Today in Music (1961): Motown achieved its first #1

Please Mr. Postman The Marvelettes

Writer(s): Brian Holland, Robert Bateman, William Garrett, Georgia Dobbins, Freddie Gorman (see lyrics here) Released: August 21, 1961 First Charted: September 4, 1961 Peak: 11 US, 2 CB, 2 HR, 17 RB (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.2 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 2.0 radio, 75.7 video, 180.99 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Not only was “Please Mr. Postman” the debut single for the Marvelettes, but it was the first Motown song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song took a then-record fifteen weeks to reach the summit. FB It also topped the R&B charts. The Beatles notably covered the song for their 1963 album With the Beatles and the Carpenters took the song back to the top of the pop charts in 1975. The group, originally called the Casinyets, formed in high school. In 1961, they entered the school’s talent show knowing the winner would get an audition with Motown. They came in fourth, but their teacher, Mrs. Sharpley, pushed for the group to also go to the audition. Motown was impressed, but wanted original material. FB Member Georgia Dobbins turned to her friend William Garrett. He gave her a blues song which she reworked for the group. Sadly, Dobbins had to drop out of the group to care for her sick mother so the final version of the song featured Gladys Horton on lead. The song and group underwent still more changes when Motown chief Berry Gordy renamed the group and brought in songwriters Brian Holland and Robert Bateman to rework the song again. WK The final rendition featured Motown’s legendary studio team the Funk Brothers. The song wasn’t just the launch of Motown, but a quintessential slice of the girl group sound with “frothy harmonies, Horton’s gritty lead, a nifty blues piano, and some remarkably funky drumming by the young Marvin Gaye.” DM Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Marvelettes FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 101. DM Dave Marsh (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New American Library: New York, NY. Page 434. First posted 12/11/2011; last updated 1/20/2024.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2015 Nominees

image from fox8.com

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2015 nominees on the morning of October 9, 2014. Based on recent years, 6 of these 15 are likely to be voted in and inducted at the ceremony on April 18, 2015. At FutureRockLegends.com, fans could vote for five. Included below are those results (FRL followed by the % of fans who voted for the act). Also, acts which made the DMDB list of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs are noted (DMDB + rank). I’ve listed the 15 nominees in order of what I consider their likelihood of getting in.

1. Green Day: First year eligible. FRL: 56%
2. Nine Inch Nails: First year eligible. FRL: 43%
3. Chic: Eligible since 2003. 9-time nominee. FRL: 21%. DMDB: #45
4. N.W.A.: Eligible since 2013. 3-time nominee. FRL: 33%
5. Kraftwerk: Eligible since 1996. 3-time nominee. FRL: 35%. DMDB: #30
6. Stevie Ray Vaughan: Eligible since 2009. First-time nominee. FRL: 55%. DMDB: #8
7. Lou Reed: Eligible since 1998. 2-time nominee. FRL: 49%
8. The Smiths: Eligible since 2009. First-time nominee. FRL: 47%. DMDB: #19
9. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: Eligible since 2006. 3-time nominee. FRL: 39%. DMDB: #38
10. Sting: Eligible since 2008. First-time nominee. FRL: 25%
11. The Spinners: Eligible since 1987. Second-time nominee. FRL: 18%. DMDB: #98
12. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Eligible since 1989. 4-time nominee. FRL: 10%
13. War: Eligible since 1997. 3-time nominee. FRL: 23%
14. The Marvelettes: Eligible since 1987. Second nomination. FRL: 18%
15. Bill Withers: Eligible since 1997. First-time nominee. FRL: 29%

FlavorWire.com picks Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, Chic, N.W.A., and Kraftwerk. I also think these are the five best bets, although my personal picks would be for The Smiths and Lou Reed to get in over Nine Inch Nails and Chic.

Based on the Hall’s prior record, they want a big name, first-time nominee which makes Green Day a shoe-in. Nine Inch Nails is also a pretty decent bet, although I could see them getting held over for another year. The Smiths, Sting, and Stevie Ray Vaughan are also first-time nominees, although they’ve been eligible previously. SRV probably has the best shot of that batch, although I think all three deserve to be in. Bill Withers also got his first nod, but I think he’s the most unlikely of all 15 nominees to get in and I don’t personally think he’s Hall-worthy.

The Hall also likes to get someone in who they’ve backed for a long time. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Kraftwerk, N.W.A., The Spinners, and War have all garnered at least three nominations. With 9 nominations, the Hall really wants to get Chic in. Personally, I think N.W.A. and Kraftwerk are more deserving, but all three could make the cut. Joan Jett would be the next most likely.

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Resources and Related Links:

• DMDB blog: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Greatest Snubs (10/19/14)
• FutureRockLegends.com: The 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees
• FlavorWire.com: Rock Hall Nominees 2015: A Realistic Guide to Their Chances

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