Happy Monday!Today's like a Tri-Delt: full of fun. At noon I'll be posting the first YouTube Concert to this space for you to enjoy, so check back at 12PM (CST)!
Meantime, let's get warmed up with another poll. Some premise as last time: you are stranded on a desert island. You can only bring one musical catalog with you. There is no hope of leaving the island for the rest of your natural life. There is no hope of anyone else joining you on this island. It is just you, the island, and one musical catalog to keep you company. And probably some rum in a dingy jar. Sure, I'll throw that in.
Last week I gave you the option of either bringing Bruce Springsteen or Tom Petty. Most of you liked Bruce. This week...
Which musical catalogue would you rather bring to the desert island: Stax or Motown?
One quick caveat: Motown's been a label in flux since it's heyday in the 60's and early 70's. I'm counting the artists from that time, but not since. For example, they have rights to some Lionel Richie 80's stuff, but they were a different label/artistic entity at that point. Just so you're making an informed decision, here's a very short list of notable artists from each:
Motown:
The Miracles/Smokey Robinson
The Supremes/Diana Ross
Marvin Gaye
The Temptations
The Four Tops
Stevie Wonder
Martha & the Vandellas
The Isley Brothers
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Jackson 5
Bobby Darin
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
The Commodores
Rick James
Stax:
Rufus and Carla Thomas
Booker T & the MG's
Wilson Pickett
Sam & Dave
Otis Redding
The Mar-Keys
The Bar-Kays
Isaac Hayes
Johnnie Taylor
Albert King
Staple Singers
***Richard Pryor (comedy records)
***Big Star
***Catalogues available as subsidiaries of Stax
So, who you bringing to the desert island? Stax or Motown?
Hit up the comments and let me know--then check back at noon for the debut of a brand new Milam song!
Don't own a stetson,
CM
8 comments:
Ahem...what are you smoking??? Most of us preferred Petty...Silly Milam.
This one's harder...does the Motown collection include the Jackson 5 cartoon series? That would be clutch.
I'm gonna be a homer and say Stax.
I think of the artists you listed, the grit and energy of those from Stax would stand the test of time better than the more polished offerings of Motown.
Also, if I were stranded on an island for the rest of my life, I'd probably take up playing mouth trumpet. I'm guessing it'd be more fun to improvise over Albert King than The Pips.
Tough call. Otis vs. Marvin is a push. The Funk Brothers vs. Booker T and the MG's also a push. The big difference comes from the women. As strong as Mavis was/is, the combination of Gladys, Martha and The Supremes gives the advantage to Motown. Throwing in Lil' Stevie Wonder puts Motown over the top. It's like Lakers v. Pistons circa 1988, flash v. grit and heart.
I wish I could bring Otis with the Motown crew, build a dock & sing until my lips crack and bleed...but, I'm gonna have to stay true Detroit & go with Motown. Marvin, Rick and Stevie could never do me wrong. Never.
Not fair, sir. It's just not even fair.
I think, in a moment of weakness, however, that I'd probably go with Motown, just by a nose.
Love the basketball analogy, Mike!
Wednesday I'm giving 4000 words to Isaiah Thomas-as-Booker T. The only problem is that someone on Stax would have to be Laimbeer, and that feels W-R-O-N-G.
I don't even go a day in my own air-conditioned house without a massive fix of Stax. We set honorary places at the table for Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love (the Memphis Horns) like some do Elijah.
Now, who is this 'Motown'?
Check out "The Good Runs The Bad Away" by S&D.
http://www.rhapsody.com/sam-and-dave/soul-men
P.S. If the exile to a desert island includes an entire catalog of Stax, when do we leave?
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