Maybe I could do the same thing with music. Blessed with Gordy's personal involvement, the documentary features a ton of archival footage and anecdotes from the 60s and 70s, rare interviews with Lamont Dozier and the Holland Brothers, who, as a matter of fact, wrote ten of The Supremes' twelve number-one singles. Items flow from step-to-step moving closer to becoming a finished product, part or component with each step. "Blues artists have also talked about this. Gordy founded Motown Records in 1959. How do you think this person helped Berry Gordy to achieve the companys mission of making music for the whole world? 1. Watch Berry describe how he turned $800 and a small Detroit studio into Motown's first headquarters, and hear about Berry's "assembly-line . Scope and delimitations. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Producers: Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer. Notably, Mary Wells had three Top-10 Pop hits in a row, all written and produced by Smokey Robinson. assembly line 2 of 2 noun 1 : an arrangement of machines, equipment, and workers in which work passes from operation to operation in direct line until the product is assembled 2 : a process for turning out a finished product in a mechanically efficient manner academic assembly lines Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Noun I wanted a place where a kid off the street could walk in one door an unknown and come out another a recording artista star.". Ford's assembly line resulted in a mass-market demand for automobiles and changed mass-manufacturing processes across many products and if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ That was his brightest business decision,"Hanley said. How did Motown Records in Detroit operate during the 1960s? The Guardian Extra event I attended was called The Record Producer's Motown Experience The Secrets of the Classics and was presented by record producer Steve Levine, Radio 2's Richard Allinson and Harry Weinger, vice president of A&R at Universal Music Enterprises and manager of the Tamla Motown catalogue. How do you calculate working capital for a construction company? But I also knew that when he had to reach for the notes, that's when he produced the best vocals." (233) $2.00. Actually, it turned out to be more collaborative than a standard factory. (Tina Turner has heeded this advice and to this day always records in the highest pitch possible.). San Francisco had its "Summer of Love" in 1967, and Detroit was home to what's considered one of the deadliest and most destructive riots in American history. Browse the best online HTML tools: editor, tags, cheat sheet, character codes, tag generators, website templates and more. With pop stardom extending its impact to more than music, Gordy used his assembly line to create a process that mastered the elements that made Motown boom. Write a journal entry describing what it was like to work with Berry Gordy, Maxine Powell, Cholly Atkins, Smokey Robinson, and/or Maurice King. Main genre: Soul / Funk / Disco. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In 1972, Gordy uprooted his empire and moved it to Los Angeles, where he released two films starring Diana Ross -- "Mahogany" and the Billie Holiday biopic "Lady Sings the Blues. (5) Historical and cultural relevance. The assembly line is a manufacturing process in which an arrangement of machines works to configure the finished product. It's little more than a crumbling ruin now, a decrepit collection of brick buildings in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Motown, but the old Highland Park assembly plant was once the site of. Their next three singles went to number one, as well. In 1961, "Shop Around" by The Miracles became Motown's first million-selling single, hitting the top of the Billboard R&B chart and number two on the Pop chart. Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. In most cases, a manufacturing assembly. "I knew he would do that," Dozier said. Songs had a quality control board, and Motown employed its own house band, songwriters, dance. Later that year, "Please Mister Postman" by The Marvelettes reached the top of the Pop chart. Having someone like Powell on staff was ingenious. Some things that they might touch on in discussion: Imagine that you are a young singer coming to work for Motown for the first time. Motown expanded into film and television production. BREAKING: Salesforce Soars Late, Tesla Doesn't Unveil New EV, Berry Gordy assembled a stable of stars in the 1960s that could fill a wing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Only 10 years before Motown's founding, there was a category on the Billboard charts for "Race Music" -- music composed and performed by black people. "Berry Gordy has to be seen as one of the most important figures on the business side of American popular music in the second half of the 20th century," John Covach, director of the University of Rochester's Institute for Popular Music, told IBD. Motown was founded in 1959 as Tamla Records, and it acquired the name Motown in April 1960 - the ideal time to launch a record company built on black music. In its early days, Motown employees considered themselves part of a family, with long hours spent together in the house on West Grand. Realtime quote and/or trade prices are not sourced from all markets. Gordy didn't like the record, but Billie Jean Brown and Barney Ales decided to release it anyway. eventAction: 'load' "Just leaving the wider picture aside, if you take '68, the company had grown to an extraordinary level of success, income and influence," White says. Songs had a quality control board, and Motown employed its own house band, songwriters, dance instructors, talent scouts, and sales and distribution departments. Where did Berry Gordy assembly line process come from? Next, divide students into groups of five, with each student representing their assigned persona: Berry Gordy, Maxine Powell, Cholly Atkins, Smokey Robinson, or Maurice King. Show students the photo of Motowns Hitsville, U.S.A. studio. Various sections of the line station have human workers who oversee production. Being able to listen to the vocal tracks individually on songs such as the Four Tops' Reach Out (I'll Be There) and Bernadette and Marvin Gaye's Heard It Through the Grapevine gave me goosebumps. In fact, the vocals on many of his biggest hits are first takes. Perhaps most notably, though, a couple of big Motown artists became dissatisfied with the production process, seeking more artistic freedom, and expressing a desire to create music that reflected the state of the world. He had a laser sharp focus for recording songs that dominated the charts. With a Ford assembly line in mind, Gordy built each hit from conception to concert stage. eventAction: 'render' }) The student is expected to: Identify relationships of concepts to other academic disciplines such as the relations between music and mathematics, literature, history, and the sciences. Figure 1 shows a process chart including the process flow in the production plant. Berry Gordy believed in turning negatives into positives. Motown Record . ", Ron Weisner Rocked As Manager Of McCartney, Jackson, Bob Marley Became The Reggae King Through Hard Work. It represents a specialization in flow production, in which the products are transported individually, often continuously, from one workstation to the next for further processing. He loosely modeled the Motown operation on the most prosperous business model he saw around him the assembly lines at the many automotive plants in the region. Gordy founded Motown Records in 1959. But having worked on the. Season 3 Episode 307. And then there was Stevie Wonder. At the time, he was working at a Ford motor plant, whose assembly line production inspired him to create a record label organized on similar lines, with artists individually honed by producers, followed by a charm school, and of course, "quality . "At the plant, the cars started out as just a frame, pulled along on conveyor belts until they emerged at the end of the line I wanted the same concept for my company, only with artists and songs and records. Distribute the biography handouts and ask students to study them. At the time, radio airplay was segregated, and black artists were managed and published and released by an overwhelmingly white record industry. 4 Why is Motown important to black history? Videos linked to activities to establish process times, ergonomics, waste analysis, and line balancing improvements. ' Hitsville: The Making of Motown ' is a fine documentary telling the story of the legendary pop-soul record label, from its birth in Detroit in 1958 to its relocation to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Gordy retired last year at age 89, but Motown is still going strong today. Billie Jean Brown, an outspoken college student first hired to be an assistant to Loucye Gordy, Berry's sister, headed up the division. } According to Nelson George's book, Gaye didn't want to record the song at first, but eventually he relented, changing some of the lyrics to reflect his social consciousness. In the Name of Love," "Heat Wave," "Dancing in the Street," "The Tracks of My Tears," "Where Did Our Love Go," "My Guy," "Baby Love," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "I Can't Help Myself," "Get Ready.". If you arrived at 9.01am, you wouldn't get in, says Smokey Robinson, and had to wait until the next meeting to get a chance to get your song cut. . Make inference about text and use textual evidence to support understanding. (AP), Berry Gordy Jr. was bothered by one nagging thought as he paced his humble Motown Records office late one night in 1961. Assembly line. "I learned it so fast I could jump into each car as it arrived, do my job, get out and have time to spare," he wrote. His baritone sax solos feature on the breakthrough hits of Martha and the Vandellas ("Heat Wave", 1963), and The Supremes ("Where Did Our Love Go", 1964). Create a place where a kid off the street could walk in one door an unknown, go through a process, and come out another door a star.". Modeling expert Maxine Powell taught the proper way to walk, talk, and dress as successful youngdebutantes and debonair gentleman. The Motown Record Corporation was one of the most successful record labels of the 1960s and one of the most influential black owned and operated companies in the world. Born in 1929 into a middle-class family in Detroit, Gordy was the seventh of Berry Gordy Sr. and Bertha Fuller Gordy's eight children. In his 1998 book about R&B and race, Just My Soul Responding, Brian Ward wrote that "Gordy, the most successful Black entrepreneur of his generation and a living embodiment of Black integrationist aspirations, was always reluctant to allow his artists to embrace potentially controversial subjects that may jeopardize their white audience." 1 2 3 4 . Gordy founded Motown Records in 1959. }); ", "(The music) wasn't the same," Smith said. },false) The student is expected to: Pose and answer geographic questions including: Where is it located? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What challenges might these artists face, and how can these difficulties be overcome? Motown, full name Motown Record Corporation, also known as Hitsville, was a recording company founded in January 1959 in Detroit, Michigan, by Berry Gordy, Jr., that went on to become one of the most successful Black-owned companies is one of the most important influential record labels in American history. How should the group appear on stage? Detroit-born 29-year-old Berry Gordy founded Tamla Records with an $800 loan from . Describe the process. What does Robinson say about Gordys mission for the record label? He envisioned a process by which a "kid could walk in one door an unknown off the street and come out the other a polished performer". document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ As a result, booking smartly planned tours and turning pop into a production line product worked wonders. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. He cultivated a group of experts who, working together, could take unrefined young singers and turn them into hit-makers ready to perform and promote the Motown product: records. "They would be the last stars I would develop with the same intensity and emotional investment as I had with the earlier Motown artists. It was shot while 1965 Ford Mustang's were getting built on the assembly line. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". As much of the work as possible was done in-house. The motion of workers is minimized to the extent possible. Under Gordy's tight guidance, they and other artists rolled out one hit after another, timeless tunes that defined an era: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "My Girl," "Stop! During this decade, golden years for the organization, Motowns roster included Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson Five. What is meant by the competitive environment? She had an ear for what made a hit record, and in Quality Control, she listened to everything produced at Motown, picked the best, and brought them to a weekly company meeting. Instead, he called it Motown. Companies choose manufacturing processes -- such as job order, batch process, assembly line and continuous process -- based in part on the level of product individualization allowed. "He was a shrewd businessman. Motown, in full Motown Record Corporation, also called Hitsville, recording company founded by Berry Gordy, Jr., in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in January 1959 that became one of the most successful Black-owned businesses and one of the most influential independent record companies in American history. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. First of all, they only had three tracks at their disposal. How is producing a hit record different from producing an item like an automobile? At the time, he was working at a Ford motor plant, whose assembly line production inspired him to create a record label organized on similar lines, with artists individually honed by producers, followed by a charm school, and of course, quality control. Today, this process is usually performed by computers or robots, but in its early days, it required human hands. Assembly line is a process in manufacturing for production of goods where smaller products are assembled at different steps in a sequence to produce the final product. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 1. "I Want You Back" was released in October, 1969, and it topped the chart the following January. But having worked on the assembly line at the city's Ford factory, he was convinced he could create an assembly line for music. When accepting the Grammy for Album of the Year, Paul Simon thanked Wonder for not releasing an album in 1975. Have students briefly introduce their persona to the rest of their group. He erected a sign in front -- "Hitsville, U.S.A." -- and started making music the way Ford made cars. Gaye was Motown's sexy crooner, but he wanted to record a protest album. 119 users contributed to this page. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". (Today, we can comp a vocal down to the tiniest word in the middle of a sentence.). Punching in resulted in a delay, so it could only be done if there was a big gap in the vocals. Depending on consumer demand, one batch could be enough to meet that demand. Handout - Berry Gordy But mainstream success in America would require extraordinary measures. the Motown recording studio The Snakepit art rock Which later style was NOT influenced by Bob Dylan: a) art rock b) singer/songwriter c) country rock d) folk rock spontaneous session environment Which was NOT part of the Motown process: a) spontaneous session environment b) assembly line production c) choreography d) finishing school false A production line is a factory configuration that features a series of manufacturing steps. line. The new manufacturing process increased . The . He'd been drinking? There are two things people think of when people say "Detroit!" cars and Motown. Very few record labels can be said to have as iconic a signature sound as Motown.During its heyday in the 1960s, the Detroit companyfounded by Berry Gordy in 1959 as Tamla Recordscranked out hit after hit, all with the cohesive, instantly identifiable Motown Sound.. The whole world was fast becoming aware of our overall successour artists, our songs, our sound. Gordy himself was spending more time at Motown's California office while another parallel with Detroit automakers emerged. How did this person approach his or her responsibilities at Motown? With the help of lawyer Johanan Vigoda, Wonder signed a new deal with Motown shortly after his 21st birthday that made him one of the label's highest-paid artists and gave him unprecedented creative control. Learn all the ways IBDs top investing tools can help you succeed in the market! Briefly review the video: 3. The assembly-line process enabled Ford to produce cars more quickly, and at more affordable rates. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. On 12 January 1959, the music sensation that changed America - and the world beyond it - was set in motion. This wasn't a problem with Marvin Gaye. Pro: Improved Profit. So at 3 a.m., Gordy called his musicians and ordered them to report immediately to the studio to re-cut the song. We soon had an assembly line set up in our living room - those with nimble, unscorched hands were burning CDs, printing stickers and inserts, cutting the inserts, applying the stickers and putting the whole thing together. Learn more about Motown here: He'd also outgrown the Motown assembly line, the one that made him a star of the loverman on bended knee variety. Two years later, he founded Tamla records, which later became Motown. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The string of albums Wonder released from 1972 to 1976Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs In the Key of Lifeare works of unparalleled virtuosity. The artists who signed with Motown had raw talent, but in many cases, they were inexperienced performers sometimes they were young people from the citys housing projects who had previously encountered few opportunities for professional training. Ask the group to discuss how they will help this group to create and promote hit records. Citizenship: The student understands efforts to expand the democratic process. Henry Ford assembly line did just that it had a movement element that allowed the car to be pulled down the line (rope to start) and in stages of production step by step through the manufacturing process. Manufacturers . }); Still, Norman Whitfield helped fill the vacuum, and Motown released a number of hit records in '68, notably "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Before he became a legend, Motown founder Berry Gordy worked at a Lincoln-Mercury plant. It was the worst I ever heard," Ales recalled Gordy saying afterwards, but "What's Going On" hit number two on the pop chart, and Gaye quickly got back to the studio to finish the landmark album of the same name. Then we moved on to the late 60s and songs such as the Temptations' Ball of Confusion. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What advantages could this approach provide to a record company? Make complex inference about text and use textual evidence to support understanding. ` [This message was edited Sat May 29 11:39:16 2004 by Supernova] An assembly line is a form of mass production where components are added in a specific, efficient order to create a finished product at the end of a line. The student is expected to: (A) compare and contrast music by genre, style, culture, and historical period; (B) define uses of music in societies and cultures; (C) identify and explore the relationships between music and other academic disciplines; (E) identify and explore the impact of technologies, ethical issues, and economic factors on music, musicians, and performances. eventAction: 'view' How is its location related to the location of other people, places and environments? The more product you have on the shelves, the more sales you will likely receive . Competitive process Record Producers: Chose which version of song would be released as a single Motown Artists: Supremes Temptations Four Tops Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Marvelettes Gladys Knight and the Pips Martha and the Vandellas Jackson 5 Marvin Gaye Started as a session drummer at Motown Married Berry Gordy's sister Lesson: A great product can shatter barriers. How Detroit Assembly Lines Changed Music Forever Before he became a legend, Motown founder Berry Gordy worked at a Lincoln-Mercury plant. Andrew Alexander "Mike" Terry (July 18, 1940 - October 30, 2008) was an American saxophonist, songwriter, arranger, producer and musical director. "Motown was about music for all people -- white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. Why or why not? ga('ads.send', { How do they move? The movie concludes as Gordy prepares for his label's move to the West Coast, with Gayes pathbreaking Whats Going On" serving as a curtain call for the genius' unconventional approach to music. Role of workers. Culture: The student understands the relationship that exists between the arts and the societies in which they are produced. Having said that, Motown's ethos is as American as it gets. For example, as African-American artists who wanted to appeal to white as well as black audiences, what would they need to consider? When Berry Gordy put up the sign "Hitsville USA" on his house in 1959 and turned his garage into a studio, his newly started label had yet to have any actual hits. What do you notice about the way the groups act is staged? Handout - Smokey Robinson, - Select by State - With an eye for image and an ear for hit singles, Gordy assembled a stable of stars in the 1960s that could fill an entire wing of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Diane Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson. Based on clips from a Motown documentary, it sounds like the workers weren't even that prepared for the invasion of the singers, with employees grumpily yelling at the women. Can be turned off anytime from browser settings way the groups act is staged on website. They move Tamla records with an $ 800 loan from immediately to the location of other people places... Sign in front -- `` Hitsville, U.S.A. studio was shot while 1965 Ford Mustang & # ;! Have students briefly introduce their persona to the studio to re-cut the song and green, and. Producing a hit record different from producing an item like an automobile Reggae! Help you succeed in the production plant you notice about the way the groups is... So at 3 a.m., Gordy built each hit from conception to concert stage 1975... Workers who oversee production sign in front -- `` Hitsville, U.S.A. '' -- and started making music the... Heeded this advice and to this day always records in Detroit operate during 1960s. Will help this group to create and promote hit records dress as successful youngdebutantes and debonair gentleman, would... At more affordable rates black artists were managed and published and released by overwhelmingly... Powell taught the proper way to walk, talk, and it topped the chart following. Releasing an album in 1975 on consumer demand, one batch could be enough to meet that.. Through Hard Work Ron Weisner Rocked as Manager of McCartney, Jackson, Bob Marley became Reggae! Songs such as the Temptations ' Ball of Confusion to configure the finished product, part or with! Record industry Please Mister Postman '' by the Marvelettes reached the top of the as. Maxine Powell taught the proper way to walk, talk, and how can these difficulties overcome. Them to report immediately to the location of other people, places and environments human hands x27. Function properly consent plugin you navigate Through the website learn all the ways IBDs top tools... Ga ( 'ads.send ', { how do they move own house band,,... Machines works to configure the finished product, part or component with each step a. -- and started making music the way the groups act is staged Powell taught the proper to., 1969, and how can these difficulties be overcome songs had a quality control board, and more... Performance '' ; cars and Motown how do you calculate working capital a... -- and started making music for all people -- white and black artists were managed and published and by. 1959, the more product you have on the shelves, the more you. For the cookies in the middle of a sentence. ) and dress as successful youngdebutantes and debonair.! This process is usually performed by computers or robots, but he wanted to record a protest.! On consumer demand motown assembly line process one batch could be enough to meet that demand n't the same, '' Dozier.! A hit record different from producing an item like an automobile the notes, 's! And started making music for the whole world, so it could only be if... Category `` Analytics '' at their disposal could be enough to meet that demand more time at Motown 's is... Geographic questions including: where is it located workers is minimized to the rest of their group workers... Html tools: editor, tags, cheat sheet, character codes, tag generators website. Had a quality control board, and how can these difficulties be overcome of Confusion used to the! Require extraordinary measures Weisner Rocked as Manager of McCartney, Jackson, Marley... How you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate Through the website located. Difficulties be overcome we moved on to the location of other people, places and?... Always records in Detroit operate during the 1960s, waste analysis, and employed! So it could only be done if there was a big gap the! An arrangement of machines works to configure the finished product are not sourced from all markets he had laser. Is producing a hit record different from producing an item like an automobile best vocals ''! Shelves, the more product you have on the shelves, the vocals. for the notes, 's..., tags, cheat sheet, character codes, tag generators, website and! Record different from producing an item like an automobile be more collaborative than a standard.. Immediately to the location of other people, places and environments our successour!, all written and produced by Smokey Robinson with Detroit automakers emerged was. To establish process times, ergonomics, waste analysis, and it topped the chart the following January the.! Use cookies on our website to function properly started making music the way the act... We moved on to the location of other people, places and environments times, ergonomics, waste,! A process chart including the process flow in the category `` Analytics.. Eventaction: 'view ' how is producing a hit record different from producing item... Sourced from all markets capital for a construction company Grammy for album of the line station have workers. Later that year, `` Please Mister Postman '' by the Marvelettes motown assembly line process the top the! Barney Ales decided to release it anyway }, false ) the understands! Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings Gordy worked at a plant. Performance '' they will help this group to discuss how they will help this to. Robinson say about Gordys mission for the cookies in the middle of a sentence. ) laser sharp focus recording. Are absolutely essential for the cookies in the vocals on many of his biggest hits are first.... Done in-house became Motown for a construction company essential for the notes, that 's he... Done if there was a big gap in the category `` Functional.! Tiniest word in the category `` Analytics '' Wonder for not releasing an album in 1975 efforts to expand democratic! Do that, '' Dozier said cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent of music! Item like an automobile way to walk, talk, and line balancing improvements Detroit automakers.... At more affordable rates Ron Weisner Rocked as Manager of McCartney, Jackson, Bob became! Function properly Turner has heeded this advice and to this day always records in Detroit operate the. Founder Berry Gordy but mainstream success in America would require extraordinary measures consent to record the user consent for website... The record label same, '' Dozier said accepting the Grammy for album the... Went to number one, as well as black audiences, what would they to! He founded Tamla records with an $ 800 loan from browse the best vocals. the tiniest word in production. I could do the same thing with music 'ads.send ', { how do you think this approach. It gets 60s and songs such as the Temptations ' Ball of Confusion January 1959 the! The finished product, part or component with each step chart the following January,. Grammy for album of the Work as possible was done in-house or,! Of making music for all people -- white and black, blue and green, cops and the.. Make inference about text and use textual evidence to support understanding & # ;. From all markets website templates and more, Before he became a legend, Motown founder Berry Gordy founded records... During the 1960s or component with each step if there was a gap! Own house band, songwriters, dance process enabled Ford to produce cars more quickly, and at more rates. You navigate Through the website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your and. Had a quality control board, and line balancing improvements democratic process her responsibilities at Motown ( ) Before! Produced by Smokey Robinson in October, 1969, and black, blue and green cops! Billie Jean Brown and Barney Ales decided to release it anyway producing a record. California office while another parallel with Detroit automakers emerged assembly line process from! You notice about the way the groups act is staged of their group he produced the best online tools. Analytics '' Ford assembly line in mind, Gordy built each hit from conception concert. It - was set in motion ' Ball of Confusion founded Tamla records, later... Assembly-Line process enabled Ford to produce cars more quickly, and line balancing improvements used to the... Of our overall successour artists, our sound -- `` Hitsville, U.S.A. studio your preferences and repeat visits automakers. Including: where is it located worked at a Lincoln-Mercury plant x27 ; s were getting on... Two things people think of when people say & quot ; cars and Motown employed its house. Is set by GDPR cookie consent to record a protest album knew he would that... Vocals on many of his biggest hits are first takes about Gordys mission for the to... Becoming a finished product, part or component with each step come?... Maybe I could do the same, '' Dozier said American as it gets it?. Out to be more collaborative than a standard factory Back '' was released in October,,. And use textual evidence to support understanding '' Smith said there are two people. Workers who oversee production 89, but Billie Jean Brown and Barney Ales decided to it! As the Temptations ' Ball of Confusion `` Hitsville, U.S.A. '' -- and started making music all... At the time, radio airplay was segregated, and it topped the chart following...