TOP 10 SONGS IN MOTOWN
(There is nothing official about this list. It is strictly based on the website creator's personal appeal and knowledge of the public's preference in the Motown era.)
1. AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
This song was a 1967 hit single that reached number 19 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1999, this song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of
Fame and is known as one of the most important records ever released by Motown today.
2. MY GIRL by The Temptations
The Temptations made this song their first U.S. hit single in 1964. It is today known as their "signature song". My Girl was written
and produced by Smokey Robinson and he used his loving and beautiful wife as inspiration to help him write it.
3. Ooo BABY BABY by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
This 1965 hit single is considered the Miracles' "signature song". The song's lyrics describe a man pleading for his woman's forgiveness after he
cheated on her. It was a number 4 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and ranked number 262 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest
songs of all time.
4. I WANT YOU BACK by Jackson 5
I Want You Back was released in 1969 and became a number one hit single of the Jackson 5. This song was one of three that the
Jacksons performed on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was the first time that they appeared on national television. It was put into the Grammy
Hall of Fame in 1999 and stayed on the soul singles chart for four weeks.
5. UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) by Stevie Wonder
Co-written and sung by Stevie Wonder, Uptight (Everything Is Alright) was a hit single in 1966 and reached the top of the Billboard R&B singles.
It stayed there for five weeks and its lyrics depicted a lower-class young boy who is excited and glad that a higher-class girl is looking past his
social standing and noticing his personality and true worth.
6. WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO by the Supremes
Where Did Our Love Go was the Supremes' first single in 1964 to make it to number one on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Single Chart. This song held
its position at the top of the charts for two weeks. It also made its way to number one on the Cash Box R&B singles list the same year that it was
released.
7. DANCING IN THE STREET by Martha & The Vandelles
Dancing In The Street (1964) by Martha & The Vandelles became their premier signature song. It reached the number two spot on Billboard's
Pop Singles chart in the U.S. and was interestingly written with the help of Marvin Gaye, another famous Motown singer.
8. BILLIE JEAN by Michael Jackson
Although Billie Jean was not produced by Motown Records, its significance is still great and connected to the Motown's 25th anniversary
celebration. On March 25, 1983, Michael Jackson performed this song that he self-wrote and for the first time, presented the public with his
signature move- the moonwalk. This move brought in Jackson's solo career, away from the Jackson five.
9. I'll MAKE LOVE TO YOU by Boys II Men
This song was a number one hit single in 1994 and was put as number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen weeks. Boys II Men broke the
record for the most weeks on Billboard's charts at the time. This single also hit the top five charts in the United Kingdom.
10. IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN by Gladys Knight & The Pips
Performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips, If I Were Your Woman was released in the late 1970's and was on Billboard's Hot 100, making number
nine in the charts. It also spent about a week as number one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart in January of 1971.
This song was a 1967 hit single that reached number 19 on the Billboard pop charts. In 1999, this song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of
Fame and is known as one of the most important records ever released by Motown today.
2. MY GIRL by The Temptations
The Temptations made this song their first U.S. hit single in 1964. It is today known as their "signature song". My Girl was written
and produced by Smokey Robinson and he used his loving and beautiful wife as inspiration to help him write it.
3. Ooo BABY BABY by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
This 1965 hit single is considered the Miracles' "signature song". The song's lyrics describe a man pleading for his woman's forgiveness after he
cheated on her. It was a number 4 hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart and ranked number 262 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest
songs of all time.
4. I WANT YOU BACK by Jackson 5
I Want You Back was released in 1969 and became a number one hit single of the Jackson 5. This song was one of three that the
Jacksons performed on the Ed Sullivan Show, which was the first time that they appeared on national television. It was put into the Grammy
Hall of Fame in 1999 and stayed on the soul singles chart for four weeks.
5. UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) by Stevie Wonder
Co-written and sung by Stevie Wonder, Uptight (Everything Is Alright) was a hit single in 1966 and reached the top of the Billboard R&B singles.
It stayed there for five weeks and its lyrics depicted a lower-class young boy who is excited and glad that a higher-class girl is looking past his
social standing and noticing his personality and true worth.
6. WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO by the Supremes
Where Did Our Love Go was the Supremes' first single in 1964 to make it to number one on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Single Chart. This song held
its position at the top of the charts for two weeks. It also made its way to number one on the Cash Box R&B singles list the same year that it was
released.
7. DANCING IN THE STREET by Martha & The Vandelles
Dancing In The Street (1964) by Martha & The Vandelles became their premier signature song. It reached the number two spot on Billboard's
Pop Singles chart in the U.S. and was interestingly written with the help of Marvin Gaye, another famous Motown singer.
8. BILLIE JEAN by Michael Jackson
Although Billie Jean was not produced by Motown Records, its significance is still great and connected to the Motown's 25th anniversary
celebration. On March 25, 1983, Michael Jackson performed this song that he self-wrote and for the first time, presented the public with his
signature move- the moonwalk. This move brought in Jackson's solo career, away from the Jackson five.
9. I'll MAKE LOVE TO YOU by Boys II Men
This song was a number one hit single in 1994 and was put as number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen weeks. Boys II Men broke the
record for the most weeks on Billboard's charts at the time. This single also hit the top five charts in the United Kingdom.
10. IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN by Gladys Knight & The Pips
Performed by Gladys Knight & The Pips, If I Were Your Woman was released in the late 1970's and was on Billboard's Hot 100, making number
nine in the charts. It also spent about a week as number one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart in January of 1971.
