Why is Motown so big in the UK?

[grapevine]

My original hometown from my youth is on the central southern coast of UK...a ferry route to the Isle Of Wight, and a place which I would describe as a country town, found on the coast...in the 1960s, there were few if any clubs in that area. I would have needed to have gone to a city or large town about 35 miles round trip in either direction, and still would not have heard any TM records.

...not quite sure where you exactly grew up Westgrand ...but I grew up in Portsmouth smack bang in the centre of the South Coast ...and we had many Mod clubs, dance halls and youth clubs playing reggae, soul, and of course...Tamla-Motown ...one such club was the legendary Birdcage that consistently played the latest TM sounds and enjoyed a host live acts in its short 3-year history ...here's a few that played there in 1965-67

Alex Harvey Soul Band
The Who
Steam Packet
Brian Auger Trinity
Long John Baldry
Champion Jack Dupree
Charlie & Inez Foxx
Zoot Money Band
Chris Farlowe & the Thunderbirds
Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers
Georgie Fame & the Blueflames
Goldie & the Gingerbreads
The Action
Herbie Goins & the Nightimers
Jimmy James & the Vagabonds
Lou Johnson
The Moody Blues
Rod Stewart
Sugar Pie Desanto
The Paramounts
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
Ben E King & The Jimmy Brown Sound
David Bowie & the The Lower Third
Wilson Pickett
Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band
Major Lance
Alan Price
The Alan Bown Set
The Birds
The Drifters
The Spencer Davis Group
The Small Faces
Arthur Alexander
Dee Dee Warwick
The Move
Wynder K Frogg
The Kinks
The Hollies
Graham Bond Organisation
Ike & Tina Turner
Little Richard
Cream
Eric Burdon & The Animals
Pink Floyd
Joyce Bond
Prince Busters All Stars
Amen Corner
The Herd
Procol Harum

...other clubs ...the Marina / Sound Barrier ...and the Mecca ...always played Motown ...I saw and danced with Jimmy Ruffin ...Edwin Starr ...and the Four Tops ...on stage at the Mecca c. 1970/71 ...and there's been Northern Soul clubs at various venues playing rarer dance soul and Motown in Portsmouth for at least 30 years now ...long may it continue...!!