Posted on 02/07/2020 12:52:32 PM PST by rktman
It is difficult to think of a more impossible task than attempting to rate the 60 all-time greatest Motown songs. Founded in 1959 by Berry Gordy, not only has the label — originally a small independent out of Detroit — spawned more classics in the 60 years since its launch than many corporate-giant-owned major record companies, who’s to say whether the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” is “better” than such drastically different songs as Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me,” Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” the Temptations’ “Just My Imagination,” the Commodores’ “Brick House” or Motown-affiliated Migos’ “Bad and Boujee”?
Despite it all, in honor of the label’s 60th anniversary in 2019, Variety‘s music staff dug deep into its collective hearts and minds — because like much of America, all of us grew up on Motown songs — and after some good-natured arguing, assembled a list that includes most of the label’s classic artists and many of its distributed or subsidiary labels (a category that ranges from early imprints including Tamla, Anna and Gordy to the present-day, with Atlanta-based Quality Control). While this list may not be definitive — what could be? — we’re confident that it hits the mark more often than not. There’s a certain Motown magic that all of these songs have: Like Stevie sings in “Sir Duke,” “Just because a record has a groove/ Don’t make it in the groove… ”
(Excerpt) Read more at getpocket.com ...
I would have thought you’d be listening to the Stax material.
No.
Definitely not Motown.
Oh we did, Otis Redding, Booker T and the MG’s ( I saw them in concert), the ‘Memphis Sound’................
ROD STEWART -The Motown Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NGkbjIxk68
Bring over some of your old Motown records
We’ll put the speakers in the window and we’ll go
On the roof and listen to the Miracles
Echo to the alley down below
Let’s dance together just for the night
Let’s don’t worry about the future or nothin’ else
‘Cause just like the music’s sayin’ you gotta take chances
Go ahead just do it and trust yourself
I grew up in Motown. Levi Stubbs’s son was a year or two behind me in high school.
To me, the Spinners are the best overall group to come out of Motown, although I don’t think they were ever with Motown Records.
The Fifth Dimension is also an excellent band. They were with Motown later in their career I believe.
I recently discovered Classic Soul channel on IHeart radio. It’s become a regular choice.
Jackie Wilson, neither Michael Jackson or James Brown could put on a show like Jackie Wilson.
Good Times...
The Spinners - It’s A Shame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoZP18U5VyY
Those days will never return.
I grew up across the river from you, you never outgrow Motown....ever.
“I heard it through the Grapevine”
i second that choice as number one ...
A couple of my favorites they missed. One well known and the other fairly obscure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB1BhWTXVjE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbyOLzEyfk
“You’ll lose a precious love” The Temptations with Davy Ruffin up front.
“I only have eyes for you” The Flamingos
Time is Tight
The Funk Bros sold more records than the whole Beatles.
That bass intro is probably the most recognizable intro there is................
Hers a hard one to forget, a voice for the ages...at least to me:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqW-eO3jTVU
And I’ll toss this out there, Motown did more to improve race relations than marches and MLK.
This then 14 year old old white boy had then never seen a black person (small pac nw logging town) yet had a hard crush on Diana Ross (still do, a little) and many of the label’s female singers. Hot is hot.
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