Grit, noise and a bubbling tension: it was these components that made Motor City the birthplace of some of the all-time greatest musicians. With news this week that Detroit has become the largest US city to file for bankruptcy, it's time to celebrate the place that inspired the fruition of techno, Motown and garage rock. From its smoke filled back-alleys to the offices of its seminal labels, Detroit has spawned the likes of Aretha Franklin, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, MC5, Suzi Quatro, Rodriguez, Funkadelic, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Knack, Diana Ross, Sufjan Stevens, Del Shannon, Alice Cooper and too many more to list.
We asked our Twitter followers to name their their quintessential Detroit tracks – you can hear their choices in the YouTube playlist embedded above (individual selections listed below).
Detroit playlist
@annacod Juan Atkins - Techno City
@iPaulie Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tears of a Clown
@grumpynorthener Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)
@RZA79 Rhythim Is Rhythim - Strings of Life
@andyneilson Stevie Wonder - Living For The City
@neilquinney EMINEM - Lose Yourself
@BritLibDryden Iggy And The Stooges - Raw Power
@esquerdafestiva Martha & The Vandellas - Dancing in the Streets
