100 MOST ESSENTIAL MOTOWN SONGS. This update: #40-31. 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

SONGS

40

UPTIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT)

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder bottled all the magic of the storied Motown Sound into his snappy single "Uptight (Everything's Alright)". The single was issued in late 1965 and reached #1 R&B and 3 Pop in the US early the following year.  In Britain, the disc made #14.
 

39

THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO

The Temptations

The Temptations finally cracked the pop chart in America when Motown released "The Way You Do The Things You Do" in 1964. This hit began a string of groundbreaking chart entries. Smokey Robinson produced and co-wrote the song.

38

BABY LOVE

The Supremes

When "Baby Love" occupied the #1 position on the American chart, it proved that "Where Did Our Love Go" was no fluke. The Supremes' 2nd chart topper  was another song written by Holland / Dozier / Holland. It also climbed to #1 in Britain. The trio would enjoy another 10 #1 singles.
 

37

i'LL MAKE LOVE TO YOU

Boyz II Men

Motown was still breaking chart achievement records in the 1990s, largely due to the phenomenal domination of Boyz II Men's singles. Babyface wrote and produced "I'll Make Love To You" for the vocal group. In 1994, the disc topped the R&B, Pop (reigning for a record-equalling 14 weeks!) and AC charts in America. It also reached #1 in Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore, the single went Top 10 in Britain and Europe.

36

HIGHER GROUND

Stevie Wonder

Wonder was at his peak in the 1970s, churning out 1 unbelievable gem after another. "Higher Ground" was dropped in 1973. The funky spiritual song soared to #1 on the US R&B chart and peaked at #4 Pop. In 1989, Red Hot Chili Peppers released a cover version.
 

35

YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON

The Supremes

Holland / Dozier / Holland incorporated innovative effects and recording techniques on "You Keep Me Hangin' On" for The Supremes. In 1966, the single went to #1 R&B and Pop in America. The disc peaked at #8 in the UK. A year later, Vanilla Fudge's remake returned the song to the US Top 10. In 1986-7, Kim Wilde's cover topped the Australian and American charts. In the UK, her version climbed to #2.
  

34

WAR

Edwin Starr

Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield penned a powerful anthem that has proven to be timeless when they composed "War". The latter produced the original recording of the song by The Temptations. In 1970, Edwin Starr's remake was unleashed and was soon atop the US Pop chart. Whitfield was again in the producer's chair. The single fought its way up to #3 in Britain. Its lyrics have continued to resonate over subsequent decades. Covers have been recorded by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
 

33

I'LL BE THERE

The Jackson 5

"I'll Be There" became the 4th consecutive US #1 single for The Jackson 5 in 1970. After the upbeat pop of its preceding 3 chart toppers, the ballad revealed another side of the group's sound. Michael Jackson, still a teen, delivered a vocal with maturity beyond his years. The single was so popular, it became Motown's best selling disc up to that point in its history. In 1992, Mariah Carey covered the hit as part of her MTV Unplugged show. Trey Lorenz contributed guest vocals. The live recording was released as a single and returned the song to the top.
 

32

AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH
Marvin Gaye &
 Tammi Terrell  / Diana Ross

Motown had a practice of recycling its songs, trying out new approaches with different artists. Among its best results are the versions of "War", "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". The latter was first a hit for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. This is arguably one of the best duets ever released; perfectly combining 2 compatible voices. The magical combo scored a #13 Pop hit and peaked at #3 R&B in 1967. 
Diana Ross kick-started her solo career 3 years later with a remake of the song. The decision to quit The Supremes had not begun well for Motown's priority artist. Her solo debut single "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)" had barely scraped into the US Pop Top 20. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" changed everything.
Its writers, Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, radically re-invented the song  for Ross. Their new production added drama, spoken-word parts and strings, giving Motown 1 of its best singles. The single topped the US Pop and R&B charts and scaled the UK and Canadian Top 10s.

31

DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY
Thelma Houston

Motown's reluctance to capitalize on disco's immense popularity was an unwise error. Once the label corrected this misjudgement, it delivered some outstanding classics of the genre. Thelma Houston's remake of the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes' R&B track "Don't Leave Me This Way" remains a much- loved disco staple. Hal Davis had produced "Love Hangover" for Diana Ross. That initial Motown disco #1 was followed by his similar role on Houston's disco smash later in 1976. The latter ruled over America's Pop, R&B and Disco charts. Globally, the single went Top 20 in Europe, Britain, Canada and Australia.