Motown has influenced music in an unprecedented way. The insightful leadership of Berry Gordy Jr. and the enormous talent of a remarkable group of African-American artists led to a barrage of smash hits that reached a broad audience and remained popular in the course of time.
One of the most famous Motown hits is ‘Where Did Our Love Go’ by Diana Ross and The Supremes. Released in 1964, ‘Where Did Our Love Go’ is a classic Motown Sound hit with foot-stomps and horn sections that had a huge appeal with its danceable and melodic sound. Besides, it was the first single of The Supremes that ranked #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks, #1 on the U.S. Cash Box R&B; Singles Chart and #3 on the UK Singles Chart, while it was voted #472 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Other successful hits by Diana Ross and The Supremes are ‘Baby Love’ (1964), ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’ (1965), ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ (1966), ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ (1966), and ‘Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone’ (1967).
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles released ‘Tracks Of My Tears’ in 1965. Being widely regarded as one of the group’s landmark recordings, ‘Tracks Of My Tears’ features jazz elements anchored with drum back beat and nearly gospel vocals. The track sold over one million copies worldwide and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Besides, it ranked #50 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was included on the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Other well-known hits by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles are ‘Shop Around’ (1960), ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me’ (1962) and ‘The Tears of a Clown’ (1970).
Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ is one of the immortal Motown smash hits. Released in 1967, Gaye’s version was the third release of the song after Gladys Knight & the Pips, yet that version became the most successful in pop music. ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ ranked #65 on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time and #80 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Besides, the track was introduced to the Grammy Hall of Fame for its artistic, historical, and significant value. Other successful hits by Marvin Gaye are ‘Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)’ (1971), ‘What’s Going On’ (1971), ‘Trouble Man’ (1972), and ‘Sexual Healing‘ (1982).
Having sold 6 million copies around the globe, ‘I Want You Back’ by The Jackson 5 is, for many, the best pop release ever made. Echoing a superb vocal harmony among the Jackson brothers, and featuring energetic sound anchored with funky sections and Michael’s incredible appeal, ‘I Want You Back’ went straight to #1 on the US Soul singles chart upon its release in 1969 and stayed for four consecutive weeks. Besides, the track ranked #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, #120 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was also included in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Other Jackson 5 smash hits are ‘ABC’ (1970), ‘The Love You Save’ (1970), and ‘I’ll Be There’ (1970).
Released in 1972, Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’ is one of the most recognizable Motown Sound smash hits. Using tambourines to enhance the opening drum beat, trumpet lead, funky clavinet riffs and brass sections, ‘Superstition’ is one of the most distinctive songs that feature the sound of the clavinet keyboard. The track topped #1 on the US Soul singles chart and #74 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Besides, Stevie Wonder received two Grammy Awards for ‘Superstition’ for the Best Rhythm & Blues Song and for the Best R&B; Vocal Performance, Male, in 1973. Other well-known hits by Stevie Wonder are ‘For Once In My Life’ (1967), ‘I Was Made To Love Her’ (1967), ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours’ (1970), ‘Higher Ground’ (1973), ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life’ (1973), ‘Boogie On Reggae Woman’ (1974), ‘Sir Duke’ (1977), ‘Part Time Lover’ (1985) and many others.
Motown was the most successful independent record label of the 1960s and it featured many talented artists. The Temptations were another huge group that contributed to what became known as the Motown Sound with ‘The Way You Do The Things You Do’ (1964), ‘My Girl’ (1965), ‘Get Ready’ (1966), ‘I Can’t Get Next To You’ (1969), ‘Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)’ (1971), and ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ (1972).
Similar examples are The Four Tops with ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)’ (1965), ‘(Reach Out) I’ll Be There’ (1966), and ‘Standing In The Shadows Of Love’ (1966); The Commodores with ‘Brick House’ (1977), ‘Three Times A Lady’ (1978), and ‘Easy’ (1977); Isley Brothers with ‘This Old Heart Of Mine’ (1966) and ‘I Wanna Be With You’ (1979); Rick James with the disco hymn ‘Super Freak’ (1981) and ‘Give It To Me Baby’ (1981); The Marvelettes with ‘Please Mr. Postman’ (1961), ‘Too Many Fish in the Sea‘ (1964), and ‘When You’re Young and in Love’ (1967).
In the 1990s Motown featured great artists such as Boyz II Men with their smash hits ‘End of the Road’ (1992) and ‘I’ll Make Love To You’ (1994), Brian McKnight with ‘Anytime’ (1997) and ‘Back At One’ (1999), Shanice with ‘I Love Your Smile’ (1991), and Queen Latifah with ‘U.N.I.T.Y.’ (1993).
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