When Motown Came to Britain (BBC Documentary 2023)

[@roycobb8268]

Motown is one of the greatest music labels of all time!

[@barbararackley6746]

Berry Gordy and Smoke will be in the history of music for centuries! So will everyone that came out of there.

[@kewsiyehboah9514]

👍.. Isiyo na wakati..

[@ElizabethFinn-kt7ye]

I agree!! Rock on everyone.😇😍😋

[@paulnash7630]

I'm 76yrs old now but lucky to have been young in the 60's listening Motown, Stax, Atlantic, Chess amongst other great Soul labels.

[@stephenkaczkowski565]

I am so thrilled !! I grew up not far from Manchester and first became aware of Soul music in 1966. It was the most exciting thing ever, I was 14 at the time and music had the power to move my soul. We emigrated to Canada in 1967 to a small town where no one had ever heard Motown!! imagine. I never forgot how much that music meant to me and once I got out in the world continued to be a life long fan. Now at 71 I play guitar with a bunch of other old timers and play some of those great tunes. I just loved watching this. Thank you, whoever you are for reading my comment. Peace🎸

[@bmw3842]

I experienced racial hate as a young black kid. Motown music and seeing people like me on TV made a world of difference in my life. I had the privilege of meeting my role model a figure Mr. Levi Stubs. What a man. Changed my life.

[@lyndonbarsten393]

I'm so sorry you experienced hate. Some people are not civilized...really they're lowlifes.

[@voulafisentzidis8830]

Was that in the Uk? I thought it was a problem in the US but hadn't realised it was the same in the UK.

[@arautus]

Sorry to hear about that. I'm glad the music helped you.

[@philipbonner6486]

I'm so sorry to hear this, and I'm so glad you met your model figure, Mr Levi Stubs, Play your music and do what you want to do in your life, take care.

[@sidensvans67]

Levi Stubbs . The Four Tops . Fantastic .

[@dennysmith7862]

Motown was absolutely rivetingly captivating for us young '60/'70's generation... Brilliant, just brilliant!!!

[@FriendofDorothy]

As an abused (by a parent, unfortunately) and bullied gay kid in Illinois in the early '60s I can tell you that it was my 45 RPM records that helped me survive. I think my first Tamla/Motown singles were "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "You Beat Me to the Punch". I absolutely freaked over "Where Did Our Love Go"," My Guy", "Fingertips", "Heat Wave", etc. so I started mowing lawns (hated it!) to buy my records and began scooping up every Tamla/Motown/ Gordy/VIP single I could get my hands on. That was it : I became a lifelong addict to the Sound, the Magic of Motown. And if you think for a minute that Motown was anti-gay you are wrong. In the "70s the label released such tracks as "I Was Born This Way" by Carl Bean (later known as the Rev. Carl Bean who opened the first hospice in L.A. for black men with AIDS). I saw him perform live in a gay disco and he was great. Even The Miracles put out a song referencing gay people, "Everybody's Gay in L.A.", a track on their "City of Angels" album. To this day I believe Motown is the greatest record label that ever existed and not a day goes by that I don't listen to at least a few Motown tracks. Most recently I've been rediscovering Eddie Kendricks's "Girl, You Need a Change of Mind" (pure STEAM), "Keep on Truckin', Pt.1 and 2, and the Undisputed Truth's "Smiling Faces Sometimes", all awesome tracks. Motown is part of my life and always will be.

[@Tierce07]

@FriendofDorothy I’m very sorry that you were abused. I’m gay, too, and was bullied at school. I kind of lived under a rock, and so many things that were happening at the time totally escaped me. I was mainly worried that I might have to fight in Viet Nam, but that ended just in time for me. When I graduated high school, I came out and started going to bars where Motown hits were played on the juke box. I’d never heard them before. The Supremes are my favorite and I play their songs constantly at my house. I love Diana Ross. I didn’t know about Claudette Robinson before watching this, and think she is a great lady. I also look up KZbins and one of my favorites to watch is “Da doo run run” because everyone looks like they are having so much fun! This kind of music makes me feel happy.

[@johntaormina1084]

I grew up outside of Detroit in the 60's we had Motown and doo wop summer of 61-63 great music . Went to Fox Theater New Year's Eve 1965 saw the Motown Revue what a great show . My GOD so much talent in our city , 76 years old still love this music

[@diannemarshall4078]

Nothing compares to the Motown Sound. I was in 5th grade when i heard Dancing in the Street my friend had a small transistor radio we just Danced in the school yard. I felt soecial my first Black friend she taught me how to Dance in the street . Saw the Temptations 1967 in the Copa Cabana to this day I listen almost everyday. This music brought so many people from all walks of life together. To this day I play motown every chance I get. It makes me feel alive and brings joy. Im 71 yrs old but when this music is in the air Im that little girl sgain its heaven.

[@californiahiker9616]

What a great documentary! I wasn’t aware how Motown reached England. I grew up in Germany in the 1960’s. The German top 50 hits were mostly American and English hits, and that included Motown. Diana Ross and the Supremes were tremendously popular, I was an instant fan! There were many other black artists’ music we enjoyed, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, The 4 Tops, The Jackson 5 come to mind, but Diana Ross was way up there on our list! I was fortunate enough to see her in the Bay Area maybe 10 years ago. She was still fabulous! My favorite male black artist from that era is, hands down, Otis Redding. Don’t know if he was with the Motown label, but OMG… Sittn on the dock of the Bay still gives me shivers! Thank you Motown for the wonderful music! Part of the incredible soundtrack of my youth!

[@mikeluke7417]

I am 66 and everytime I think or hear Motown music I always cry tears of sheer joy and happiness! It will never die😢and I was born and raised in north London at the time ❤❤❤truly timeless🎉

[@DavidChesters53]

every time MIke so exhilarating

[@brittklandorf9735]

Bloody brilliant! Born in uk, 1959, I have always been a soul fan, stevie wonder stole my heart and soul. He still does! All I listen to is R&B, soul here in usa.

[@lefranglais1155]

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be :)) I loved this documentary. I was 15 in 1960 and 25 in 1970. I believe I lived through the most magical and important period of pop music EVER, and that includes the arrival of Motown. The music of those artists is eternal!

[@rubiesreal]

Totally agree!

[@Wilkins_Micawber]

I was 19 in 1965. I was one of the many oblivious to Motown. It was a colleague I worked with who I bumped into outside a record shop who, introduced me to the phenomenon that was to change my popular musical preferences for the rest of my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen some of these wonderful artists perform. Sadly not all.

[@nicolarollinson4381]

A wonderful blast from my past. Also the cubicles in record shops where we could listen to new releases. Had those in the UK. We had the best of the music' years in so many ways. 😊😍

[@maurice8607]

Martha Reeves and Gladys Knight had fantastic voices. Much more soulful than Diana Ross. And Dusty? Fabulous.

[@zacharyhall1441]

Only "CHANNEL like BBC"..can make a wonderful documentary like this..I just loved it..

[@smoton2]

WHAT AN AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL, AND WELL PIT TOGETHER DOCUMENTARY. DAVE GODIN WAS AWESOME TO START THE TAMLA MOTOWN FAN CLUB. THANKS FOR THIS GREAT DOCUMENTARY.

[@tim.timothy.brennan]

Listening to Tamla now gives me exactly the same feelings and emotions it did back in 1967....my first single record I bought though was 'Rescue Me' by Fontella Bass on Chess label..Great video I've learned quite a bit about what was going on.

[@FriendofDorothy]

The Miracles were on Chess before they had their greater success with Motown, or at least I remember seeing their name on a Chess single.

[@drwhatson]

I wasn't old enough to catch the Motown Tour, but feel blessed to have seen many of the Motown artists in the early '70s and met several, as well as getting to know the late Dave Godin quite well from 1974 - after reading his column in Blues & Soul for a few years previously of course, like thousands of others. Once I persuaded my parents to buy me a record player, I was a Motown fanatic from the age of 15, inevitably leading to a long involvement with the Northern Soul/Rare Soul scene. Many of the great people I met back then are still good friends today. :-)

[@ChristChickAutistic]

Very cool, I learned a lot I didn't know about Motown in the UK. I was born in 1966, so I remember all this and more from the radio.

[@mickyboymccoy7632]

My parents listened to Motown as did I growing up in NYC. I live in UK now and took my half American kids 12 and 15 to see "Ain't to Proud to Beg" in the West End, Now they are hooked. I got a little misty eyed introducing them to a bit of my childhood. Great show, hard not to sing and dance during the show.

[@hannahwootton6491]

Motown is pretty big in the UK my nan loves motown and I love motown and classic rock because that's what played at home on the radio

[@robertjames7982]

So many great songs... it will never happen again... I'm goin' to a Go Go!!!

[@sidensvans67]

The best music I ever heard . Incredible .

[@brittklandorf9735]

Radio Luxembourg!!! Listened every night in bed on my little radio!! One night, I heard Isley Brotheres sing Summer Breeze and I was blown away!

[@zeboczulu]

My Era The music was streets ahead of any other music . Ready Steady Go so lucky to have such great artists . Saw Martha & Vandellas Opened by brothers Rik and John Gunnell in mid-February 1966, the Ram Jam Club (named after Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band) was situated on the Brixton High Road. The famous venue hosted most of the top UK acts of the 1960s as well as visiting US blues and soul artists.

[@perrysaunders331]

I was born in 1970, but by the early 80's I was going through my Father's Albums and Cassette Tapes, because I loved the R&B Music I heard on the Radio and Soul Train. The Artists that captivated my attention was Sister Sledge, The Jones Girls, Patrice Rushen, Stephanie Mills and Deneice Williams. I actually had a young crush on Neicy and Patrice. So glad she still going strong and in great health. Still Beautiful!

[@latteliz1944]

What a fantastic documentary 👏 so much history about Britain and black music 🎶

[@adrianoarchie2712]

It's just about the most riveting documentary I've every seen ,it's monumentus big real life happenings and these persons in documentary where so bloody lucky times

[@lincolnreeder]

Le meilleur du son🥰, et indémodable,

[@jamesbarclay8430]

Great upload, takes me back to my youth in the sixties.

[@maggiemay6625]

motown for me is spiritual 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@simonesmith3864]

That's because it is my friend.And you are a spiritual person for recognizing that.

[@maggiemay6625]

Amen to that lass❤️

[@Daniel-i8r4i]

This is really good. Very well done!

[@banterj]

This was AMAZING WATCH for me.I completely enjoyed it,thank you for sharing!

[@corettejones]

Excellent Presentation! Wonderful Presentation!👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🥰🇺🇸

[@janetammaro7110]

What a wonderful documentary on Motown & how it made its way to England thanks to one man, Dave Godin. Really enjoyed it

[@hilaryjuliecoxon5434]

Ive loved Motown music from the age of fourteen.Im now 66 and still love it😊

[@v.a.993]

As a Black American I really enjoyed watching this documentary. Music can be such a powerful unifying and healing force. I love how Black American music has transcended international waters and land borders.

[@laurab9867]

Amen to that.

[@jannaolsen3557]

5 Stars is not enough for this doc. Brilliant! ❤

[@dirtydawg448]

Motown or Tamla Motown as it was called in UK originally with its two tone purple label as against the two tone brown one that Motown was famous for - filled my musical life between the Stones/Beatles 60s and Bowie/Roxy Music 70s - so many great artists and so many fantastic songs - hit after hit after hit - everyone loved them

[@derekarnold3665]

I was 17 in 1965 which was for me at least the time when soul/motown sound was at its height at that time especially at the all night clubs in London like the Scene, Last Chance Saloon and Flamingo. This was well before the northern soul became a 'thing'.

[@gavcat2382]

I'm so envious, Derek. That's the jackpot!

[@janicepolley7518]

As soon as I heard Motown, that was me, I loved almost single release, I think I have around 100 singles and not sure how many Lps, but I still have a record player to listen to them, Just to let you know I'm a 73 year old pensioner

[@byculla6]

Motown was so much more fabulous than things like the Beatles and the Stones in the UK! .. And when Marvin Gaye sang 'What's Going On' .. Fergedabout it!! Genius!

[@annalisavajda252]

Wasn't Marvin Gaye murdered by his own Father though? Not all of the culture is "wholesome" and listen to rap music all about murder and drugs etc.

[@annalisavajda252]

Wasn't Marvin Gaye murdered by his own Father though? Not all of the culture is "wholesome" and listen to rap music all about murder and drugs etc.

[@loriannrichardson7644]

@@annalisavajda252 How Gaye died doesn't detract from his genius, and as for rap music today, who is behind the big record labels promoting it. BTW, The Beatles and The Stones, they were heavily influenced by Motown and other Black music. They literally copied the style, and admitted that they did, (anyone with ears can hear the influence of Black music). Ever notice that it's Black American artists who are the creators and innovators of all original American music which is literally enjoyed around the world.. Yes, pure genius!

[@lynemac2539]

​It's the work not the private life.

[@marcus.g.4273]

​@@loriannrichardson7644- Exactly 💯 ... Foundational Blk American (FBA) culture created it. ... Jazz, R&B, HipHop, etc.

[@philsooty61]

Been there seen em all, never see them up-close as in Stringfellows the Mojo club Sheffield again. 73 yrs old now and remember them like it was yesterday, marvellous !

[@derekantill3721]

I was a teenager in 1954 right at the start of Rock & Roll which was an excellent time for me. Then came Tamla Motown which I really loved and still do today. I share my birthday with Diana Ross but I am 5 years older.

[@maxinejarrett7077]

Beautiful! Thank you so much!

[@MC-mv2wr]

wow this is a fantastic piece of UK/Music history thanks. super documentary

[@Kidraver555]

First album I ever bought was Motown Chartbuster's, back when modern music was brand new , the sound brought the feel of the dance hall into your room, thanks for the nostalgia overload Chris.

[@ceafam6403]

MOTOWN was phenomenal!!!

[@atomant451]

Grew up in Windsor Ontario, Motown to me, I dropped the name Detroit and I forever referred to it as Motown, it was a spectacular splash of fresh vibes.

[@billgerazounis5610]

Just save this to watch it later!. As a Detroiter, very interested to see how these Detroit-based groups and solo artists connected in the UK.

[@Steaminlidz]

Soul music has continued to be massively culturally important to subsequent generations of British fans.

[@tonyf9984]

Teenage years in the '60s were stimulating musically, in part because of the burgeoning of British pop. But there was a strong sense that much of it was second-hand, copied - sometimes better, often worse - from across the Atlantic. And the 'authentic' sound of 60s America was without doubt Motown, by virtue of its power to excite in a quite extraordinary way, purely through sheer musicality. I don't think there was much awareness of the context of Black opression - but the emotional dimension certainly played a subliminal part. It may sound trite, but for those of us who grew up with Motown it's remained the formative 'soundscape' of our lives, and even now when I want to lift my mood I turn to Motown - both the old favourites (of which there are hundreds) and the extra stuff on KZbin, such as unreleased songs and alternative takes of published versions. Detroit may have ownership, but the main Motown artistes had so many tours of the UK that they were almost regarded as British .. !

[@agentgringo5238]

Hahaha I did the same and juat saw the last 15 min of it. What a great documentary!!!👏👏👏👏

[@cathsrq]

Does Birmingham MI count?? Lol...

[@Dengee]

Love this! Thank you very much!!!

[@casey4602]

I remember joining my first fan clubs for Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees. Such fond memories of my youth.☺️

[@MsLindamee]

The very first record i bought was The Marvellets *Reaching For Something I Can't Have*, i was 13 (1969) The first group i went to watch was the Four Tops, i was only 15 (1971) and shouldn't have even been there, i had the honour of seeing them 4 times in all and meeting Levi Stubbs each time, he was phenomenon, i felt so lucky. After all these years i still consider Tamla Motown to be best music to ever be produced.

[@neilsunn]

May music and love find your ever after. Never forget the joy.

[@karensinclair4189]

Thanks for this. Great story and so pleased to hear it!

[@catherineh2755]

If only this documentary had Closed Captioning so I and others could enjoy it

[@danmayberry1185]

Gave me chills. Fantastic.

[@dopeymark]

Exceptional documentary about those days and times and the music.

[@jasonmendelli6023]

47:42 tune! They still got it! 😍

[@gplunk]

A really superb production that conveys the spirit and joy of all those young people who experienced the phenomenon of Motown; and then lived to retell and reflect upon it in their waning days....

[@terrycarthy4433]

I love Motown ; songs like 'Up the Ladder to the Roof' need to be bettrr known. Go the Funk Brothers !

[@johnturley8621]

I am very fortunate that I was born and raised in Chicago, and I'm immodestly proud to say: I was there when they made history. England must've felt much the same as I when all this pumpin' music came out. In the USA one didn't need to be from Detroit to appreciate it all: the whole scene was exploding everywhere, Memphis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Miami, New York, LA, my town Chicago...and Detroit. It's great now to hear the English perspective on things! JAT

[@JoeDubiel-gw2yc]

I was born and raised in motor city madhouse and grew up in a very racially bad time but never was I a racist I luv those days walking down 6mile rd with my little transistor radio taking in all the music and buying 45s when I experienced the temps at the masonic auditorium I was blown away with the purple suits and dancing every time I hear that stuff it takes me back to the good ole days

[@jassellb]

There's nothing like a great music documentary. :)

[@fonzisalgado512]

Thoroughly enjoy it thankyou

[@k1k2lee]

Motown was epic my Mother always listened to it and as a kid I mean such good singers,sound etc 4 Tops,etc etc I think she seen the Supremes 4 times in concert 😂

[@jeangreenfield5993]

The Excels - ❤ part of important music history 😊

[@nomacamasuponi992]

Am 55 black South African my brother loved Motown music and still do. MY Dad was more Blues and Davis and Monk but I loved the music. what will makee you laugh though is we heard traditional music everywhere and because my Dad was into music like that they thought he was a professor or something!🤪

[@calvinguile1315]

I think if they would have aired the Ready Steady Go special first, it might have made a bit of a difference in the audience attendance

[@brianhepke7182]

For sure... no question...

[@hebneh]

I can see why the tour played to some small audiences...unlike the USA, where there were thousands of independent radio stations that would advertise and promote upcoming shows in their towns, the UK had the monopoly of the BBC which didn't take advertising. In America you'd constantly hear about what performers were coming to where you were, but in Britain there was nothing like that at all.

[@charlie1872]

was a big fan of cranks Motown growling up in Glasgow and remember seeing Junior Walker and the All Star Band at the Maryland. Now live in Toronto and have visited the Hittsville USA Museum in Detroit twice. Two highlights was being in the studio in the basement and the echo chamber up in the second floor. I would have made a video but they would not allow filming inside

[@littleitalyblogspot]

The first record bought with my own money 'The Four Tops second album'. Still got it today.

[@brianhepke7182]

Great album😊

[@joaosilveira6038]

Thank you for a really great documentary on the rising of a great force in music and life

[@Americos4ever]

Black 🇺🇸 Made Incredibleness. Often imitated never or will be duplicated. No competition. 🇺🇸 1st heritage.

[@ryanwilliams1800]

i grew up in Welling and Bexleyheath. Goosebumps when they said Dave Godin started his soul music base there. I was already pleased that Kate Bush came from there. I also bought Dave Godin's deep soul treasures cd's and there are some amazing songs on those albums.

[@philipbonner6486]

Brilliant documentary, and thanks to Dave Godin having his dreams come true.

[@Danny-fs1hk]

Thank you for posting this!

[@MINASNEGRASGERAIS]

Wonderful!

[@Muswell]

When that RSG show aired, everyone in those cities where they'd toured a couple of weeks before, must have been gutted.

[@bluefunkdawg]

I was there March 1965 Manchester Odeon, just 16 with a coach load of fans from Burnley. Great show but venue more than half empty.

[@susantreece7176]

Best music in all the nightclubs before NS took it over!

[@TheSteelweasel]

Diana Ross voice just makes the hair stand on end ..... special lady

[@bluepeter128]

Wow!!! Little old Bexleyheath. I have a friend that lives there!!! lol!!!

[@VailRyan]

That was really interesting seeing this from a British perspective.

[@rebeccagandi5258]

We love Motown records(Soul)

[@chipcobb6015]

Wonderful, thanks for sharing and up the Villa!

[@chrispell95]

Cheers, UTV!

[@MarcG7424]

I grew up listening to all of these artists and have seen them many times I was particularly happy to see one of my musical heroes in this documentary a member of the Funk Brothers ( Motown's in house musicians ) bassist James Jamerson his influence has been immeasurable

[@Crazylady-e5w]

Great documentary thank you. Martha ❤

[@Crazylady-e5w]

Met Dave Godding a couple of times he was a good friend of Pete Lawson R.I.P ❤❤

[@davidmiller4078]

Loved Tamla and Stax also the Beach boys and 4 Seasons also liked some of the Brit bands like the ones with Eric Clapton and John Mayall in ! But what a great time to be a pubescent teenager ? Tamla Stax Pet sounds Ike and Tina Turna St Pepperts Eric Clapton s best work Aaron Neville Tell it like it is Hendrix Miles Davis ? Come on gteat coverage do remember this on telly but thanx so much for putting it out again wonderfull

[@garyweglarz]

Motown - like bossa nova - just transcends culture and is loved by people all over the world.

[@LuisSanchez-tf5ws]

This documentary brins to my mind the movie from Alan Parker, The Commitments. The Soul and Rhytm & Blues in Dublín. What a genius was Alan Parker, mixing in a movie such opposite cultures.

[@aaropajari7058]

British artistic culture lacked racial boundaries. Motown was always going to find fertile ground in the UK.

[@KarmasAbutch]

38:30 Behold! The UK’s first vlogger 🎉👍

[@SarahScott-b9k]

Fantastic I saw little Stevie Wonder when he was 16 at the Streatham Odeon Wow

[@patshepherd784]

I loved MoTown music

[@andybywater7431]

There was no pirate radio in 1962. Caroline started Easter 1964

[@thisthat283]

Awesome doc mate! Even if you are a Chel fan haha UP THE MIGHTY REDS OF LIVERPOOL! KTF Actually Barry Gordie was a failed Boxer that worked at a Music /3D glasses shoppe who couldn't get work in Detroits Auto Industry until meeting Al green Sir then Jr and finally helping co write Lonely teardrops and others with Jackie Wilson. who couldn't get Jackie Wilson ahead so they decided to be song writers.

[@chrispell95]

Thanks mate! lol I'm Villa not Chelsea

[@disboygotdabeat]

I love "A Matter of Moments" by Cliff Richard-... No apologies!

[@RoenaMorgan]

"I recall,as a little 6-7,year old girl(with Jamaican mom and dad),growing up in London England in the mid-late 1960's. . .I remember Stevie Wonder being called the blind,colored boy,who could play the harmonica.!" 1-18-2024'

[@garypautard1069]

I am sorry but I disagree . I grew up with black music and to my mod generation it was fantastic, but this angle about supressed black music in the UK is wrong . Many sixties bands like Yardbirds and the Rolling Stones ( who I think recorded a tribute album to black musicians) were inspired by American blues artists , like Muddy Waters , Howlin Wolf etc. and of course converted it to Rythmn & Blues. And of course let's not forget black Jazz musicians and Ska and Bluebeat. I really loved that era, I am so sick of baseball hats and scruffy sports clothes and dreary victim culture music.

[@ibehayter8194]

44:25 this was a black Liverpool born and bred group called the Chants. Bet you never heard much about them. They and many other black Liverpool groups never got the chance to shine due to racism in the 60s due to racist policies at the time which the fella mentions about 20 secs later.....