Words By Jason Hortillas
There’s a clear distinction between a mix and a mixtape.
Where the term mixtape is usually reserved for a DJ, a mix is when civilians, such as myself, put together a playlist of selected favorites.
Now that we got that in order, I wanted to give a proper example of a “mix.” Darien Victor Birks is a pal of mine that runs the website Flwrpt. Blogging on old school classics, he suggests his recent vinyl pickups as a part of his normal routine. His latest mix called “Motwon Fifty” is 50 selected tracks from Berry Gordy’s legendary label put together for your enjoyment.
So if you wanted to get your Motown knowledge up or just needed a refresher course, DVB got the mix you’re looking for.
Tracklisting
Yvonne Fair – Funky Music Sho’ Nuff Turns Me On f/ Marvin Gaye
Willie Hutch – Foxy Brown Theme
Jackson 5 – Sing A Simple Song (Live)
Undisputed Truth – UFO’s
The Temptations – You’ve Got My Soul on Fire
Jackson 5 – Dance & Hum Along
Stevie Wonder – Everytime I See You I Go Wild
Ivy Joe Hunter – Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
The Supremes – Come Into My Life
Willie Hutch – Get Ready For The Get Down
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Again)
The Four Tops – Reflections
Yvonne Fair – Tell Me Something Good
The Temptations – I Need You
Rick James – Fool On The Street
The Temptations – Ain’t No Sunshine
The Miracles – Poor Charlotte
Mandre – Maxymus Lyte (Opus III)
Mandre – Third World Calling (Opus II)
Wes Henderson – Reality
Jackson 5 – Take You Higher (Live)
Diana Ross & The Supremes – Nitty Gritty
Stevie Wonder – Light My Fire
The Supremes – Oh Be My Love
Jackson 5 – I’ll Bet You
The Temptations – What It Is
G.C. Cameron – No Matter Where
Diana Ross & The Supremes with The Temptations – Sweet Inspiration
Diana Ross – Surrender
Jackson 5 – Dancing Machine
Yvonne Fair – Stay A Little Longer
The Spinners – Message From A Black Man
Tom Clay – What The World Needs Now Is Love
Undisputed Truth – Ungena Za Ulimwengu
Eddie Kendricks – Diamond Girl
Smokey Robinson – Just Passing Through
Jr. Walker & The All-Stars – Love Hangover
Diana Ross & Jackson 5 – Feelin’ Alright
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Tears Of A Clown
The Supremes – Sweet Dream Machine
The Miracles – Smog
Undisputed Truth – What’s Going On
Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings – Sounds Of The Zodiac
Berry Gordy (Sound bite over the Gordon Staples track)
Marvin Gaye – Intro Theme Live
Marvin Gaye – Too Busy Thinking Bout My Baby/How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (Live)
Marvin Gaye – Cloud Nine
Marvin Gaye – I Wanna Be Where You Are (Outro)
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Download — Motown Fifty (Mixed by Darien Victor Birks for Flwrpt)


this is cool. now we just need a Stax version
Teef!!! Whutchoo know about Stax!
Stax was the like the “black” version of Motown. While Berry Gordy was yellin’ “we don’t make black music, we make american music” and sending everybody to whitewash—i mean, ‘finishing’ school” the Stax fam was just doin what they wanted and if white folks didn’t like it, to hell wit em.
i luv me some Stax!
^ I know nothing! You need to school us, lol.
but yeah, while I’m not well-versed in Stax-ology, I do know that the label’s music was generally uncompromising, sometimes gritty, and one could argue, more “soulful”.
I can’t claim allegiance to either Motown OR Stax, cuz it was good music all around, mayne!
In my humble opinion, Stax & Gamble & Huff both were different from Motown. Stax man myself.
^ I’d expect nothing else from a Tennessean, lol
but this mix is great
They have put together some great tunes I will enjoy this mix tape
Mix is incredible. You may have just saved me some routing through my collection for my wedding reception mix. Cheers mang!
^ I’d expect nothing else from a Tennessean, lol
—————–
I’ve said it a gang of times.
I’m Stax. My cat B is Gamble & Huff. It’s a matter of tastes really lol. I like mine bluesy, dirty…but still polished in a way.
this is actually an excellent mix & a highly recommended listen…their catalog runs deep & some of the tracks here are not what I would consider to be traditional Motown fare that “baby boomers” like to listen to & can typically be found on compilations like this here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Chill_(soundtrack)
I like mixes like this that venture off the beaten path
the DJ plays, on average, about 1 minute & 30 seconds of each song. While this sometimes annoys me cuz it takes a snippet of the song out of context (unless it’s a fast-paced uptempo megamix), I think it’s appropriate here cuz it kinda prompts the listener to go forth & “discover” the source material to listen to in its entirety.
Thanks…this is nice!!!
Gamble and Huff honored at this year’s BMI Pop Awards
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/05/its-officialamerican-idol-mania-has-completely-infiltrated-the-musical-zeitgeist-of-americamillions-of-people-huddled-ar.html
I met the founder of Stax’s daughter once when I was in Ten a key… She did PR for Stax/Stax Museum and worked in that little white ofc right across the street from Graceland.
really cool people. introduced me to all these old stax folks…
history, mang! history.
REPPIN T NECK RECORDS ON YOU BITCHES…FUCK MOTOWN.
jk
Then what happens when you put said “mix” on a cassette? what do you get?
a dope ass paper weight…
dude, this is mixtape. a mix would be 50 separate mp3s in a zip file.
that being said, this is dope. i love it.