Berry Gordy HATED Every Record On This List. Every One Became A Motown Legend.

Berry Gordy built the most commercially successful Black-owned music company in American history by trusting his instincts. The problem was that his instincts were sometimes completely, spectacularly wrong. When Marvin Gaye played him "What's Going On," Berry Gordy said — directly, out loud, to his face — "This is the worst record I have ever heard in my life." Gaye responded by refusing to record another note for Motown until it was released. The standoff lasted months. When the song finally came out, it went to number one. Rolling Stone later ranked the album the greatest ever made. The man who called it the worst record he'd ever heard eventually called Marvin Gaye and apologized. "The Tears of a Clown" sat in Motown's vault for FOUR YEARS because Gordy couldn't see the commercial potential. Motown's UK arm finally released it without his direct involvement. It went to #1 in the UK immediately. Then #1 in the US. When Norman Whitfield brought him "War" — the most powerful anti-Vietnam protest song in soul music history — Gordy refused to let the Temptations release it. Too political. Too risky. He agreed to re-record it with a different artist instead. Edwin Starr recorded it. It stayed at #1 for three weeks. Three million copies. One of the most enduring protest songs in human history. When Diana Ross's team brought him "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" — the six-minute version with the spoken passages — Gordy hated the talking. He refused to release it as a single. DJs were editing the album track themselves. The audience response was overwhelming. Motown released an official edit. It went to #1 on both the pop and R&B charts simultaneously. #BerryGordy #Motown #MotownHistory #MarvinGaye #WhatsGoingOn #TheSupremes #Temptations #SoulMusic #BlackMusicHistory #MusicHistory #GordyWasWrong #MusicDocumentary #MusicFacts #HitSvilleUSA #SoulClassics #EdwinStarr #War #DianaRoss #SmokyRobinson #TearsOfAClown #GodsLove #IGrapevine #WhereDidOurLoveGo #LittleSteviewWonder #Fingertips #CloudNine #PapaWasARollinStone #TheMiracles #AintNoMountainHighEnough #GladysKnight #IHeardItThroughTheGrapevine #ForOnceInMyLife