Dancing in the Street
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This book is a must for all soul fans who have a deeper interest in the music than collecting vinyl or shuffling their feet in a disco. Subtitled "Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit', this is a tome which is about far more than music, it is about philosophy, art, history, business and civil rights. In many ways it reminds me of Craig Werner's "A Change Is Gonna Come', but whereas that is about the socio-political effects of all genre's of black music right across America, this is solely about the effects the Motown Corporation had in Detroit, and is consequently far more focussed. Although it encompasses many facets of the significance that Motown held for Black American's one theme is central, the tension between running a successful business and being used by various civil rights groups for political ends. On the one hand Motown was America's most successful Black business and therefore stood as an icon to all afro American's. Inevitably therefore many of the factions wanted Gordy to put his money into supporting Black Causes, or use his influence in the media for 'spreading the word'. It was however Gordy's none militant approach that had first wooed the white markets, and to adopt such strategies could well have led to him alienating his white customers, his biggest source of income. Gordy clearly had a social conscience, but he was a businessman first and foremost. The book clearly traces the tensions which existed between the two aspects of his life. Books are like music, a matter of personal taste, and whilst I can accept that this tome might not necessarily be everybody's cup of tea, I can say with hand on heart that this is probably the most interesting book on Motown, and indeed soul music that I have ever read. Really, this is not one the serious soul fan can afford to miss.
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Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
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