What's your favorite Motown song?

Vito

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When I was a little kid, one of my older sisters had a big collection of 1960s Motown singles and played 'em all the time. So I've listened to most of the early Motown hits, and I definitely have my favorites:

All-time favorite is "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me". This song features both the Supremes and the Temptations, with Diana Ross and Eddie Kendrucks trading vocals. Pretty amazing.

Runner-up favorite is "This Old Heart of Mine" by the Isley Brothers. There's something bittersweet about this song that I really like, and the baritone saxophone solo is also very cool.
 

rhymegirl

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Either You Can't Hurry Love or Stop! In the Name of Love.
 

Maryn

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"Lean on Me." Just saying the title means it'll be bouncing around in my skull for a few hours, which is fine by me.

Man, I don't own but one Motown CD. (Aretha--if you're only going to have one, that's the artist, right?) If I could get suggestions, and you all could whisper in Santa's ear how good I've been, maybe I can remedy that.

Maryn, the music of her youth still in her head
 

Vito

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"Lean on Me." Just saying the title means it'll be bouncing around in my skull for a few hours, which is fine by me.

Man, I don't own but one Motown CD. (Aretha--if you're only going to have one, that's the artist, right?) If I could get suggestions, and you all could whisper in Santa's ear how good I've been, maybe I can remedy that.

Aretha Franklin's big hit songs were on Atlantic Records. I'm pretty sure she (and Bill Withers -- "Lean On Me") never recorded for Motown.

Motown is the Temptations, the Supremes, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, etc. If you're not sure if an old R&B song is Motown or not, listen for the tambourines -- if you can hear the loud tambourines in the background, it's Motown. :)
 

backslashbaby

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Higher Ground!! Stevie

I Second that Emotion
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Tracks of My Tears
Papa Was a Rolling Stone

I can't remember all the artists, though!

Was Son of A Preacher Man Motown? I really, really love that one.
 

Vito

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Tracks of My Tears

I can't remember all the artists, though!

Was Son of A Preacher Man Motown? I really, really love that one.

"Tracks of My Tears" -- wow, incredible song. It's by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. "I Second That Emotion", too.

Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man" wasn't Motown. But a Motown artist might have recorded that song somewhere down the line -- I'm not sure.
 

poetinahat

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Dock of the Bay

... that is, out of Motown songs that aren't by James Brown
 
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Signed, Sealed, Delivered. No, Tracks of My Tears. No...I'm Still Waiting.

Ah cannae choose!
 

dolores haze

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Well, I did choose an all-time favorite and a runner-up. You can choose as many as you want! ;)

And now I'm gonna be cracktubing for the rest of the evening. And with all the writing stuff I have do to... Thanks, Vito. Thanks a lot. *grin*
 

Lavern08

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Can't. Choose. Just. One.

Gaaaaaaa...

anxiety-woman1.jpg
 

Seaclusion

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Get Ready, 'cause Here I Come by Rare Earth is my favorite.

But I also really like Superstition by Stevie.

Richard
 

brainstorm77

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Midnight Train to Georgia :)
 

firedrake

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I don't think I can choose just one :( but, this would be the one.

I'll be there - The Four Tops (my favorite Motown act)
 

jilly61

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Today it's 'The tears of a clown' - tomorrow it'll be something else.
 

Vito

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I'll be there - The Four Tops (my favorite Motown act)

Levi Stubbs' performance on "Reach Out, I'll Be There" is pretty amazing. I once read that Levi was trying to sing like Bob Dylan when he recorded that song. The guys who wrote the song had told Levi to imitate the way Dylan sings on "Like A Rolling Stone". If you listen closely, you can really hear the Dylan influence on Levi's vocals.
 

jilly61

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Today it's 'The tears of a clown' - tomorrow it'll be something else.


See, I've changed my mind already. Now it's Smokey's 'Being with you.'