Whilst searching for something else, I found this:-
BIG magazine
From Doug Dribble
Big was a weekly music magazine that started in the mid-60s covering the pop music scene. Being based in Rome which is Italy's political centre, it had also a socio-political aspect to it's content. In that sense the Motown article was right 'up it's street' since it had the opportunity to explore the blues origins of the music as well as the civil rights aspects of the time and their impacts on Motown.
It merged later with another Italian music magazine to become Ciao Big which ran for many years.
Early copies like the one you found are quite hard to find. I've heard of others with articles on the Stax/Atlantic artists again with the socio-political commentary but had never seen the Motown one. The next time I visit an Italian record fair, I'll ask some of the dealers what others are around. The Italian equivalent of Record Collector 'Raro' sometimes prints facsimiles of the articles from the magazine.
The article is typical of Motown's approach to launching the Tamla Motown label in a country. Similar to the Motortown Revue approach to the UK launch in 1965, I've seen this type of promotional work in many European countries, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland for example.
The Italian launch was later than many due to Motown's weakness in that market. RCA took on Spain distribution for Motown at the same time since it was already strong in those countries. It would be interesting to know if similar Spanish articles exist. A question to ask a Spanish record dealer the next time I meet one.
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A great article.
Straight from the Detroit
marketing department for the most part. Most of it is
standard info of the time even down to the bob Dylan Smokey
Greatest living American poet comment. I’ll have a go at
writing some of it down later and sending it to you.
At the top of the article
there is what is called in the article ‘the red brick’
with The Detorit Sound written in which is the symbol of the
label launch in Italy. In fact you find it on many Italian
releases of the time.
The beginning of the main article talks about how Motown is
overcoming racial prejudice and finding it’s place at the
musical summit, also in several places referencing that
Motown was about to displace English Beat at the top of the
music world.
It also pouts much of modern music as finding it’s origin in the blues
even if many pretend that there music comes from somewhere
else. Obviously a sideways dig being aimed at some of the
italian artists of the time.
The Motown artists were all great friends and
there was no competition between them and they didn’t get
in each other’s way as each was making their own way to
the top.
Some interesting facts to come out of the article are that Stevie Winder
apparently speaks Italian! Similar to Motown’s efforts in
other countries claiming in French PR releases that Flo
Ballard spoke latin. A way of getting closer to the locals i
suppose
It mentions Rita Pavone’s Italian cover of Reach Out I’ll Be there (Gira,
Gira).
The article clearly coincides with Motown distribution in Italy being taken on
by RCA which happened late 1966 if i remember well. This is
mentioned in the article. Not mentioned in the article is
the previous distribution tie-up with the local Durium
label.
The article refers to upcoming LPs by Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Supremes, Jimmy
Ruffin, the Miracles and the Temptations. I have copies of
some of these but am not sure that the Jimmy Ruffin and
Miracles LPs ever saw the light of day. It mentions the
artists singing in Italian for the Italian market commenting
on the uniqueness of this from American artists.
It also mentions that the italian, phonetics and subtleties of the language have been
profoundly studied by Motown to assure that the finished
product is perfect.
Interesting spelling of Tammy Terrel and Jo Walker!!
Apparently Jimmy Ruffin was happy and carefree while Stevie Wonder was deep
and reflective. Apparently Stevie was studying for a degree
at Boston University particularly because he wanted to study
the problems of youth!
The writer Piero Vivarelli is also an interesting chap, besides
writing for pop magazines he went on to a successful career
making movies. His Wikipedia site is worth a visit.
It’s a fab article, thanks for sharing it. If there are any phrases you particularly
want translated, let me know.
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I recorded that Doug contributed the top part but, stupidly, didn't do the same for whoever sent the second half.
Fascinating stuff.
SWI
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