| Author | Message | ||
  DavidDesper (daviddesper) 6-Zenith Username: daviddesper Post Number: 737 Registered: 8-2005 |
Tonight I was flipping radio stations and came in the middle of Aretha singing "Respect." So of course I listened to the rest of the song. At the end of the song, the DJ announced that they were counting down their all-time top Detroit artists, and that she was number 3. Well before I had the chance to process that, they launched right into "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" after which they announced that Stevie was number two. They then said "and we will be right back with number one." Well, since my brain was processing Motown and not Detroit, or at least I was thinking all soul, I naturally assumed that the Supremes were going to be the number one act on this countdown. Well imagine my surprise when the DJ came back on and said "Before we announce our number one all-time Detroit artist, let's count down our top five." He then proceeded to list the Supremes in the number FIVE position, followed by Marvin Gaye at number four, and of course recapped that Aretha had been number three and Stevie number two. So as I sat there dumbfounded that the Supremes could be as low as number five, the only act I could see being number one was The Temptations. But nope, not them either. So some of you are probably already ahead of me on this, since maybe you picked up on the fact that it was "all-time Detroit artists," not "all-time soul" or "all-time Motown." So armed with that clue, who can be the first to guess who was the number one artist in this countdown? Hit us with your guesses, and I will confirm next time I log on to this site. It will probably be a no-brainer for some of you, but it shocked me. | ||
Ms. M (ms_m) 6-Zenith Username: ms_m Post Number: 10667 Registered: 8-2005 |
...because you say you were shocked I want to say Emimen but because the other songs tend to fall into the old school category I'll say Mitch Ryder or maybe Madonna(although none of those would be my personal picks) | ||
Brian T. (mrclemma) 6-Zenith Username: mrclemma Post Number: 1886 Registered: 4-2004 |
Bob Seger? Madonna is probably a pretty good guess, though I can't stand her. Please don't say Jack White. | ||
kamasu (kamasu) 6-Zenith Username: kamasu Post Number: 8465 Registered: 3-2005 |
Madonna | ||
DavidDesper (daviddesper) 6-Zenith Username: daviddesper Post Number: 738 Registered: 8-2005 |
It is too early in the game to put you guys out of your misery, so let's wait a little while longer to see what other directions the guesses might go. So I am not saying anything one way or the other about the guesses made so far. | ||
Steve K (ltlftc) 5-Doyen Username: ltlftc Post Number: 316 Registered: 4-2004 |
I'm guessing Seger (an I don't mean 'Pete') | ||
stephanie (stephanie) 6-Zenith Username: stephanie Post Number: 3138 Registered: 2-2005 |
I want to say Mitch Ryder but suppose its Kid Rock! | ||
tsull (tsull) 6-Zenith Username: tsull Post Number: 2340 Registered: 6-2005 |
Should be "My Girl" and if it's not, the DJ needs to be fired. | ||
abfan (abfan) 6-Zenith Username: abfan Post Number: 3080 Registered: 2-2005 |
What kind of list is this.Was it a top 10? Uhmmmmmmm where is my girl Anita Baker | ||
kamasu (kamasu) 6-Zenith Username: kamasu Post Number: 8466 Registered: 3-2005 |
Not on the list. | ||
jonc (jonc) 5-Doyen Username: jonc Post Number: 816 Registered: 7-2005 |
Madonna? | ||
Pshark (pshark) 6-Zenith Username: pshark Post Number: 2779 Registered: 1-2007 |
Either Ted Nugent or Kid Rock | ||
DavidDesper (daviddesper) 6-Zenith Username: daviddesper Post Number: 739 Registered: 8-2005 |
Well I guess I have kept you guys in suspenders long enough. As some of you figured out, the alleged number one Detroit artist of all time on that survey was indeed Madonna. I guess when you think about it, the longevity of the artists' careers has to be what factored into that survey. They never really explained their criteria, but I guess that explains why Stevie would finish ahead of the Supremes and Marvin for example. And I guess Madonna was helped along by the fact that so many of her songs went to number one. I am sure somewhere along the line, a similar survey that really IS just Motown has been done, so it would be interesting to see how our various Motown favorites would stack up against each other. Just as a guess, without trying to put them in order, would we say the top ten all-time Motown acts would be: Supremes Temptations Four Tops Stevie Wonder Marvin Gaye Smokey and the Miracles Martha and the Vandellas Diana Ross (solo) Marvelettes Gladys and the Pips Hope I am not overlooking anyone obvious. | ||
Robb_K (robb_k) 6-Zenith Username: robb_k Post Number: 10632 Registered: 4-2004 |
I would replace Diana Ross with Mary Wells. | ||
Pshark (pshark) 6-Zenith Username: pshark Post Number: 2780 Registered: 1-2007 |
Jackson 5, Commodores, Rick James. But I'm guessing you're talking about before Motown moved out West. If that's the case then Isley Bros. | ||
DavidDesper (daviddesper) 6-Zenith Username: daviddesper Post Number: 740 Registered: 8-2005 |
Thanks everyone for not jumping on my case about leaving the J-5 off my list. Shortly after posting that, I went out to dinner with a friend and discussed this posting with him. So when I gave him my top ten list, he said "You mean you left the Jackson Five out" and I thought "Crap, they will crucify me on the board!" Anyway, in terms of sales and chart success, even though they were at Motown a fairly short time, I am sure they would be among the top ten acts. But I am not sure who from my list I would take out to make room for them. It might have to (sigh!) be our precious Marvelettes. If I have any excuse for not thinking of the Jacksons the first time out, it is because to me the heyday of Motown was the mid 60s. I have always thought that 1966 was an absolutely phenomenal year for the label, with 1967 still going strong. 1968 was still "OK" but starting to go downhill in my opinion. So by 1969-70 (coincidentally when the Jacksons hit the scene) Motown seemed to already be on its way out to me. Anyway sorry guys! Nothing personal! |
