The two London shows sold out, but others didn't, as too many locals weren't familiar with the music. But those who did see them were blown away. -Dusty Springfield championed them, and introduced them on "the telly". At the time of the tour, Motown had scored one number one hit in England. By the end of 1966, they had eight. At that time, pop music fans in the UK were unlikely to hear black music on mainstream radio, and names like Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson still meant nothing to most British people. The sad thing was Dave Godin who championed everything SOUL did warn gordy that his timing was disasterous as Motown had no exposure on the TV or radio till 1965 when it went mental over here,hence the tour was a bit of a disaster audience wise. The tour should have gone ahead after the RSG show then the vanues would have been packed...still they got there in the end,and didnt they get there !

AMM

Martha Reeves and best friend Dusty Springfield in rehersals at "Ready Steady Go" a UK TV Pop Show 1965........................                     

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