City Slang Reads: The Story of Motown

I know, I know. There are a ton of book out there, and a lot of them will be more academic and intellectually stimulating than this one. However, don’t be put off by the “Illustrated” tag on the front, or the cover art which makes the book look like a ‘60s or ‘70s teen magazine. This is a well-researched and very enjoyable look at our own Motown Records.

Of course, Berry Gordy is the real story here – his beginnings and his route to success. His biography is the running theme of the book. But author Peter Benjaminson also looks long and hard at all of Motown’s big players, plus the role of the Funk Brothers and some of the more obscure and perhaps forgotten groups and artists.

The many photos are phenomenal, and there are plenty of entertaining anecdotes here that make this a must-have for all Detroit music fans. Just don’t let it be your only book about Motown.