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OT: Motown vs Stax/Memphis Soul - which is your preference?

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gamecockcat

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Oct 29, 2004
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I'm pretty much conceding that both produced an enormous amount of great music. Love both, actually. But, push comes to shove, which style/studio's music is your preference?

Motown: Smoky, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, et al
Stax: Booker T, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Clarence Carter, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, et al

Tough call for me but I'd probably lean towards Stax. Love Motown but Stax has just a bit more grit and soul to my ear.
 
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UK 82

UK 82

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Feb 27, 2015
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gamecockcat said:
I'm pretty much conceding that both produced an enormous amount of great music. Love both, actually. But, push comes to shove, which style/studio's music is your preference?

Motown: Smoky, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, et al
Stax: Booker T, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Clarence Carter, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, et al

Tough call for me but I'd probably lean towards Stax. Love Motown but Stax has just a bit more grit and soul to my ear.
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I'll call it a tie, for me anyways. I still have multiple albums (vinyl and CD) by many of the artists. Great time for music.

Gotta add The Staple Singers to your Stax list.
 
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sluggercatfan

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gamecockcat said:
I'm pretty much conceding that both produced an enormous amount of great music. Love both, actually. But, push comes to shove, which style/studio's music is your preference?

Motown: Smoky, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, et al
Stax: Booker T, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Clarence Carter, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, et al

Tough call for me but I'd probably lean towards Stax. Love Motown but Stax has just a bit more grit and soul to my ear.
Click to expand...
Love blues and Motown, but in a have to chose situation ...it'd be Motown.
 
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GeraldV

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gamecockcat said:
Care to elaborate why - just curious.
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Not sure how to put it into words, but I think Otis and then Sam and Dave are my favorites from the Stax side but I prefer literally every group you listed from the Motown list to either of the two from Stax. Not to mention other Motown acts like the Tops that you didn’t mention.
 
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rudd1

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Oct 3, 2007
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-stax.

-Otis Redding is on my Mt Rushmore of musicians.

-motown has great production value...memphis/stax is "greasy" perfection.

-if you don't know Carol Kaye...she's the white lady that wrote/played/invented the funky bass lines that defined the motown sound. Also played a major role in Brian Wilson's pet sounds production.
 
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sluggercatfan

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rudd1 said:
-stax.

-Otis Redding is on my Mt Rushmore of musicians.

-motown has great production value...memphis/stax is "greasy" perfection.

-if you don't know Carol Kaye...she's the white lady that wrote/played/invented the funky bass lines that defined the motown sound. Also played a major role in Brian Wilson's pet sounds production.
Click to expand...
 
CB3UK

CB3UK

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Apr 15, 2012
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rudd1 said:
-stax.

-Otis Redding is on my Mt Rushmore of musicians.

-motown has great production value...memphis/stax is "greasy" perfection.

-if you don't know Carol Kaye...she's the white lady that wrote/played/invented the funky bass lines that defined the motown sound. Also played a major role in Brian Wilson's pet sounds production.
Click to expand...
Don't forget James Jamerson!
 
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WTF Cat

WTF Cat

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gamecockcat said:
I'm pretty much conceding that both produced an enormous amount of great music. Love both, actually. But, push comes to shove, which style/studio's music is your preference?

Motown: Smoky, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, et al
Stax: Booker T, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Clarence Carter, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, et al

Tough call for me but I'd probably lean towards Stax. Love Motown but Stax has just a bit more grit and soul to my ear.
Click to expand...
As you stated, the correct answer is (C) Both
 
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rbs

rbs

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May 29, 2001
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Both groups are phenomenal … love the music of both. I would say, the confluence of the Funk Brothers and singing talent and what songs they created out of one location over a period of time is just incredible … to have that talent all located in one spot is providential.
 
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cole854

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Sep 11, 2012
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They each have their time and place...historic icons in each group and the styles were influential in the music of many of today's greats.
 
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JIMFKFT

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I wouldn't want to choose between the two labels. Motown was a hit machine with all the ingredients -- legendary writers like Holland-Dozier-Holland, charismatic performers, and of course the superb studio band, The Funk Brothers. Stax had those great arrangements and a stable of dynamic stars such as Sam & Dave, Otis, Isaac Hayes and The Staples Singers, also with a great studio band in Booker T. & the MGs. It's all good.
 
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