FlinterFile: Edwin Starr- War

In 1970, Edwin Starr released a flaming protest against the Vietnam War. It would be one of the first political songs Motown released.

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Song of the day: Rockwell- Somebody’s Watching Me

In 1984, Kennedy Gordy (yes, the son of the Motown founder Berry Gordy) recorded a demo with a Motown producer under the name Rockwell. Berry did not believe his son had capacities as an artist, but was convinced the demo could be a hit. Michael Jackson sang the backing vocals, something Kennedy strongly wanted. It would mean the guarantee the single would be a hit, which it was: number 2 in the US and number 6 in the UK. Enjoy

Rockwell- Somebody’s Watching Me

Song of the day: The Contours- Do You Love Me

In 1962, the Contours released a song on a sub label of Motown, Gordy. Berry Gordy had written the song for the Temptations, to score their first hit with it. At the time of recording, the Temptations were not there, since they had not been notified. Berry Gordy looked some time for them, but found the Contours instead. Berry Gordy wanted to make the song a hit as fast as possible, and the Contours needed a hit, since they were in danger of being fired because of having no hits. Both were helped: the song became a number 3 hit in the US. In 1988, they re-entered the charts because of Dirty Dancing, in which the song is featured. Enjoy

The Contours- Do You Love Me

Song of the day: Jackie Wilson- Reet Petite

Jackie Wilson originally was a member of the Dominoes. He left the band and went solo. In 1957, he recorded his first solo-song, written by Berry Gordy and the cousin of Jackie Wilson. The title was stolen from Louis Jordan, who had a song called Reet, Petite and Gone. The song made it to number 6 in the UK and number 62 in the US. The money was used by Berry Gordy, who fund Motown with it… Three years after Jackie Wilson died, the song became a hit again because of a clay-animation. It now even made number 1 in the UK! Enjoy

Jackie Wilson- Reet Petite