Com 351 Songs
Martha and the Vandellas
" Dancing in the Street" formed as the Del-phis.Martha Reeves became the A&R secretary and waited for her chance to record, provided backing vocals and handclaps on Marvin Gaye's breakthrough single. the group's biggest hit reaching number two on the pop charts. the song has every percussion sound throughout by beating tire chains against a piece of lumber.
Barrett Strong
" Money (thats what I want)" released on Tamela label, was the first national hit for Gordy's new label making it to number two on the R&B chart, the song is a 12 Bar Blues which is strophic- different text repeated over the same music, backup singers engage in call and response with lead singer.
The Temptations
" My Girl" is the first song featuring David Ruffin on lead vocal, Smokey Robinson wrote my girl with Ruffin's voice in mind, the lyrics were inspired by Smokies wife Claudette in addition to the harmony vocals. my girl became a double number one hit I became their signature song.
The Miracles
" You've Really Got A Hold On Me" was written by a bored Smokey Robinson, was originally the B side, was inspired by Sam Cooke's record. The A-side "happy Landing" Featured an almost identical guitar riff by Funk Brothers Marv Tarplin. became the Miracles second million-selling record and second number one on the R&B chart after "shop around"
The Miracles
" shop around" was originally intended for Barrett Strong as a follow-up to "money". the song became Motown's first official million-selling record
Junior Walker & the All-Stars
shotgun
The Supremes
" where did our love go" was offered first to the Marvelettes but they turned it down. this group had only one hit record to this point and eight failed singles. HDH had the idea to have Diana Ross sing the song in a lower register taking the lead vocals a breathing quality. the song is simple strophic form- Different lyrics over the same musical material- with claps and foot Stomps emphasizing Every Beat. went to number one on the pop chart making the beginning otherwise for this group and was the most successful chart-topping American popular music group of the 1960s.
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Ashford and Simpson joined Motown in 1966, after they caught the attention of Holland-Dozier-Holland when their song "Let's Go Get Stoned" recorded by Ray Charles and hit number one. Was the first in a string of Ashford and Simpson-written songs recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Terrell was too nervous and intimidated to sing with Marvin Gaye during recording so she recorded her part alone, with Fuqua and Bristol, and Gaye's vocal were added later.
Marv Johnson
"Come to Me" was Motown's first single, features members of the Funk Brothers and Rayber voices in the background, The Rayber Voices included two members of the Santintones, Raynoma Liles and Brian Holland. Features Johnson's falsetto
The Contours
"Do You love Me" Jackie Wilson a cousin of a member call Berry Gordy asking him to give the band another chance. "do you love me" was originally intended for The Temptations. went to number one on R&B charts and number 3 on the pop charts and the song with hit the charts again 25 years later after that it appeared in the movie Dirty Dancing
The Four Tops
"I can't help myself" originally called the "four aims" the group recorded vocal jazz songs for chess and Columbia. it began at Motown recording jazz on the Jazz Workshop label. HDH Road song specifically for this group current hit number one on the R&B and pop charts.
The Mynah Birds
"It's My Time" An interracial Canadian R&B group that recorded 16 songs for Motown in 1966, none of which were ever released. lead singer Ricky Matthews AKA Rick James was arrested for being AWOL from the Navy. started the band Steppenwolf and Buffalo Springfield." it's my time" features Neil Young's 12-string guitar
Eddie Holland
"Jamie" Unsuccessful stint with United Artists, the song was an attempt to match the style of Jackie Wilson upscale R&B sound, featured members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, singing career suffered as a result of discomfort would live performance
The Satintones
"Motor City" up-tempo doo wop released on Tamela was thinspiration four Berry Gordy's new label Motown, the lyrics are a tribute to Detroit, with beep beep a car horns in the backing vocals
Mary Wells
"My Guy" she had early hits such as "Bye Bye Baby" but her career took off when she was paired with Smokey Robinson as her producer. a number one on the R&B and pop charts "My Guy" also reached number 5 on the UK charts, prompting The Beatles to call her their favorite American singer and invite her to open for them on tour.
The Marvelettes
"Please Mr. Postman" first Motown single to hit number one on the pop charts and was number one on the R&B charts making it the first double number one. originally calling themselves the Casinyets ( as a joke "we can't sing yet") Marvin Gaye plays drums on this song.
The Swinging Tigers,
"Snake Walk" released on the Tamala label, The first Motown instrumental, the first appearance of the Funk Brothers, first writing credits for Smokey Robinson.
The Supremes
"Stop in the Name of Love" what's the fourth song with HDH in a row to reach number one on the pop charts. it tells the story of a heartbroken woman who expects her lover cheating, continuing the theme of "where did our love go" Song features an emphasis on the percussions on each beat in the measure an interpretation including the Hammond organ.
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
"You're All I Need To Get By" was one of the first songs to be written and produced by Ashford and Simpson, number one on the R&B/Soul Singles chart for five weeks, Ashford and Simpson build the song slowly adding textural elements that peak during the choruses. The backing vocals that are featured throughout the song belong to Ashford and Simpson
Little Stevie Wonder
"fingertips" was originally an instrumental on this debut album, features bongos and was performed at the Regal Theater in Chicago part of Motown's multi-act review, hit number 1 on both the R&B and Billboard Chart becoming this singer first Motown hit song.
The Four Tops
"standing in the shadows of love" was a follow-up To the number one hit "reach out I'll be there" the song features text rule changes to reinforce the lyrics: When Stubbs sings "now wait a minute" the texture changes to bongos, bass, tambourine, and vocals only, creating an impression of suspended time, then returns to full of texture when the refrain returns
The Temptations
"the way you do the things you do" formed from two groups- the distants and the Prime Amber Priestley called the Elgins. what's the first charting single, Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the song and David Ruffin was in the band