LOL, honey please. No offense, but why so critical of Suzanne De Passe's work from nearly 29 years ago? Obviously, some beloved performers [[like The Marvelettes) were left out, but let's send you back in a time capsule so you can plan it, okay?
And really, how many white folks were really on that special? Technically, Linda Ronstadt and Jose Feliciano are Hispanic, though definitely crossover in their own regard.
Kim Wylde recorded YKMHO and took it to #1 in 1987. I believe the then-recent Sups remake you are thinking of was Phil Collins' cover of Can't Hurry Love.
One thing I do agree with you though is why was Rick James not present? He was the biggest non-crossover [[strictly hood) artist Motown had at that time, and he and Teena Marie did give the label some much-needed street cred. But as far as Teena Marie, remember she had already left Motown and was with Epic by then after a bitter lawsuit with Berry Gordy, which of course brought the industry The Brockert Initiative. It's a shame that Rick helped pushed Tee away from Motown by his squabbles.
It is sad though that so many had abandoned ship, ESPECIALLY Diana and Teena. If BG had only paid his stars just a little more, he could have kept them! And as the Four Tops and Gladys Knight and The Pips proved, they did have a long shelf life. Both groups hit the Pop Top 40 through 1988!
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