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FIFTEEN WEEKS on the singles chart, “War” by Edwin Starr peaked at #1 on August 29 (3 weeks) on the Billboard Hot 100. Week ending August 29 through September 12, 1970. (Source: Billboard)
For our previous Billboard Number One U.S.A. Hits 1970 go HERE
NUMBER 1 IN AMERICA * AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 12, 1970
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When Ric-Tic Records first released “Agent OO Soul” in Detroit in late 1965, many at first thought this was another Motown single. While it was not — in a sense — it was.
Notice the distinct Motown sound in this instrumental recording. The instrumental backing was pressed on the B-side of the vocal single recorded by Edwin Starr.
At time not obligated nor legally bound solely to Gordy’s Motown stable, the Funk Brothers, the likes of James Jamerson (bassist), Benny “Papa Zita” Benjamin (drummer) Robert White (guitarist), et al, would “moonlight” their talents elsewhere, which included night clubs, jazz clubs in the city’s predominantly legendary ‘Black Bottom’ district (pre-1963), just the same.
Such exposure would pre-empt their eventual path, during that time, inside the recording studios of Golden World and Ric-Tic Records as well.
Hence, outside the boundaries that was confined within the walls of Hitsville U.S.A., in essence, the Motown Sound was central in having once played a large part for Ed Wingate’s Golden World and Edwin Starr’s Ric-Tic releases.
Just the same, The Funk Brothers plied their trade with several other independently-owned recording studios around Detroit and elsewhere, by 1965 and early-1966.
At one time or another, individually or collectively, many of the early 20 or so members of Motown’s “Funk Brothers” also had sessioned for D-Back Records, Karen Records, Carla Records (both located in Ann Arbor) and the Detroit United Sound Studio.
Motor City Radio Flashbacks
A ’60s Detroit Music Moment Revisited: 1966
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DETROIT — Friday, May 20, 1966 — Emotion filled the control room at Golden World Records out on West Davison. Driving, big beat sounds were coming through the four speakers hanging on the wall above the big glass panel.
On the other side of the glass, Edwin Starr was singing full of soul. Along with the studio musicians was his own group of five, scattered around the big soundproof room — (CONTINUES please read the complete article below) . . . .
— THE DETROIT FREE PRESS
A MCRFB VIEWING TIP
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“WAR” (INSTRUMENTAL) * Edwin Starr * 1970
— BILLBOARD: Peaked #48 March 26, 1966 —
“WAR” * Edwin Starr * Gordy (Motown 1970)
— BILLBOARD: Peaked #21 October 2, 1965 —
A MCRFB Note: When Ric-Tic Records first released “Agent Double-O-Soul” in Detroit in the fall of 1965, many thought this was another Motown single. While it was not — in a sense — it was.
Notice the distinct Motown sound. At time not obligated nor legally bound solely to Gordy’s Motown stable, the Funk Brothers, the likes of James Jamerson (bassist), Benny “Papa Zita” Benjamin (drummer) Robert White (guitarist), et al, would “moonlight” their talents inside the recording studios of Golden World and Ric-Tic Records.
Hence, outside the boundaries that was confined Hitsville, U.S.A., that “Motown sound,” in essence, had been produced for this label’s Edwin Starr release. The Funk Brothers plied their trade as well, at several other independently-owned recording studios in the 1960s. Such as D-Back Records and the Detroit United Sound Studio.
