Don't Forget the Motor City

Overview

In this music video compilation, Motown fans are treated to 100 video clips featuring their favorite Motor City music artists. The era may be gone, but the groove lingers on as Martha and the Vandellas, The Contours, Billy Preston, Marvelous Marv Johnson, The Elgins, and The Supremes deliver hit after toe tapping hit.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/18/2008
UPC:	0022891469292
Original Release:	2008
Source:	MUSIC VIDEO DIST.***
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	6:00:00
Sales rank:	34,620

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Sammy Ward	Primary Artist,Performer
Mary Wells	Performer
The Miracles	Performer,Primary Artist
Yvonne Vernee	Primary Artist,Performer
Frank Wilson	Performer,Primary Artist
Richard Wylie	Primary Artist
Bobby Taylor	Primary Artist,Performer
The Velveletties	Performer
Marv Johnson	Primary Artist
The Elgins	Performer,Primary Artist
Billy Preston	Performer
The Marvelettes	Primary Artist,Performer
Mary Wells	Primary Artist
Syreeta	Performer,Primary Artist
Edwin Starr	Performer,Primary Artist
The Monitors	Primary Artist,Performer
Johnny Bristol	Performer,Primary Artist
The Satintones	Primary Artist,Performer
Frances Nero	Performer,Primary Artist
The Supremes	Primary Artist,Performer
Mary Johnson	Performer
Willie Hutch	Performer
The Sisters Love	Primary Artist
Sherri Taylor	Primary Artist
Brenda Holloway	Performer,Primary Artist
Sidney Barnes	Primary Artist,Performer
Barbara Randolph	Performer
The Andantes	Primary Artist,Performer
Mary Wilson	Performer
Bettye LaVette	Primary Artist
JJ Barnes	Performer
Pat Lewis	Performer,Primary Artist
The Love-Tones	Primary Artist
Vermettya Royster	Primary Artist
Chuck Jackson	Primary Artist,Performer
Kim Weston	Performer
Ivory Joe Hunter	Performer,Primary Artist
Kim Weston	Primary Artist
Hattie Littles	Performer,Primary Artist
The Contours	Primary Artist
Earl Van Dyke	Primary Artist
The Vandellas	Performer,Primary Artist
C.P. Spencer	Performer,Primary Artist
Barbara Randolph	Primary Artist
Bettye La Vette	Performer
Contours	Performer
Carolyn Crawford	Primary Artist,Performer
Wanda Rogers	Performer,Primary Artist
Frankie Gaye	Primary Artist,Performer
G.C. Cameron	Primary Artist
Joe Stubbs	Performer,Primary Artist
Vermetta Royster	Performer
Liz Lands	Primary Artist,Performer
Sheri Taylor	Performer
Ronnie McNeir	Primary Artist,Performer
The Valadiers	Performer,Primary Artist
The Velvelettes	Primary Artist
G.C. Cameron	Performer
Mary Wilson	Primary Artist
The Detroit Spinners	Performer
Willie Hutch	Primary Artist
Billy Preston	Primary Artist
Saundra Edwards	Performer
James Ellis	Performer,Primary Artist
J.J. Barnes	Primary Artist
The Motorcity Allstars	Performer
Vee McDonald	Performer,Primary Artist
Sisters Love	Performer
Earl "Chunk of Funk" Van Dyke	Performer
Motor City All-Stars	Primary Artist
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie	Performer
Martha & the Vandellas	Primary Artist
Martha Reeves	Performer
Saundra Edwards	Primary Artist
The Lovetones	Performer

Technical Credits

Ian Levine

Producer

Editorial Reviews

Three DVDs and six hours of Detroit soul featuring stars like the Miracles, the Supremes, the Contours, Mary Wells, Edwin Starr, and the Marvelettes sounds too good to be true -- and in some ways, it is. For although this package prominently bills those artists on the cover, labeling it as a "collection of 100 videos of the classic artists who originally brought you the Motown sound," there are reasons to beware. First, though all of the aforementioned artists are present here, most of the performers are not big stars; some of them don't have connections to the Motown label, and quite a few of them are so obscure that even major soul fans won't be familiar with the names. Also, this is not from the prime of the Motown sound or even Detroit soul, but has obviously been filmed at a considerably later date -- sometime in the 1980s or '90s, at a guess (no liner notes or source documentation are provided). Most important of all, these videos aren't very good, on several fronts. Much of it isn't performed live or with backup musicians, and the settings, whether on-stage, in home environments, or in the studio, are usually bare-bones and cheap. Most of the songs are unmemorable watered-down derivations of the '60s Detroit soul sound, often with a slightly discofied production. Some of the genuine Motown acts have significantly altered their lineups since their salad days. And the classic songs that are on these DVDs are not sung by the original performers; thus you get the likes of "Touch Me in the Morning" by Hattie Littles, and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Frances Nero. After the opening video shows Mary Wells singing sans musicians on a minimal stage with a lackluster audience that seems to have been hijacked from the rotary club meeting next door, you're thinking it can't get any worse, but though it doesn't, it doesn't get much better, either. Occasionally performers like Bettye LaVette and Kim Weston show some spark, but overall this is a nastily deceptive package that does neither the Detroit soul sound nor its hardcore fans any service. ~ Richie Unterberger