Motown Treasures

Motown Had Another Diana Ross — Then She Vanished

Rubbish! Brenda has not been erased from from Motown's history nor was she another Diana Ross, she is far superior! I agree that Brenda was treated badly by Gordy just like he did with Blinky and Kim Weston. Brenda should have been massive as she could sing anything and was far more talented than Ross but of course Brenda was not sleeping with the boss. I don't blame Ross but Gordy destroyed Brenda's career. She was never out of the recording studio but only one album and a few singles were ever released at the time. Little wonder she told him enough is enough. It's all history now so c'est la vie!

https://youtu.be/vcXjy7HGoes?si=xKnkk2fKaK6GrUlE

Irrespective of the merits of Ms Ross and Ms Holloway as vocalists (personally I would rate Ms Holloway as a better vocalist then Ms Ross, though I think that the vocal talents of Ms Ross are under-rated by many people who consider themselves to be serious music critics) I can't help but think that what really held Brenda back at Motown was the fact that she wasn't from Detroit and was based in Los Angeles.  When interviewed many other such "overlooked" Motown artists used to comment that the pecking-order within the company favoured the Detroit old-guard (Supremes-Tops-Tempts-Miracles-HDH etc.) and it was hard to break into that circle.

The video itself seems to be one of a number of such YT efforts that attempt to character-assassinate both Mr Gordy and Ms Ross and gift both of them with levels of scheming and back-stabbing that would make a good Hollywood Movie or TV Soap Opera but is most probably far from the truth.  The video also fails to recognise that even as late as 1967/8 the company was still a relatively small organisation and probably didn't have the resources to promote all their artists in the same way that their biggest stars were treated.
   
One thing that the YT video didn't make clear was that Brenda had left Motown well before Blood, Sweat & Tears released their version of "You've Made Me So Very Happy".

Interestingly Brenda's breakthrough hit "Every Little Bit Hurts" predated The Supremes first monster hit "Where Did our Love Go" by three months and was dropping off the US charts just as "Where Did Our Love Go" made its debut.  Here is the Cash Box chart for 11th July 1964 with Brenda dropping down to #64 and The Supremes debuting at #82.


 
Anyway, nuff of that ... here is our Brenda singing "Going To A Go Go" backed up by Ms Ross herself ...
 
   

Roger

"why did Motown sign so many great artists when they were incapable of giving them the proper promotion to make them big stars? "

Interesting question, and something that would apply to plenty of other record companies apart from Motown.

I suppose it's the same reason that would explain why record companies in general (and Motown in particular) would record a good song on multiple artists and why Premier League football clubs sign enough quality players to field three or four top-notch teams.  It's called having extra capacity as a back-up.

The sad truth is that the supply of musical talent has always exceeded the capacity of the system and back in The '60s there was absolutely no way that the dozens (or hundreds) of chart-worthy new releases that came out each week could actually chart and luck and/or being in the right place at the right time were just as much the key to success as vocal ability.  I don't think that anyone was to blame for this.

Roger 

 I  find all this ' Berry Gordy ruined my career' extremely tiresome.
The unexpected breakout of " Where did our love go" completely changed the projection, status and aims of a small independent Black Record company from a City that held no.prior recognition in the pop music industry.
In 1959, Gordy was virtually penniless, scuffing about in the hope he could get some money by writing songs. He took a MAJOR gamble in trying to form a company.
In 1959  to get a record made was the height of his plans.
By 1960, to get a record played on R&B radio was a hopefull outcome.
By 1962, to have a few moderate hit records was fullfilling his dream.
By 1963 to get into the established National pop charts was a drram come true.
1964....competing with the Beatles and the British invasion was unbelievable.
Then....quite by surprise,one of his groups has a number 1 Pop hit, followed by  numerous TV shows on National Broadcasters and World Wide fame.
Nobody could have predicted this.....in the space of 4 years  Gordy was on the verge of becoming a Millionaire. Each year, each success brought more ambition, more goals, ....of course it would affect the plans for Motown. As a result, things change  some have luck, some loose out.
But without Gordy and Motown, most of these artists would never have had a career in music.
Marvelettes, Carolyn Crawford, Brenda Holloway, Kim Weston and the rest....what major success did any of them , with ALL this talent, have elsewhere?
Ask yourself...where you the same person in your teens...plans, financially, work ambitions than you were 10 years later? Of course not....life throws situations at you good and bad.
Should Gordy have pulled the plug after 'Please Mr.Postman' and say  " That's it'...can't do any better for my company, family, employees'

I would imagine that Gordy/ Motown would have been of the opinion that The Supremes success would die out after about 2 or 3 years...seemed to ve the rule for many pop stars. They chose to cash in..follow the money....why was Gordy any different.
Elvis, The Beatles etc...all made hay whilst thd sun shone