Originally penned by Renaldo Benson of the Four Tops, who witnessed violence at Berkeley's People's Park along with Motown songwriter Al Cleveland, the song was eventually picked up and tweaked by Marvin Gaye after the Four Tops decided the song was too political for their group. 2. Play Motown Records, Vol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnmlX-WF7vU. Start studying Motown. “Levi was the greatest interpreter of songs I’ve ever heard,” said Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr., paying tribute upon Stubbs’ passing on October 17, 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QlCKNSBINA. If it’s sweet soul music you’re after, then Motown is king. Operator (Motown song) in English "Operator" is a Motown song recorded by Motown vocalists Mary Wells and Brenda Holloway. With Michael Jackson taking lead vocals, this pained love song was rendered slightly bizarre by the fact it was being delivered by an 11-year-old boy. But Motown stands for more than just the music: it is a reflection of the hard work of dedicated individuals overcoming incredible obstacles to achieve great success. Hot 100: No. Acts such as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin … Mary Wells – Two Lovers (1962) Shuffling, sexy soul – an early track from the artist who ‘broke’ Motown in the UK with ‘My Guy’ but was later largely airbrushed out of the story. 1 MP3 song online free. Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for Greatest 64 Motown Hits - Various Artists on AllMusic Readers’ Poll: The 10 Greatest Motown Songs Your picks include ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,’ ‘Dancing in the Streets’ and ‘Tracks of My Tears’ A three-disc set released by Universal International, Motown Greatest Hits is a wonderful collection that combines the obvious Motown hits with material a little less at the center of the label's patented 1960's sound. Motown’s most outwardly political track, this anti-Vietnam War protest song was originally recorded by The Temptations but wasn’t released as a single as the band and label were concerned about aligning the act with the track’s content. Thanks to its rousing lyrics, the song fast took on a life of it’s own and became a civil rights anthem. A good beat helps, says Max Martin, who's written hits for Britney Spear and Taylor Swift. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Berry Gordy's upstart Motown label began to catch fire in 1966 with the release of "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by the Supremes, one of 16 tracks on Motown Year by Year: The Sound of Young America, 1966.An ambitious series to say the least, MYBY offers a great cross section of failures, one-hit wonders, and legends, showing the diversity and tenacity of the label. It was the first record label owned by an African American to primarily feature African-American artists. Motown's influence extended far beyond the musical realm. Enjoy from over 30 Lakh Hindi, English, Bollywood, Regional, Latest, Old songs and more. Here are the best 50 Motown songs. One of the Miracles biggest hits, written by frontman Smokey Robinson, this song became a success for Smokey and, a few years later, for Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations, who performed it as a group duet. Cupid has you in his sights, people. Written in 1971, and sadly still resonant today, this song was written as a reaction to police brutality against peaceful protesters. Columbus Mann At the time, the Marvelettes picked this song over another track called "Where Did Our Love Go," which was eventually assigned to another girl group that hadn't had a single hit record yet -- … The Sound of Young America! Few record companies can boast as deep an impact on the last century of music as Motown—what other label coined the name of an entire genre? 42 terms. The Complete Motown Singles has been a dream project of Motown and soul fanatics for many years, ever since the first decade of Stax/Volt singles was compiled in an impressive nine-disc box set in 1991. Pages in category "Songs about telephone calls" The following 83 pages are in this category, out of 83 total. Are you ready to fall head over heels with the best love songs of all time? The program was taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, [1] and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Play Motown Classics album songs MP3 by Loss For Words and download Motown Classics songs on Gaana.com. Talk about some Motown star power. Wynk Music - Download & Listen mp3 songs, music online for free. The home of Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Marvin Gaye and the young Michael Jackson. Butter wouldn’t melt when it comes to ‘My Guy’. The Motown Sound went worldwide in the 60s, and that sound still resonates today. Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops 4. Girls, we feel you. Happiness isn’t just an illusion when the song plays. The Andantes (Motown Records) B. - Marvin Gaye 6. Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia "Operator" is a Motown song recorded by Motown vocalists Mary Wells and Brenda Holloway. 1 song … Honors English. This version of The Temptations’ ‘(I Know) I’m Losing You’ was more successful than the original and is a psychedelic, 10-minute masterpiece. 1950s & 1960s. When it comes to songs about first love, true love and heartbreak, we go back, again and again, to a record label that took its heart and soul from Detroit: Motown. The Four Tops were one of Motown’s biggest groups, and “Reach Out I’ll Be There” was their undisputed most popular song. With a drumbeat conjured up by British guitarist Jeff Beck, clavinet and Moog synths, ‘Superstition’ was an impossibly funky proposition. We count down the top 50 soul songs of all time, including tracks from Otis Redding, The Temptations, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, The Formations and Marvin Gaye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IUG-9jZD-g. Listen to all songs in high quality & download Motown Christmas songs on Gaana.com Explore releases from the Motown Songs label. This single’s perfect bassline continues to live on, sampled in hip-hop songs by everyone from Kriss Kross to Jay Z. Penned and produced by Smokey Robinson, ‘Get Ready’ features one of the most officially banging choruses in the entire Motown catalogue. Motown starts pushing into rock & roll again, releasing singles both psychdelicized and tough from Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels and longstanding second-thought R. Dean Taylor gets a dense bit of AM pop on "Gotta See Jane," while the Four Tops sing the Left Banke 's "Walk Away Renee." The swinging 60s might be more than half a century ago now, but their revolutionary impact still remains to this day. Written and produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland, this anthem song is one of the best known Motown songs of the 1960s, and is considered The Four Tops' signature song. We already have this email. 1A hit right out of the gate for Gordy, the Marvelettes, a prototype of sorts for the type of girl group that would find perfection in the soon-to-follow Supremes, deliver a … Though the label wasn’t outwardly political it was by its very nature as a successful, African-American run business. Legends such as Marvin Gaye, Temptations and the Supremes are all represented on our list of the best Motown songs. Influenced by Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me,” Smokey Robinson spun the source material into more gold. Just a few years later the Beatles would reignite the song’s popularity with their cover, and, in 1975, it became a number one song once more with the Carpenters rendition. Branded as “Little Stevie Wonder, the 12 Year Old Genius’, Wonder’s first single was a tour de force, recorded live and showing off his harmonica and bongo skills. In the Name of Love" is another signature track for both Motown and the Diana Ross-led Supremes, who were in the midst of a record 12 songs that would reach the top spot on the charts. A slow-burning, lights-down-low kind of a song, it was the first Commodores tune to be released after Lionel Ritchie left the band. Best Motown Songs Of The 60's - Top 20 Motown Songs Of All Time - Motown Songs 60's. Feedback Best Motown Songs Of The 60's - Top 20 Motown Songs Of All Time - Motown Songs 60's. Motown favorite You Really Got a Hold On Me was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Motown Records is a record label founded by Berry Gordy in 1959. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! But somebody’s got to do it. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1992 CD release of "Motown's Greatest Love Songs" on Discogs. America’s greatest record label and global music ico… My Girl - Temptations 3. Over in the States it became the Supremes’ seventh Number 1. The Beatles covered it as well as the Flying Lizards, who turned it into a cult late 1970s post-punk influenced banger. Gaye produced the song himself and released it without the approval of the label’s head executive Berry Gordy. And here they are, the greatest Motown songs of all time. Due to this year being the 50th anniversary of the formation of Motown Records, I felt it would be appropriate and fun to make a list of my 100 favorite songs that came from the Motown record label. About Motown Remixed Vol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qOiNnK7AFg. Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is a 1983 television special, produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown Records, to commemorate Motown's 25th year (Motown was founded in January 1959). Dancing in the Street - Martha & The Vandellas 7. - Supremes 5. Motown Records was a huge inspiration for The Beatles in their early days, but the influence ran both ways, as the best Motown Beatles covers reveal. Motown gave the world many of the best and most notable acts in American R&B and soul music. A soul classic, it’s emotive, iconic and damn, has it got some serious groove to it. After their success in ’67, the song became a number one hit for Diana Ross in 1970 while the Supremes singer was starting her solo career. Founded in 1959 as Tamla by Detroit songwriter Berry Gordy Jr, the label that soon came to be known as Motown – named after the city’s motor industry, quickly made its mark as one of the greatest record labels of all time. I Want You Back - Jackson 5 8. America’s greatest record label and global music ico… With nearly 200 #1 songs worldwide, Motown remains an influence on today's biggest pop and R&B stars. Written by Marvin Gaye, ‘Dancing In The Street’ came out on the Gordy Records division of Motown. Photograph: Courtesy Buchan/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (5689901cp)Smokey Robinson12th Annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert, Show, Los Angeles, America - 19 May 2016, Photograph: PictureGroup/REX/Shutterstock, Check out the 50 best love songs of all time. Yet another Smokey Robinson penned tune, ‘My Girl’ is a three minute miracle with lead vocals from the late, great David Ruffin, who boasted one of the finest, most tender voices in Motown. Search. Play the latest new releases, popular artists and songs in Motown, or pick your own favorites from a library of millions of songs. Motown Records was a huge inspiration for The Beatles in their early days, but the influence ran both ways, as the best Motown Beatles covers reveal. The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on September 21, 1991, and at number one on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart on October 5. What's Goin' On? The Wells version was the b-side to her top ten hit, "Two Lovers" while Holloway's was issued as a single in 1965. A few weeks ago, Paul Stanley texted Gene Simmons a link to a long-forgotten soul song called “The 81” after his obstinate Kiss bandmate questioned its existence. 1 Song Download- Listen Motown Records, Vol. A year later, she was Motown’s first female artist to hit the Top 40 and, after scoring three consecutive hits with songs written and produced by Smokey Robinson, its first solo star. Complete with shoutouts to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, ‘Nightshift’ is pretty meta. A stone cold stunner. I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye 2. This is a list of artists signed to Motown or one of its many subsidiaries. It’s fair to say that pretty much all Motown songs are great, so narrowing it down to a Top 20 is a tough call indeed. Written by dream team Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland, ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ saw David Ruffin straining to hit the high notes, and in doing so delivering one of the most passionate vocals of his career. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Chapter 1 & 2 Vocab - Bio. Get The App. Not only was “Please Mr. Postman” a number one hit for the Marvelettes in 1961, it was also Motown’s first single to take the coveted top spot. “Finding a good man girls/Is like finding a needle in a haystack,” sang criminally underrated girl group The Velvelettes, sassy as can be, telling a tale as old as time. 28 terms. Here's the ultimate NME list. Motown Classics for Black History Month. 1 on both the U.S. R&B and Hot 100 charts. The first ever Motown single to hit Number 1 in the Billboard 200 pop chart, this doo-wop ditty features Marvin Gaye on drums. Motown Christmas Album has 16 songs sung by Smokey Robinson, The Miracles, Kevin Ross. Diana Ross was Motown’s golden girl and her coy vocal bounces across this gospel-inspired classic with grace, sass and style. Signed to Motown’s Rare Earth imprint – which was named after the band – Rare Earth were one of the labels rock bands, whose biggest hits saw them covering Motown classics. Motown knew what being in love felt like, but, even better, knew what falling out of love was like. About The Motown Song "The Motown Song" is a song performed by Rod Stewart and featuring The Temptations. Motown Songs Download- Listen Motown MP3 songs online free. A. If you’re suffering from heartbreak, trying to get next to someone, or dreaming about the unattainable, the best Motown … Features Best Four Tops Songs: 20 Essential Soul Classics. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the Cassette release of "The Very Best Of Motown Love Songs (32 Classic Hits)" on Discogs. Where Did Our Love Go? It was the first record label owned by an African American to primarily feature African-American artists. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - … From Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross to the Jackson 5 and Four Tops, Detroit's Motown Records produced hit after hit. To try to choose the best song to include by Stevie Wonder, who signed on to Motown when he was just 11 years old in 1961, is seemingly an impossible feat. But perhaps the quintessential single of the year is Marvin Gaye 's finally released version of his own "I … Time Out is a registered trademark of Time Out America LLC. Flawless. “You broke my heart/’Cause I couldn’t dance/You didn’t even want me around/And now I’m back/To let you know/ I can really shake ’em down,” goes the opening, before three minutes of high octane R&B and heady harmonies. Dancing at your desk is allowed. The signature label sound that Berry Gordy created at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan was a pop-soul hybrid he correctly dubbed "The Sound Of Young America." It was a huge success, reaching number one in both the UK and US in 1966. ... each Motown song had its own unique melodic phrase in the introduction to draw you into a song. Motown M-1015 United States August 1961 "Please Mr. Postman" "So Long Baby" The Marvelettes: Tamla 54046 United States August 1961 " The Stretch" "Funny" The Contours: Motown M1012 United States August 1961 "Itsy Bity Pity Love" "But I'm Afraid" Debbie Dean: Motown M1014 United States September 1961 "They Shall Be Mine" "Jesus Loves" Rev. This single was a Top 20 hit for the well matched duet partners Gaye and Terrell, who despite harmonizing together to create an iconic song actually recorded their parts separately. The modern answer to this sublime track would be all about waiting for a text message from your crush. Written by the label's powerhouse production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song continued Motown's crossover success, as it spent two weeks at No. Gladys Knight and the Pips and The Miracles both released versions of this ultimate Motown song before Marvin, but this is undoubtedly the finest version, if not the finest song ever laid to tape. But somebody’s got to do it. It turned out to be the ultimate kiss off, as it scooped the Grammy that year for the Best Vocal R&B Performance by a Duo/Group. The Wells version was the b-side to her top ten hit, "Two Lovers" while Holloway's was issued as a single in 1965. Motown had many drummers on call, all of them ace players who lent their own subtle inflections to any given session. All rights reserved. Without a doubt Motown’s raunchiest song, the drugs-and-shagging-loving Rick James added a certain flamboyance to this synthy, saucy hit. Lamont Dozier, who wrote dozens of classic Motown songs, has told interviewers that there's no secret formula—people like what they like. Motown Records is a record label founded by Berry Gordy in 1959. The typical Motown song was a bright, uptempo number done as a 2/4 shuffle or a hard 4/4 beat. Features Best Motown Love Songs: 20 Essential Songs For Soulmates. Heat Wave (Your Love Is Like) - Martha and The Vandellas (1963) Heat Wave resulted in a 1964 Grammy nomination for Martha and the Vandellas for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Discover what's missing in your discography and shop for Motown Songs releases. List of 100 Greatest Motown Songs. Baby Love [00:01:46] - 02. Ask a group of songwriters what makes a pop song great and you're likely to get a number of different answers. 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