pendejo
hotwax
Because Leonard Chess was Caucasian as most Chicago labels were, and VeeJay didn't have national exposure. At a time (late 50's/early 60's) when Blacks were still 'untrusting' of White businessmen and some of the shenanigans that ripped them off. Not that Chess was ripping people off, just didn't have the trust factor yet. As far as Motown's 'respect', their popularity was gained by their consistent hits and quality control. As well as the variety and what's called "The Golden Hook" which Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Pam Sawyer, Deke Richards (as well as Berry) were famous for. A passage in a song (hook) that leaves you anticipating the next stanza.See Money, Cloud Nine, Psychedelic Shack, Love Child, etc.Motown groups were classified and shuffled around according to their 'in house' status. Going from V.I.P. to Tamla meant your were on your way up and more promotion. But going from the Motown label to Prodigal means you were on your way down. Or going from Rare Earth to Prodigal was a step down. Some titles wouldn't fit well on particular labels and they were produced on one-off's.See Blaze, Gaiee, Weed, Ecology labels.As Motown Corp. grew, other labels were acquired and artists shuffled to find a fit. Many were released when contracts ended.Others going from Harvey Fuqua's Tri-Phi or Harvey label to SOUL.Going from Ric-Tic, or Golden World to SOUL or Motown.Edwin Starr went from (Golden World's) Ric-Tic label to Gordy.Junior Walker went from (Harvey Fuqua's) Harvey label to Soul.Carl Carlton* went from Golden World and then released.David Ruffin went from (Anna Gordy's) Anna label to unemployed until joining The Temptations.Also: For instance songs that were great but were not released because of one technical error, and remake was not possible.One particular title comes to mind. "All I Do" performed by Tammy Terrell (written by Stevie Wonder) an excellent title but one mistake in the song where something was dropped, sent a sure hit to the vaults only to be heard after 2004. This title can be heard on 'Cellarful of Motown Vol 1.' Tammy was ill at the time and a retake wasn't possible.Chicago had it share of successes, but they weren't consistent. Growing up in 60's/70's in Chicagoland I had the exposure to both ChiTown and Motown, equally enjoyable, but the hits were coming out of Detroit one right after the other. Factor in other outside influences, such as Stax, and rising LA, Philly, PolyDor, and HotWax/Invictus, by then Chicago was losing it audience share by not being consistent. Soul music fans were/are picky!I do remember Etta, The Dells, The Chi-lites, Howling Wolf...but not burining in my mind like Heatwave, Stop, In the Name of Love*Carlton was a child prodigy on piano/organ and Motown already had one- Stevie Wonder. Carlton later produced the hit "Bad Mamma Jamma' and everyone wondered "where'd he came from?"