Come and Get These Memories: The Genius of Holland–Dozier–Holland, Motown's Incomparable Songwriters

by Edward Holland, Brian Holland, Dave Thompson

Brian Holland, Edward Holland, and Lamont Dozier, known as Holland-Dozier-Holland or H-D-H, were the greatest songwriting team in American pop music history.
Seventy of the songs they wrote reached the Billboard Top 40, with 15 of these reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. No other songwriting team or individual has come close to equaling, let alone surpassing, this record. They’ve been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
As tunesmiths for the legendary Motown Record Corporation, and for their own corporations, Invictus Records and Hot Wax Records, they wrote and produced hits for Diana Ross and the Supremes, including “Baby Love,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “I Hear a Symphony,” “Come See About Me,” “Back in My Arms Again” and “Reflections.”
Now the legendary composers are ready to reveal the inspirations and stories behind their chart-topping hits, providing millions of fans with the first complete history of their songwriting process, and detail the real-life experiences that led them to write each of their most famous tunes. They will also reveal their creative and intimate relationships with Motown’s biggest stars.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2019

Reviews

[Koven Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more out of this one. My main complaint is just that so much of the good stuff is simply summarized (or asserted without evidence) and most of the elements never seem to build to a real theme.

Eddie Holland probably emerges as the most fully-realized in the narrative; the reader gets a good sense of how he approaches lyric writing and song structure, but Brian remains a cypher. It's asserted throughout the narrative that he's a genius, but it's never clear why those around him feel that way; few actual examples of his genius are given. Lamont Dozier never really feels like an actual person in the narrative; he sort of drifts in unannounced, becomes important (apparently, though examples of why he was so important to the process are few and far between), and then leaves the partnership, while demonstrating traits that have supposedly been present all along (and never previously described in the book). People who were supposedly extremely important to HDH's success at Motown aren't even mentioned until the epilogue, and it's never clear why they were so important, beyond the Hollands simply asserting that they were.

In these and all cases, I wanted more actual anecdotes or interviews with other participants--more stories from the studio floor, or from the Quality Control meetings with Motown staff, or rehearsals. As it stands, it's a breezy, passable memoir with a fairly unfocused narrative. Which is frustrating, because I feel like this could have been so much more.

[Mickey McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

These songwriters need no introduction.
During the mid 60s, only John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote more hit songs than Holland Dozier Holland. Here brothers Eddie and Brian Holland tell their story in the own words about how they created some of those classic songs, and a great insight into Motown behind the scenes. Great music read.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I don't know much this book will affect the reader if the music they made isn't familiar with them, I thought this was a very charming memoir by the Holland brothers (although mostly Eddie). I was invested in their family lives before they ever got to Motown, and I thought it showed a lot of wisdom and humility, although it was only from their two perspectives. Eddie was the older brother and confident lyricist, while Brian was the younger brother and ultra-talented composer, producer, and arranger--a role he shared with the silent partner in their story, Lamont Dozier.

[Sam Sciarrotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet and honest memoir, but I wish it went a little more in depth on a few things. Obviously the Motown years were the bread and butter of the book, but I did especially love the family stuff in the beginning.

[Paris Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come and Get These Memories is (half of) the oral history of the legendary songwriters and heartbeat behind the iconic Motown sound—Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier (who passed away 3 days ago 🕊❤️) and Eddie Holland. I wish this was way longer. It's Motown and they're the creative minds behind many classics! There was definitely more left unsaid, especially from Lamont whose voice is absent from this book. Come and Get These Memories is very Eddie driven rather than an even share between the Holland Brothers, who are listed as co-authors. I kept juggling between giving this a 4 since it's good nonetheless or a 3 since it feels incomplete without 3 solid presences. I'm settling on a 3.5 rating. (If only Goodreads finally gave us the option for half ratings...)

I would've appreciated more reveals on the inspirations behind their other hits and the details on things like arrangements to name a few since I'm a music head. Thank goodness Lamont Dozier has his own memoir, How Sweet It Is: A Songwriter's Reflections on Music, Motown and the Mystery of the Muse, that I can dive into and get another perspective.

[Louise Fyffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. As a fan of Motown I have been meaning to delve into whatever literature I could find on the subject and what a place to start! Dozier's book is next.

The brother's early lives, how they relate to each other (Eddie is clearly the more outgoing and forceful one where negotiating is concerned.) The older sibling thing. The anecdotes surrounding the miriad of stars that they worked for, and what happened after the magic of Motown started to slow down.

A must read for anyone who has a place in their heart for the unforgettable songs created by these men and their former partner, Dozier.

[Tyrone Umrani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many books on the history of Motown records, but this one was refreshing in that it was direct recollections from two of the leading figures that built the cultural giant. It doesn't go into detail to the extent I hoped about the inspiration behind some of the seminal songs the HDH team wrote and produced, but I was intrigued by their accounts of the personal relationships, particularly around their split with the label and their enduring friendship with Berry Gordy that survived the turmoil. It was a solid read.

[Chet Slonina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history about the less known songwriters of Motown! The amount of songs penned by these three rivals many of the better known musical authors! They made Motown what it was and have it survived. Whether a gift or a learned process or both, the trio had the ability for lyrics, music and the “groove” To make many more songs and hits that were blended by the genius of all three. A great Summer read to give you a glimpse of how this trio were the first and last talent giving Motown its shining glory.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know bits and pieces about Motown, but mostly from sidebars in other books about individual musicians like Ray Charles or places like Detroit or Black history in general. Come and Get These Memories doesn’t try to tell the whole history of Motown, but is the Dozier brothers’ recollections of their lives and experiences as two of the core and highly integral members of one of the most awarded writing teams there. It’s an insider’s view of a very special time and place in music history, and worth your time to read.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly honest and kinda flat

In a first person memoir you can't help but sound a little bit of a jerk. There were interesting stories and clarifications about some things that got reported wrong. It was amazing to see how chance and community made so much music come together. It really drove home how magical Motown was. It's a good book to read if you're looking into that Era.

[Robert Swanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a big fan of Motown, I really enjoyed it. Reading about the start of the company and the cast of characters was very interesting. I always enjoy knowing why and how certain songs were written and this book went into quite a lot of detail about their most famous songs. Many of the events were glossed over without much detail and that left me wanting more.

[DAVID L. CHURCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

So insightful and meaningful . Such a great glimpse into the history of the great Motown

So insightful and meaningful . Such a great glimpse into the history of the great Motown. I feel like I was there when this historically great music was created

[John 126 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many good stories behind some of the Motown hits and the people involved. I wish there were more. The focus is on the two Holland brothers with less information on Lamont Dozier. Slow start with too much background on their family but it gets going quickly then

[Bob Furnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being into music I have always admired HDH, so really enjoyed reading about their lives and how the music came about. Great book, couldn’t put it down.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love hearing the backstories of songs I grew up with and of the writers, arrangers, and musicians behind the starring performers. This is a book of those stories, told by two of the most important of those people, Eddie and Brian Holland.

I admire their values, their upbringing, their modesty, their sense of fairness with others, their effectiveness, and most of all their music.

Eddie's account of how he studied the data behind the records that became hits or misses was a fascinating example of the seriousness with which he took the business side of music -- the complement to Brian's musical aesthetic.

And the emotional stories play out just as well -- as in the epilogue about Esther Gordy (Edwards). Try not to get a lump in your throat.

Revealing quotes:

-- Detroit was still the heartbeat of American music, and it still had a lot of untapped talent. The urban cities are always more creative than the industry hubs because there are less distractions and more inspirations, less calculation, less desperation. In the cities, an act is able to develop its own personality. In the hubs, it does what everyone else is doing.

-- It was during the early to mid-1970s when we first realized that the songs we had written in the 1960s were showing no signs of going away.

Long may H-D-H's music continue to find new generations and interpretations, though for me, the first is still the best.

[Tim Armitage · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Holland - Dozier - Holland songwriting partnership had more hits than the Beatles.

[Mike Jurkovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

so many stories of Motown still need to be told