# Help me form a collection of good Motown tunes. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326 "2003-08-01T11:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/1 "2003-08-01T11:40:29Z")
I’ve really been getting into Motown this month, and I’d like to form some kind of definitive collection of songs and/or albums. The problem? I’m not terribly clear on what is Motown and what is not. In fact, I really don’t know much about it at all. Nor am I really sure what bands/artists to check out. I thought I’d make a list of some of the artists/songs I already have or want to get, and hope someone on here is familiar with the subject enough to expand my horizons. It’s always been a safe bet before. So. . . . R.E.S.P.E.C.T./Rescue Me - Aretha Franklin Where Did Our Love Go? - The Supremes He’s So Fine - The Shirelles? Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson Build Me Up Buttercup - ?? Lady marmalde - Patti LaBelle Also, are the Rightous Brothers thought to have a Motown sound? ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/2 "2003-08-01T11:42:00Z")
Uhhhh, Lady _Marmalade_. ---
**Author:** ![todd33rpm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@todd33rpm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/todd33rpm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/3 "2003-08-01T12:52:28Z")
Motown’s sound will be pretty well-defined by the following artists in the sixties and early seventies: Diana Ross (with and without the Supremes), the Four Tops, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, the Contours, Barrett Strong, Marvin Gaye (with and without Tammi Terrell as a duet partner), Edwin Starr, Eddie Kendricks, Levi Stubbs, the Jackson Five, David Ruffin. I’m sure I must be missing some artists here, but nothing too huge. I’m not counting Rare Earth, for example, although they were signed on a self-named Motown subsidiary, because they aren’t quite “classic” Motown. The Righteous Brothers were part of Phil Spector’s Wall Of Sound stable of artists…the Shirelles slightly pre-date Motown, and were on Sceptor Records, and Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle were both on Atlantic. “Build Me Up Buttercup” was the Foundations…I’m not sure, but I think they recorded for 20th Century Fox Records. Now, if you want to expand your collection into the soul side of things, that’ll open up Aretha, Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd, Carla Thomas, the Staple Singers and Booker T. and the MGs…Patti LaBelle falls halfway between soul and the girl groups like the Shirelles, but a little later. Feel free to send me a private e-mail…I’ll be glad to recommend a few songs out of the collections I put together for myself. That’ll give me some time to check my collection and see if I missed anything. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/4 "2003-08-01T13:17:06Z")
**todd33rpm** did a nice job of listing a majority of the artists. For my Motown collection, I basically bought “best of’s” for most of the artists listed - I also think Rhino has a several-CD series for the best of Motown that might be the way to go. Of my Best Of’s, the ones I listen to most are: Marvin Gaye (early stuff, goes without saying you should own What’s Goin’ On in its entirely and listen to it regularly, let alone Sexual Healing and other later stuff) Temptations Jackson 5 Martha Reeves and the Vandelas Smokey Robinson and the Miracles I DON’T find myself listening to the Supremes much at all. Go figure. PLEASE NOTE: A very big issue is that when people normally say “hey recommend to me some Motown”, what they are _really_ saying is “hey, recommend to me some 60’s R&B” which is a different question entirely. If you are just interested in the Motown label, cool, go with Todd’s and my recommendations and the rec’s of others who post here. BUT, if you want a more complete covering of 60’s R&B you MUST include: Stax Records - from Memphis, the Motown of the South, with amazing tracks by Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, The Staple Singers, the list goes on and on and on. Most of the tracks covered by the Blues Brothers are Stax Tracks. Get **Top of the Stax** Volumes 1&2 and you will play them endlessly. Hi Records - Al Green - need I say more? If you don’t already own the **Best of Al Green** (V1 is a must, V2 a lot of folks like just as well) you must must must get them. Also, **Hi Fidelity** is a great collection - has tracks like “Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You” (can’t remember the artist) and Al’s cover of “Radar Love” which rocks. This is just off the top of my head. More may come to me. But seriously - the Motown stuff is excellent, but Stax and Hi at their best are just as good and in some cases, better. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/5 "2003-08-01T13:23:10Z")
Oh, and while I didn’t mention Aretha - its only because she is in her own category - as the greatest female vocalist of modern times. If you don’t own her _30 Greatest Hits_ collection, buy it immediately. RESPECT/Rescue Me, while amazing, don’t begin to cover what she is capable of. Additional must-own tracks (and this is just a starter list) include: I’ve Never Loved a Man Natural Woman Think Chain of Fools House that Jack Built Dr. Feelgood Rock Steady (best drum work in a pop/rock tune, IMHO) Bridge over Troubled Water (S&G get funky, oh my) Eleanor Rigby Say a Little Prayer for You Spanish Harlem Are you with on this? EVERY ONE of these songs is truly amazing, and I know I am missing key stuff. She is a national treasure. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/6 "2003-08-01T13:45:34Z")
Motown was a specific record label from Detroit whose glory days were from the early 1960s to the early 1970s. The easiest way to build up an instant Motown collection is to buy Hitsville USA, a 4-CD set of some of Motown’s bigger hits: > **[AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands](https://www.allmusic.com/?p=amg&sql=A8l67mpm39ffo&uid=CASS805131125)** > > AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own. The tracks are nicely chosen and remastered. Motown records was just one part of 1960s soul music, a much bigger phenomenon with many different branches, some of which todd33rpm has told you about. The two main branches are Northern Soul (mostly Motown) and Southern Soul. Southern Soul was dominated by the Stax/Volt record label(s) who had artists like Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Booker T and the MGs, etc. etc. There’s a 4-CD set for Stax/Volt, as well: [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004Z3ZW/qid=1059745941/sr=8-8/ref=sr\_8\_8/002-6196512-0614411?v=glance&s=music&n=507846](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004Z3ZW/qid=1059745941/sr=8-8/ref=sr_8_8/002-6196512-0614411?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) (There are also all sorts of other great non-Stax/Volt Southern Soul artists, like Joe Tex, Percy Sledge, etc.) Then there are various other offshoots, like early 1960s New York pop (think the Shirelles), or New Orleans R&B (e.g. Aaron Neville). And there are later manifestations, like Philly soul and 1970s funk. But you can start out with Motown and Stax/Volt. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/7 "2003-08-01T13:59:18Z")
Well done, **Wumpus** - nice summary and specific CD recommendations. **Lizard** , the Wumpster (sorry, bad nicknames happen) offers a great starting place. Any thoughts on my recommendations for Hi Records…? [Here](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000058YM/qid=1059746815/sr=1-15/ref=sr_1_15/002-8374769-3529659?v=glance&s=music) is the link to the CD in Amazon - appears to be out of print, but worth tracking down… ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/8 "2003-08-01T14:24:34Z")
A good selection for starters would be “The Motown Story,” a five-record (vinyl) set. And, no, I’m not parting with mine, but there are some on Ebay right now. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/9 "2003-08-01T14:26:09Z")
Nitpick: wasn’t “Rescue Me” Fontella Bass, not Aretha Franklin? Or did Aretha do a version of it? Also, I would suggest adding in some Stevie Wonder – in general, the earlier the Stevie, the better. Well, maybe middle Stevie is best. Once you venture into “Part-Time Lover” territory, you’ve gone too far. My picks: “Overjoyed” “Always” “Fingertips” “Sir Duke” “Hey Love” “I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)” “Do I Do” “Uptight” “I Was Made to Love Her” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” “My Cheri Amour” Most, if not all, are songs you can sing along with, if you’ve listened to radio at all in the last ten years. With “Higher Ground” “Boogie On Reggae Woman” “Living for the City” and “Superstition” you’re venturing more into funk than classic Motown but I still recommend their inclusion. Can you tell I love me some Stevie? Holy cow. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/10 "2003-08-01T17:42:07Z")
And of course, once again, _nobody_ mentions **The Funk Brothers** , who were directly responsible for the success of many of the artists mentioned in this thread. These guys were the best musicians Motown had to offer and wrote the music for everyone from The Temptations to Stevie Wonder. [www.standingintheshadowofmotown.com](http://www.standingintheshadowofmotown.com) has a list of the songs they performed the music for. See the film. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/11 "2003-08-01T18:30:22Z")
**Wumpus** is spot on. The **Hitsville USA** box set is an awesome and dare I say, indespensable part of any popular music fans collection. There is also a second volume in the **Hitsville USA** series, which covers the 1970’s through the early 1990’s. while not quite as strong as the first volume, there are still a huge number of great tracks on it. Unfortunately, it may be out of print, but you should be able to get a used copy. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/12 "2003-08-01T18:38:17Z")
My picks – favorite tunes, by Motown artist: Temptations: Ain’t Too Proud to Beg Supremes: Where Did Our Love Go Four Tops: Reach Out, I’ll Be There Smokey: Tracks of my Tears Marvelettes: Nowhere to Run Marvin Gaye: Gotta Give it Up Gladys Knight: I Heard it through the Grapevine Stevie Wonder: Signed, Sealed, Delivered ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/13 "2003-08-01T19:18:38Z")
My bad: Martha and the Vandellas sang “Nowhere to Run”. Favorite Marvellettes tune would be “Please Mr. Postman”. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/14 "2003-08-01T20:45:43Z")
Yes, “Rescue Me” is Fontella Bass (who, trivia note, was married to avant-garde jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie.) Great song, little known artist. There are tons of great 60s soul tunes like that out there. Those who want an overview of 60s soul that includes those lesser-known artists and singles as well as the big names are advised to seek out Beg, Scream, and Shout, a six-CD set that Rhino put out back in '97. Sadly, it’s out of print, but you still may be able to scrounge one up at the local record store or on Ebay. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003425/qid=1059770994/sr=8-1/ref=sr\_8\_1/002-5093317-9737660?v=glance&s=music&n=507846](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003425/qid=1059770994/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-5093317-9737660?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/15 "2003-08-02T03:20:22Z")
Of the big name Motown acts, Martha and the Vandellas and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles are the two that get the least appreciation. Both did many fine songs, but the number one Motown song of all time is “Heatwave” by M and the V. Turn it up loud and it will raise the dead. ---
**Author:** ![Daver914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@Daver914](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daver914)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/16 "2003-08-03T05:24:15Z")
There are _scads_ of great Temptations tunes, such as: Ain’t Too Proud to Beg Ball of Confusion I Can’t Get Next to You I Wish It Would Rain Just My Imagination My Girl Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone Cloud Nine The Way You Do the Things You Do … and on, and on. Those are just some of the more frequently-played ones on the oldies stations. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/17 "2003-08-03T05:44:52Z")
I suggest these 2 songs from \*\*the 4 Tops: “I’ll be there” and “Bernadette”\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Nvme77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Nvme77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nvme77)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/18 "2003-08-03T05:55:07Z")
I just wanted to add someone that I’ve only discovered this year, Gloria Jones. She sang the original Tainted Love. Check it out, definently a strong Motown feel. She sang back up for T Rex and was driving the car when Marc Bolan died. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/19 "2003-08-04T02:14:21Z")
I guess I was a bit underinformed about how expansive the genre was. Believe it or not, I really had no idea of what type of soul existed in the 60s outside of “Motown.” And I also thought “Motown” signified a specific type of sound that originated in Detroit, the way people associate grunge with Seattle. I didn’t know it referred only to the label of that name. Well, that’s why I started this thread, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-form-a-collection-of-good-motown-tunes/192326/20 "2003-08-04T12:16:43Z")
Marvin Gaye, Marvin Gaye, Marvin Gaye Al Green is more associated with the Memphis sound. HI Records is based in Memphis, IIRC. My favorites: Supremes: Someday, We’ll Be Together Marvin Gaye: Mercy Mercy Me Jackson Five: I Want You Back Temptations: Bernadette Four Tops: My Girl Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: Tears of a Clown Aretha Franklin: Think Martha and the Vandellas: Dancin’ in the Streets