Beyond Motown: Soul Music Broken Down

Join us as Shawn breaks down the music and cultural legacy of Motown, the other major players of the 60’s/70’s, some tea from the industry at the time, and the glorious neo-soul movement still taking place today! Episode notes:Motown: founded in Detroit MI by Berry Gordy in 1959. Studio: The Snake Pit. Example artists: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Temptations, The Contours, Martha and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Spinners, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Isley Brothers, Mary Wells, The Jacksons, Stevie Wonder, The Commodores. Sonically: complex arrangements and songwriting, variety of instruments (“is that an oboe??”)Stax-Volt: founded in Memphis TN by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton in 1961 (formerly Satellite, distributed by Atlantic from 1960-1968.) Studio: Muscle Shoals. Example artists from Stax-Volt and Atlantic: Booker T and the MG’s, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Isaac Hayes, The Drifters, The Clovers, Wilson Pickett, Roberta Flack. Sonically: gritty, “one take” feeling, heavily blues-based in style and arrangement.Philadelphia International: founded in Philadelphia PA by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. Studio: Sigma Sound. Examples artists: The O’Jays, The Intruders, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, Patti Labelle, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, The Stylistics, The Delphonics. Sonically: “soul with a tuxedo,” lots of strings, pre-disco elements of bass/percussion, male vocals and harmonies similar to doowop.Some documentaries we mention:Luther: Never Too Much (2024)Sly Lives! (Aka the Burden of Black Genius) (2025)Summer of Soul (Or…When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)