March 12, 2018 – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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)*

DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY RECORD FLASHBACK ’69!

**EDWIN STARR * 1969**

THE MAGIC BEHIND THE DETROIT MOTOWN SOUND! ’65

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

AGENT DOUBLE 00 SOUL. A WORD ABOUT THIS SINGLE

___

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