Motown Treasures

Tonight on Dutch National Television (NPO2) "Hitsville: the making of Motown" will be broadcasted. In a TV guide I saw this 3 page article about the start of Motown in The Netherlands (and Europe). Google Translate (and I) made a translation in "Word" which I attached here. I hope you can read it. 

In the 50's and early 60's we only had several weekly top 10's on the radio and some monthly top 30's or 40's in music magazines. In 1964 Radio Veronica started the weekly TOP 40 but there were no lists published.
In January 1965 Veronica started the weekly printed TOP 40. The first edition showed The Beatles 3 x, The Rolling Stones 3x and The Supremes 3x. Those were the days!

Top 40-lijst van week 1, 1965

Bekijk hier de Top 40 lijst van week 1 van 1965 / Alarmschijf, Top 40-artiesten, Top 40 video, Tipparade, Bijzondere lijsten, Hitdossier, Top 40 Video..

top40.nl

On this website you can find all charts from 1965 till today.

That is a very interesting article Henke, though it does have a couple of factual errors in that Motown had its own label identity in Canada (with records being issued on the Canadian "Tamla" label) about two years before Artone launched the Motown label in The Netherlands.  Also Dave Godin started his "Tamla Motown Appreciation Society" (which was a kind of "Motown Fan Club") in Britain in mid/late 1963, which was about the same time that the Dutch Motown label was launched.   Maybe geography isn't Robert Haagsma's strong point and he thinks that Canada is part of The U.S.A. and that The U.K. isn't in Europe!

Having said that, the role that The Netherlands played in the popularisation of "pop" music in the '60s is often overlooked.  I've watched many a documentary about the British "offshore" radio stations of The '60s (Caroline, London, 270, Scotland etc.) and anyone would think that the whole concept was a uniquely British idea ... there might be the occasional mention that similar stations had been launched off the coasts of Sweden, Denmark and Holland but that is usually a footnote and Veronica (which could be heard loud and clear over much of Britain) hardly gets a mention even though it predated the British "Pirates" by about four years!!

I spent a few weeks some time back going through all those Nederlandse Top 40 charts to identify which Motown releases were listed and found 127 of them up to when the company was sold by Berry Gordy in 1988.  There were a few other tunes that made the "Tipparade" Bubbling-Under/Breakers list without entering The Top 40 but those I didn't include.

Here is my list of "Dutch Motown Hits" .. the figures on the right are Maximum Position, Weeks in the 40 and year charted.  The ones with an asterisk against weeks-charted are ones that were in the first Top 40 and may well have been listed in previous weeks.   The ones with three asterisks on the left were also U.K. chart hits.

There is some confusion with The Four Tops "It's The Same Old Song" as it seems to have been re-promoted when a local version by The Motions was released around the time that The Four Tops were hot with "Reach Out" and the two versions were listed together, even though it seems that most sales were for The Motions version.
 
001***SUPREMES            - "Baby Love"                          -  8 (9*) - 1965
002***SUPREMES            - "Where Did Our Love Go"              - 16 (4*) - 1965
003***SUPREMES            - "Come See About Me"                  - 17 (7*) - 1965
004***SUPREMES            - "Stop! In The Name Of Love"          - 21 (12) - 1965
005***SUPREMES            - "I Hear A Symphony"                  - 35 ( 3) - 1965
006***STEVIE WONDER       - "Blowing In The Wind"                -  9 (10) - 1966
007***SUPREMES            - "You Can't Hurry Love"               - 24 ( 6) - 1966
008***FOUR TOPS           - "Reach Out I'll Be There"            -  8 ( - 1966
009***SUPREMES            - "You Keep Me Hanging On"             - 26 ( 7) - 1966
010***FOUR TOPS           - "It's The Same Old Song"             - 10 (12) - 1966 >> Listed along with a local version by The Motions
011***STEVIE WONDER       - "A Place In The Sun"                 - 22 ( 7) - 1966
012***FOUR TOPS           - "Standing In The Shadows Of Love"    - 24 ( 6) - 1967
013***M GAYE/KIM WESTON   - "It Takes Two"                       - 15 (10) - 1967
014***SUPREMES            - "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone"   - 35 ( 3) - 1967
015***FOUR TOPS           - "Bernadette"                         - 18 ( - 1967
016***SUPREMES            - "The Happening"                      -  5 (10) - 1967
017***FOUR TOPS           - "Seven Rooms Of Gloom"               - 23 ( 5) - 1967
018***STEVIE WONDER       - "I Was Made To Love Her"             - 24 ( - 1967
019***D ROSS/SUPREMES     - "Reflections"                        - 24 ( 6) - 1967
020***STEVIE WONDER       - "I'm Wondering"                      - 25 ( 4) - 1967
021***FOUR TOPS           - "Walk Away Renee"                    - 11 (11) - 1968
022***FOUR TOPS           - "If I Were A Carpenter"              -  4 (12) - 1968
023***D ROSS/SUPREMES     - "Forever Came Today"                 - 40 ( 1) - 1968
024***R.DEAN TAYLOR       - "Gotta See Jane"                     - 32 ( 5) - 1968
025***SHORTY LONG         - "Here Comes The Judge"               - 30 ( 5) - 1968
026***D ROSS/SUPREMES     - "Love Child"                         - 18 ( - 1968 
027***D ROSS/SUPREMES/TEMPTATIONS - "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" - 27 ( 5) - 1969
028***MARVIN GAYE         - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"   - 25 ( 7) - 1969
029***EDWIN STARR         - "Twenty Five Miles"                  - 15 ( 7) - 1969
030***STEVIE WONDER       - "I Don't Know Why"                   - 22 ( 5) - 1969
031***FOUR TOPS           - "What Is A Man"                      - 22 ( 5) - 1969
032***ISLEY BROTHERS      - "Behind A Painted Smile"             - 26 ( 6) - 1969
033***STEVIE WONDER       - "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"   -  6 ( 9) - 1969
034***D ROSS/SUPREMES     - "Someday We'll Be Together"          - 20 ( 5) - 1970
035***JACKSON 5           - "I Want You Back"                    - 13 ( 5) - 1970
036***STEVIE WONDER       - "Never Had A Dream Come True"        - 20 ( 4) - 1970
037* *FOUR TOPS           - "Barbara's Boy"                      - 18 ( 4) - 1970
038* *RARE EARTH          - "Get Ready"                          - 18 ( 7) - 1970
039***JACKSON 5           - "A B C"                              - 28 ( 4) - 1970
040***TEMPTATIONS         - "Ball Of Confusion"                  - 36 ( 2) - 1970
041***EDWIN STARR         - "War"                                - 18 ( 6) - 1970
042***S ROBINSON/MIRACLES - "Tears Of A Clown"                   -  5 ( 9) - 1970
043* *RARE EARTH          - "(I Know) I'm Losing You"            - 21 ( 4) - 1970
044***JACKSON 5           - "I'll Be There"                      - 16 ( 6) - 1970
045***SUPREMES/FOUR TOPS  - "River Deep Mountain High"           - 27 ( 3) - 1971
046* *JACKSON 5           - "Going Back to Indiana"              - 23 ( 5) - 1971
047***JACKSON 5           - "Mama's Pearl"                       - 31 ( 2) - 1971
048* *RARE EARTH          - "I Just Want To Celebrate"           - 18 ( 6) - 1971
049***FOUR TOPS           - "Simple Game"                        - 15 ( 5) - 1971
050***DIANA ROSS          - "I'm Still Waiting"                  - 36 ( 2) - 1971
051* *R.DEAN TAYLOR       - "Taos New Mexico"                    - 22 ( 4) - 1972
052***MICHAEL JACKSON     - "Ain't No Sunshine"                  - 16 (10) - 1972
053***MICHAEL JACKSON     - "Ben"                                -  2 (14) - 1972
054***TEMPTATIONS         - "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"           -  5 (11) - 1972
055***STEVIE WONDER       - "Superstition"                       - 12 ( 6) - 1973
056* *JERMAINE JACKSON    - "Daddy's Home"                       -  8 (10) - 1973
057***STEVIE WONDER       - "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"    - 32 ( 4) - 1973
058* *UNDISPUTED TRUTH    - "Law Of the Land"                    - 34 ( 2) - 1973
059***STEVIE WONDER       - "Higher Ground"                      - 33 ( 3) - 1973
060* *MICHAEL JACKSON     - "Music And Me"                       - 34 ( 3) - 1973
061* *DAN THE BANJO MAN   - "Dan The Banjo Man"                  - 22 ( 4) - 1974
062***M GAYE & DIANA ROSS - "You Are Everything"                 - 14 ( 9) - 1974
063* *STEVIE WONDER       - "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing"      - 22 ( 5) - 1974
064* *R. DEAN TAYLOR      - "There's A Ghost In My House"        - 29 ( 4) - 1974
065***STEVIE WONDER       - "You Haven't Done Nothing"           - 28 ( 3) - 1974
066***SYREETA             - "Harmour Love"                       - 25 ( 6) - 1975
067***DIANA ROSS          - "Theme From Mahogany"                -  4 (10) - 1976
068***MIRACLES            - "Love Machine"                       - 30 ( 3) - 1976
069***DIANA ROSS          - "Love Hangover"                      - 23 ( 5) - 1976
070***STEVIE WONDER       - "I Wish"                             -  4 ( 9) - 1977
071***THELMA HOUSTON      - "Don't Leave Me This Way"            -  4 (10) - 1977
072***STEVIE WONDER       - "Sir Duke"                           - 21 ( 5) - 1977
073***MARVIN GAYE         - "Got To Give It Up"                  - 29 ( 4) - 1977
074***STEVIE WONDER       - "Another Star"                       - 13 ( 5) - 1977
075***COMMODORES          - "Brick House"                        - 19 ( 9) - 1978
076***COMMODORES          - "Three Times A Lady"                 -  3 (12) - 1978
077***COMMODORES          - "Sail On"                            -  4 (11) - 1979
078***COMMODORES          - "Still"                              - 17 ( - 1979
079***SYREETA/B PRESTON   - "It Will Come In Time"               -  8 ( 9) - 1980
080***SYREETA/B PRESTON   - "With You I'm Born Again"            -  4 ( 9) - 1980
081* *TEMPTATIONS         - "Power"                              -  6 (10) - 1980
082***JERMAINE JACKSON    - "Let's Get Serious"                  - 23 ( 4) - 1980
083***DIANA ROSS          - "Upside Down"                        -  2 (14) - 1980
084***STEVIE WONDER       - "Master Blaster"                     -  2 (13) - 1980
085***DIANA ROSS          - "My Old Piano"                       -  2 (10) - 1980
086***DIANA ROSS          - "I'm Coming Out"                     - 23 ( 5) - 1981
087***STEVIE WONDER       - "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It"         - 31 ( 3) - 1981
088***DIANA ROSS          - "It's My Turn"                       - 35 ( 3) - 1981
089***MICHAEL JACKSON     - "One Day In Your Life"               -  1 (12) - 1981
090***STEVIE WONDER       - "Happy Birthday"                     - 10 ( 7) - 1981
091***COMMODORES          - "Lady (You Bring Me Up)"             - 20 ( 6) - 1981
092***D ROSS/L RICHIE     - "Endless Love"                       -  4 (10) - 1981
093* *RICK JAMES          - "Super Freak"                        -  2 (11) - 1981
094***CHARLENE            - "I've Never Been To Me"              -  4 ( - 1982
095***STEVIE WONDER       - "Do I Do"                            - 22 ( 4) - 1982
096***LIONEL RICHIE       - "You Are"                            - 27 ( 6) - 1983
097***GARY BYRD           - "The Crown"                          - 30 ( 5) - 1983
098***LIONEL RICHIE       - "All Night Long"                     -  1 (11) - 1983
099***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Running With The Night"             -  7 ( 7) - 1983
100***ROCKWELL            - "Somebody's Watching Me"             -  2 (11) - 1984
101***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Hello"                              -  1 (13) - 1984
102***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Stuck On You"                       - 21 ( 5) - 1984
103***STEVIE WONDER       - "I Just Called To Say I Love You"    -  1 (17) - 1984
104***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Penny Lover"                        - 11 (10) - 1984
105***STEVIE WONDER       - "Don't Drive Drunk"                  - 30 ( 5) - 1985
106***DAZZ BAND           - "Let It All Blow"                    - 10 ( - 1985
107***TEMPTATIONS         - "Treat Her Like A Lady"              - 15 ( - 1985
108***COMMODORES          - "Nightshift"                         -  1 (14) - 1985
109***DEBARGE             - "Rhythm Of The Night"                -  4 (11) - 1985
110***MARY JANE GIRLS     - "In My House"                        -  6 (10) - 1985
111***RICK JAMES          - "Glow"                               -  6 (12) - 1985
112***STEVIE WONDER       - "Part Time Lover"                    - 11 ( - 1985
113***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Say You Say Me"                     -  2 (14) - 1985
114***MARVIN GAYE         - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"   - 18 ( 6) - 1986
115***EL DEBARGE          - "Who's Johnny"                       -  3 (11) - 1986
116***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Dancing On The Ceiling"             - 14 (10) - 1986
117* *EL DEBARGE          - "Love Always"                        - 25 ( 4) - 1986
118***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Love Will Conquer All"              - 18 ( 5) - 1986
119***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Ballerina Girl"                     - 35 ( 3) - 1987
120***LIONEL RICHIE       - "Se La"                              -  8 ( 9) - 1987
121***S ROBINSON/MIRACLES - "The Tracks Of My Tears"             - 37 ( 3) - 1987
122***BRUCE WILLIS        - "Under The Boardwalk"                -  7 ( 9) - 1987
123***DENNIS EDWARDS      - "Don't Look Any Further"             - 12 ( 7) - 1987
124***JACKSON 5           - "I Want You Back (88 Remix)"         - 14 ( 7) - 1988
125***S WONDER/M JACKSON  - "Get It"                             - 14 ( 5) - 1988
126* *GEORGIO             - "Bedrock"                            - 29 ( 4) - 1988
127***CONTOURS            - "Do You Love Me"                     - 10 (10) - 1988

Interesting that Artone was based in Haarlem.

Roger

Well Roger, that's quite a great work you did to make this list. You're right about "The same old song" which was a bigger hit for the Motions, to my regret. The Four Tops had their far more better version.
Funny, in 1989 (a year after Gordy's sale) "Reflections" re-entered the Top 40 and made it to number 3!
BTW  The documentary (Hitsville-the Making of Motown) was interesting. I think you all have seen it before, for me it was the first time and I loved it.
BTW Canada is in America. Haagsma didn't mention outside USA. 

Yes Henk, terms like "Europe" and "America" can be very ambiguous. 

I came across that 1989 "Reflections" chart placing when I was going through the Top 40s and started a thread about it ... apparently the reissue was prompted by the song being featured as the theme song of the "China Beach" TV series, a show that we didn't get here in the UK ...

This is the link for the thread ....
https://motowntreasures.createaforum.com/'60's-supremesdrats/'china-beach'-tv-series-'reflections'/msg8247/#msg8247

The Temptations "My Girl" was a also a belated #19 hit in The Netherlands in 1989, though I'm not sure what prompted that reissue as the film of the same name (which prompted a belated #2 hit for the song in The UK) wasn't released for another two years.

Roger

 

"My girl" was a small hit in 1989 thanks to a commercial of Lidl.