Gordy

(“The purple one”)

**This is a discography for Gordy Records – other Motown labels are listed here. If you’re looking for a full list of every Motown single, try the Master Index instead!**

One of the “big three” Motown labels, along with Tamla and Motown, Gordy Records was founded in March 1962, essentially a successor to the unloved and short-lived Miracle Records label. Supposedly, the “Gordy” name was a hasty choice, Berry Gordy Jr having picked it at the last minute to stop his ex-wife Thelma starting up her own label under that name. (She had to settle for the less catchy “Thelma Records” instead).

Like Tamla, Gordy Records concentrated mainly on R&B, although its later releases would be flavoured with a heavier funk and later disco influence. Its labels were always a deep, rich purple colour, and its slogan was the grammatically-confused “It’s what’s in the grooves that count”. (Which makes little sense, unless they were suggesting “gordy” as a word for the stuff that got stuck in the grooves of your best records, or something. Anyway.)

Gordy Records’ initial roster was mostly made up of new acts; only the Temptations and the Valadiers made the trip over from Miracle, with the Contours arriving from Motown. The first release on Gordy Records, in March 1962, was the excellent (You’re My) Dream Come True by the Temptations; the group remained signed to Gordy throughout their Sixties and early Seventies heyday, and remain the label’s best-known artist, although Gordy was also home to a few other major stars including Martha & the Vandellas and Edwin Starr.

The Gordy label kept on going strong throughout the Seventies and early Eighties, sustained by a steady stream of singles from the Temptations as well as new acts like Rick James and DeBarge. Gordy was one of only two remaining Motown subsidiaries when it closed its doors at the start of 1987 and merged with Motown Records; the last Gordy single release was Someone by, fittingly, the Temptations, featuring two of the same line-up who had cut the very first Gordy release 25 years previously.

Here’s a list of the Gordy Records singles that have been covered on Motown Junkies so far.

GORDY RECORDS: 45 DISCOGRAPHY (1962-66)

(Click a song title to read a full review of that side. NB: The coloured numbers after each title indicate the highly subjective mark out of ten I gave that song on the day I happened to write about it. They weren’t intended to be taken too seriously.)

4 thoughts on “Gordy”

  1. bernie yaffe said:

    Does anyone have a listing of special singles issued on Gordy with the prefix G then number 71,72 etc rather than the usual four digit 7001 etc. My usual bible is the Motown Factbook Heatwave series but none are listed in here. any help would be appreciated.

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  2. Dennis Pangilinan said:

    I got all this “GORDY RECORD LABELS” and also “MOTOWN RECORD LABELS” and I just wanna know if this are collectible items and what would be the price range. All if them is in perfect conditions and with the sleeves. Anyone? Thanks

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  3. thomas chavis said:

    In reference to the slogan on the Gordy label ” It’s what’s in the grooves that count,” that slogan was in referring to the music on the records, not Berry Gordy Jr. The slogan makes sense to me; many others would agree with me.

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  4. thomaschavis said:

    In reference to the slogan on the Gordy label, “It’s what’s in the grooves that count,” they (Motown) were referring to the music on the records. Not Berry Gordy Jr. The slogan makes sense to me; many others would agree as well.

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