Hitsville: The Making Of Motown
It was re-broadcast on Sky this morning, so I watched it. Motown and Stax were the major soundscapes for my youth dancing club days in the 60's and a constant feed of bought singles.
Watching Berry Gordy flexing his ego made me want to vomit. Micky Stevenson was reserved but he was also married to Kim Weston in those early days. There is not one single reference to Kim in the film - none, even her hit singles with Marvin Gaye. It is what happens when you chase your royalties that are stolen.
"Dancing In The Street" was written for Kim (by Marvin Gaye, Micky Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter) but given to Martha Reeves & The Vandellas because they had a huge hit with "Heatwave". It would be Motown's biggest female selling hit at the time. As an aside, why was Diana Ross heading up the Supremes when she was the only one without a real voice? I think you know the reason. I never bought any of their records and the major club DJ (Chris Hill) wouldn't play their music either.
Marvin Gaye only reappears with his single work or with Tammi Terrell. Britain's 'Northern Soul' gigs kept Kim in the spotlight and she changed from being one of my teenage 'pin-ups' to an elder 'sister' 50-yrs later. I arranged a 'one woman' show for her in Leeds and we were sitting there before the show opened and she said: "I need to change". I said: "No. Relax and be yourself". She then said: "I'll only put my wig on then". I said "No" again "Just relax and be yourself". I still have the suitcase with those wares - she left them behind when she returned to Detroit. She sat at, and played, the piano with the band and it was a great show.
