Sad story. With all that talent and success, he couldn't keep it together. Nevertheless, Gaye's 1971 album, "What's Going On" has got to have the coolest groove ever recorded. I listen to it frequently while driving.
I haven't read your Motown book yet (hopefully soon) so I don't know if this comes up, but I've heard that when The Temptations moved to A&M records in 1977, they discovered that Gordy owned the rights to the group's name, had no plans to let it go, and that he might even create a whole new lineup and carry on as usual. It was Smokey Robinson who convinced Gordy not to he such a [bleep], and he relented.
Great post. I didn't know you were a fan of R&B. I would like to recommend a new book. Death Resurrection and the Spirit of New Orleans by Ken McCarthy. McCarthy who is my friend is also an avid jazz fan.
Motown did own their name, as it did for most of the groups that started there. Here is what I have in Motown about the Temps when they left:
"A year after Ales returned, the Miracles left, tempted by a large offer from CBS. (Smokey Robinson, who had already gone solo, stayed at Motown.) The Temptations were next, charging that Motown had failed to promote their recent albums. Further, because of vicious office politics, “it was really time for us to get away from there,” said Otis Williams.
Many of the groups might have stayed if they had been handled correctly. The Temptations, for instance, had hired an aggressive local attorney, Abe Somers, to renegotiate their contract. Ales refused to deal with him and demanded that the group fire him. The group refused and appealed to Gordy for help. He never called back. The group decided to leave. When Lee Young Jr., another Motown executive, made a last-ditch effort to find out how much money they wanted, he was surprised to be told they mainly wanted to be treated with respect. That was something Motown no longer provided. Gordy “considered himself above the artists at this point,” said Jay Lasker. The Tempts, too, had to fight Motown for the return of their name."
Posner, Gerald. Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power (pp. 289-290). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Sad story. With all that talent and success, he couldn't keep it together. Nevertheless, Gaye's 1971 album, "What's Going On" has got to have the coolest groove ever recorded. I listen to it frequently while driving.
Thank you Mr. Posner.
I haven't read your Motown book yet (hopefully soon) so I don't know if this comes up, but I've heard that when The Temptations moved to A&M records in 1977, they discovered that Gordy owned the rights to the group's name, had no plans to let it go, and that he might even create a whole new lineup and carry on as usual. It was Smokey Robinson who convinced Gordy not to he such a [bleep], and he relented.
Great post. I didn't know you were a fan of R&B. I would like to recommend a new book. Death Resurrection and the Spirit of New Orleans by Ken McCarthy. McCarthy who is my friend is also an avid jazz fan.
Motown did own their name, as it did for most of the groups that started there. Here is what I have in Motown about the Temps when they left:
"A year after Ales returned, the Miracles left, tempted by a large offer from CBS. (Smokey Robinson, who had already gone solo, stayed at Motown.) The Temptations were next, charging that Motown had failed to promote their recent albums. Further, because of vicious office politics, “it was really time for us to get away from there,” said Otis Williams.
Many of the groups might have stayed if they had been handled correctly. The Temptations, for instance, had hired an aggressive local attorney, Abe Somers, to renegotiate their contract. Ales refused to deal with him and demanded that the group fire him. The group refused and appealed to Gordy for help. He never called back. The group decided to leave. When Lee Young Jr., another Motown executive, made a last-ditch effort to find out how much money they wanted, he was surprised to be told they mainly wanted to be treated with respect. That was something Motown no longer provided. Gordy “considered himself above the artists at this point,” said Jay Lasker. The Tempts, too, had to fight Motown for the return of their name."
Posner, Gerald. Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power (pp. 289-290). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.