Berry Gordy, founder of Detroit's Motown, is responsible for some of the best pop music in American history. His formula: keep it simple and maintain that funky handclap and tambourine. The Motown house band, the Funk Brothers, were more than able to provide a strong musical backbone for Motown's strong vocalists. Indeed, their use of strings (something from the traditional pop tradition in American music) avoids being cheesy most of the time. Thus, Motown's success is a celebration of R&B music's ability to synthesize various genres of music (funk, gospel, jazz, pop, and soul). Some of America's music legends also got their start through Motown, such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. Thank you, Berry Gordy and Motown for producing so much amazing music.
1. Jr. Walker and the All-Stars, "Shotgun" is one of the funkiest cuts I've ever heard with some amazing R&B-styled saxophone. This melody was later adapted for the intro of Season 6 of The Cosby Show. Everybody was doing the shotgun when this jam was released back in 1965.
2. Diana Ross and the Supreme's "Baby Love" is a classic Motown moment. Sweet and simple love song by one of the best girl groups. "Instead of breaking up, let's do some kissing and making up." Nice horn section as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eYAilmqe9w
3. Diana & The Supreme's "Where Did Our Love Go" is similar to "Baby Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlgHudEv_VA&feature=related
4. Diana & The Supreme's "Stop! In the Name of Love" is a song everyone knows. I first heard this back in elementary school. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJzcGO0qUfw&feature=related
5. Jackson 5's cover of Smokey Robinson's "Who's Loving You" is one of the best soul ballads. Bluesy piano intro, powerful vocals from young Michael, and beautiful back up vocals from Jackson's group. "Don't you know I sit around, with my head hanging down, and I wonder who's loving you."
6. Jackson 5's " I Want You Back" is one of the unforgettable pop songs that made Michael Jackson a household name. Though not nearly as good as "Who's Loving You," this is also great pop music. "When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around. Those pretty faces always made you stand out in the crowd."
7. Jackson 5's "ABC" is another pop song everybody of every race knows. Music transcends everything.
8. Smokey Robinson's "The Tracks of My Tears" sounds a little Caribbean, which is no surprise if you know that Robinson based it partially on the melody of a calypso song sung by Harry Belafonte. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNS6D4hSQdA
9. Martha & the Vandellas's "Dancing In the Street" is another Motown jam I've known for several years.
10. The Temptations' "My Girl" is another northern soul gem. Written by Smokey Robinson, I believe.
"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZh7nRw6gl8
11. The Four Tops's "I Can't Help Myself" is a song I believe I first heard while watching that terrible TV show, Clueless, back in elementary school. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3bksUSPB4c
12. Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin" is another classic slow jam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlzY6cWpoMQ
13. Diana Ross's I'm Coming Out" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPpE_BrX0FM
14. The Miracles' "Shop Around" was one of Smokey's earliest hits http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM
15. Temptations's "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a song I first heard from an episode of Fresh Prince back in the mid-1990s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBCpcSvxYeo
16. The Temptations's "Just My Imagination" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5Z9-QCmZyw
17. Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold On Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdDnqSFYXFs "I don't want you, but I need you. Don't wanna kiss you, but I need to."
18. Stevie Wonder's "Uptight" is one of his best early cuts. My jam. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbyOLzEyfk
19. Stevie's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inXC_lab-34
20. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas's "Nowhere to Run" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQRIOKvR2WM
21. Stevie's "For Once in My Life" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE&feature=related
22. Stevie's "Hey Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjIIY41w6yI
23. Stevie's "I Wish" ("Lookin' back on when I was a little nappy-headed boy") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYKYka-PNt0
24. Stevie's "Superstition" is essential funk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE
25. Stevie's "Isn't She Lovely" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-n3Ydy7ras
26. Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f39Zs0gB87c
27. Marvin's "Mercy Mercy Me" is a song I heard on television back in the 1990s when I would watch those infomercials about CDs with old music, mostly R&B. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WxgeYXCjM8
28. Marvin Gaye's "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" is early and classic Marvin Gaye with a Latin clave rhythm.
29. Marvin Gaye's "Pride and Joy" has been a personal favorite since I first heard the song back in high school. Sounds like gospel music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmx3IS6yelw
30. Marvin Gaye's "Can I Get a Witness" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-gVSQShRb0
31. Marvin's "Wonderful One" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KILfZM_v-AI
32. Marvin's "How Sweet (It Is to Be Loved By You)" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH0Q2lBK9-U
33. Marvin's "Ain't That Peculiar" has always been a favorite funky song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mInOfZamIxU
34. Marvin's "It Takes Two" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCwe2WftI7Y
35. Marvin's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" is the definitive version of the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPnZZTVp_2A
36. Mavin's "Let's Get It On" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_tRctLmbc
37. Mary Wells's "My Guy" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgwpHYzcwUA Great bass
38. Jr. Walker's "I'm a Roadrunner" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ek1UslvFps
39. The Miracles's "Going to a Go-Go" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Tfm70dL5s has some great drumming
40. Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPOPp8kXnyE
41. Martha & the Vandellas, "Jimmy Mack" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obvSFWvgBhg&feature=related
42. Diana Ross & the Supreme's "You Can't Hurry Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyxVYl8DrKI
43. Temptations's "Can't Get Next to You" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v70jpvR-7VY
44. The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hanging On"
45. Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg2vMrDzoXM
46. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas' "Heatwave"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEz2kEpbMG4
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