BACK-OFF! MARY WELLS STILL MOTOWN . . . JULY 18, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

REMINDER IS ISSUED BY MOTOWN; MARY WELLS STILL UNDER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO MOTOWN

NEW YORK — Barney Ales, vice-president of Motown Record Corporation, last week announced that Mary Wells is still under contract to Motown. The label’s legal department has sent telegrams to record companies with the disclaimer who are believed to be negotiating with the artist, advising them of her contractual obligations to Motown, and with Motown only.

Ales stated that Berry Gordy, Jr., president of Motown was “surprised and hurt” when he learned that Miss Wells was “apparently receptive” to offers. Ales noted that Miss Wells had the top record of the country, “My Guy,” and has had the benefit of three-year promotional and sales campaign by the organization, all of which are reflective in her present status as an artist.

Ales, stating he is aware that many offers are proffered an artist who has had a top record, added that he would like to alert the industry to a group of young ladies called the Supremes, “who will have the next No. 1 record in the U.S., “Where Did Our Love Go?,” exclusively on Motown Records. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; July 18, 1964)

MARY WELLS GOOD TO GO: 20TH CENTURY FOX . . . NOVEMBER 7, 1964

From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964

GREEN LIGHT GIVEN TO MARY WELLS; SIGNS WITH 20TH CENTURY

**Mary Wells** on Twentieth -Century Fox Records. “*He’s A Lover*” released in May, 1965. *(Click on image for larger view)*

NEW YORK — George Scheck, head of Diversified Artists Corp., told Billboard that some radio programmers are still hesitant or reluctant about playing the first release on the Twentieth-Century Fox label by his client, Mary Wells. Scheck said that “some remember that a while back Motown Records had issued an alert concerning her contractual obligations with them and warned of possible litigation if they programmed material she might release on other labels.”

Scheck also stated, “Just to get the record straight, there has been a happy settlement arrangement made with Miss Wells, Motown Records and 20th Century Fox Records which makes it possible for her to record for the film company record division.” END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; November 7, 1964)

THE ESSENCE OF ‘SOUL’ 60S GENERATION: ’68 DEFINED!

**DETROIT EMERALDS * 1968**

— BILLBOARD: Peaked #89 April 20, 1968 —

CKLW-AM BACK ON THE RADIO: FRANK BRODY!

**CKLW RECALLED ON MOTOR CITY RADIO FLASHBACKS**

**CKLW-AM 800 * 1969 * FRANK BRODY**

Frank Brody CKLW aircheck date: Wednesday, September 17, 1969

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NEW! A special THANK YOU to Mike Lockhart, of Ferndale, MI., for recently donating this CKLW-AM radio aircheck (unscoped!) to Motor City Radio Flashbacks!

* THE MIKE LOCKHART COLLECTION *

A MCRFB Note: While the donor apologetically stated there is an audio glitch noted around the 10:58 mark of this aircheck, it is extended over for just several seconds. Nonetheless, we appreciate having acquired — as is — this fabulous (1969) CKLW radio memory.

Thanks again, Mike! 🙂

A BILLBOARD MOTOWN 45 SINGLES AD: TEMPTATIONS!

**A BILLBOARD MOTOWN RECORDS AD PAGE RIP**: *“I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)”* **The Temptations** *May 11, 1968 (On your PC? Click on image 2x for largest view)*

**The Temptations**. From left, *Melvin Franklin* (1942 – 1995), *Paul Williams* (1939 – 1973), *Eddie Kendricks* (1939 – 1992), *David Ruffin* (1941 – 1991), and *Otis Williams*.

THE MAGIC BEHIND THE DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND! ’67

“MORE LOVE” (EXT. INSTRUMENTAL; w/VOCAL) * S. ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES * 1967

THE ESSENCE OF ‘SOUL’ 60S GENERATION: ’68 DEFINED!

**THE IMPRESSIONS * 1968**

— BILLBOARD: Peaked #14 February 24, 1968 —

THIS WEEK! A WJBK RADIO 1500 RECORD REVIEW: 1964

WJBK RADIO 15

THIS WEEK. MAY 1964

A MCRFB VIEWING TIP

On your PC? For a larger detailed view click above image 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB.COM home page.

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

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

In Memory of George Griggs

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Above WJBK music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patty Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate.

MOTOWN’s HOT ’67 TEMPTATIONS: WITH A LOT O SOUL

**THE TEMPTATIONS * WITH A LOT O SOUL** (COMPLETE LP) * GORDY * 1967

ABOUT THIS ALBUM

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The Temptations’ With A Lot O’ Soul is the fifth studio album by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label released in 1967. Featuring four hit singles, With a Lot o’ Soul is the most successful Temptations album from their “classic 5” era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams constituted the Temptations’ lineup.

The four singles from the album, all Top 20 pop/ Top 10 R&B hits, were “(I Know) I’m Losing You“, “All I Need“, “You’re My Everything“, and “(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need“. Three of these four songs also reached the Billboard Pop Top 10 as well. Norman Whitfield produced most of the tracks here, supporting the Temptations’ vocals with a hard-edged soul sound with elements of the music of James Brown.

“(I Know) I’m Losing You“, already a nine-month-old hit by the time With a Lot o’ Soul was released, opens the album. The rest of the album expands upon the template established by Norman Whitfield with “I’m Losing You”. Whitfield and the other With a Lot o’ Soul producers, including Ivy Jo Hunter, Smokey Robinson, and, on “All I Need” (in which Ruffin portrays a man who admits to his lover he has been unfaithful and begs her forgiveness), Whitfield’s protégé Frank Wilson, supply the group a more modern sound than was present on previous or contemporary Motown releases. Most of the tracks on side A of the album feature brass-heavy, dramatic backing tracks with more prominent uses of electric guitar lines (Whitfield’s “(I Know) I’m Losing You” and Ivy Jo Hunter’s “Sorry is a Sorry Word” (from side B) and shifts in dynamics Whitfield’s “Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone“, the single “(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need“, and the Eddie Kendricks-led “Save My Love For A Rainy Day“.