Originally I thought that there may have been a simple explanation to this query, although everyone would probably have a different solution! Now I feel that it is not that simple. the similarity between the US and the UK is that both have record-buying public. At the time [[i.e. the 60s in particular) maybe there was a difference in tastes between us, as demonstrated in the statistics you kindly provided in a subsequent post. Maybe there is a question as to whether this occurred through natural choice or through promotion/advertising I'm not sure.
In hindsight, I now feel that the words used in the original query could be modified in line with your thoughts that the love affair with Motown has lasted longer in the UK than in the US.
Yesterday I was working my way through the Four Tops "50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection" and I came across this comment by Keith Hughes [[in relation to Simple Game) - "...but its lack of stateside success demonstrated the widening gulf between British and American Motown tastes."
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