Did Motown ever use National Recording Studio [[of Detroit) to make demo records?

[robb_k]

There's been some controversy on Soul-Source [[ Northern Soul) Forum over demo records from National of 1960s Motown recordings that were never released on plastic. If I remember correctly, National Recording Studios didn't start operating until the mid 1970s or, certainly no earlier than the early 1970s. If that is true, the 7 or 10-inch NRS demos of those 1960s unreleased cuts would NOT have been made by Motown, as we [[at Motown in the 1970s and '80s) did NOT have demo records made for the cuts we were considering for oldies release.

I remember Ron Murphy using National a lot for his own labels' releases, and to make demos for recordings he was shopping. But those all took place in the '70s and '80s. I don't remember seeing any demos or acetates made by National before the 1970s. If it is true that National was not yet in operation in the 1960s, that means that those demos were made by Northern soul DJs or dealers, to "pass off" as legitimate originals, so they could be played by NS DJs [[and bought for astronomical prices).

I need to hear from long-time Detroiters [[Ralph, Russ, Stu, Carl, Spyder, Dennis, Clay, Lorraine, etc.) to confirm whether or not National started up in the '70s, or was actually operating during the '60s, AND that Motown ever used them to make demo records.

It's my contention that they started up in the 1970s, and so, those demos were NOT originally ordered and purchased by Motown during the 1960s.

I am also curious to know if Motown EVER used National to make demo pressings of ANY records [[even in the 1970s or 1980s). Perhaps Keith Hughes or Andy Rix would be helpful with this second question.

[robb_k]

None of you long time Detroiters remember National? Even I remember seeing demos from there in the '70s. I just need to find out if they were in operation in the mid '60s. There's nothing on The Internet about them.

[keith_hughes]

There was a discussion elsewhere about NSC [[National Sound Corporation) acetates, triggered by "I Got A Right To Cry" - was that LaBrenda, or even a REAL Motown acetate? Is NSC the "National" you're referring to? From my internet research, it seems that started in 1989.

[robb_k]

Yes. Thanks, Keith. It was NSC. Was its start-up really THAT late? I remembered that Ron Murphy used them. But, it may have been only for his very late Tech sound work, rather than his '70s Ron's Records label.

[keith_hughes]

http://www.massivemag.com/national-s...rphy-issue-20/

according to this [[and other sources) NSC was started and owned by Ron Murphy

[mysterysinger]

Interesting but which are the demos that are being passed off as genuine?

[robb_k]

Interesting but which are the demos that are being passed off as genuine?

Ostensibly, at least a couple of NRC demos of "Suspicion" by The Originals, which were likely made from recording off of a legitimate Jobete Music acetate from 1966, and likely, several other "boots" made off other uncredited Jobete acetates.