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BENJAMINSON, PETER: : THE STORY OF MOTOWN

US.LOS ANGELES,CA.A BARNACLE BOOK/RARE BIRD BOOK,2018.

ISBN 9781947856233.

US,slim 8vo wraps/1st rev'd paperback Original edition. [Originally published by Grove Press,(Evergreen Books) first Evergreen edition,1979) as a large format softcover - the true p/back Original in the US and worldwide.This offered title/edition is the stated 'First revised trade paperback Original edition' along with the also stated 'This is a genuine Barnacle Book'.] NMINT.As new,wrapped+protected from day of issue/purchase,so no owner inscrptn and no price removal from cover.Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,matt,wrap-around silvered background with capitalised red+white-lettered title, capitalised,white-lettered author name and 9 Motown stalwarts/artistes (including Berry Gordon) circular,b/w portrait photographs and other black-lettered text; spine/backstrip with no reading creases and similarly coloured+ lettered title+author as the front's and publisher's black illustrated colophon to foot of same,rear cover with black-lettered synopsis. Negligible shelf-wear to corners and edges,card covers with no nicks,tears or splits present, and scoring/indent-free.Top+fore-edges bright and clean without foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,unread other than my own collation. US,slim 8vo wraps/1st rev'd paperback Original edition, 9-182pp [paginated] includes a Foreword by Marcus Griel (music journalist),an Introduction, a Prologue,23 chapters and an Afterword,32pp contemporary b/w photographs in 1 block,between pp96/97,and Motown Top Twenty Hits: 1961-71; plus [unpaginated] half-title with a blank reverse,a title page,a 'Thanks to' page,also with a blank reverse,a Contents list/table and to the rear,2pp blanks.                        Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional,and particularly internally,the book is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation for a book of its nature, i.e. an ephemeral p/back original.It really is an exceptional,exemplary example for its cleanliness,rightness and lack of detracting faults - a superb copy.                          A re-release of the first book ever published in America about the legendary Motown Record Company,with a new foreword by legendary music journalist Greil Marcus! In January 1959, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and founded the Detroit-based record company that in less than a decade was to become the largest black-owned business in the United States. It also became one of the most productive and influential producers of popular music anywhere in the world, mainly by combining the best features of black and white American popular music.Even a short list of the recording and performing talent that Gordy recruited, trained and produced for his company is awesome: Diana Ross, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells.                   'The Story of Motown' is the story of Berry Gordy's triumph over powerful,established financial interests, entrenched popular taste, bigotry and racism. By inventing a sound that appealed to whites as well as blacks, and that was immediately identifiable to an entire generation of listeners, Gordy demonstrated his genius as a producer; by breaking the exploitive practice of "cover" records, he helped black artists control their own music and share in the proceeds of hits; and by the sheer force of his will, courage, and intelligence, he demonstrated that a black man from the urban ghetto could aspire to and conquer the heights of traditional American business,including the movie business.                                        Unfortunately, while doing all of this, he also found new ways to exploit his talented artists and eventually lost many of them to companies that paid them more.'The Story of Motown' is the story of the rise and fall of one of the most important cultural touchstones in American history.  Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight of this item,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. ALL buyers please note,that stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of any inexpensive book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **   

US,slim 8vo wraps/1st rev'd paperback Original edition.
Not SIGNED.

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