Saturday, August 27, 2016

100 MOST ESSENTIAL MOTOWN SONGS. This update: #80-71. The countdown continues tomorrow.
Hear the 10 songs added today on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte
                                                                    spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte

Caffe` Latte` presents…
THE 200
MOST ESSENTIAL
MOTOWN
Motown Productions
SONGS
80
DANCING ON THE CEILING
Lionel Richie
With the memorable line: "Oh! What a feeling...", "Dancing on the Ceiling" was a guaranteed success. The single climbed to #2 Pop, 3 AC and 6 R&B in America and peaked at #7 in Britain. It was the title track from Lionel Richie's #1 album.
 LionelRichie-DancingOnTheCeiling.jpg
79
PART TIME LOVER
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder's hit song "Part Time Lover" reached #1 in America on the Pop, AC, R&B and Dance charts in 1985: the first to reign over all 4 Billboard lists. Wonder sang lead, synthesizers and drums on the track. Luther Vandross, Philip Bailey (from Earth, Wind & Fire) and Wonder's ex-wife Syreeta Wright contributed vocals. The single topped the charts of Canada, New Zealand and parts of Europe.

78
gET READY
The Temptations
Smokey Robinson wrote and produced The Temptations' "Get Ready", another R&B Chart #1 in 1966 for the vocal group. It's one of Motown's greatest songs.
 
77
IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN
Gladys Knight & The Pips
High drama, quality production and breathtaking lyrics; no one has ever managed to match Gladys Knight's lead vocal on this Motown gem. It was co-written by Gloria Jones (who recorded the original version of "Tainted Love"). The single reached #9 Pop and topped the R&B chart in 1970.
 
76
CRUISIN'
Smokey Robinson
"Cruisin'" was a laid back solo hit for Robinson in 1979. The single was a #4 hit in the USA and reached the top in New Zealand.
 
75
BRICK HOUSE
The Commodores
In 1977, The Commodores dropped their funkiest track, "Brick House". The group wrote and co-produced with regular collaborator James Carmichael. 
 The Commodores, Brick House, US, Deleted, 12" vinyl single (12 inch record / Maxi-single), Motown, M-00007D1, 405103

74
I'M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME
Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations
Motown combined its most popular male vocal outfit with its hit girl group in 1968 and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" peaked at #2 Pop and R&B. Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations traded lines on this #3 UK single, a cover of Dee Dee Warwick's original 2 years prior.
73
ISN'T SHE LOVELY
Stevie Wonder
Wonder sang about his daughter Aisha on the jazzy / pop track "Isn't She Lovely". This is one of his best known non- single songs. The track was included on his 'Songs In The Key Of Life' album (1976). Wonder wrote and produced the cut.
 Songs in the key of life.jpg
72
BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING
Four Tops
"Baby I Need Your Loving", written by Holland / Dozier / Holland, was the first release by The Four Tops on Motown in 1964. The single climbed to #11.
 

71
  I HEAR A SYMPHONY
The Supremes
In 1965, The Supremes placed its 6th single atop the Pop chart. H/D/H again created the catchy chart-topper, which ruled the Top 40 in the USA for a fortnight.
    

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