Motown Commentary - The Collection

[lockhartgary]

Imagine, if you will, that you are employed by UMG. You have been tasked with compiling a collection titled, "Motown Commentary - The Collection"

This collection is to contain what you consider the best of Motown's songs that deal with social, political, etc. commentary, and can contain a maximum of 16 tracks and a minimum of 10 tracks.

What would you choose?

I will withhold my choices because I'd like to see what others choose, as I am quite sure there will be choices that I either haven't heard of of have completely forgotten about.

Please try not to include albums as a whole.

[mysterysinger]

For info a while back Motown released an album Power To The Motown People: Civil Rights Anthems And Political Soul 1968-1975.

[lockhartgary]

For info a while back Motown released an album Power To The Motown People: Civil Rights Anthems And Political Soul 1968-1975.

WOW! Never knew this! I'll have to look it up.

[arr&bee]

Umm,let's see...what's going on[marvin gaye]..power[temptations]..i should be proud[martha and the vandellas]..war[edwin starr]..ball of confusion[temptations]..you haven't done nothing[stevie wonder]..message from a blackman[temptations].

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Good list, arr&bee! To that, I would add:

VALERIE SIMPSON - "Genius"

THE TEMPTS and THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH - "Law Of The Land"

EDWIN STAR - "Stop The War Now"

TOM CLAY - "What The World Needs Now Is Love"

THE TEMPTATIONS - "Plastic Man"

[144man]

No Time - Elaine Brown [b.w. Until We're Free]

The only single on Motown's Black Forum label.

[144man]

The Crown - Gary Byrd & the GB Experience

Only reached #69 in US charts, but peaked at #6 nationally in the UK.

[sansradio]

Also:

Carl Bean "I Was Born This Way"

[marv2]

Imagine, if you will, that you are employed by UMG. You have been tasked with compiling a collection titled, "Motown Commentary - The Collection"

This collection is to contain what you consider the best of Motown's songs that deal with social, political, etc. commentary, and can contain a maximum of 16 tracks and a minimum of 10 tracks.

What would you choose?

I will withhold my choices because I'd like to see what others choose, as I am quite sure there will be choices that I either haven't heard of of have completely forgotten about.

Please try not to include albums as a whole.

Great question Lockhartgary. I am going to try to do my list before looking at any of the others:

Ball of Confusion
WAR
Stone Love
Runaway Child, Running Wild
What's Going On?
Going Up In Smoke
Friendship Train
Blowin' In the Wind
Higher Ground
Stop The War Now
Abraham, Martin and John
Mercy, Mercy Me [[the Ecology)
Glasshouse
Heaven Help Us All

[marv2]

The Crown - Gary Byrd & the GB Experience

Only reached #69 in US charts, but peaked at #6 nationally in the UK.

I use to listen to Imhotep Gary Byrd on the radio on Sundays here in NY.

[mysterysinger]

"Just Look Through Your Window at the World" Marv Johnson.
"A Change Is Gonna Come" DRATS
"The Victors" Tom Clay

[144man]

I need to listen again more closely to the lyrics of "The Young Folks" and "Shadows of Society" to see if they would qualify.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - "People Got To Be Free"

Brenda Holloway - "Play It Cool [[Stay In School)"

The New Supremes - "Love Train"

The Temptations - "Run, Charlie, Run"

The New Suprenes - "When Can Brown Begin"