Jose Feliciano and Adam Ant? That was absolutely ridiculous! A Motown special should feature Motown artists. Junior Walker only gets 30 seconds? He didn't even get to finish his song, but the producers find time for Adam Ant? That's messed up. What Motown fan cares about Adam Ant!
I loved the special tribute to Motown, but giving airtime to these random artists that had no connection to Motown was just ridiculous.
I know!!! I saw the clip on YouTube and I was flabbergasted that he only got 30 seconds. I'm not even going to buy the DVD, I mean JR Walker may not have had as many hits as Smokey, Marvin or Michael, but he did have hits which he could have sung. I always felt like he wasn't that appreciated with the Motown Sound.
My job is to inform, not persuade- Dan Rather
I bought the DVD and it was pretty good except for Adam Ant, Jose Feliciano, and a weird radio bit that they did. None of that had anything to do with Motown. They should not have wasted so much time.
The Motown acts were fantastic. The Temptations and the Four Tops were incredible, as were all the other Motown artists. So many Motown artists were not featured enough, so I would not recommend buying the DVD. Like you said, just watch the highlights on YouTube.
A few years ago, someone posted the full show on YouTube from the original broadcast, that's when I seen it. As you can tell I'm a Jr Walker and the All Stars fan, just would have been awesome if he performed with other Motown acts.
It will more than likely be posted on YouTube again now that it's on DVD.
My job is to inform, not persuade- Dan Rather
I concur that the special should have featured only Motown artists. But Jose Feliciano did record for the Motown label. He was the first act signed to their Latin division and released a self titled album in 1980 and "Romance in the Night" in 1983. Feliciano is a very talented artist. But with all due respect, I don't think he is considered a Motown act.
Linda Ronstadt had no business performing at the historic event. She did have hits with Smokey Robinson songs "Ooh Baby Baby" and "Tracks of My Tears". Whoop de doo. Ronstadt wasn't the only artist with hit songs written by a Motown artist. And it was a concert featuring Motown acts, not a tribute concert. I would have rather seen The Marvelettes, The Vandellas, The Contours, Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr and/or Gladys Knight & the Pips. Ashford & Simpson appeared onstage at the end, but did not perform.
Linda Ronstadt had no business performing at the historic event.