By bob (172.164.196.206) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 12:51 am:

Maybe this has been discussed before, but what exactly happened to Motown/Golden World Studio B when Motown took over? Did they use it often or did most of the hits continue to be recorded at Hitsville until Motown left for LA. Also what happened to Studio B once Motown left, did they sell it to someone, or did it just sit vacant. Also did any recording by anyone take place at Hitsville once Motown left, did someone lese use the studio until it became a museum in 1985?

By Dennis Coffey (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, July 10, 2003 - 07:48 am:

Hi Bob. The studio sits empty and vacant. You can see the faded Motown logo on one side of the building. I think Motown used it a lot for string and horn overdubs. I was a member of the Motown Producers Workshop led by James Jamerson upstairs in the late sixties. I also did a lot of sessions there for Ed Wingate and Golden World. It was a great sounding studio.

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 09:30 am:

A related question with regard to Jnr Walker's recordings at A & B......
BBC Radio 2 gives over 2 tracks each weekday morning that are selected by a celeb. This weeks 5 x 2 tracks have been selected by Paul Young (UK blue eyed soulster). I was listening to his selections yesturday in the car; Reffa's version of "A Change Is Gonna Come" and Jnr's "Roadrunner".
Havin nothing else at all to occupy my brain at the time, I really listened to "Roadrunner" intently (probably for the 1st time in years). The quality of the keyboard playin on the track really hit me.
Did the Allstars provide all the instrumentation on cuts from Jnr such as this or were the FUNKS also in the studio 'helpin out' ??

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 10:21 am:

JSmith:
The Funks played on several Junior Walker sessions during his Motown years.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By mhc (172.155.13.205) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 11:03 am:

I posted this question a couple days ago.. Does anybody know who owns the studio B building currently?

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 11:43 am:

Marshall;
According to the city of Detroit website, it's currently owned (or under the Tax Name) of Kenneth Davis. It supposedly has a Real Cash value of 59,000.

Steve K

By Chub (69.3.253.236) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 12:30 pm:

They sell barbeque pits out of the place now. I'm sure you walk in a take a look.

By Eli (152.163.252.68) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 01:31 pm:

Does any know if any HIT rhythm tracks were recorded in studio b??

By mhc (172.166.105.9) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 09:41 pm:

WOW! Thanks for the info LTLFTC...

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 10:19 pm:

Bobby,
That's a good question. The guys preferred Studio A for rhythm tracks for obvious reasons. However I remember convncing Frank Wilson to give Studio B a try when Studio A was somewhat backed up. I don't remember what he recorded that day but he later told me he was happy with what he got.

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

I thought "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (M&T version) was the first Motown session at Studio B. I forgot who posted the information though.

As a side note, you can here 30 seconds of the rhythm track that eventually deteriorates on the first chorus, on a hidden track on the Marvin & Tammi Complete 2 CD set. The Funks then start jabbering about the take & then launch into the released version. Harry W. threw that on the disc along with other drop-ins.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 02:28 pm:

Steve,
Mountain was the first session my brother did for Motown along with Ashford and Simpson. Maybe that is what you are thinking of.

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 05:07 pm:

My mistake. Ralph, was that session at Hitsville?

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 05:14 pm:

Steve,
Yes.