thought i might try this as an occassional thread, picking a genre and favs..

 

 

for me, motown was the sound of black music and its hayday was 64-70. after that 'soul' lost its direction and became caberet, dressing formuated groups in glittery suits and made them perform a silly dance routine... sweet soul is imho the VILEST genre ever. but less of that, im here to champion some of motowns greatest tracks...

 

SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES..'going to a go-go', 'the tracks of my tears' my favs, though 'tears of a clown' was a good pop track too.

 

SUPREMES.... motowns biggest act? had a string of good hits through the 60's. 'where did our love go?', 'i hear a symphony', 'love is here,now youre gone' are my favs.

 

STEVIE WONDER... 'a place in the sun', 'uptight (everythings alright)', 'signed sealed delivered' were great, my overall fav stevie track though is 'i was made to love her', which is just about the best love song ever recorded, oozing passion and soul.

 

TEMPTATIONS... possibly the technically best act, 'ball of confusion', 'my girl' are my favs

 

FOUR TOPS..... commercially the best? 'bernadette', 'if i were a carpenter', fantastic tracks.

 

ISLEY BROTHERS... 'this old heart of mine', 'behind a painted smile' 'put yourself in my place'

 

MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS... 'dancing in the street', and the brilliant 'nowhere to run (nowhere to hide)' is possibly my fav ever motown track as it epitomises the sound, the echoey vocals, the beat, the melody.....

 

 

yours?

I concur with all your choices there, I will have a think and add a few more :)

It's not really my sort of music. Funnily enough we learnt a bit about where motown originated in history recently.

The only Smokey Robinson song I have is Being With You.

I love all the ones Rob mentions.

 

Was 'Heatwave' by Martha Reeves? That's one of my fave Motown moments. Along with all the Marvin Gaye stuff - perfect.

 

Loved the Supremes, too, as well as the very early Diana Ross solo stuff which was superb.

yep... heatwave was mr... :)

Some Of My Faves Incl.

 

Four Tops I Cant Help Myself

 

Supremes Reflections

 

Smokey Robinson & Miracles Tracks Of My Tears

David Ruffin- What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted

Isley Brothers- Behind A Painted Smile

Chris Clark- Love's Gone Bad

Stevie Wonder- I Don't Know Why I Love You

Mary Wells- Bye Bye Baby and Two Lovers

 

Heaps more :P

 

Some of the 60s Motown singles I have. All original UK releases. Some were on Stateside and some on Oriole and a couple on Polydor labels.

 

Martha & The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street - Nowhere To Run - Heatwave - Jimmy Mack/Third Finger Left Hand - I'm Ready For Love

Marvelettes: Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead - Destination Anywhere

Chris Clark I Want To Go Back There Again

Contours Do You Love Me - It's So Hard Being A Loser - Just A Little Misunderstanding

Spinners I'll Always Love You

Earl Van Dyke 6x6

Elgins Heaven Must Have Sent You - Put Yourself In My Place

Four Tops I Can't Help Myself - The Same Old Song - Something About You - Shake Me Wake Me - Reach Out I'll Be There - Standing In The Shadows Of Love - Walk Away Renee - If I Were A Carpenter

Marvin Gaye I'll Be Doggone - One More Heartache - Ain't That Peculiar - Little Darlin' - Grapevine - Too Busy Thinking About My Baby

Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston It Takes Two

Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells Once Upon A Time

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell You're All I Need To Get By/Two Can Have A Party - If I Could Build My Whole World - The Onion Song

Brenda Holloway Together Till The End Of Time

Isley Brothers This Old Heart Of Mine - I Guess I'll Always Love You - Behind A Painted Smile - Take Some Time OUt For Love - Tell Me It's Just A Rumour Baby

Marv Johnson I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose - I Miss You Baby

Gladys Knight & The Pips Just Walk In My Shoes - Take Me In Your Arms & Love Me - I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Shorty Long Function At The Junction

(Smokey Robinson &) Miracles I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying - Going To A Go-Go - I'm The One You Need - If You Can Want - Special Occasion - Tears Of A Clown - Shop Around

Barbara Randolph I Got A Feelin'

Reflections (Just Like) Romeo & Juliet

Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted/Baby I Got It - I've Passed This Way Before - I'll Say Forever My Love - Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got - Farewell Is A Lonely Sound

David Ruffin My Whole World Ended

San Remo Strings Festival Time

Edwin Starr Stop Her On Sight - Headline News - Time - Agent 00 Soul - Way Over There - My Weakness Is You - Backstreet

Al Kent You Gotta Pay The Price

Supremes Where Did Our Love Go - Baby Love - Stop In The Name Of Love (1st single on UK Motown) - Nothing But Heartaches - My World Is Empty Without You - I Hear A Symphony - You Keep Me Hangin' On - You Can't Hurry Love - Love Is Here & Now You're Gone/There's No Stopping Us Now - The Happening - Reflections - In & Out Of Love - Someday We'll Be Together (final single with Diana Ross)

Temptations My Girl - Get Ready - Ain't Too Proud To Beg - (I Know) I'm Losing You - I Could Never Love Another - Cloud 9

Velvelettes A Bird In The Hand - He Was Really Sayin' Something/Needle In A Haystack - These Things Will Keep Me Loving You

Junior Walker Road Runner - How Sweet It Is - Shake & Fingerpop - Come See About Me - Hip City - What Does It Take

Stevie Wonder Nothing's Too Good For My Baby - Uptight - I Was Made To Love Her - I'm Wondering - Shoo-Be-Do-Be-Do Da-Day - I Met Your Match - Yester-me Yester-you Yesterday - I Don't Know Why/My Cherie Amour - Fingertips (as Little Stevie Wonder)

Kim Weston Helpless

Mary Wells - What Easy For Two - My Guy

Edited November 21, 200618 yr by Euro Music

First I Look At The Purse by The Contours is an exceptional record :D The same goes for Devil With A Blue Dress On by Shorty Long. Classic