Motown 50

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2009 is the 50th anniversary of American’s greatest record label and global music icon – Motown! Celebrate the anniversary with this podcast series featuring rare and intimate conversations with Motown legends, producers, songwriters and singers - including Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross,…

Various Artists


    • Oct 13, 2009 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 9m AVG DURATION
    • 31 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Motown 50

    The Motown Legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2009 13:17


    Chairman Berry Gordy Jr. reflects on the Motown Legacy.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: My Girl

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2009 10:29


    The all-time classic Motown anthem "My Girl" is explored.

    Motown's Moves

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2009 7:39


    Award-winning choreographer Toni Basil shares her love for Motown's moves.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Skeletons and Dark-N-Lovely

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2009 6:50


    Stevie Wonder talks about the inspiration behind, and the making of, the #1 hit "Skeletons" and the ballad "Dark-N-Lovely."

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Where Did Our Love Go

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2009 6:55


    Original Supreme member Mary Wilson shares the story of creating the chart-topping hit "Where Did Our Love Go."

    Motown and The Big Chill

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2009 8:43


    Film director Lawrence Kasdan and his wife Meg discuss how they made the most of Motown music in the classic film The Big Chill.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2009 4:36


    The Temptations' Otis Williams reflects on the group's timeless No. 1 hit, "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)."

    Bravo Motown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2009 7:02


    Renaissance man Henry Rollins praises Motown and founder and Chairman Berry Gordy.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Brick House

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2009 15:53


    OWWW! The Commodores' Walter "Clyde" Orange breaks down their big hit "Brick House," from concept to the top of the charts.

    Motown Elegance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2009 9:10


    Vibe magazine music editor Sean Fennessey discusses the elegance of Motown as well as his experience growing up with the sounds of Michael, Stevie, Smokey and Boyz II Men.

    It's all about the song!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2009 4:42


    Award-winning songwriter, and Motown fan, Diane Warren is featured.

    That Motown Swing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2009 8:20


    Saxophonist David Sanborn talks Junior Walker, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and more.

    Funky jazz and the Motor City

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2009 6:33


    Medeski, Martin and Wood, the funky acid-jazz trio with deep Motown influences, reflect on their personal Motor City music memories.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Love Hangover (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2009 7:07


    Hip-hop pioneer Q-Tip celebrates his all-time favorite Motown track, Diana Ross' "Love Hangover."

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Love Hangover (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2009 6:12


    In a rare collaborative interview, longtime Motown composers Pam Sawyer and Marilyn McLeod discuss the creation of their mega-hit "Love Hangover."

    Motown built to last!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2009 8:53


    Modern Soul sensation Raphael Saadiq reflects on his earliest Motown memories, favorites and working with the legendary Stevie Wonder.

    Brotherly Fun

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2009 15:55


    Listen to a rare and fun radio session from the early 70's featuring the original Jackson 5 - Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael.

    Listening with Garth Trinidad

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2009 10:10


    We put KCRW DJ, programmer, music guru and Motown fan Garth Trinidad to the test in this special Motown "blindfold listening" episode.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: I Want You

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2009 17:11


    Marvin Gaye collaborator, the award-winning singer/songwriter Leon Ware, shares his stories and thoughts on the classic album and single, "I Want You."

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Stubborn Kind Of Fellow

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2009 6:33


    On this exclusive episode, we dial back to 1966 as Marvin Gaye sits down with Detroit radio DJ Scott Regan and breaks down his first big Motown hit, "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow." It's the first time this intimate, relaxed interview has been heard in more than 40 years.

    An intimate conversation with Marvin Gaye

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2009 18:07


    During the 1960's, all of the stars of Motown talked to popular Detroit radio DJ Scott Regan, but none was more open than Marvin Gaye. On this exclusive episode, listen to a rare and intimate conversation between Scott and Marvin that covers everything from his early ambitions to Berry Gordy to his ultimate goal as an artist.

    Musings on Marvin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2009 9:44


    The great American folk singer and guitarist Richie Havens shares his personal memories of the legendary artist Marvin Gaye. Marvin Gaye, would have celebrated his 70th birthday April 2.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Reach Out I'll Be There

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2009 5:33


    Levi Stubbs and Lamont Dozier break down one of Motown’s biggest hits, the Four Tops’ worldwide smash “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”

    The Temptations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2009 9:41


    Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin and fellow Temps discuss their beginnings and illustrious musical career in a rare archival interview from the 1980s.

    Vintage Stevie

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2009 9:39


    In another rare archival interview, Stevie Wonder talks of his early days at Motown and the evolution of his music through the brilliant, then-new album Talking Book.

    The Anatomy Of A Hit: Shop Around

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2009 4:55


    Smokey Robinson tells the amazing story about Motown’s — and his group the Miracles’ — first million-selling single.

    The nation’s capitol, The Motortown Review and President Obama

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2009 10:30


    The New York Times political columnist Frank Rich links Motown to the upheaval of the 1960s through personal recollections of the Motortown Review in his native Washington, D.C., while adding perspective on the 2008 election of President Barack Obama.

    The Four Tops

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2009 6:22


    The late Levi Stubbs, in a rare interview from the Motown Archives, talks about what made the Four Tops tick.

    Impressions of Motown

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2009 5:17


    The multi-talented actor, musician, DJ, and producer shares his earliest impressions of Motown.

    A Tour of Hitsville U.S.A., May 1963

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2009 20:19


    On this rare interview Motown founder Berry Gordy and a Detroit radio host walk through Hitsville, on the cusp of the company’s runaway success.

    Motown Reflections

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2009 7:40


    Smokey Robinson talks about the early days of the label, Berry Gordy and the Motown sound.

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