A Motown Timeline: 1976
A HIT-FILLED YEAR, A SUPERSTAR DEAL, A TRAGIC EXIT
If any one event exemplified the technological excitement of 1976, it was the first commercial flight of Concorde on January 21. Among those who subsequently crossed the Atlantic on the supersonic craft: Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.
At Motown Records, excitement of a different sort was in the air. Berry Gordy had in September 1975 rehired his former marketing maestro, Barney Ales, to run the company, and the opening weeks of ’76 saw Diana Ross reclaim the Number One slot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in three years with her Mahogany title song, and David Ruffin return to the Top 10 for the first time since 1968, with “Walk Away From Love.”
A billboard in Times Square
The Commodores, meanwhile, were fast becoming Motown’s best-selling breakthrough act, with “Sweet Love” on its way to the Top 5 and strong ticket sales for their nationwide tour with the O’Jays. Marvin Gaye was about to deliver his first new solo studio album in almost three years, as the title track (“I Want You”) reinstated him in the upper echelons of the charts. And Stevie Wonder’s intention to re-sign with Motown seemed pretty firm.
It made sense for Ales to prioritise Motown’s superstars – Ross, Gaye, Wonder – at that point. The company’s profits were not in the best of shape, and it was about to lose the act which had generated substantial income and industry clout for the first half of the ’70s: the Jackson 5.
By the start of that April, Wonder’s signature was on his new contract, and Ales was optimistic that the musician would deliver a blockbuster album for the all-important fourth quarter. Gaye was returning to the concert circuit for the first time in a while, and Ross was set to embark on her first major European tour in years. Hearts stopped at Motown for a moment when the 5th Dimension’s cover of “Love Hangover” looked like it might steal the thunder of her original, but Ales and his promotion team applied their skillset – to crush the competition – and the Queen of Motown secured her second Number One in four months.
A BROKEN HEART
The Jackson siblings were not the company’s only loss: the Temptations, too, took to the hills in 1976, then decamped to Atlantic Records. An exit of a different sort was Florence Ballard’s tragic death in February of cardiac arrest – a heart broken literally and metaphorically during her post-Motown years. The funeral service attracted thousands onto the streets of Detroit, watching the hearse take the former Supreme to rest.
There were other departures during the year: the last release on the Rare Earth label, for example. The Melodyland name for Motown’s country music label had to be dropped, with Hitsville drafted as a replacement. Abroad, the 11-year Tamla Motown identity was shelved. Other exits: Cindy Birdsong from the Supremes, Dennis Edwards from the Temptations, Jermaine Jackson from the Jackson 5 – and Diana Ross from her husband, Robert Silverstein, otherwise known as Bob Ellis.
Ernie Barnes’ work, adapted for Marvin
Something which very much – and finally – arrived was Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life. And it was to dominate the final quarter of 1976 both for Motown, and for the record industry as a whole. This was not only the first album by an American artist to open at Number One on the Billboard and Cash Box charts, but it also dominated those best-sellers for the entire last quarter of the year, even continuing there for a couple of weeks into the next. It was quite an achievement for the musician who was also responsible for Motown’s first Number One album, 13 years earlier. By 1976, he was a 26-year-old genius…
Finally, the detail. Below is an attempt, selective rather than exhaustive, to convey 1976’s endeavours and progress at Motown. It’s divided into three sections: the first, a chronological run-down of significant dates during those 12 months, followed by examples of notable single and album releases. If a 45 or album topped the Billboard R&B or pop charts, that entry is shown in bold-face italics.
MOTOWN 1976
January 9: The Miracles, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks kick off a week-long engagement at New York’s Apollo Theater.
January 17: The Supremes appear on Sammy Davis Jr.’s late-night TV series, Sammy & Company.
January 22: Motown announces that Diana Ross’ hit, “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To),” has topped one million sales. It is not officially certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.
January 25: Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan appear the Houston Astrodome as part of a benefit concert for imprisoned boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.
January 28: The Supremes play the Hook & Ladder Club at Toronto’s Beverly Hills Motor Hotel, introducing new member Susaye Greene. She “ignites the stage with fire and slambang vitality,” reports the Toronto Star.
February 22: Florence Ballard dies of cardiac arrest at Detroit’s Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital. She was 32. The funeral service follows on February 28, with thousands lining the streets to see her depart. Diana Ross and Mary Wilson are among those present.
An evening (in Los Angeles) with Diana Ross
February 28: The 1975 Grammy awards are held at the Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles. Motown acts accrue no nominations or wins, unlike the previous year, when Stevie Wonder earned four awards.
March 3: The Commodores open for the O’Jays at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis on the Motown group’s most extensive U.S. tour to date. The previous month, the two acts played Detroit’s Cobo Arena.
March 6: Yvonne Fair reaches the Top 5 of the U.K. charts with her remake of Kim Weston’s “It Should Have Been Me.” The record is not a hit at home.
March 10: The Jacksons’ new recording deal with Epic Records takes effect. The following month, the group (minus Jermaine) sues Motown for underpayment of royalties.
March 14: Diana Ross opens a European tour – her first in three years – which includes a dozen dates in England, Scotland and Wales, followed by shows in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Monaco.
March 20: Billboard publishes a special, 72-page supplement devoted to Diana Ross. Motown’s founder takes the opening full-page advertisement: “To my Star,” he simply declares, signing it, “Berry.”
March 29: Live from Amsterdam, Diana Ross performs the Oscar-nominated “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” on the Academy Awards telecast.
April 1: Stevie Wonder signs his new Motown recording contract, nine months after the deal was prematurely announced by Ewart Abner, the company’s president at the time.
April 15: Motown launches a Music Revolution Display Competition in the music trade press, with prizes for the record stores with the best displays of the label’s album releases and point-of-sale material.
May 6: Marvin Gaye escapes injury in a four-car crash in Malibu, and then drives a pregnant woman, Miriam Peters, who was involved in the incident, to hospital.
May 11: The Baker’s Wife stage musical, co-written by Stephen Schwartz, opens at Los Angeles’ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Motown says it will release the original cast album in December, but it never appears, and the show never makes it to Broadway.
May 18: The first 45 under Motown’s rebranded country music label, Hitsville, is T.G. Sheppard’s remake of Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man,” released on this date. It reaches the Top 20 of Billboard’s country charts.
June 3: Detroit’s historic 20 Grand nightclub, where many Motown acts performed, is destroyed by fire for the second time. In 1980, the Temptations open a new version of the venue at another site.
Barney’s back, with boxes of hits
June 25: Diana Ross files for divorce from her first husband, Robert Silberstein. They were married in Las Vegas five years earlier.
July 10: The Captain & Tennille’s revival of the Miracles’ “Shop Around” peaks inside the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100, as did Linda Ronstadt’s remake of “Heat Wave” one year earlier.
July 15: A new, 24-hour documentary, The Sound Of Motown, is launched by radio syndication firm, Westwood One. Stations set to air the show, whether in one broadcast or split into segments, include WWRL New York and KGFJ Los Angeles.
July 16: Universal Pictures releases Motown Productions’ The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, starring Billy Dee Williams. The soundtrack album, including two songs by Thelma Houston, appears on MCA Records.
August 6: The Supremes begin a ten-night run at Detroit’s Roostertail nightclub.
August 11: In Los Angeles, Marvin Gaye is cited for contempt of court for failure in making support payments to his estranged wife, Anna, and their son, Marvin Jr. An arrest warrant is issued.
September 5: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s longtime concertmaster, Gordon Staples, is profiled in the Detroit Free Press. He led the DSO’s string section on many Motown hits.
September 11: Diana Ross’ Greatest Hits/2 reaches No. 2 on the U.K. charts. The American edition peaks at No. 13 on the Billboard best-sellers.
September 27: Marvin Gaye performs the first U.K. concert of his career at London’s Royal Albert Hall. “He stalked every corner of the stage,” writes one reviewer, “and his crystal-clear, soulful voice swooped and dived effortlessly across the masterful backdrop provided by his musicians.”
September 28: “An Evening With Diana Ross” concert opens in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre, running through to October 10. Excerpts from the show are subsequently released by Motown as a double-album.
October: Berry Gordy and Diana Ross are among the first visitors to the art gallery newly opened by radio DJ (and former Motown employee) Magnificent Montague. With investment by Gordy, it is devoted to black culture, with paintings, posters, prints, books and other memorabilia.
October 1: Jermaine Jackson’s “Let’s Be Young Tonight” is the last new release on the Tamla Motown label in the U.K. and other territories. Launched in 1965, the black and silver identity gives way to a new Motown logo featuring a “block M” and blue design.
October 7: The Hitsville label releases Marty Mitchell’s country-styled update of Frankie Valli’s “My Eyes Adored You.” This time, the Jobete-published song is a minor success on the country charts.
October 16: Stevie Wonder’s Songs In The Key of Life opens at Number One on the Billboard and Cash Box charts – the first album by an American artist to ever do so.
A “bonus record” and a new label design
November 13: Among new Motown appointments reported in Billboard, Ralph Thompson is named special assistant to Barney Ales. Two years later, Thompson is shot dead when robbed after leaving a bar in South Central Los Angeles.
November 20: The Temptations are reported to be auditioning for a singer to replace Dennis Edwards. Rumours about his exit began in the summer.
December 18: “There’s no profit in singles,” declares Motown Records’ Barney Ales, during a Billboard International Radio Forum in New Orleans. He predicts that it will disappear as a commercial format within five years.
December 21: Former Motown artist Barbara McNair attends the Chicago area funeral of her husband, Rick Manzie. His murder days earlier in Las Vegas was seen as drug-related.
December 25: Motown engineer Art Stewart visits Marvin Gaye’s home in Los Angeles to play him the latest mix of “Got To Give It Up,” a work in progress.
SELECTED SINGLES (by release date)
January 4: Marvin Gaye, “I Want You,” Tamla 54264 (#1 R&B, #15 pop)
January 5: The Temptations, “Keep Holding On,” Gordy 7146
January 5: Jr. Walker, “I’m So Glad,” Soul 35116
January 12: T.G. Sheppard, “Motels & Memories,” Melodyland 6028
January 16: Eddie Kendricks, “He’s A Friend,” Tamla 54266
January 30: Yvonne Fair, “It Should Have Been Me,” Motown 1384
February 20: Diana Ross, “It Thought It Took A Little Time (But Today I Fell In Love),” Motown 1387
February 27: The Boones, “My Guy,” Motown 1389
March 16: Diana Ross, “Love Hangover,” Motown 1392 (#1 R&B, #1 pop)
A want ad, you might say…
March 16: Smokey Robinson, “Open,” Tamla 54267
April 1: Rose Banks, “Whole New Thing,” Motown 1383
May 6: The Supremes, “I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking,” Motown 1391
May 18: David Ruffin, “Everything’s Coming Up Love,” Motown 1393
May 18: Rare Earth, “Midnight Lady,” Rare Earth 5060
May 18: T.G. Sheppard, “Solitary Man,” Hitsville 6032
June 10: Thelma Houston, “The Bingo Long Song (Steal On Home),” Motown 1385
July 8: Diana Ross, “One Love In My Lifetime,” Motown 1398
July 15: Marvin Gaye, “After The Dance,” Tamla 54273
July 15: The Originals, “Down To Love Town,” Soul 35119
July 29: Tata Vega, “Full Speed Ahead,” Tamla 54271
August 5: Jermaine Jackson, “Let’s Be Young Tonight,” Motown 1401
August 12: The Commodores, “Just To Be Close To You,” Motown 1402 (#1 R&B, #7 pop)
August 19: Jerry Butler, “The Devil In Mrs. Jones,” Motown 1403
September 16: David Ruffin, “Statue Of A Fool,” Motown 1405
September 30: The Supremes, “You’re My Driving Wheel,” Motown 1407
October 7: Marty Mitchell, “My Eyes Adored You,” Hitsville 6044
One hit at home, another one abroad
November 9: Willie Hutch, “Shake It, Shake It,” Motown 1411
November 18: Thelma Houston, “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” Tamla 54278 (#1 R&B, #1 pop)
November 24: Stevie Wonder, “I Wish,” Tamla 54274 (#1 R&B, #1 pop)
November 24: The Commodores, “Fancy Dancer,” Motown 1408
SELECTED ALBUMS (by release date)
January 6: Eddie Kendricks, He’s A Friend, Tamla 343
January 6: Jr. Walker, Hot Shot, Soul 745
February 10: Luther Allison, Night Life, Gordy 974
February 10: Smokey Robinson, Smokey’s Family Robinson, Tamla 341
February 10: Diana Ross, Diana Ross, Motown 861
March 10: The Temptations, Wings Of Love, Gordy 971
March 16: Marvin Gaye, I Want You, Tamla 342 (#1 R&B, #4 pop)
March 16: T.G. Sheppard, Motels And Memories, Melodyland 403
March 16: Rare Earth, Midnight Lady, Rare Earth 550
April 8: The Supremes, High Energy, Motown 863
May 12: G.C. Cameron, G.C. Cameron, Motown 855
A family affair (but where’s Claudette?)
May 12: Various, Motown Magic Disco Machine Vol. II, Motown 857
May 12: David Ruffin, Everything’s Coming Up Love, Motown 866
May 12: The Originals, Communique, Soul 746
June 15: The Commodores, Hot On The Tracks, Motown 867 (#1 R&B, #12 pop)
June 15: Jackson 5, Anthology, Motown 868
June 15: Jerry Butler, Love’s On The Menu, Motown 850
June 15: Jr. Walker, Sax Appeal, Soul 747
July 12: Diana Ross, Diana Ross’ Greatest Hits, Motown 869
August 16: Jermaine Jackson, My Name Is Jermaine, Motown 842
August 16: Ronnie McNeir, Love’s Comin’ Down, Motown 870
August 16: The Temptations, The Temptations Do The Temptations, Gordy 975
August 16: Tata Vega, Full Speed Ahead, Tamla 347
September: T.G. Sheppard, Solitary Man, Hitsville 404
September: Pat Boone, Texan Woman, Hitsville 405
September 14: Leon Ware, Musical Massage, Gordy 976
September 14: Marvin Gaye, Marvin Gaye’s Greatest Hits, Tamla 348
September 14: Eddie Kendricks, Goin’ Up In Smoke, Tamla 346
An engine of success
September 14: The Miracles, The Power Of Music, Tamla 344
September 14: Willie Hutch, Color Her Sunshine, Motown 871
September 28: Stevie Wonder, Songs In The Key of Life, Tamla 340 (#1 R&B, #1 pop)
October 26: Jackson 5, Joyful Jukebox Music, Motown 865
October 26: The Supremes, Mary, Scherrie & Susaye, Motown 873
October 26: Dynamic Superiors, You Name It, Motown 875
October 26: Thelma Houston, Anyway You Like It, Tamla 345
October 26: Jr. Walker, Whopper Bopper Show Stopper, Soul 748
November: Charlene, Charlene, Prodigal 10015
December 9: Original Cast, Guys And Dolls, Motown 876
December 9: Bottom & Co., Rock Bottom, Gordy 977
Artist notes: the evocative cover of Marvin Gaye’s I Want You, pictured above, was the work of celebrated painter, the late Ernie Barnes. “Your picture does what no other picture can do,” Gaye once said. “It makes the music come alive.” The singer sought use of Barnes’ The Sugar Shack for the cover of his 1976 album, as recalled in this WGB post two years ago.
Photo notes: the striking image above of Diana Ross on stage was taken by Bruce Talamon, whose collection of remarkable photographs of music makers and superstars was published in a 2018 book, as detailed here.