Early tours featured Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, Barrett Strong, and The Contours as headlining acts, and gave then-second-tier acts such as Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips and The Temptations the chances to improve their skills.
[1] Motown's entire roster, and occasionally non-Motown performers such as James Brown and The Famous Flames, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, The Shirelles and Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, were featured on the tours.
In the Deep South racism became an issue, as the mostly African American performers were sometimes attacked or threatened by local white residents.
Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr. noted in his biography, To Be Loved, that the Revue was used to showcase Stevie Wonder in the days before he had his first hit.
[2] In 2015, a double CD deluxe edition of the Motortown Revue in Paris was released, containing 12 previously unavailable and unreleased live tracks.