Get Involved blog

Photo courtesy of Motown Record Archives

The Supremes recorded 12 US Number one hits between 1964 and 1969, including an unprecedented five consecutive chart-toppers. Amazing. Also amazing is the collection of their performance costumes which is set to go on display at the V&A in London later this month…

Photo courtesy of Motown Record Archives

On show will be over 50 outfits that chart the changing image of the group from their dresses in the early days (when they were known as The Primettes) to the glamorous Hollywood designs they wore at the height of their success. Set against the backdrop of the meteoric rise of Motown Records - and the turbulence of the American civil rights movement - the display (which will include actual costumes, photographs, magazine spreads and film footage of TV appearances) will explore the inspirational role The Supremes played in changing racial perceptions and their influence on today’s performers.

As the 50th anniversary of Motown Records approaches in 2009, the exhibition will also look at the record label’s history - from lowly beginnings in Detroit to the most successful black owned business in the country. On display will be a reconstruction of the mixing desk from the famous Recording Studio A at Motown’s head quarters, ‘Hitsville USA’. Nice!

The Story of The Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection runs 13 May – 19 October 2008 at the V&A Museum in London.

Monograph is the free, monthly A5 publication that comes bundled with subscriber copies of Creative Review magazine. Each month, Monograph showcases a personal project or collection of creative work or inspirational objects and the latest issue, May 08, features 16 rare vintage seven-inch single record bags from the collection of Derek See (of Derek’s Daily 45 blog)

“45rpm records are my earliest love,” says Derek. “Given a bundle of them by both my mother and my uncle around the time I started walking, these small records with the big hole were an amazing source of wonder to me then, and continue to be the centre of my life to this very day. ”

Yup, we’ve got a blog and this is the very first post on it. The idea is that the I’ll post up a weekly slab of old gold here and also drop nuggets of news about interesting exhibitions and other stuff as-and-when the time is right.

Massive thanks goes to www.indexhibit.org code-king, Vaska, for all his help, time and patience getting the blog up and running in the site. Muchos gracias senor!