Every Single Motown 'A-Side': British-Influenced
Episode 17
Episode date - September 26, 2008
Our 17th installment covering ‘Every Single Motown ‘A’ Side” is fascinating because of its reactionary characteristics more than its influential characteristics.
For years, Motown had been influencing some of England’s best bands while completely avoiding the European charts. In 1964, both aspects of this scenario changed. For starters, it was the English bands that started to influence Motown – via the “British Invasion” – and second, Motown finally made inroads and found their songs charting in ‘Jolly Old England” – albeit years and/or months after The Beatle and the Rolling Stones already trapped into Motown’s hit list for their own material.
Here, then, is Motown’s reaction to 1964’s British Invasion:
Can You Do It – The Contours
Set Me Free – Lee Alan
Give Me a Kiss – The Hornets
My Lady Bug Stay Away from That Beatle – R. Dean Taylor
Like a Nightmare – The Andantes
Midnight Johnny – Liz Lands
My Guy – Mary Wells
In My Lonely Room – Martha & the Vandellas
Devil With the Blue Dress – Shorty Long
Every Little Bit Hurts – Brenda Holloway
Bringin’ In the Gold – Howard Crockett
Satisfied Mind – Bruce Channel