Originally Posted by
snakepit
Marv,
The discotheques of the mid 60s played a lot of soul music in the UK. Motown was popular as an underground scene in the main. These records were played on pirate radio or the niche Radio Luxembourg...but this exposure in the mid 60s didn't crossover to the charts.
Remember, unlike the USA the UK did not have national radio playing 'pop'music. 45s shared air air time with live radio, dance bands etc. The BBC 's music policy was a very broad church ranging from pop [[Beatles etc) to crooners,Novelty, ballads etc...no room for Black R&B then.
But as the 60s wore on, a younger audience and pirate DJs featured soul and Motown. The BBC had to respond, the UK Government closed the pirates down . Radio One in 1967 had to reflect this change and Motown was ready to blossom here.
The club and disco scene had moved on from the mid 60s Motown and the beginnings of the Northern Soul scene played Motown less and less. BUT the mid 60s hits that came too soon for the UK were now perfect tracks for Radio 1...and getting plugged on Tony's show was the breakthrough
Records like This Old Heart of mine, Get Ready. Dancing in the street were not BIG hits in the period referred to above but by 1969...
Ideal.
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