Bob and Marcia on Tamla

[Derek Pearson]

Motown and reggae aren't two words you'd normally associate together however.......

Bob and Marcia "Young Gifted And Black" more commonly seen in the UK on Harry J records was released in the states 23 July 1970 via Tamla 54197.

Was this the only reggae 45 Motown licensed in for distribution?

Wow you learn summat new every day eh?

Derek

[Pauldonnelly]

well fck me

[Hill868]

Found one of these in a local record shop last year. One of a number of slightly surprising artists to appear on the Motown stable of labels, such as Jose Feliciano, Bruce Willis, Robert John, Joe Frazier, Lynda Carter, Meat Loaf, etc.

[Pga1]

Hiya, there was a bob and marcia album scheduled for release on Motown, not sure if it was released though. Quite a lot of stuff released  you wouldn't normally expect.  Cheers

[Mick Holdsworth]

I've only ever seen the white demos of Bob & Marcia on Tamla, I never knew it was ever released (sound quality of the demo was awful, I wonder if it was remastered for its release)

Cheers
Mick

[Guest Soulskate70]

I've seen this for sale a few times.... Sean Chapman had one a while back... An intriguing addition to the Tamla catalogue.!!

[Crumb]

Is this the Trojan version with strings or the Pama one?

[Benji]

Probably the later string version. It was released all over Europe so an US release is not that much of a surprise IMO. by the way, speaking of rarity. 4 Tamla copies available on Discogs, as low as $3.00

[TOAD]

johnny arthey means uk strings added

[Benji]

Yes, of course the UK strings version.

However, now I'm not sure which version it is on Tamla. It's 3:15 according to the label. My german Fontana (strings vers) copy states 3:11. I just looked up a JA Harry J recording (i.e. no strings) on Youtube, which finishs at 3:15. Puzzled.

Edited July 31, 2016 by Benji

[Crumb]

Thanks for the replies, found one on YouTube, it is the strings version. There's also a Harry J (Jamaican ?) copy with the strings.

[TOAD]

version one no strings the next charted with strings recorded in the UK

[Mark B]

alan pollard used to play it off the motown release years ago i was suprised too

[Roburt]

With ska / reggae records, apart from Atlantic in the mid 60's (Ska Kings "Jamaican Ska" was released around the world on Atlantic after the New York guys did a deal with Kingston Jamaica) and Johnny Nash / JAD's involvement from around 1968 to 1972, the mainstream US majors had little contact with reggae.

When a reggae record hit the UK Pop Top 20 charts, US labels would scramble to license the 45 for release in America. Tamla did so with Bob & Marcia .... BUT SO DID THE LIKES OF .......... Uni who licensed "The Israelites" by Desmond Dekker in April 69. Other US labels did similar with other UK reggae hits.

With US Motown following the lead of EMI in the UK with regard to some 'in-house' recordings, it shouldn't be surprising that Motown guys were watching what other 45's were hitting the UK pop charts & signing deals to release em.