Motown #1s

igotid88

Motown: The Complete No. 1's [11 CD Box Set]
https://amzn.to/2IVtQ6S

Disc: 1

  1. Shop Around - Miracles (featuring Bill ?Smokey? Robinson)

  2. Please Mr. Postman ? The Marvelettes

  3. Do You Love Me ? The Contours

  4. You Beat Me To The Punch ? Mary Wells

  5. Two Lovers - Mary Wells

  6. You've Really Got A Hold On Me ? The Miracles

  7. Fingertips - Part 2 - Little Stevie Wonder

  8. Heat Wave - Martha & The Vandellas

  9. The Way You Do the Things You Do - The Temptations

  10. My Guy - Mary Wells

  11. Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes

  12. Baby Love - The Supremes

  13. Come See About Me - The Supremes

  14. My Girl ? The Temptations

  15. Shotgun - Jr. Walker & The All-Stars

  16. Stop! In The Name of Love - The Supremes

  17. I'll Be Doggone - Marvin Gaye

  18. Back In My Arms Again - The Supremes

  19. I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops

  20. I Hear A Symphony - The Supremes

  21. Ain't That Peculiar - Marvin Gaye

  22. Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder

  23. Get Ready ? The Temptations

  24. Dancing in the Street - Martha & The Vandellas

  25. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Marvin Gaye

  26. This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You) - Isley Brothers

  27. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) - Marvin Gaye

Disc: 2

  1. Ain't Too Proud To Beg ? The Temptations

  2. Blowin' In The Wind - Stevie Wonder

  3. You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes

  4. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep ? The Temptations

  5. Reach Out, I'll Be There - Four Tops

  6. You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes

  7. (I Know) I'm Losing You ? The Temptations

  8. The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game - The Marvelettes

  9. Love Is Here And Now You're Gone - The Supremes

  10. Jimmy Mack - Martha & The Vandellas

  11. The Happening - The Supremes

  12. I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder

  13. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips

  14. I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

  15. I Wish It Would Rain ? The Temptations

  16. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day - Stevie Wonder

  17. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

  18. I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You) ? The Temptations

  19. You?re All I Need To Get By ? Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

  20. Love Child ? Diana Ross & The Supremes

  21. For Once In My Life ? Stevie Wonder

  22. I Heard It Through The Grapevine ? Marvin Gaye

  23. I?m Gonna Make You Love Me ? Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations

  24. What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted ? Jimmy Ruffin

  25. You?ve Made Me So Very Happy ? Brenda Holloway

Disc: 3

  1. Runaway Child, Running Wild ? The Temptations

  2. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Marvin Gaye

  3. What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) - Jr. Walker & The All-Stars

  4. I Can't Get Next To You ? The Temptations

  5. Baby I'm For Real ? The Originals

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

  7. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5

  8. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday - Stevie Wonder

  9. ABC ? The Jackson 5

  10. Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) - Diana Ross

  11. It's All In the Game - Four Tops

  12. The Love You Save ? The Jackson 5

  13. Get Ready ? Rare Earth

  14. Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today) ? The Temptations

  15. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) - Stevie Wonder

  16. War - Edwin Starr

  17. The Tears of A Clown [U.K. Version]- Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

  18. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross

  19. I'll Be There ? The Jackson 5

  20. Heaven Help Us All - Stevie Wonder

  21. The Tears of A Clown, The [U.S. version] - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

  22. Stoned Love - The Supremes

  23. If I Were Your Woman - Gladys Knight & The Pips

Disc: 4

  1. Mama's Pearl ? The Jackson 5

  2. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) ? The Temptations

  3. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye

  4. Never Can Say Goodbye ? The Jackson 5

  5. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye

  6. I'm Still Waiting - Diana Ross

  7. Smiling Faces Sometimes ? The Undisputed Truth

  8. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) - Marvin Gaye

  9. Got To Be There - Michael Jackson

  10. Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson

  11. I Wanna Be Where You Are - Michael Jackson

  12. Ben - Michael Jackson

  13. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone ? The Temptations

  14. Superstition - Stevie Wonder

  15. Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips

  16. Masterpiece ? The Temptations

  17. You Are The Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder

  18. Touch Me In The Morning - Diana Ross

  19. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye

igotid88

Disc: 5

  1. Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder

  2. Keep On Truckin' (Part 1) - Eddie Kendricks

  3. Living For The City - Stevie Wonder

  4. Let Your Hair Down ? The Temptations

  5. Boogie Down - Eddie Kendricks

  6. Last Time I Saw Him - Diana Ross

  7. Dancing Machine ? The Jackson 5

  8. Do It Baby ? The Miracles

  9. You Haven't Done Nothin' - Stevie Wonder

  10. Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder

  11. Happy People ? The Temptations

  12. Shoeshine Boy - Eddie Kendricks

  13. Shakey Ground ? The Temptations

  14. Baby That's Backatcha - Smokey Robinson

  15. Slippery When Wet ? The Commodores

  16. Forever Came Today - Jackson 5

  17. Walk Away From Love - David Ruffin

  18. Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?) - Diana Ross

  19. Devil in the Bottle - T.G. Sheppard

  20. Tryin' To Beat the Morning Home - T.G. Sheppard

Disc: 6

  1. Love Machine (Part 1) ? The Miracles

  2. Love Hangover - Diana Ross

  3. I Want You - Marvin Gaye

  4. Just To Be Close To You ? The Commodores

  5. Down To Love Town ? The Originals

  6. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston

  7. I Wish - Stevie Wonder

  8. Got To Give It Up (Pt. 1) - Marvin Gaye

  9. Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

  10. Easy ? The Commodores

  11. You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On) - High Inergy

  12. Too Hot Ta Trot ? The Commodores

  13. You And I - Rick James

  14. Three Times A Lady ? The Commodores

  15. The Boss - Diana Ross

  16. Sail On ? The Commodores

  17. Still ? The Commodores

  18. Send One Your Love - Stevie Wonder

  19. Pastime Paradise - Stevie Wonder

Disc: 7

  1. Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson

  2. Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson

  3. I'm Coming Out - Diana Ross

  4. Upside Down - Diana Ross

  5. Master Blaster (Jammin') - Stevie Wonder

  6. Being With You - Smokey Robinson

  7. Give It To Me Baby - Rick James

  8. Super Freak - Rick James

  9. One Day In Your Life - Michael Jackson

  10. Endless Love - Diana Ross And Lionel Richie

  11. Lady (You Bring Me Up) ? The Commodores

  12. That Girl - Stevie Wonder

  13. Let It Whip - Dazz Band

  14. I've Never Been To Me - Charlene

  15. Do I Do - Stevie Wonder

  16. Lately - Stevie Wonder

Disc: 8

  1. Truly - Lionel Richie

  2. You Are - Lionel Richie

  3. My Love - Lionel Richie

  4. All This Love - DeBarge

  5. Cold Blooded - Rick James

  6. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie

  7. Time Will Reveal - DeBarge

  8. Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell

  9. Hello - Lionel Richie

  10. Stuck On You - Lionel Richie

  11. I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder

  12. Penny Lover - Lionel Richie

  13. Nightshift ? The Commodores

  14. In My House - Mary Jane Girls

  15. Rhythm of The Night - DeBarge

  16. Glow - Rick James

  17. You Wear It Well - El DeBarge with DeBarge

  18. Don't Look Any Further - Dennis Edwards featuring Seidah Garrett

Disc: 9

  1. Part-Time Lover - Stevie Wonder

  2. Say You, Say Me - Lionel Richie

  3. Go Home - Stevie Wonder

  4. If You Should Ever Be Lonely - Val Young

  5. Overjoyed - Stevie Wonder

  6. Who's Johnny - El DeBarge

  7. Dancing On The Ceiling - Lionel Richie

  8. Love Will Conquer All - Lionel Richie

  9. Ballerina Girl - Lionel Richie

  10. Just To See Her - Smokey Robinson

  11. Tina Cherry - Georgio

  12. Skeletons - Stevie Wonder

  13. You Will Know - Stevie Wonder

  14. Dial My Heart - The Boys

  15. Lucky Charm - The Boys

  16. Girl I Got My Eyes On You - Today

  17. Where Do We Go From Here - Stacey Lattisaw with special guest Johnny Gill

  18. Dreamin' - The Guinn Family

Disc: 10

  1. CD 10

  2. Rub You The Right Way - Johnny Gill

  3. My My My - Johnny Gill

  4. Crazy - The Boys

  5. Wrap My Body Tight - Johnny Gill

  6. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday - Boyz II Men

  7. I Love Your Smile - Shanice

  8. Uhh Ahh - Boyz II Men

  9. Do It To Me - Lionel Richie

  10. End of The Road - Boyz II Men

  11. I'll Make Love To You - Boyz II Men

  12. On Bended Knee - Boyz II Men

  13. Take Me Higher - Diana Ross

  14. 4 Seasons of Loneliness - Boyz II Men

  15. A Song For Mama - Boyz II Men

  16. Stay ? The Temptations

  17. Liar - Profyle

  18. Bag Lady - Erykah Badu

Disc: 11

  1. Who's Lovin' You ? The Miracles

  2. Who's Lovin' You ? The Jackson 5

  3. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town ? The Jackson 5

  4. For Your Love ? Stevie Wonder

  5. Ain't No Mountain High Enough 2017 Remix ? Diana Ross

  6. I'm Coming Out/Upside Down 2018 Mix? Diana Ross

brianlux

Looking at this list of marvelous songs, I find myself yet again rueing what I see as the rise and fall of black music in America. 

When black slaves were brought over from Africa, they began to pick up instruments that were new to their culture and began to incorporate African beats and singing to eventually form ragtime and blues.  Those musics evolved into jazz which itself went through several amazing changes while blues expanded from prison songs and Delta Blues in Chicago electric blues and West Coast blues. 

In 1959 Barry Gordy Jr.  founded Tamla Records which not long after was incorporated to become Mowtown Record Corporation and a new era a great black music evolved.

And then there came rap and hip-hop which took some of it's best influences from Jamaican and African elements which were interesting in of themselves, but then ruined the whole concept with endless repetitions of the same urban themes of sexism, violence and decadence and an over-reliance on sound stolen from other recorded sources ("played" by what Henry Rollins so aptly referred to once as "record player players"). 

I'm thrilled to see that the great music of the Motown era is still getting its due.

dankind

brianlux said:

Looking at this list of marvelous songs, I find myself yet again rueing what I see as the rise and fall of black music in America. 

When black slaves were brought over from Africa, they began to pick up instruments that were new to their culture and began to incorporate African beats and singing to eventually form ragtime and blues.  Those musics evolved into jazz which itself went through several amazing changes while blues expanded from prison songs and Delta Blues in Chicago electric blues and West Coast blues. 

In 1959 Barry Gordy Jr.  founded Tamla Records which not long after was incorporated to become Mowtown Record Corporation and a new era a great black music evolved.

And then there came rap and hip-hop which took some of it's best influences from Jamaican and African elements which were interesting in of themselves, but then ruined the whole concept with endless repetitions of the same urban themes of sexism, violence and decadence and an over-reliance on sound stolen from other recorded sources ("played" by what Henry Rollins so aptly referred to once as "record player players"). 

I'm thrilled to see that the great music of the Motown era is still getting its due.

brianlux

dankind said:

brianlux said:

Looking at this list of marvelous songs, I find myself yet again rueing what I see as the rise and fall of black music in America. 

When black slaves were brought over from Africa, they began to pick up instruments that were new to their culture and began to incorporate African beats and singing to eventually form ragtime and blues.  Those musics evolved into jazz which itself went through several amazing changes while blues expanded from prison songs and Delta Blues in Chicago electric blues and West Coast blues. 

In 1959 Barry Gordy Jr.  founded Tamla Records which not long after was incorporated to become Mowtown Record Corporation and a new era a great black music evolved.

And then there came rap and hip-hop which took some of it's best influences from Jamaican and African elements which were interesting in of themselves, but then ruined the whole concept with endless repetitions of the same urban themes of sexism, violence and decadence and an over-reliance on sound stolen from other recorded sources ("played" by what Henry Rollins so aptly referred to once as "record player players"). 

I'm thrilled to see that the great music of the Motown era is still getting its due.

I have no doubt that's what it looks like!  But I would defend my statements on the grounds that I have kept moving in terms of my interest in ongoing culture- especially music- whereas many of my peers are stick stuck in 1969 that way.

And I don't hate all rap' hip hop.  The hip hop music used in the movie "Ghost Dog" for instance is phenomenal.  The best of it incorporates jazz and other elements and there is variety in it's moods.  My biggest objection to hip hop is it's over-reliance on  stealing... I mean "sampling"... and its lack of variety.  It would be like Pearl Jam recording an album where every song sounded like "You Are", an interesting song but not 40 minutes of that!

brianlux

By the way, I'm open to any one challenging me on what I said about hip-hop.  Prove me wrong, please!  I tried to get into hip-hop.  I have a couple of classic hip hop LP's- Wu Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory.  I like some of both records OK but I actually like the album covers more than the music.

dankind

brianlux said:

By the way, I'm open to any one challenging me on what I said about hip-hop.  Prove me wrong, please!  I tried to get into hip-hop.  I have a couple of classic hip hop LP's- Wu Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory.  I like some of both records OK but I actually like the album covers more than the music.

Apologies for the late reply, @brianlux . I grew up worshipping at the altar of Henry Rollins, but that dismissive "record player player" comment is just fucking stupid coming from (primarily) a vocalist/spoken word artist. Seriously, what does he fucking play? His mouth? Best just to keep it shut when something this fucking idiotic is about to pour out of it. It's not apt at all; it's just plain ignorant. I'd like to see him try to DJ--hell, I'd even cue up "Funky Drummer" and "The Big Beat" to give him a head start--and then if he still feels the same way, fine. But that wouldn't happen. What he'd discover is that it's incredibly difficult and takes an intense amount of focus and creativity to keep the party going.

And since it's at least somewhat obvious that the music doesn't really speak to you (or Henry Rollins), I would recommend a book instead of an album or artist/group--specifically, Jeff Chang's Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. Maybe then, after reading the background of how this culture was created, how it evolved and why it continues to thrive, you'll develop some appreciation of the hustle and the artists who have made and continue to make it their medium. You might even be tempted to check out some of the records mentioned. And with the background the book gives you, maybe, just maybe, you'll hear the music in a whole new light.

If you don't have it in stock and don't want to buy it, I'll lend you my copy.

tempo_n_groove

dankind said:

brianlux said:

By the way, I'm open to any one challenging me on what I said about hip-hop.  Prove me wrong, please!  I tried to get into hip-hop.  I have a couple of classic hip hop LP's- Wu Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory.  I like some of both records OK but I actually like the album covers more than the music.

Apologies for the late reply, Brian. I grew up worshipping at the altar of Henry Rollins, but that dismissive "record player player" comment is just fucking stupid coming from (primarily) a vocalist/spoken word artist. Seriously, what does he fucking play? His mouth? Best just to keep it shut when something this fucking idiotic is about to pour out of it. It's not apt at all; it's just plain ignorant. I'd like to see him try to DJ--hell, I'd even cue up "Funky Drummer" and "The Big Beat" to give him a head start--and then if he still feels the same way, fine. But that wouldn't happen. What he'd discover is that it's incredibly difficult and takes an intense amount of focus and creativity to keep the party going.

And since it's at least somewhat obvious that the music doesn't really speak to you (or Henry Rollins), I would recommend a book instead of an album or artist/group--specifically, Jeff Chang's Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation. Maybe then, after reading the background of how this culture was created, how it evolved and why it continues to thrive, you'll develop some appreciation of the hustle and the artists who have made and continue to make it their medium. You might even be tempted to check out some of the records mentioned. And with the background the book gives you, maybe, just maybe, you'll hear the music in a whole new light.

If you don't have it in stock and don't want to buy it, I'll lend you my copy.

I'd even recommend the TV show on Netflix called "The Getdown".  It is a wonderful look into the birth of hip hop and how two turntables and a microphone became it's own band.

Rollins really said that?  If I ever run into him I will question that statement.

tempo_n_groove

I wonder how many of these songs Phil Spector produced/wrote?

Also I didn't notice any James Brown records?!?

dankind

tempo_n_groove said:

I wonder how many of these songs Phil Spector produced/wrote?

Also I didn't notice any James Brown records?!?

Mr. Dynamite didn't record anything for Motown. 

tempo_n_groove

dankind said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I wonder how many of these songs Phil Spector produced/wrote?

Also I didn't notice any James Brown records?!?

Mr. Dynamite didn't record anything for Motown. 

King records wasn't part of Motown I take it?

dankind

tempo_n_groove said:

dankind said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I wonder how many of these songs Phil Spector produced/wrote?

Also I didn't notice any James Brown records?!?

Mr. Dynamite didn't record anything for Motown. 

King records wasn't part of Motown I take it?

Correct.

tempo_n_groove

dankind said:

tempo_n_groove said:

dankind said:

tempo_n_groove said:

I wonder how many of these songs Phil Spector produced/wrote?

Also I didn't notice any James Brown records?!?

Mr. Dynamite didn't record anything for Motown. 

King records wasn't part of Motown I take it?

Correct.

TY

jerparker20

Last summer I went to the Motown Museum in Detroit. I highly recommend it. To stand in the legendary Studio A aka “the Snake Pit” where all those songs were cut was crazy.

I also recommend people check out the documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” about the Funk Brothers, the session players on all the Motown tunes. 

Another good doc is called the “ Wrecking Crew”. It was on Netflix. Anyways, it features the Wrecking Crew, the session players who played on all of Phil Spector’s stuff, The Beach Boys, and loads of other tunes.

And lastly, Muscle Shoals, this was on Amazon Prime, or Netflix. A great doc on Rick Hall and the Swampers and the ridiculous amount of musical talent that has came out of North Alabama.

PJ_Soul

brianlux said:

Looking at this list of marvelous songs, I find myself yet again rueing what I see as the rise and fall of black music in America. 

When black slaves were brought over from Africa, they began to pick up instruments that were new to their culture and began to incorporate African beats and singing to eventually form ragtime and blues.  Those musics evolved into jazz which itself went through several amazing changes while blues expanded from prison songs and Delta Blues in Chicago electric blues and West Coast blues. 

In 1959 Barry Gordy Jr.  founded Tamla Records which not long after was incorporated to become Mowtown Record Corporation and a new era a great black music evolved.

And then there came rap and hip-hop which took some of it's best influences from Jamaican and African elements which were interesting in of themselves, but then ruined the whole concept with endless repetitions of the same urban themes of sexism, violence and decadence and an over-reliance on sound stolen from other recorded sources ("played" by what Henry Rollins so aptly referred to once as "record player players"). 

I'm thrilled to see that the great music of the Motown era is still getting its due.

Gosh Brian... You must not be aware of all the fantastic new music being made by black people right now. There is a lot that is not rap or hip hop (I personally don't care for either of those genres, with rare exceptions). I know you're aware of Gary Clark Jr. and Ben Harper, and probably Leon Bridges, right? There's also Fantasic Negrito, Andra Day, Moses Sumney, Jacob Banks, Michael Kiwanuka, Trombone Shorty... of course the list goes on and on, full of current black artists that are just amazing, who are blending genres into something new, and renewing well-known genres with their own unique and modern styles.

tempo_n_groove

PJ_Soul said:

brianlux said:

Looking at this list of marvelous songs, I find myself yet again rueing what I see as the rise and fall of black music in America. 

When black slaves were brought over from Africa, they began to pick up instruments that were new to their culture and began to incorporate African beats and singing to eventually form ragtime and blues.  Those musics evolved into jazz which itself went through several amazing changes while blues expanded from prison songs and Delta Blues in Chicago electric blues and West Coast blues. 

In 1959 Barry Gordy Jr.  founded Tamla Records which not long after was incorporated to become Mowtown Record Corporation and a new era a great black music evolved.

And then there came rap and hip-hop which took some of it's best influences from Jamaican and African elements which were interesting in of themselves, but then ruined the whole concept with endless repetitions of the same urban themes of sexism, violence and decadence and an over-reliance on sound stolen from other recorded sources ("played" by what Henry Rollins so aptly referred to once as "record player players"). 

I'm thrilled to see that the great music of the Motown era is still getting its due.

Gosh Brian... You must not be aware of all the fantastic new music being made by black people right now. There is a lot that is not rap or hip hop (I personally don't care for either of those genres, with rare exceptions). I know you're aware of Gary Clark Jr. and Ben Harper, and probably Leon Bridges, right? There's also Fantasic Negrito, Andra Day, Moses Sumney, Jacob Banks, Michael Kiwanuka, Trombone Shorty... of course the list goes on and on, full of current black artists that are just amazing, who are blending genres into something new, and renewing well-known genres with their own unique and modern styles.

Fantastic Negrito won the NPR music contest.  I know Brian is a fan of that so give em a listen.

I also like Ms Brittney from Alabama Shakes!

Popmartijn

tempo_n_groove said:

I wonder how many of these songs Phil Spector produced/wrote?

Also I didn't notice any James Brown records?!?

Also, Phil Spector never worked for Motown. He had his own record label and artist roster.
That Motown set is a fantastic set. I have the original 10CD edition that came out 11 years ago. Incredible how much incredible music was released by that label (and its sublabels). Not just in the '60s, but also '70s, '80s and beyond. And these are just their #1 hits, there are so many other amazing songs that were big hits (but not #1) or no hits at all.

And I second the recommendation for the documentary Standing In The Shadows Of Motown. The group of musicians Motown used wasn't that large, considering the massive amount of music they released. It's great to hear their 'war stories' and see them get the deserved recognition after so many years.