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Your 5 Favourite/Best Motown Songs.

Mullardman

Mullardman

Moderately extreme...
I love Motown, especially the early stuff. It was one of those special elements that made the 60's such a varied and exciting musical landscape. Impeccable production values, great artists, writers and producers, and songs which transcended the usual 'pop pap', which dominated the charts between Elvis and The Beatles.

I was DJing back then and always felt that 'This Old Heart of Mine' by the Isley Bros. was the 'best ever'. I still love the melody, the harmonies, the backing.. the way the song drives along.. there's no low point..
But then came Marvin Gaye's 'Grapevine'.. the Contours 'Just A Little Misunderstanding' and many others.
I doubt I could come up with a favourite that wasn't unseated by yet another the next day..

But I'll try.. This is today's top 5. Forgive the SQ on some of these very rare vids.






So.. what's your top 5?
 
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Impossible. I'll exclude Marvin Gaye (solo) and Stevie Wonder as I could easily name a top ten for each of them.
The Tracks of My Tears - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Still Water - The Four Tops.
Law of the Land - The Temptations.
Love Hangover - Diana Ross.
The Night - Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell.
 
Tracks of my tears - Smokey Robinson
Heard it through the grapevine - Marvin Gaye
This old heart of mine - Isley Brothers
Mercy Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye
In the city - Stevie Wonder

Not a massive Motown fan & get confused over who was on what label. I love Summer Breeze by the Isley's but not sure that was on the label? Tracks of my tears is one of the greatest songs ever written BTW.
 
Almost impossible to select a top 5, but here are a few that would be on my list of 25..

Chi Lites, Have you seen her

Temptations - Just my imagination AND Papa was a rolling stone
Supremes - Stoned Love
Four Tops - Reach out, I'll be there

Still water, Tracks of my tears, heard it through the grapevine would all be there too - SO many memories of the scouts disco, broken hearted and alone again...
 
Isley Brothers - Behind A Painted Smile
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Reflections
The Four Tops - Without The One You Love
The Temptations - Take A Look Around
Stevie Wonder - Blame It On The Sun
 
Will also not list Stevie, too many

The Contours - First I look at the purse
Gladys Knight and the Pips - I heard it through the Grapevine
The Four Tops - There's something 'bout you
The Temptations - Any single track from Masterpiece
The Supremes - Love is like an Itching (think that is the title?)

Bloss
 
steveinspain said:
Almost impossible to select a top 5, but here are a few that would be on my list of 25..

Chi Lites, Have you seen her

Temptations - Just my imagination AND Papa was a rolling stone
Supremes - Stoned Love
Four Tops - Reach out, I'll be there

Still water, Tracks of my tears, heard it through the grapevine would all be there too - SO many memories of the scouts disco, broken hearted and alone again...
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Didn't think the Chi Lights recorded for Motown.
 
1 'This Old Heart of Mine' by the Isley Bros. IS the 'best record ever'
2 Heard it through the grapevine - M Gaye
3 Can't help myself - Four Tops
4 Aint too proud to beg - The Temps
5 What becomes of the brokenhearted? - Jimmy Ruffin

Don't think it can be restricted to just 5 as it means missing out on Dancing in the street, Get ready and You can't hurry love!
 
Motown was bread & butter in our house when I was growing up, and my dad ran a disco that played nothing but motown and northern soul.

Difficult to pick 5 as I like so many.

Isley Brothers - This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)

Martha and the Vandellas - Jimmy Mack , Third Finger, Left Hand.

Edwin Starr - 25 Miles
 
Martha and the Vandellas: Heatwave

The Temptations: Papa Was A Rolling Stone

Stevie Wonder: Superstition

The Four Tops: Walk Away Renee

Mary Wells: My Guy
 
Big Tabs said:
Motown was bread & butter in our house when I was growing up, and my dad ran a disco that played nothing but motown and northern soul.

Difficult to pick 5 as I like so many.

Isley Brothers - This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)

Martha and the Vandellas - Jimmy Mack , Third Finger, Left Hand.

Edwin Starr - 25 Miles
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Jimmy Mack is so good, quite an unusual song but very close to perfection
 
Oh some of my faves already taken but almost 2 minutes thought I came up with;

Diana Ross...Upside Down
Four Tops...I'll Be There
Marvin Gaye...Mercy Mercy Me
Smokey Robinson...Tears Of A Clown
Stevie Wonder... Higher Ground
 
Stevie Wonder - Black Man
Temptations - Can''t Get Next to You
Temptations - Psychedelic Shack
The Rare Earth - Get Ready
Jackson 5 - Rockin' Robin
 
Needle in a Haystack - Velvelettes
The Love you Save - Jackson 5
Machine Gun - The Commodores
Heatwave - Martha Reeves
All around The World - Edwin Starr
 
The Elgins - Heaven Must've Sent You (the intro is just so 'Motown'!)
R Dean Taylor - Indiana Wants Me (a cheat as it wasn't quite on Motown, but a subsidiary, but I loved it)
Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour
Stevie Wonder - I Wish
The Temptations - Papa Was a Rolling Stone (another that was on a Motown subsidiary - Gordy?)
 
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