The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnât put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.

Before Motown, there was Tamla. Berry Gordy realized that the way to make money was to produce his own records for his own label. In 1959 he founded Tamla Records with an $800 loan from his family; he added the Motown label later that year. The Tamla label remained in operation until being merged with Motownâs main line at the end of 1986. Tamlaâs second release was “Merry-Go-Round” by Eddie Holland in 1959.
Charismatic and handsome with a good voice, Eddie Holland had a promising career as a singer except one big problem kept him behind the scenes …. stage fright. His time as a singer may have been short-lived but, as part of the team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, Eddie realized a long and successful career in songwriting and production.
Let’s have a listen now to Tamla Label’s Eddie Holland with “Merry-Go-Round”.
And this is what was on the B side …. “It Moves Me”
Thanks for joining me today.
See you on the flip side. đ
NAR©2024

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantâs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.
I’d love to get my hands on some of those very early Tamla 45’s from the States. They are rare as rocking horse poo!
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Now that’s rare! đ
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Got me tapping my foot…Motown…
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That’s what I like to hear!
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I always learn something from you my friend! I guess you were paying attention!
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Only to the good stuff!
Thanks so much, D!
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Well, sometimes the naughty stuff tooâŠ
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đ
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I had no idea that Eddie Holland started his career as a singer, nice tunes Nancy.
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These tunes are bringing me so much joy!
Thanks, Jim.
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You’re so right.âYou know within the first few notes that you are listening to a Motown tune!Thanks for the intro to Eddie Holland!
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This is so much fun for me, Dale. I am in my element.
Enjoy!
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I bet you are!
Indeed!
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Love motown! especially the supremes!
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The Supremes were in a class by themselves.
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