By kylawgirl (12.109.78.90) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 09:24 pm: |
I was wondering where I could find more information about this first Motown tour. I am currently a Masters student and am researching for a paper. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.
By LaJolla (65.238.154.118) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 09:30 pm: |
I have that on video and it's very good. The quality is excellent. My favorite performance is The Marvelettes. They put on quite a show. Great choreography! Mary Wells was backed by The Temptations before they even got their own solo spot. Martha and The Vandellas were great. The Supremes were almost unrecognizable. They sounded totally different than they did 2 years later. Amazing. I hope you've been able to see this. It's certainly historic.
By HW (68.37.216.164) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 10:13 pm: |
A copy of the original itinerary of the first tour in 1962 is hanging at the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit. You may want to try there for more information. Or someone on this forum, or at boards.Motown.com
A photo of the artists and staff, gathered in the studio before departure, has been reprinted here and there, most recently in the Supremes box set.
The first Motortown Revue live album was recorded during that tour:
Various Artists - 'Motor Town Revue, Volume 1'
Released in mono only as Motown M609, May 1963, charted June 1963, #47 Pop
1. Whole Lotta Woman Ð The Contours
2. Let Me Go The Right Way Ð The Supremes
3. What Kind Of Fool Am I Ð Marvin Gaye
4. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow Ð Marvin Gaye
5. Strange I Know Ð The Marvelettes
6. Someday Someway Ð The Marvelettes
7. Don't You Know - Little Stevie Wonder
8. Two Lovers - Mary Wells
9. Bye Bye Baby - Mary Wells
10. You've Really Got A Hold On Me Ð The Miracles
11. Way Over There Ð The Miracles
That should be a decent start for ya.
FYI, while the bootlegged video mentioned is absolutely worth seeing, it was filmed at the Apollo Theater a year later, in 1963.
By LaJolla (65.238.154.118) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 10:28 pm: |
Thanks for clarifying the date of that video. It wasn't quite clear to me, though I knew it was certainly early stuff. I've played it many times and it's always exciting!
By Flytoo (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 10:44 pm: |
You may want to check out "Standing In The Shadows of Motown, a book written by Alan Slutsky? It's a book about James Jamerson but I believe that Alan talks about the 1962 Motown Review and may even have a few photographs if I recall correctly? Good luck with your research. Flytoo
By Nish (128.239.202.115) on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 - 10:45 pm: |
Who could have known mere months later the success would be even greater than those early years? That's why I love that video. It's Motown still in its raw rhythm and blues stage, before the polish of Ms. Powell kicked in completely. They were having major fun, and the performances were sharp, especially those Marvelettes, and do NOT get me started on the Miracles and Mary Wells, who just tore the roof off the place. Wonderful viewing.
I love the end when Smokey sings "Tell me do you love me" and Joe from the Contours sings "NO!" and Smokey replies "I guess I'm just a stubborn kinda fella cuz I got my mind made up to love ya."
By Julian (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:07 am: |
Now where can I get this video?
By LaJolla (65.238.115.18) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 12:49 am: |
I got mine through Michael Michaud. He advertises in Discoveries or Gold Mine....I forget. Got a lot of neat/rare stuff of The Supremes/Three Degrees in concert that you can't find elsewhere. Amazing stuff. Lots of current Supremes in Europe concerts, if that's your thing, as well as early Supremes concerts in Europe. I have a great one from Holland (with Flo) as well as Paris with Cindy, Mary and Diana. Also have a lot of Mary's solo concerts. I believe I got a full concert of the Crystals back in the 80's as well as Martha and the Vandellas in LA. The list goes on and on.
By TonyRussi (68.210.0.174) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 08:24 am: |
I have an original program of the first National Motortown Revue. The Museum had reprinted copies of this program & maybe you can order one from them.When you see the itinerary, its amazing how hard these artists had to work traveling by bus(and not a luxuary coach) from one city to the next.They were each responsible for their own presentation on stage without benefit of private dressing rooms,hotel rooms ect.Ofcourse they had little squabbles, all those young women trying to crowd around a mirror to get ready ect. Mary Wells said she considered it her "College days" and that she loved all her fellow Motown artists and that they were a family.
By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 08:34 am: |
Yes, Smokey singing Stubborn Kinda Fellow is as
he moves around and sees Marvin Gaye.
There is a famous photo taken before everyone
boarded the bus--missing is Mary Wells. I guess
she didn't come down in time to pose with all
the others, but she was definitely on this tour.
Many of the dates are in the South.
Good luck on your paper! That video was done
by someone who approached Berry about it. When
it was complete, according to Esther Edwards,
they did not like it!?! She told me that a few
years later this guy who filmed it was somewhere
in another part of the world (not Europe) and
called and asked Berry if he could put it out.
Berry told him absolutely not, however, they
were surprised that he would call & ask & not
just go ahead & do it, as they may have never
found out. In other words, they were impressed
with him for asking.
I don't know why they didn't like it. I thought
it was great. It was damaged somewhat, though.
By Reese (204.152.12.135) on Thursday, May 29, 2003 - 11:44 am: |
I always wondered what the story was behind the filming of the 1963 Apollo show. Whosever idea it was I certainly take my hat off to them, since it archived an important chunk of musical history. The quality is decent, although there is a notable sync problem at times.