In the spring of 1960, Gordy added strings to the Satintones and Eugene Remus songs, but still they failed to chart.

Then chasing the success of "Money", he released another 45 on Barrett Strong, called "Yes No, Maybe So". A nice recording it's sales fell short of it's predecessor.

In August, Motown issued a recording by Popcorn Wylie's group, Popcorn and The Mohawks. The song was called "Custer's Last Man", a rather comedic yet excellent recording, produced by Berry. The Mohawks included a raw kid called Norman Whitfield, who would later become one of the principal songwriters and producers at Hitsville.

Another of the early Rayber signings, Mable John, finally got her chance with "Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That". A classy fingersnapper, this song should have done much so better for the first lady of the Tamla label. Gordy released another three 45's on Mable between June '61 and June '63. Her career then switched to Memphis three years later, where she joined Stax Records, who released seven 45's on her. Mable then spent several years with the Raeletts from 1970.

In August, Motown also had it's first femme release, this time with new discovery, Mary Wells. Mary had been working with Popcorn Wylie when she cornered Berry in the 20 Grand as a youthful 17 year old. She had written a song called "Bye Bye Baby" and was excited about it. Gordy liked it enough to produce it and was vindicated when the song reached R&B #8 Pop #45. After a heady four year career at Hitsville, which included "My Guy" and eleven other 45's, Mary's husband,  Herman Griffin, convinced Wells that her future lay elsewhere.

Around the time of "Way Over There", Berry had been recommended an Italian guy by the name of Barney Ales who was building a reputation as a sales guru. Appointed to Hitsville to target disc jockey's, programme directors and distributors, his first major challenge was to be the release of a 45 by The Miracles called "Shop Around". According to Raynoma, Ales impact on "Shop Around" was 'phenomenol' and the fact that it became Hitsville's first million seller seems to back this up. The song went R&B #1, Pop #2.

The Miracles with Marv Tarplin on guitar

The penultimate Motown release for 1960 was the label's first male/female duet by Sherri Taylor and Singin' Sammy Ward. It was called "Oh Lover" and it should have done much better than it did. This was a precursor to the great duets which would follow in later years from Marvin Gaye and various of female partners.

But, while Hitsville was making steady progress, Gordy songs were still being released on major labels such as United Artists, Decca, Coral, Columbia, Chess and it's subsidiary Argo.

Only United Artists, with Marv Johnson, could could make any leeway in the charts  however. The songs were "I Love The Way You Love" (R&B #2)/"Happy Days" (R&B #7,Pop #58)/"Move Two Mountains" (R&B #12, Pop #20)/"Merry Go Round" (R&B #26/Pop #61).

music : "Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That" - Mable John (Tamla54031a)

Continued