A much needed Black Music thread.
- Thread starter Insidious Von
- Start date
OK time for my top 10 favorite Motown songs released from 1960-1973 (my year of birth)
PART I (10-8) plus an honorable mention
First up honorable mention. Was so close to making it I had to list it
"Come See About Me" by The Supremes. Released in 1964.
At #10 I've got "Never Can Say Goodbye" by the Jackson 5. Released in 1971. This is a 13 year old on lead vocals. Truly mind bending.
#9 is "It's a Shame" by the Spinners. Released in 1970, this was their biggest hit on the VIP (Motown) label. Co-written and produced by Stevie Wonder.
#8 "Baby I'm For Real" by The Originals. Released in 1969. I know a favorite of some of you as well.
PART I (10-8) plus an honorable mention
First up honorable mention. Was so close to making it I had to list it
"Come See About Me" by The Supremes. Released in 1964.
At #10 I've got "Never Can Say Goodbye" by the Jackson 5. Released in 1971. This is a 13 year old on lead vocals. Truly mind bending.
#9 is "It's a Shame" by the Spinners. Released in 1970, this was their biggest hit on the VIP (Motown) label. Co-written and produced by Stevie Wonder.
#8 "Baby I'm For Real" by The Originals. Released in 1969. I know a favorite of some of you as well.
PART II (7-4)
#7 is "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. From the 1971 album of the same name. Considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Period. This is the first of two on my list.
#6 "Reflections" by Diana Ross and the Supremes. Released in 1967. I love the tempo changes the most.
#5 is "More Love" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Also released in 1967. The first of two Smokey songs on this list.
#4 I've got my favorite Marvin song "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" from the What's Going On LP. That intro just sucks you in my goodness.
#7 is "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. From the 1971 album of the same name. Considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Period. This is the first of two on my list.
#6 "Reflections" by Diana Ross and the Supremes. Released in 1967. I love the tempo changes the most.
#5 is "More Love" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Also released in 1967. The first of two Smokey songs on this list.
#4 I've got my favorite Marvin song "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" from the What's Going On LP. That intro just sucks you in my goodness.
PART III (3-1)
The cream of the crop so to speak.
#3 is The Four Tops "Reach Out (I'll Be There)". Released in 1966. For years it was "Baby I Need Your Loving" but the bass on this track just won me over. Deep, rich and soulful....just exquisite. Plus Levi's vocals are just plain
#2 which I've seen listed on several Best of Motown lists as the GOAT is Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears". Released in 1965. Such a gorgeous composition, you can visualize the vocals.
And #1 for me, and has been for as long as I can remember, is "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" by none other than the best Motown group ever, The Temptations. Released in 1971 and featuring Eddie Kendricks on lead vocal, his finest performance of his career. This song simply speaks to my soul I get chills up my spine every time I hear it. Can't explain why, it just does.
The cream of the crop so to speak.
#3 is The Four Tops "Reach Out (I'll Be There)". Released in 1966. For years it was "Baby I Need Your Loving" but the bass on this track just won me over. Deep, rich and soulful....just exquisite. Plus Levi's vocals are just plain
#2 which I've seen listed on several Best of Motown lists as the GOAT is Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears". Released in 1965. Such a gorgeous composition, you can visualize the vocals.
And #1 for me, and has been for as long as I can remember, is "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" by none other than the best Motown group ever, The Temptations. Released in 1971 and featuring Eddie Kendricks on lead vocal, his finest performance of his career. This song simply speaks to my soul I get chills up my spine every time I hear it. Can't explain why, it just does.
Great selection of Motown songs, K.PART III (3-1)
The cream of the crop so to speak.
#3 is The Four Tops "Reach Out (I'll Be There)". Released in 1966. For years it was "Baby I Need Your Loving" but the bass on this track just won me over. Deep, rich and soulful....just exquisite. Plus Levi's vocals are just plain
#2 which I've seen listed on several Best of Motown lists as the GOAT is Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears". Released in 1965. Such a gorgeous composition, you can visualize the vocals.
And #1 for me, and has been for as long as I can remember, is "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" by none other than the best Motown group ever, The Temptations. Released in 1971 and featuring Eddie Kendricks on lead vocal, his finest performance of his career. This song simply speaks to my soul I get chills up my spine every time I hear it. Can't explain why, it just does.
Motown was my first exposure to "soul" music, and inspired my journey into searching for all the different styles of soul and R&B that existed at the same time and grew from them. And later into the styles that pre-dated Motown.
Here is my last Gospel post, and is my favourite gospel recording of all time:
From Wikipedia:
Oh Happy Day" is a 1967 gospel music arrangement of the 1755 hymn by clergyman Philip Doddridge. Recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, it became an international hit in 1969, reaching No. 4 on the US Singles Chart, No. 1 in France, Germany, and the Netherlands and No. 2 on the Canadian Singles Chart, UK Singles Chart, and Irish Singles Chart. It has since become a gospel music standard, selling over 7 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling gospel song of all time.
The recording begins with a muted piano, drum, and bass, backing lead singer Dorothy Combs Morrison on the left-hand stereo channel, then alternates twice with a full-throated chorus that includes a large ensemble, rising to a crescendo with handclaps, and ending with a return to the muted sound as at the beginning. The track is notable for its clear sound given the powerful vocals and the modest equipment used to capture them. It was made at Hawkins' church, the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California.
From Wikipedia:
Oh Happy Day" is a 1967 gospel music arrangement of the 1755 hymn by clergyman Philip Doddridge. Recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, it became an international hit in 1969, reaching No. 4 on the US Singles Chart, No. 1 in France, Germany, and the Netherlands and No. 2 on the Canadian Singles Chart, UK Singles Chart, and Irish Singles Chart. It has since become a gospel music standard, selling over 7 million copies worldwide, making it the second best-selling gospel song of all time.
The recording begins with a muted piano, drum, and bass, backing lead singer Dorothy Combs Morrison on the left-hand stereo channel, then alternates twice with a full-throated chorus that includes a large ensemble, rising to a crescendo with handclaps, and ending with a return to the muted sound as at the beginning. The track is notable for its clear sound given the powerful vocals and the modest equipment used to capture them. It was made at Hawkins' church, the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California.
All great songs. Think I still have many of all the above in my library. I will have to search through my 300 cassettes and my Teac tape deck still works. LOL.
Nice Eddie. I have quite a number of cassette tapes (approx.80) and no place to play them. So my goal in the near future is to put together a retro component hi-fi stereo system - tape deck, cd player, receiver and amplifier. I already have two turntables although I may want to upgrade.
This is from A Tribe Called Quest's 4th studio album 'Beats, Rhymes & Life'. Released in 1996. A lot of fans were disappointed with this effort and while it doesn't stand up to 'Midnight Marauders' or 'The Low End Theory' it was still dope.
"1nce Again" feat. Tammy Lucas
"The Hop"
And my favorite "Get a Hold" one of J. Dilla's best productions
"1nce Again" feat. Tammy Lucas
"The Hop"
And my favorite "Get a Hold" one of J. Dilla's best productions
