this thread was put up due to popular demand by Pandurito and other rather nostalgic fellow orgers

so let's hear your favourite Motown songs. but please still spare Rick James and the Dazz Band for later, the focus here should be on the classic Motown sound up til around 1970 or sumthin' (we don't want to go to much "modern", do we? )


Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
Pride & Joy - Marvin Gaye
My Guy - Mary Wells
Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vendellas
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
Love's Gone Bad - Chris Clark
This Old Heart Of Mine - Isley Brothers
Please Mr. Postman - Marvelettes
I'll Be There - Jackson 5
Heaven Must Have Sent You - Elgins
Baby I Need Your Loving - Four Tops
You've Really Got A Hold On Me - Miracles
He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' - Velvelettes
It's A Shame - Spinners
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
The Tracks Of My Tears - Miracles
Get Ready - Rare Earth
The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips / Marvin Gaye
Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - Marvin Gaye
Nowhere To Run - Martha & The Vendellas
Come See About Me - Supremes
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You - Marvin Gaye
War - Edwin Starr
If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight & The Pips
It Takes Two - Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
Bernadette - Four Tops
Twenty-Five Miles - Edwin Starr
Ball Of Confusion - Temptations
Leaving Here - Eddie Holland
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
It's The Same Old Song - Four Tops
First I Look At The Purse - Contours
(Love Is Like A) Heatwave - Martha & The Vendellas
My Girl - Temptations
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
My Smile Is Just A Frown - Carolyn Crawford
My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - David Ruffin
Baby I'm For Real - Originals
Jimmy Mack - Martha & The Vendellas
Shotgun - Walker Jr. & The Allstars
I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Standing In The Shadows Of Love - Four Tops
Cloud Nine - Temptations
The Way You Do The Things You Do - Temptations
Roadrunner - Jr. Walker & The Allstars
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
Beechwood 45789 - Marvelettes
Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops
Baby Love - Supremes
More Love - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Shop Around - Miracles
I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops
Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You - Rita Wright (Syreeta)
Ain't Too Proud To Beg - Temptations
The Love You Save - Jackson 5
Devil With The Blue Dress - Shorty Long
Just My Imagination - Temptations


.
[Edited 9/27/04 5:14am]

You pretty much picked all the songs that I like,but do you remember this one from the mid-60s?


"My Darling Baby" by the Elgins


Some of my other favorites (we're gonna be here all day doing this...lol )

"The One Who Really Loves You" by Mary Wells
"Ask The Lonely" by The Four Tops
"What Becomes Of The Broken-Hearted" by Jimmy Ruffin
"It's A Shame" by the Spinners
"Baby Baby Don't Cry" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
"Farewell My Love" by The Temptations
"Check Yourself" by The Temptations
"Slow Down Heart" by The Temptations
"Love Is Here And Now You're Gone" by Diana Ross and The Supremes
"Does Your Mama Know About Me" by Johnny and the Vancouvers (?)
"Signed,Sealed,Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder
"Ooh Baby Baby" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
"What Love Has Joined Together" by Mary Wells


Damn,too many songs to list! Motown rules!!!

DavidEye said:

Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers shitnit

lil tidbit.... Tommy Chong Played Guitar and background vocals for this group and the b-side to this amazing record "Fading away" should have been the follow up but sadly does your mama know about me, waskinda thier only smash single for Motown

DavidEye said:

Oh yes.. I think I remember, I think I remember... damn fine, damn fine it was back then... so anyone else wanna join the three of us reminiscing...?

TheRealFiness said:

"Fading Away" was later recorded by The Temptations.On their upcoming classic R&B tribute album,Hall and Oates cover it as well.

Ahhh yes! Makes me proud to be from Detroit!

Love & Light,

Quietsoul

What about The Ronettes - Be my baby

Dewrede said:

that was not on Motown that was on "Philles" and that was an LA company not Detroit

I '60s Motown. The Sound of Young America. Holland-Dozier-Holland -- it can't get no righter!

Gotta love Marvin & Tammi, Supremes (avec Ross), & the Temptations. Woo!

Can anyone suggest some good Motown Compilations?

Clubkid said:

Of just the 60s era? Because it's difficult to compile the entire label's best tracks.

yeah... i think i'd be primarily interested in 60s era stuff.... there's a recent-ish cd called "Motown 1s"... that's along the lines of what i am looking for... but i'd like something a bit more comprehensive... it's got 20+ songs, but i need more (the obsessive/compulsive is coming out now!)

Thanks!

How bout this?

Someday We'll Be Together by Diana Ross & The Supremes.

CinisterCee said:

just checked out the track list on towerrecords.com...looks like a good place to start. I have an import compilation called "motown forever" and the selection of songs is kinda lame.

Thanks 'Cee!

The more well known members of the Motown family (including Gordy, Soul, Tamla, etc.) of artists are always well represented in threads like these.
Here are some of the lesser known artists (some already listed by Dancelot ) that you may want to look into.

The Contours - Do You Love Me
Mable John - (1st female single artist signed to Motown on Tamla)
Shorty Long:
Devil With The Blue Dress (orig version and writer)
Function At The Junction
The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman (Motown's 1st #1 POP hit)
Barbara McNair - Your Gonna Love My Baby
The Originals - Baby I'm For Real
Barbara Randolph - I Got A Feeling
Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts
David Ruffin - My Whole World Ended
Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted
The "Detroit" Spinners - It’s a Shame (written by Stevie Wonder)
Barrett Strong - Money
Tammi Terrell - I Can't Believe You Love Me
Undisputed Truth - Smiling Faces (actually 1970)
The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack
Kim Weston - Take Me In Your Arms
Mary Wells - You Beat Me To The Punch (1st Motown Grammy nomination)

Billy Eckstine also has an album or two on Motown.

In terms of full albums, some of this material is only available as U.K. re-releases.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Now you did it. You made me pull my mama's old Supremes albums.

Here are some of my favorites by the Supremes:

Where Did Our Love Go
Come See About Me
Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart
Baby Love
I Can't Help Myself
Money (That's What I Want)
These Boots Were Made For Walking
Hang On Sloopy
Get Ready
This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)
Long Gone Lover
Run, Run, Run
Come And Get These Memories
When The Love Light Starts Shining Through His Eyes
Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)

She only has two Supremes albums and all these tracks came from them. I notice there are several remakes on there.

These albums are full of snap, crackle, and pop but.....hey, that's all part of truly getting into them.

Clubkid said:

Your best bet is the 4-CD box set that came out in 1992.It's called "Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles 1959-1971" and it pretty much covers the ENTIRE 60s era.Trust me,you won't be disappointed.

Thanks DavidEye! Holy shit... that looks like an excellent set as well!

I guess I'll be shopping this weekend!

Clubkid said:

That box set is extraordinary.Has all the Motown hits you'll ever need.

It was fate... I walked into a record store yesterday and the box set was literally sitting on the counter... I bought it... It's AMAZING!!!!!

I am having so much fun going through it.... I LOVE IT!

Thanks for the suggestion!

"Didn't I treat you right now baby, didn't I....."

Dancelot said:

all on my favorites list!

vainandy said:

more of my favorites!

Clubkid said:

I remember in 1992,buying THREE copies of that box set to give out as Christmas gifts.It makes a perfect gift for anyone who loves Motown.You won't need to buy any other 60s Motown compilations.This set covers it all.

DavidEye said:

I didn't recommend this box set because I was not aware of it. Thanks,DavidEye.