‘My Guy’: the hit that signalled Motown’s arrival in the UK
Producing countless iconic hits and launching a plethora of now-iconic performers, Berry Gordy’s Motown Records was a commercial powerhouse within only a few years of its foundation. In 1959, the label unleashed its very first nationwide hit record, Barrett Strong’s ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’, and the Motown sound quickly became the defining sound of the 1960s. Even still, the label could not seem to break into the pop charts on the other side of the Atlantic, in the United Kingdom.
American records have always been a strong feature of the Hit Parade in the UK, so much so that multiple American artists first established themselves in England before achieving success in their homeland. During the 1960s, however, those charts were dominated by Britain’s blossoming pop scene. Groups like The Rolling Stones, The Animals, and The Beatles provided the nation’s youth with all the inventive musical expression they desired. So, despite a conceited effort by Berry Gordy and high-profile support from the likes of The Beatles and The Stones, Motown struggled to make a mainstream impact in the UK.
Despite this, underground clubs and subcultures like the mod movement adopted the sounds of Motown during the early 1960s, leading British artists like Dusty Springfield and The Beatles to record their own versions of Motown tracks, which helped to establish the label for UK audiences. Gordy always recognised the potential for success across the Atlantic, even offering reduced royalty rates to artists like the Fab Four who were willing to record covers of Motown hits.
So, by the time 1964 rolled around, the Motown sound was already known by audiences across the nation, whether they recognised it as being from the Detroit label or not. This left the gate open for one of Motown’s most promising stars, Mary Wells, to become the first artist on the label to achieve a number one in the UK. Having topped the US charts upon its release, the single managed to reach number five in the UK singles chart when released by Stateside Records.
Penned by Motown’s star songwriter Smokey Robinson, the song sees Mary Wells talk of her dedication to her boyfriend, fitting in with the usual romanticism of Motown’s hits. However, the single was revolutionary for multiple reasons. Not only did the success of the single mark Motown’s arrival in the UK, but it also marked Wells as being Motown’s first female solo star. Previously, the label’s hits had largely come from male artists or groups, but Wells established herself as an individual star within the label’s roster.
Wells’ time at Motown was regrettably short when she left the label in early 1965, only months after ‘My Guy’ peaked at number five in the UK charts. Her contract with Gordy’s label was signed by Wells at the age of only 17, and she became frustrated with the lack of royalties earned from her biggest hit, leading to a lengthy lawsuit with the label boss. Eventually, the vocalist was freed from her contract and went on to sign for 20th Century Fox after leaving Motown.
Meanwhile, ‘My Guy’ sparked a colossal interest in Motown Records over in the UK. Multiple hit records followed, with The Supremes’ iconic track ‘Baby Love’ becoming the label’s first UK number one single in 1964. In total, Motown achieved 168 top-20 singles in the UK between 1964 and 1988 – the year that Gordy sold the label to MCA. Speaking to the impact of ‘My Guy’, the single charted in the UK once again when the single was reissued by Motown in 1972, reaching number 14.
