Motown on Ready Steady Go!

Dusty Springfield introduces Motown to England via RSG! Here's a terrific documentary including the 1965 touring of the Motown Revue in Great Britain before appearing on Ready Steady Go! with Dusty.

Ready Steady Go! tv show

Ready Steady Go! aired in Britain from 1963 - 1966. Manfred Mann's 5-4-3-2-1 was the theme song. The show was hosted by Keith Fordyce, Dusty Springfield and Cathy McGowan, known as the "Queen of the Mods" as a result of her hosting gig. Anyone who was anyone was on this program. They ran theme shows featuring The Beatles, Otis Redding and the hugely popular Motown acts.

• Otis Redding Special, 1966
• The Sounds of Motown, 1965

Dusty was instrumental in showcasing Motown on the show.

Martha and Dusty

In 1965, several Motown groups appeared on Ready Steady Go! along with host Dusty Springfield. Martha and the Vandellas join Dusty for a fabulous version of Wishin' and Hopin' – the original Salt-N-Pepa. 

In this clip, Dusty is backed up by Motown greats. What a show. 😃

The Wrecking Crew

If you enjoy rock and roll history, especially 1960s music, you'll love this film. Just as the Funk Brothers were the backbone of Motown, The Wrecking Crew were the studio musicians behind many hit records coming out of 60s LA. It's a blast to watch. Check it out.

Martha and the Vandellas

Motown songs never cease to change my mood. The pounding rhythms, background singing and creative lyrics really get my body groovin'. The tunes of Martha and the Vandellas are my favorites.


Quicksand, Martha and the Vandellas, 1963


Heatwave, Martha and the Vandellas, 1963


In My Lonely Room, Martha and the Vandellas, 1964


You've Been In Love Too Long, Martha and the Vandellas, 1965

Sunday morning dose of Motown

The Supremes sing Nothing But Heartaches on Hullabaloo.

Sunday morning dose of Motown...

with part four from a documentary about the hit maker. Woohoooo!

Shebang tv show

Here's a complete episode of Shebang from 1967 featuring Motown. Shebang was an LA-based dance show that aired from 1965-1968.

For me, Kasem will always be the voice of Shaggy. Punch it!

Monday evening dose of Motown

The Velvelettes singing Really Saying Something from 1964.

Sunday morning dose of 1965

This 1965 Shangri-Las tune has a definite Motown influence.

Martha and the Vandellas

A great find for me is a live tv performance that I didn't see the first time around. Often, groups/singers lip-synched or lip-synched to a live recording. If you dig Motown/Soul, you're going to love this 1966 performance. There's even a Hammond and a Leslie speaker.

Boo!

There's still time to get your Weenie costume ready. This Motown tune wasn't a hit until the Northern Soul scene made it one in 1974.


There's a Ghost in My House, R. Dean Taylor, 1966

Yowza, Yowza, Yowza

The Irish love American Soul, R&B and Motown, so it only seemed fitting to see musician, songwriter and producer extraordinaire Nile Rodgers in Cork, Ireland. Unfamiliar with Rodgers? No you're not.
Here are some of the artists and musical icons he's worked with:

• Dance, Dance, Dance        • Le Freak        • Good Times
• I Want Your Love        • Everybody Dance
• David Bowie        • Madonna        • Sister Sledge
• The B-52s        • INXS        • Daft Punk

While visiting colorful Kinsale, we were drawn into a pub by the sounds of a fab duo singing everything from Irish folk songs to Johnny Cash. But best of all, they sang The Rattlin' Bog, a song I learned in the 4th grade along with The Erie Canal and Señor Don Gato and haven't heard since. Dontcha just love a good sing-along? Lalalalalaaaaaaaaa!