The Motown Sound organized and incorporated into the Motown Record Corporation 40 years ago exporting the work of incredible artists such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder (check the drum solo) and Michael Jackson. This sound shaped the audible aesthetic for an entire generation and gave the world an intimate look at life in the American City. It was also critical in the racial integration of our American musical culture. It was the first label owned by an African American (Barry Gordy, Jr.) to push African-American artists & music that topped the charts for over a decade with crossover success.

To this day I am amazed at the longevity of the music, its ability to continually relate to our developing culture and how a song with that Motown Sound can still get you off the wall. As a kid who grew up in Detroit, Motown also represents a source hometown pride and gives me hope that if a brand of music born in Detroit during such troubled times can prevail for so long, Detroit as a city can prevail as well.

As time passes I am perplexed why people haven’t attempted to borrow or duplicate that legendary formula for outputting soulful music that crosses through pop culture. If “Please Mr. Postman“, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” or “The Tears of a Clown” still moves me, why isn’t there a musician or label who is still hustling this vibe?

In the past few years I have taken note of a few artists who are without question on the mission of answering that question. The sound isn’t a complete duplication or rip-off but it is heavily and sometimes heavenly inspired by the Barry Gordy Motown machine.

If you like the sound, support the sound.

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Cee-Lo Green – Georgia
Georgia (purchase mp3)

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Reflection Eternal feat. Estelle – Midnight Hour
Revolutions Per Minute (purchase album mp3)

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Gnarls Barkley – Going On
The Odd Couple (purchase album mp3)
I really love this song and the video is incredible.

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Rafael Saadiq – 100 Yard Dash
The Way I See It (purchase album mp3)

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Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – “100 Days, 100 Nights”
100 Days, 100 Nights (purchase album mp3) $9

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Janell Monae – Tightrope
The ArchAndroid (purchase album MP3) – $5

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And as a special treat, I give you Smokey Robinson & The Roots performing “Tears of a Clown”.
(Don’t say I never gave you anything)

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