Customer Reviews

To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Like his main protege' Diana Ross' book SECRETS OF A SPARROW, I found this autobiography, TO BE LOVED, a bit too self-flattering and unapologetic.

Berry Gordy's story is extremely fascinating, his accomplishments in, and contributions to, American music are absolutely gargantuan. He deserves a great deal of credit for having created the conditions for an unmatched musical legacy to flourish. The lore surrounding the founding and early development of his great musical empire is almost as wonderful and engaging as the music itelf. You DO get some of that here.

Gordy also explains many of his business decisions. From most accounts, Mr. Gordy and his family were astute business people. However, Gordy's single-mindedness could often cause him to ignore or underplay some of the artist's gifts, appeal and marketability. For example, great as Diana Ross' star potential was, other female artists, even within the Supremes, were not as fully developed as they deserved to be, while Diana was given "special" opportunities in the way of extraordinary classes [beyond Motown's famous Artist Development]in modeling, etc. Was this purely a "business" decision? In the meantime, artists such as Kim Weston and Brenda Holloway, both quite gifted vocally, and very attractive physically, basically languished at the label.

Gladys Knight and The Pips, while having had moderate success at Motown, but not given that "extra push," absolutely exploded after they left the label, had huge sales, and were awarded several Grammy awards.

The Spinners fared even worse at Motown. But after they left the label they had phenomenal success in the early-mid seventies with singles and album sales. Many of those singles are considered r&b classics.

Was there just too much talent at Motown for all of it to be promoted as deserved? Was Mr. Gordy too hands-on during those years?

I wasn't satisfied with Mr. Gordy's take on some of these situations. As a huge Supremes' fan, I was especially dissatisfied with his matter-of-fact comment that, within the original group, Diana had the "sparkle," and Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard didn't, to paraphrase. People loved all 3 Supremes, and us fans recognized the magic and potential in all three. The fate of Florence Ballard is especially sad. She was dead [of a broken heart?] at age 32, just about 9 years after her ousting from that group. Her replacement within the Supremes was literally waiting in the wings to take over, between the early evening and later performance at a Las Vegas casino in July, 1967, when Flo was fired from the group. Was this also, a purely business decision? Was Mr. Gordy willing to hear Flo's grievances about being relegated more and more to the background, when the fans loved her to be featured, and by many accounts, she was the "founder" of the group?

I really prefer Mary Wilson's unvarnished take on the Supremes' story, as presented in her wonderful books DREAMGIRL and SUPREME FAITH [both available in one volume]. She tells it like it is, and, along the way, exposes her own warts and blemishes, but also comes across as a rounded, real, fallible, wonderful person. TO BE LOVED didn't have nearly enough of that.

DREAMGIRL sold like hotcakes, while Mr. Gordy's book did rather poorly. Ms. Ross' book also sold poorly. A lesson??? If you're going to do a memoir, people will really relate more the more real you relate.

I'm amazed at the almost uniformly positive reviews of this book by other readers here. Berry Gordy accomplished a great deal by founding Motown Records, no question about it (what he did for African American culture in general is immeasurable); what I object to is his (predictible, but no less shocking) glossing over of many unpleasant facts in this book. The fact is, Gordy was a mean and ruthless businessman who stomped on countless others in his rise to the top (the part he played in the downfall of Florence Ballard alone is unforgivable); his warm and fuzzy recounting of his and Motown's story simply reads false to me. Better books on this subject are J. Randy Taraborelli's Motown book, his biography of Diana Ross, and the two Mary Wilson autobiographies. Those read quite a bit more convincingly.

This book is great for those who don't know the truth about the humblebeginnings of Berry Gordy and his Detroit empire. Berry Gordy gives us no insight into the recording sessions and no credit to the background singers, or the background musicians. Oh he compliments them for being a part of the Motown success story this book is nothing more than a couple of recollections of Motown history and for that it deserves 3 stars. He does not get into what really happened between Florence and Diana and Mary and that fateful day of her dismissal...There is no mention of how the recording sessions went with Holland-Dozier_Holland, Mickey Stevenson, Ashford and Simpson and others. The early picture of the Supremes as the Primettes is worth the price of the book alone.

purchased the book as a gift for $85.00, condition new. When it arived it was unread, but yellowed from age. To top it all off, a week later I saw a hardcover listed as new on Amazon for $15.00, which was not listed the previous week. Not happy. What is going on here with these independent booksellers? Amazon used to sell their own stock. Any enlightenment would be apreciated. pollywogbog@yahoo.com

This book has been Out Of Print for years but, not at Amazon.com and the
many wonderful Book Stores to choose from.

The scope of Berry Gordy's creation may never be fully understood. The cultural influence of Motown remains and flourishes to this day. The music created in that little bungalow on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit is stil as alive and vibrant and relevant as it was when it was released through the tinny sounds of the transistor radio in the 60s. The stars and superstars that Gordy mentored and molded are essential parts of American culture.

But as with most autobiographies, this one is hurt by the author's sanitized memories of the good old days. The intensity of Gordy's love for Diana Ross comes through loud and clear. What is interesting is that more than love, admiration for the will and work ethic that set that amazing superstar apart from her labelmates, surpasses that love. That the two of them were so strong in their visions and common purpose created history, but doomed their personal relationship. ( And some of the reviewers of this book on Amazon who think that Mary Wilson's self-serving drivel is "unvarnished" or more revealing have no sense of objectivity. If Gordy's work suffers from a desire to sanitize and gloss over the hard times, Wilson's woe-is-me/Diana-is-evil work of fiction evinces a near psychotic break. ) Indeed, it was her work ethic and talent combined with his vision that helped Motown become much more than a record label.

Gordy created an environment where Smokey could star and write and produce, where Marvin could be Marvin and still fit in, where Stevie Wonder could grow from novelty to genius, where The Tempts and Tops live forever, and where The Jacksons could be introduced, directed, and given flight. His ability to crack Hollywood stereotypes is less-hyped but equally important, and I really enjoyed his candor in describing that process.

This book is a necessary addition to anyone interested in the label, the era, or American history. But it is not the whole truth. I doubt any autobio is capable of that. Still, a deep bow to the man who was responsible for creating so much art and so much joy.

I read this book from the library and loved it so much that I had to own it. I purchased it and read it again.

The book was simply excellent!!! I learned a great deal about the finest Record Label ever created with the finest artist and the finest songs. Motown was world's sound track during the sixties and seventies.

Barry Gordy is a stellar song writer and businessman. I could not put the book down. After the first several pages I became sad because I realized that the book would have to end. I wish it could have gone on for another 300 pages or more.

i continue to feel a sense of awe as i read. what ever was in the background of the story, the truth on the surface is that, motown's blessing was berry gordy. consider being locked in a destiny filled with certain failure and uncertain success. your vision emerges beyond your wildest dreams to change the landscape of the music sceen. memories of yesterday and statements of today are still reflected in the music of motown. magic or god? determination or wisdome? for a black man, this was uncharted teritory. for the white man it was thought to be protected. there was no sense of invasion or conquest as fun and joy mixed with sorrow and sadness. the success and accomplishment mingled with struggle and desension. survival slowly became the motto of the day. the reality of the entertainment world and the almighty dollar loured conflict like vultures to rob the safety of the domain. berry gordy was chosen for this at birth and only god understands for surely god has been and is with this man and his vision. the music has been and still is a wonderful and joyful pleasure.the world has become a wonderful place full of riches and promise for so many people because of how god used and still is using this man. i pray god will always be his strength.

from start to finish i found this book to be very informative. i personally loved the book, right along with all the motown gang. it's always so uplifting to see how diligence can pay off. i've also read mary wilson's book and otis williams's book, and my personal opinion is just that! everyone has one (opinion that is) and sure there are two sides to every story (sometimes more...)barry worked long and hard, and through many sacrifices managed to survive it all. i applaud you barry and your vision that came to past. i will surely read the book again it re-surfaced many a memory as to who, what and where was i in my personal life at those particular moments when certain records came out...five*****