Meeting Held On The 11th November 2009

The usual club business was cleared up and then Alan Mannings was introduced. We also had a few visitors having their first look in at the club. One couple had come from Hong Kong. Thanks to you all for coming.

Now Alan being a veteran radio jock and avid collector of music and related ephemera is always well researched on the topic he has chosen to talk about and tonight was no exception complete with some great audio examples and a beautiful Jimmy Buffett style shirt.

Motown music is one of my most favourite types of music so I was more than happy when he announced that this was his topic. Now Australia wasn't as affected by the Motown sound as the UK, but some of us musicians were into it even though our attempts to play it here in Down Under were not to good as I remember???  (We're still trying though, "Jimmy Barns [Yeah he's from the UK] & Human Nature).
Anyway Back to Alan's talk...

He took us through the early days of Motown Records, from its humble beginnings when Barry Gordy started the lable in January 1959 and up to around 1965 with a lilt towards some of the unusual acts that were on the label and as Alan said we could of been there for another 12 hours with all the story's that happened over the 50 years of Motown.

As mentioned before, Alan's talk was illustrated with some great tracks from his Motown collection and he finished his talk with a medley of Motown hits that he'd put together.

Some of the great Motown artist were; Marvin Gaye; Smokey Robinson; Stevie Wonder; Gladys Knight & the Pips; Mary Wilson; The Temtations; Diana Ross & the Suppremes; The Commodores; The Jackson 5; The Four Tops; The Marvelettes; Martha Reeves & the Vandellas; The Funk Brothers; Jaquie  Wilson; The Spinners; The Miracles; Rick James;

A few things I didn't know before this evening :-

• it was the 50'th Anniversary of Motown Records this year January 2009
• Nick and the Jaguars were the first white band to be signed by Barry Gordy and in his first year with the label.
• Nick and The Jaguars were a 'surf band' and there first record was 'ich-i-bon'
• Barry Gordy turns 80 on the 28th of this month
• A bloke by the Name of Dorsey Burnette recorded a song on the label in 1964 and sounded just like Johnny Cash (on Motown pilgrims????)

   Anyway it was another great night and thanks Alan for another fascinating talk .

If you want to do some more research of your own why not start with the Motown web site.

Helen & Roger Barnett from Hong Kong with Alan Mannings

                       Alan & The CD Player or is it the Radio

BOBBY ADAMS
Entertainer/Comedian/Musician and Club Member... 
See you at the Christmas Show Bobby....

                          Mya McLaren of Fremantle Comunity Radio
         with Neville Limpus and Kerry Scott of CURTIN FM 100.1.
Thats Frank Holmes our Club Magazine editor in the background.


Some of Alans captivated audience   (faces hidden for obvious reasons... LOL)