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| Marvin Gaye's first number one hit single |
In the month of May Smokey
Robinson produced his magic formula again with Marvin Gaye, as the latter stepped
out of his studio drumming role and turned to singing as the label’s leading
up-and-coming male vocalist. Robinson also found time to compose the song “I’ll
Be Doggone” with guitarist Marv Tarplin and Pete Moore, founding members of The
Miracles, whilst on tour. Marvin Gaye was an emerging genius who co-wrote his
first three hit records, “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”, “Hitch Hike” and “Pride and
Joy”. He was one of the first artists at Motown to do so. Gaye became brilliant
at interpreting other song-writers’ material, improvising and improving on the
original song and making it his own in the process. “I’ll Be Doggone” was
certainly one of those songs. It topped the Billboard Hot Rhythm and Blues
Singles Chart week-ending 22nd May 1965 (1 week). Each member of The
Funk Brothers added their own momentum and richness to the song’s groove
helping to send the song to the top!
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| The Supremes' album containing the 1965 single "Come See About Me" |
The Motown organisation was
by now a winning brand and a major player within the industry. In the eleven
months from August 1964 to June 1965, The Supremes had five number one singles
on several singles chart listings. The five consecutive number one hits were
“Where Did Our Love Go”, “Baby Love”, “Come See About Me”, “Stop! In the Name
of Love”, and “Back in My Arms Again” The industry was now aware of the fact
that Berry Gordy Jr. had tremendous power within his hit-making teams, with the
credentials for consistent success. The key leading act The Supremes were
performing a musical fusion of gospel and rhythm and blues which was
sophisticated, innovative and intoxicating, with a high level of musical
excellence. It also helped that the women were beautiful and well-dressed as
leading fashion icons of the era!
The fourth of the hit run, the
power house song “Stop! In the Name of Love”, knocked The Beatles song “Eight
Days a Week” off the number one position with a big bang and started its reign
week-ending 27th March 1965 (2 weeks). The Supremes became the first
group in Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart history to have four chart topping
singles in succession!
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| The hit album featuring the number one singles "Stop! In the of Love" and "Back In My Arms Again" |
The label then released
another monster classic recording called “Back in My Arms Again”, which reached
the number one position week-ending 29th May 1965 (1 week), once
again produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. It thus became the fifth consecutive
number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 12th
June (1 week). A new record! The track vocals were laid down on the 22nd
December 1964, followed by the dynamic and thunderous bass line of James
Jamerson Jr. with Mike Terry’s excellent performance on saxophone and James
Gittens’s ringing and driving vibes giving the song its special touch. Studio A
was packed with musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra performing
strings, located on a built-up stage up again the wall, until the company
acquired more studio space.
By 1965 many experts in the industry were trying
to define the sound’s musical elements but Adam White, a British former music
editor of Billboard Magazine, captured the essence brilliantly: “ A bedrock
bass line; an emphatic beat accentuated by tambourines performed by both Jack
Ashford and James Gittens; pounding percussions, drums and piano tracks;
saxophone-driven brass charts; shrill femme backup vocals in the classic
call-and-response mode of gospel performances; and those swirling,
riff-reinforcing strings of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Motown had finally
broken down racial barriers. The musical sophistication spread around the world.
When you listen to ‘Back in My Arms Again’ you do not think about the track in
terms of black or white sound; the music was an international language with a
powerful spiritual force that changed the atmosphere all around you.
©Signaturesoundsonline2013-2016
