FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 4, 2016

DEAR JERRY: Until reading your most recent column, I never knew that the Supremes recorded as the Primettes, before signing with Motown.

Of the better known Tamla/Motown artists, who made their first recordings for Berry Gordy, and who did not?

I am specifically interested in their first five years.
—Dirk Sinclair, Royal Oaks, Mich.

DEAR DIRK: Before you put me to work on this project, I was unaware of Mr. Gordy's amazing ability to cultivate homegrown talent.

Of the 10 artists detailed below, all but two made their first records working with Berry Gordy, or on one of his labels in the Tamla/Motown/Gordy family.

THE MIRACLES

Before December 1960, when they had their mega-hit, "Shop Around" (Tamla 54034), the Miracles made six different singles on four different labels:

1958: "Got a Job"/"My Mama Done Told Me" (End 1016)
1958: "Money"/"I Cry" (End 1029)
1959: "It"/"Don't Say Bye-Bye" (Tamla 54025)
1959: "It"/"Don't Say Bye-Bye" (Argo 5350)
The Tamla and Argo recordings are credited to "Ron & Bill," who are Ron White and Bill "Smokey" Robinson.
1959: "Bad Girl"/"I Love Your Baby" (Motown G1)
Credits "The Miracles Featuring Bill Smokey Robinson."
1959: "Bad Girl"/"I Love Your Baby" (Chess 1734)
Credits only "The Miracles"
1960: "The Feeling Is So Fine"/"You Can Depend on Me" (Tamla 54028)
1960: "Way Over There"/"Depend on Me" (Tamla T-54028)
1960: "Way Over There"/"You Can Depend on Me" (Tamla 54028 A2)
Side 2 can be found with two slightly different titles.

EDDIE HOLLAND

Before his Top 30 hit, "Jamie" (Motown 1021), Eddie had five singles for three different labels:

1958: "Little Miss Ruby"/"You (You You You You)" (Mercury 71290)
Working with Berry Gordy, who co-wrote "You (You You You You)," but this pre-dates the Tamla and Motown labels.
1959: "Merry-Go-Round"/"It Moves Me" (Tamla 102)
1959: "Merry-Go-Round"/"It Moves Me" (United Artists 172)
1959: "Because I Love Her"/"Everybody's Going" (United Artists 191)
1960: "Magic Mirror"/"Will You Love Me" (United Artists 207)

MARY WELLS

"Bye Bye Baby," backed with "Please Forgive Me" (Motown 1003), issued in December 1960, was not only her first record, but was also the first hit for Motown Records. It reached the Top 10 on the R&B charts and Top 50 in the pop field.

THE MARVELETTES

"Please Mr. Postman," backed with "So Long Baby" (Tamla 54046), issued in August 1961, was their first record. It was No. 1 on the pop and R&B charts.

THE TEMPTATIONS "Dream Come True," backed with "Isn't She Pretty" (Gordy 7001), issued in March 1962, was their first chart record and the debut release on the Gordy label. It reached No. 22 on Billboard's R&B survey.

Before the birth of Gordy Records, the Temptations made two singles for Miracle, another of Berry Gordy's labels. Neither of those charted:

1961: "Oh, Mother Of Mine"/"Romance Without Finance" (Miracle 5)
1961: "Check Yourself"/"Your Wonderful Love" (Miracle 12)

MARVIN GAYE

Marvin's first hit, "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," coupled with "It Hurts Me Too" (Tamla 54068), came along in September of 1962.

Leading up to the song that launched his amazing career are four lesser-known Tamla singles:

First is an unnumbered promotional disc distributed only to radio stations. Since Marvin had yet to change his surname from Gay to Gaye, this record credits Marvin Gay.

The tracks are "Masquerade (Is Over)" and "Witchcraft," both shown on the label as from "The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gay." When the actual album came out, the title was "The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye" (Tamla TM 221).

Now for Marvin's first three commercial singles, none having appeared on any national pop or R&B chart:

1961: "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide"/"Never Let You Go" (Tamla 54041)
1962: "Sandman"/"I'm Yours, You're Mine" (Tamla 54055)
1962: "Soldier's Plea"/"Taking My Time" (Tamla 54063)

THE CONTOURS

Their first hit, from the summer of '62, was the chart-topping, million-selling "Do You Love Me," coupled with "Move, Mr. Man" (Gordy 7005).

But, before striking Gordy gold, the Contours had two Motown singles that went nowhere:

1961: "Whole Lotta Woman"/"Come on and Be Mine" (Motown 1008)
1961: "The Stretch"/"Funny" (Motown 1012)

LITTLE STEVIE WONDER

As with the Marvelettes, Stevie's first chart record went all the way to No. 1. That of course is "Fingertips, Pt. 2" (Tamla 54080), from May of 1963.

But unlike the Marvelettes, Wonder, then just 12, had to endure a full year without a hit, as these first three Tamla singles flopped:

1962: "I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues, Pt 1"/"I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues, Pt 2" (Tamla 54061)
1962: "La La La La La"/"Little Water Boy" (with Clarence Paul on the B-side) (Tamla 54070)
1962: "Contract on Love"/"Sunset" (Tamla 54074)

MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS

For Martha and the girls, their second Gordy single, and fourth overall, put them on the charts, where they would reside for many years.

That first hit, "Come and Get These Memories," backed with "Jealous Lover" (Gordy 7014), peaked at No. 6 on R&B and No. 20 on the pop chart.

Here are the first three:

1961 (as "The Del-Phis"): "I'll Let You Know"/"It Takes Two" (Check-Mate 1005)
1962 (as "The Vells"): "You'll Never Cherish A Love So True ('Til You Lose It)"/"There He Is (At My Door)" (Mel-O-Dy 103)
1962: "I'll Have to Let Him Go"/"My Baby Won't Come Back" (Gordy 7011)

KIM WESTON

"Love Me All the Way," backed with "It Should Have Been Me" (Tamla 54076), was Kim's first record and her first hit. In the summer of '63 it made the R&B Top 25, but stalled at No. 65 on the pop chart.

IZ ZAT SO? Berry Gordy's first single for his record company was Marv Johnson's "Come to Me," in January 1959 (Tamla 101).

That disc didn't click for Tamla, but a month later it was picked up by United Artists (UA 160).

Thanks to their superior distribution and promotion, "Come to Me" made the Top 30 on all national charts.

A similar thing happened with Barrett Strong's second release, "Money (That's What I Want)" (Tamla 54027).

Issued in August 1959, "Money" didn't generate any of its namesake, but when reissued three months later on Anna (A-1111), another of Gordy's labels, it began a slow climb up the charts, peaking at No. 2 on R&B and No. 15 in the pop world.

Again it was all about distribution. Anna had that by arrangement with Chess Records, and Tamla did not.