Books like Motown by Bill Dahl
Bill Dahl offers a vibrant and well‑documented portrait of Motown, the iconic record company that defined soul and pop music from the 1960s onward. Drawing from personal interviews with both famous and lesser‑known figures—artists, producers and songwriters—the book goes beyond the usual retelling of Motown’s rise. Crisp prose and abundant photographs illuminate the creative process and the people who turned a regional sound into a national phenomenon, making it essential reading for Motown fans and scholars of American music history alike.
First publish date: 2001
Genre: History/Modern History
Authors: Bill Dahl
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Books similar to Motown (11 similar books)
A detailed history of Stax Records, its rise and fall, and the impact of Memphis, Tennessee's racial politics on the soul and R&B scene.
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A visual history of Motown Records, the Detroit-based independent record company which became a style unto itself, a prolific and hugely successful production line of suave, sassy and sophisticated music through the sixties, seventies and eighties. Featuring extensive, specially commissioned photography of treasures gathered from the archives, this publication also captures the graphic and design iconography that underpinned Motown's extraordinary creativity. Packed with fresh insights gleaned from scores of interviews with key players, this revealing book delves into the workings of the Motown machine and details how a dedicated team of backroom believers, white and black, turned a small family business into a popular music powerhouse.
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Motown was part of growing up in the 1960's and 70's. An amazing number of well-known stars worked for Motown: Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Jr Walker and the All Stars, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Edwin Starr, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Lamont Dozier, Shorty Long, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Fifth dimension, the Marvelettes, the Contours, the Isley Brothers, the Spinners, the Originals, the Jackson Five, the Commodores, Rare Earth, Rick James, and many others. Most were Motown stars. Many started and ended with Motown. Motown is important for other reasons. A black company, Motown made black music popular among Americans of all ages.
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A concise account of Motown’s rise, spotlighting its African‑American musicians, key personalities, and lasting impact on soul and popular music.
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Includes material on B.B. King, Nina Simone, and Aretha Franklin.
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A detailed history of Motown Records, chronicling its founders, major artists, and enduring influence on American music and the sound recording industry.
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Some Other Similar Books
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythms of the '60s by Peter GuralnickThe Birth of Soul: A Visual History of the Beginnings of African-American Music by John Covach
The Story of Motown by Joan Garry
Standing in the Shadows of Motown by Dr. Licks
Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Power of Detroit by Stephanie J. Jones
Motown: The Sound of Young America by Adam White and Barney Ales
The Motown Sound: Inside the Legendary Label by Bill Dahl
How Sweet It Is: The Beatles, Motown, and the Surprising Story of American Popular Music by Peter Asher
Temptations: The Temptations and the Making of a Soul Legacy by Otis Williams
Diana Ross: A Biography by J. Randy Taraborrelli
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