ABSTRACT Motown, founded by songwriter and entrepreneur Berry Gordy, broke down barriers between R writing lyrics with universal meaning that were clever, intelligent, and memorable; and emphasizing strong beats using percussion and bass (foreshadowing disco and hip-hop). The Beatles learned from the Motown Sound, covering their early songs and emulating Smokey Robinson’s smooth singing style and eloquent songwriting techniques. In turn, Motown artists thanked the Beatles for their support by covering their songs. Since Motown’s 1959 founding, the label and the Beatles would prove to have a symbiotic relationship. This article explores this relationship, analyzing specific song examples and placing the argument within the context of scholars such as Walter Everett (2001) and Jack Hamilton (2016). In addition, this two-way relationship is explored in first-person accounts from Motown founder Berry Gordy (1994), Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick (2007), and Funk Brothers member Dennis Coffey (2010). It will be shown that the label’s influence lingered with the Beatles far beyond their covers; indeed, Motown’s songwriting and recording techniques would shape the group’s sound throughout their artistic development.
Kit O’Toole (Fri,) studied this question.