(Finished November 11th, 2023) Part 1 of The Six Blogs Featuring The 100+ Best Motown Songs

Hello,

Motown. MOTOWN. MOTOWN!! What do you think of when you think of that word. Most people, especially those that are reading music blogs, think of all those great songs that emanate from the Motown label.

Motown Records started on January 12th, 1959. Berry Gordy is obviously the first name you think of when you think of Motown. But of course you also think of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many others.

Motown records brought us “a style of soul music with a mainstream pop appeal.” (Wikipedia) This blog series is inspired by the article about Marvin Gaye in the February, 2023 Rolling Stone. So much talent, so many struggles and such a sad ending to his life. Thankfully all of Marvin’s amazing music remains.

From the Motown 25th Anniversary Performance. I watched this on TV and was amazed and awestruck. And when he broke out the moonwalk…….. Wow!

Now that’s one stage full of talent, so many amazing musicians. Here’s Diana Ross’s Motown 25 medley:

Here’s Marvin Gaye Motown 25 performance, he did this performance just a little over a year before he was brutally murdered by his father. he was a mess much of his life but there’s something perverse about him dying on April Fool’s Day. He also died one day before his 45th birthday.

1) The Jackson Five “ABC”:

2) The Temptations “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”:

3) Stevie Wonder “Part-Time Lover”:

4) Marvin Gaye “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”:

5) Rare Earth “I Just Want To Celebrate”:

6) Diana Ross “Touch Me In The Morning”:

7) The Commodores “Lady (You Bring Me Up)”:

8) Martha and the Vandellas “Dancing In The Street”:

9) Stevie Wonder “My Cherie Amour”:

10) David Ruffin “Walk Away From Love”:

11) Mary Wells “Two Lovers”:

12) Rick James “Super Freak”:

13) Diana Ross “I’m Coming Out”:

14) Martha Reeves and the Vandellas “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave”:

This song has been recently remade by Bruce Springsteen, but no one can do a better job than The Commodores. 15) The Commodores “Night Shift”:

16) Jr. Walker and the All-Stars “Shotgun”:

17) The Four Tops “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)”:

themusicaddict