We wrap up Motown’s second year as an independent label by focusing on its releases from the last few months of 1961. The quality of the material was still sporadic, and certainly formulaic, but things were coming together that indicated the likelihood of an even brighter future.

The various personnel – musicians, singers, songwriters – were all working together as a team, which lent a sense of continuity to the label’s work. Eventually, this would become obvious to the public at large, but in 1961, Motown was still a ‘cottage’ industry, perhaps unwittingly working toward what eventually became universally known as ‘The Motown Sound.”

Here’s a list of recordings from this show;

Jamie – Eddie Holland

Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) – The Valadiers

Actions Speak Louder Than Words – Mable John

What Makes You Love Him (2nd Version) – Sammy Ward

Check Yourself – The Temptations

Small Sad Sam – Bob Kayli

Whose Heart (Are You Gonna Break Now) – Don McKenzie

Xmas Twist – The Twistin’ Kings

Please Mr. Kennedy – Mickey Woods

Twistin’ Postman – The Marvelettes

Congo (Part 1) – The Twistin’ Kings

What’s So Good about Goodbye – The Miracles

I’ve Been Good to You – The Miracles