Motown 50 Podcasts: Celebrate Motown’s 50th anniversary with this vibrant series featuring rare and intimate conversations with Motown legends, producers, songwriters and singers - including Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, the Commodores and more. Also hear from hip-hop pioneer Q-Tip, actor/singer/producer Nick Cannon, film director Lawrence Kasdan, songwriter Diane Warren, author Frank Rich, composer Terence Blanchard and many more. Listen to fantastic stories of America's greatest record label, including exclusive insights on some of the greatest songs ever, from "My Girl" to "Love Hangover" to “Brick House”!
Subscribe to the series right here. Episodes updated regularly.
Episode 1: SMOKEY ROBINSON - MOTOWN REFLECTIONS
Legendary artist/songwriter Smokey Robinson reflects on the label’s early days, his mentor Berry Gordy and the impact Motown continues to have worldwide.
Tracks featured on this episode:
I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Baby, Baby Don't Cry - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - Martha Reeves and The Vandellas
Mickey's Monkey - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Episode 2: BERRY GORDY - A TOUR OF HITSVILLE U.S.A., MAY 1963
On this rare interview Motown founder Berry Gordy and a Detroit radio host walk through Hitsville, on the cusp of the company’s runaway success.
Tracks featured on this episode:
Come And Get These Memories - Martha & The Vandellas
Congo - The Twistin' Kings
Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
Pride And Joy - Marvin Gaye
Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson
Got A Job - The Miracles
Come To Me - Marv Johnson
Way Over There - The Miracles
Shop Around - The Miracles
I’mi See You Later - Johnny Griffith Trio
Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
Two Lovers - Mary Wells
You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me - The Miracles
They Shall Be Mine - Rev. Columbus Mann
May I Have This Dance - The Temptations
Beechwood 4-5789 (live) - The Marvelettes
Continental Strut - Little Iva and Her Band
It's For Love The Petals Fall - Earl Van Dyke & The Funk Brothers
Farewell My Love - The Temptations
EPISODE 3: NICK CANNON – IMPRESSIONS OF MOTOWN
Actor/Musician/Producer Nick Cannon shares his earliest impressions of Motown.
Tracks featured on this episode:
My Girl - The Temptations
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Got To Be There - Michael Jackson
Got To Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
EPISODE 4: LEVI STUBBS - RARE INTERVIEW
Levi Stubbs – The Four Tops The late Levi Stubbs, in a rare interview from the Motown Archives, talks about what made the Four Tops tick.
Tracks featured on this episode:
Still Water (Love)
Baby I Need Your Loving
Ask The Lonely
Reach Out I'll Be There
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
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More episode listings available: Episodes 5-10, Episode 11-14, Episode 15-19, Episodes 20-26, Episodes 27-31
