Wow!

Did anyone just see the Detroit Motown episode of "Soul Deep" on BBC 4 just now?

Absolutely brilliant. One of the best programmes of it's type I've ever seen. Also TONS of clips which I've never seen before including early promo videos for the Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, the Impressions, the 4 Tops plus great interviews with Lamont Dozier, Martha Reeves, Mickey Stevenson, Etta James, Fontella Bass etc, etc. Truly exceptional.

Plus coming up later @ 11.00pm, same channel, is another documentary "Motor City's Burning" about the impact of Detroit music on the world and then @ 12.00pm, the excellent film "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown".

Whatta Night!!!!

Now this is value for the licence fee. Great stuff BBC!

Ian D

Great documentary though it perhaps focussed a little too much on the Supremes. Wonderful promo of the Impressions' "People Get Ready' - Curtis Mayfield is sadly missed.

Great documentary though it perhaps focussed a little too much on the Supremes. Wonderful promo of the Impressions' "People Get Ready' - Curtis Mayfield is sadly missed.

He sure is. A massive loss.

What's cheesed me off a little bit, is that they used a whole hunk of the same footage from the Soul Deep programme also for the "Motor City's Burning" programme just an hour later, which meant that I watched vast swathes of the same footage twice in the last 3 hours! I guess the Beeb needs to economise all it can but frankly I think it's taking the piss to nick the same footage and interview clips from one programme and then thwack 'em on another completely different programme on the same channel within an hour of each other. Which dickhead scheduled this?

Still, shouldn't moan really when the rest of terrestrial TV is moron city LOL....

"Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" is still a delight to watch for the interviews and original footage but I could do without Joan Osbourne and Ben Harper doing their thang. It's a shame virtually all of the original acts declined to go on. Pressure from Berry maybe?

Ian D

quality viewing and although i am a rare soul freak i really enjoyed MC5 and the stooges footage, still part of detroits early musical heritage

quality viewing and although i am a rare soul freak i really enjoyed MC5 and the stooges footage, still part of detroits early musical heritage

Yep, me too. I can even see simularities between "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" LOL....

Ian D

Yep, me too. I can even see simularities between "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "Ain't Nothing You Can Do" LOL....

Ian D

The Marvin Gaye and the " Motor City's Burning " programmes shown on Friday , and the Soul Deep Motown one ( and the repeat of MCB ) last night , were all creditable viewing ........

Of course the Motown programme was to give centre stage to The Supremes , but overall , despite it including the stock footage of the era on / of the artists I have seen from other similar programmes on Motown , I found that it was highly informative and interesting for the ones I have not seen , along with the interviews with various notable personalities ........

One programme that should be shown again - it was screened by the BBC many years ago - is " Hip To The Tip : The Atlantic Records Story " ; I have it on a worn video tape , and because of repeated plays , it has not stood the test of time very well .......

Malc Burton

Edited March 9, 200817 yr by Malc Burton

He sure is. A massive loss.

What's cheesed me off a little bit, is that they used a whole hunk of the same footage from the Soul Deep programme also for the "Motor City's Burning" programme just an hour later, which meant that I watched vast swathes of the same footage twice in the last 3 hours! I guess the Beeb needs to economise all it can but frankly I think it's taking the piss to nick the same footage and interview clips from one programme and then thwack 'em on another completely different programme on the same channel within an hour of each other. Which dickhead scheduled this?

Still, shouldn't moan really when the rest of terrestrial TV is moron city LOL....

"Standing In The Shadows Of Motown" is still a delight to watch for the interviews and original footage but I could do without Joan Osbourne and Ben Harper doing their thang. It's a shame virtually all of the original acts declined to go on. Pressure from Berry maybe?

Ian D

Hi Ian,

The use of the same footage was a cop out. You're right, the 'Burning" programme seemed like a repeat of the Motown programme at times. With the size of the BBC's budget you'd have thought they could have researched the Motown programme better too. The early days of Gordy's move into music were completely absent. No mention of Billy Davis, Marv Johnson, The Satintones/Voicemasters, Anna or any other of the building blocks that led to his initial foray with Tamla. I suppose the programme was aimed at the general public and they relate the Motown logo to the Big 5. It was well presented, but lacked a lot of essence. Sort of 'glossy' but not enough info.

One point about the SITSOM documentary though is that the programme wasn't about the original vocalists, (I'm not sure if you're correct about them declining - I was under the impression that Slutsky didn't want the vocalists involved as it would then just become yet another documentary about them and not the musicians). I think SITSOM acheived it's aim of enlightening people about the band but the omission of Mike Terry and Popcorn Wylie still leaves a huge gap in the story of "The Sound Of Young America". Still enjoyable though, for sure.

Enjoyed the history of MC5 and The Stooges too.

Hi Ian,

The use of the same footage was a cop out. You're right, the 'Burning" programme seemed like a repeat of the Motown programme at times. With the size of the BBC's budget you'd have thought they could have researched the Motown programme better too. The early days of Gordy's move into music were completely absent. No mention of Billy Davis, Marv Johnson, The Satintones/Voicemasters, Anna or any other of the building blocks that led to his initial foray with Tamla. I suppose the programme was aimed at the general public and they relate the Motown logo to the Big 5. It was well presented, but lacked a lot of essence. Sort of 'glossy' but not enough info.

One point about the SITSOM documentary though is that the programme wasn't about the original vocalists, (I'm not sure if you're correct about them declining - I was under the impression that Slutsky didn't want the vocalists involved as it would then just become yet another documentary about them and not the musicians). I think SITSOM acheived it's aim of enlightening people about the band but the omission of Mike Terry and Popcorn Wylie still leaves a huge gap in the story of "The Sound Of Young America". Still enjoyable though, for sure.

Enjoyed the history of MC5 and The Stooges too.

In respect of the MCB programme , I watched in interest at the section with the chap from the MC5 , going into the very much derelict Grand De Ballroom : how sad it was to see the state of what was once a great building ......

Malc Burton

In respect of the MCB programme , I watched in interest at the section with the chap from the MC5 , going into the very much derelict Grand De Ballroom : how sad it was to see the state of what was once a great building ......

Malc Burton

i suppose it can be watched again on bbc i player ???

i suppose it can be watched again on bbc i player ???

More than likely : if not , it will be shown again on BBC4 - as are most things that are shown - at a later date ......

I have just checked The Radio Times , and it is not listed to be shown again this coming week ......

Malc Burton

More than likely : if not , it will be shown again on BBC4 - as are most things that are shown - at a later date ......

I have just checked The Radio Times , and it is not listed to be shown again this coming week ......

Malc Burton

hope this link works ok,have just been on the bbc i player website you have another six days to watch on the website or you can download the programme and keep it for 30 days but i have been told if you have the right naughty software you can nick the programme from the beeb for yourself (hint-hint!!!)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b00...on_pid=b009370c

Tell you what. Didnt Mary Wilson look the business. . Anytime Mary, anytime.

Tell you what. Didnt Mary Wilson look the business. . Anytime Mary, anytime.

Agreed : I always thought she was the best looking one in TS ........

I had to smile at how far Lamont Dozier sits away from the piano keyboard .......

Malc Burton