20 Greatest Songs in Motown History

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

CD 1
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Three Time a Lady
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1978)
part of:
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1978 (number: 10)
recording of:
Three Times a Lady
lyricist and composer:
Lionel Richie
publisher:
Brenda Richie Publishing, EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jobete Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Libren Music
Commodores3:37
2Touch Me in the Morning
Diana Ross3:26
3I Heard It Through the Grapevine
producer:
Norman Whitfield
drums (drum set):
Richard "Pistol" Allen (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10) and Uriel Jones (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
organ:
Earl Van Dyke (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
background vocals:
The Andantes (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
orchestra:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 80), Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 93) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 119)
recording of:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Scandinavia AB, Jobete Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd., Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部
Marvin Gaye3.93:15
4For Once in My LifeStevie Wonder4.152:49
5Never Can Say Goodbye
producer:
Hal Davis
arranger:
Gene Page
recording of:
Never Can Say Goodbye
lyricist and composer:
Clifton Davis (musical theatre actor, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Portable Music Co., Inc.
The Jackson 54.52:59
6My Girl
producer:
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles)
bass:
James Jamerson (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
guitar:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
strings:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
background vocals:
Eddie Kendricks (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17), Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
performer:
The Temptations (Motown soul vocal group) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
strings arranger:
Paul Riser
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 11), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 43) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 88)
recording of:
My Girl (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
lyricist:
Smokey Robinson
composer:
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles)
publisher:
Jobete Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Music for Africa (South Africa), Poochum, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Temptations4.452:43
7Love Hangover
producer:
Hal Davis
arranger:
Dave Blumberg and Clay Drayton
recording of:
Love Hangover
writer:
Marilyn McLeod (soul/jazz singer and songwriter) and Pam Sawyer (British-born American lyricist and songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
Diana Ross3.53:48
8Where Did Our Love Go
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
foot stomps [footstomps]:
Mikchael Valvano (on 1964-04-08)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1964-04-08)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (on 1964-04-08) and Mary Wilson (on 1964-04-08)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (on 1964-04-08)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1964-04-08)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 9) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 472)
recording of:
Where Did Our Love Go (on 1964-04-08)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
writer:
Holland / Dozier / Holland
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Supremes52:31
9Dancing in the Street
producer:
William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Thomas Bowles
bass guitar:
James Jamerson
drums (drum set):
Marvin Gaye
guitar:
Joe Messina, Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) and Eddie Willis
other instruments [tire iron]:
Ivy Jo Hunter
percussion, tambourine and vibraphone [vibes]:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger)
tenor saxophone:
Henry Cosby
trombone:
George Bohanon and Paul Riser
trumpet:
Russell Conway (trumpet player) and Herbert Williams (trumpet player)
background vocals:
Rosalind Ashford, Ivy Jo Hunter, Betty Kelly and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
lead vocals:
Martha Reeves
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1964)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 7), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 40) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 130)
recording of:
Dancing in the Street (on 1964-06-29)
writer:
Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), FCG Music, Jobete Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Martha and the Vandellas3.52:38
10StillCommodores25:48
11Stop! In the Name of Love
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
background vocals:
The Andantes (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11), Florence Ballard (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11) and Mary Wilson (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1965)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 13) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 254)
recording of:
Stop! In the Name of Love (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Supremes4.152:53
12The Tracks of My Tears
producer:
Bill “Smokey” Robinson
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1965)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 50) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 54)
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears (on 1965-05-19)
writer:
Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Tarplin
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles4.252:53
13You Keep Me Hangin’ On
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 234) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 340)
recording of:
You Keep Me Hangin’ On (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
MCA Music (not for release label use! this is a music publisher, ASCAP-affiliated), Stone Agate Music Division and Jobete Music Co., Inc. (in 1986)
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Japan C.F. division (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (sub‐publisher for foreign (non‐Japanese) works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Supremes52:41
14Easy
producer:
James Anthony Carmichael and Commodores (US funk/soul band with Lionel Richie)
arranger:
James Anthony Carmichael and Commodores (US funk/soul band with Lionel Richie)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1977), Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1977) and Universal International Music B.V. (company, do not use as label) (in 2009)
recording of:
Easy
lyricist and composer:
Lionel Richie
publisher:
Brenda Richie Publishing, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Libren Music
Commodores3.754:16
15Reach Out I’ll Be There
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1966)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1966), Marlene Barrow (in 1966), Renaldo Benson (in 1966), Louvain Demps (in 1966), Abdul “Duke” Fakir (in 1966), Jackie Hicks (in 1966) and Lawrence Payton (in 1966)
lead vocals:
Levi Stubbs (in 1966)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1966)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 78) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 206)
recording of:
Reach Out, I’ll Be There (in 1966)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Four Tops42:59
16Ain’t No Mountain High EnoughMarvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell4.752:27
17You Can’t Hurry Love
engineer:
Lamont Dozier
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1966)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
lead vocals:
Diana Ross
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966) and Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 2015, in 2017)
recording of:
You Can’t Hurry Love (from 1966-06 until 1966-07)
lyricist:
Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) and Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jobete (now‐defunct US music publisher, affiliated with BMI), Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. (in 1965) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Supremes52:46
18Standing in the Shadows of Love
Four Tops2:35
19Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Eddie Kendricks (from 1970-01-24 until 1970-12-03)
vocals:
The Temptations (Motown soul vocal group) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971), Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971) and Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Golden World in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 389)
recording of:
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
lyricist:
Barrett Strong
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations53:48
20How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
producer:
Lamont Dozier, Berry Gordy, Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
recording of:
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You) (on 1964-07-10)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
ABKCO Music, Inc. (this is a music publisher; for release labels, please use “ABKCO”), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部
Marvin Gaye52:57