By Marcel Visser (208.161.232.2) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 02:20 am:

Why is Motown holding back DVD releases. They must have an incredible catalogue with live footage. Marvin Gaye, Temps, Four Tops, Diana Ross and Supremes, Jackson 5, Smokey etc.......does somebody has a clue??????????

Marcel

By John Barry Sheffield (195.92.168.164) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 02:29 am:

I do agree! - it is part of the ever growing market that they seem to have ignored.

John

By Uptight (24.55.6.144) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 02:44 am:

This question comes up quite often on the Motown Bulletin Board. The answer is Motown does not own much of this kind of footage. HW can confirm this.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 09:01 am:

The Motortown Revue at the Apollo from late 62 or
early 63 should be cleaned up and officially
released. Also, any film footage shot at the
Fox in Detroit, which I'm sure there is some.

By Marcel Visser (208.161.232.2) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 09:20 am:

In answer to Uptight, yes I know that the main problem is that Motown does not own the footage.. But......they do own the sound......which means that both parties can only release a DVD in corporation.

Knowing that there is enough footage waiting to get released.

Marcel

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 11:46 am:

Hey Gang:
Motown Productions (later Gordy-DePasse Productions and now DePasse Productions)did produce quite a few programs for televsion, from the TCB special (which had a #1 soundtrack album) to the Motown Live! show that was broadcast in the mid 1990s.

Here's the problem - as Uptight & Marcel have mentioned Motown/UMG does not own the visual productions - Suzanne does. As for the audio from these programs, if the groups lip-synched the records then yes, Motown/UMG owns the sound. If the groups sang live either to an orchestra or an audio track created for the program,(both was the case with TCB, GIT on Broadway, Goin' Back To Indiana, Diana!), then DePasse owns the audio because it was a performance created for the show. Now yes - Motown Records did release soundtrack albums from these shows. They have the rights to release soundtrack albums as per their agreements with Motown Productions. But as far as the visual and audio elements on video, that is completely Ms. DePasse's call.

Also, for many of these things on video, whoever is releasing the footage for commercial use has to get clearance from the artists (or their estates if the artists are deceased)to use their images. This task alone takes time because of negotiations over royalties and payments need to be dealt with.

Believe me, I would love like everyone here to see the Motown specials on DVD. Hopefully this will happen soon.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 04:30 pm:

KevGo:

I always love your background information. What would we do without you? There is a huge black market in Motown "live" tape. You would think they would try to release what was in the vaults to halt this market. I have about every Supremes live performance ever recorded or put on television. But the quality varies and only Motown could do the artists justice. For example, putting out a DVD Motortown review of performances. They would make a fortune.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 04:56 pm:

Cleo/Harvey:
Thanks. Like I said before it's Suzanne's call and it's not an easy decision. In addition, she has to get clearances from all performers or their estates (as in the case of David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks - for example)as well as the music publishing clearance from EMI. This alone can be expensive.
If she ever does embark on this, I wish her a lot of luck.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Wonder B (81.48.89.87) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 08:47 am:

If these owner rights statements are true (and they are! LOL) why then can't the Ready Steady Go program released on Laserdisc back in the 80/90's appear on DVD...
Also there was the famous 'Motown 25'on laserdisc (still not available on DVD), and the 'Motown Returns To The Apollo' double laserdisc (with great performances including a fantastic tap dance segment with old footage and the legends appearing live on stage after that... )
There was also this SHINDIG Motor City Magic Motown Special (also available on Laserdisc) with incredible performances...
Now the only stuff available from the Motown stable are bits and pieces scattered on the Ed Sullivan Shows that were issued on DVD about a year ago... There's a Motor City Magic with Motown artists and some more on the volumes entitled Move To The Music, Sweet Sounds of Soul, and Top Hits of 65/66...
This is a good start but we want MORE!!! LOL

Wonder B

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 11:13 am:

I'm disappointed that they never released a video
of the Supremes. Sooooo many TV performances and
the biggest female group and no video collection
of performances. They DID put one out on Marvin
Gaye and also one on the Tops/Temps.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 12:19 pm:

Wonder B:
The British TV show Ready Steady Go, which was created & produced by British music manager Vicki Wickham (who also managed Labelle & Dusty Springfield), was purchased by Dave Clark (of the Dave Clark Five). Like Suzanne DePasse with Motown Prod., it's Dave's call to make regarding the availability of RSG on DVD.

From what I've been told by music colleagues, Dave Clark has been wary of even making the DC5 recordings available because of the issues with remastering/restoration and the lack of trust he has with record labels/distributors(when he licensed the DC5 material to Hollywood Records twelve years ago, it was because his dear friend, the late Freddy Mercury, recommended the label - Freddy & Queen recorded for Hollywood. Dave did not renew his agreement with Hollywood so the CD is now out of print).

Even if Dave Clark did reissue RSG on DVD, he would be facing the same issues a Suzanne De Passe, Dick Clark or Don Cornelius would face - performance & publishing clearances, payment to artists or estates - and these issues are not cheap.

Best thing to do - when these clips are broadcast on TV specials, load in the VCR (or recordable DVD machine) and fire away.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 12:23 pm:

By the way, folks...
I know I posted this on another thread but for those who want to see some brief clips of the Temptations, Supremes, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and Marvin Gaye, check out the following from the website of the late, great Murray the K:
http://www.murraythek.com/tv.html
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By sdl (63.72.98.2) on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 03:16 pm:

Thanks KevGo,

That Temptations clip is Fantastic! It's just too short.

By Greg C. (207.103.134.170) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 09:21 pm:

I believe it has to be understood that Berry Gordy has the rights to a SLEW of old Motown footage.

I spoke to a friend who would be in a position to know and a treasure trove of stuff was filmed in the Motown heydays. A lot of those old Motortown Reviews from the 60's and early 70's Motown specials fall under Mr. Gordy's jurisdiction. I honestly didn't know Suzanne dePasse had a say in a lot of that old footage. That's a surprise.

Mr. Gordy was no dummy. He may have sold Motown but he kept Jobete Music which is a GOLDMINE and a lot of old filmed footage that he the rights to.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 30, 2003 - 10:58 am:

Greg C:
It is no surpirse that Gordy would have "a SLEW of old Motown footage", being the founder and former owner of probably the greatest record label that ever existed in America.

What we've been discussing pertains to the television specials that went through Motown Productions (now DePasse Productions), which commenced in 1968 with the now-legendary broadcast of "TCB" on NBC-TV. When he sold the company to Suzanne, the broadcast specials (from TCB to Motown 25 and maybe beyond) were part of the deal. Watch any program VH-1 airs that uses any of the Motown 25 footage - you will see DePasse Productions in the credits.

Even if he did have film or tape footage, Gordy still has to go through the procedure of getting clearances from the aritsts or the estates of artists who are no longer here on earth. This procedure is not cheap by any means and if an act says no, then they won't be part of the deal.

The only possible exception could be if the act signed a clearance form from the git-go that would allow repeated use of taped/filmed appearance as well as releasing it to the commercial marketplace.

Since Berry & Suzanne are still colleagues and if they really do care about future generations seeing this legendary footage, they would make it possible for this to occur and endure the task of getting the clearances to make this happen. Otherwise, we would have to rely on the gang at VH-1 or Dick Clark Productions to air what they have. Maybe our fellow Forum poster Mike "the Chancellor of Soul" Boone can tell us if the Motown specials are in the Museum of TV and Radio.
Regards,
Kevin Goins - KevGo