FINAL 1970 RECALL: HIGHLIGHTING THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE HITS!

NUMBER ONE 1970

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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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A MOTOWN MONDAY 1969 FLASHBACK! EDWIN STARR



TWENTY FIVE MILES” is a song written by Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, and Edwin Starr, for Starr’s second album, ‘25 Miles‘, released in 1969. It was Starr’s first success following his move from Ric-Tic Records to Motown (as Motown bought out Ric-Tic and all its artists in 1968). The song, off the album, was a huge hit in the US, making the Top Ten on both the Pop Charts (#6) and R&B Charts (#6). It was also a hit in the UK, reaching the Top 40 and peaking at #36. “Twenty-Five Miles” proved to be Starr’s second biggest US hit — after his signature song (and #1 smash)War he recorded for the Gordy label in 1970. (Source: WiKipedia)


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THE MAGIC BEHIND THE DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND! ’65


“AGENT 00 SOUL(INSTRUMENTAL) * EDWIN STARR * ’65


AGENT DOUBLE 00 SOUL.  A WORD ABOUT THIS SINGLE

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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




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A ’60S MOTOR CITY MUSIC HAPPENING RECALLED: ’66!

Motor City Radio Flashbacks logo (MCRFB)A ’60s Detroit Music Moment Revisited: 1966

 

 

 

 

 

 

FROM THE BACK-PAGES OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS

 

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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

 


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A MCRFB VIEWING TIP

To read the entire Detroit Free Press article (May 20, 1966) click on the article image above (2x) for largest PC view.  Click on image again to return to normal image size. Hit your server’s back-button to return to the Motor City Radio Flashbacks home page.

 

 

 

On your mobile device? Tap on chart image. Open to second window. “Stretch” chart across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

 


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THE ESSENCE OF ‘SOUL’ 60S GENERATION: ’65 DEFINED!



EDWIN STARR * 1965

— 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.  



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