There are so many great songs on this list! My personal favorites are Heat Wave, My Guy, Reach Out (I'll be There), Uptight, and all All Night Long. Some of the other songs have been remade. I really like the Carpenters version of Please Mr. Postman, Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through the Grapevine, and the Flying Lizards' new wave take on Money (That's What I Want.)
A great list! I remember playing so many of these on my Five Disc Motown Compilation box set (which I still have) but for me, if I had to pick just one, it’s The Four Tops “Reach Out I’ll Be There”.
Ironically, the disc with this song on is missing from my box set - I guess someone else loved it too 🫢
As a major Motown fan, I approve of this list. It's a great way to get people interested in the company's benchmarks while possibly inducing them to check out the deeper parts of the catalogue. (For the most part, you seem to focus on the 1959-1971, since I did not see The Commodores, Rick James or Lionel Richie there).
Thanks David! I had to cut the list off somewhere, and I decided to gear it towards “beginners,” but perhaps a Part 2 is in the newsletter’s future later this year :)
"Heat Wave" is an all-timer! IMO, Martha & the Vandellas have always been underrated.
Preaching to the choir!
There are so many great songs on this list! My personal favorites are Heat Wave, My Guy, Reach Out (I'll be There), Uptight, and all All Night Long. Some of the other songs have been remade. I really like the Carpenters version of Please Mr. Postman, Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through the Grapevine, and the Flying Lizards' new wave take on Money (That's What I Want.)
There’s an article to be written about great Motown covers at some point.
A great list! I remember playing so many of these on my Five Disc Motown Compilation box set (which I still have) but for me, if I had to pick just one, it’s The Four Tops “Reach Out I’ll Be There”.
Ironically, the disc with this song on is missing from my box set - I guess someone else loved it too 🫢
What?! No way. Thanks for reading Bill :)
"Ain't no Mountain High" is a great charmer! I can never get that one out of my head.
Right?? :)
As a major Motown fan, I approve of this list. It's a great way to get people interested in the company's benchmarks while possibly inducing them to check out the deeper parts of the catalogue. (For the most part, you seem to focus on the 1959-1971, since I did not see The Commodores, Rick James or Lionel Richie there).
Thanks David! I had to cut the list off somewhere, and I decided to gear it towards “beginners,” but perhaps a Part 2 is in the newsletter’s future later this year :)
Love and sharing!
Thank you so much! 😊