# Top 10 Motown songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956 "2007-05-13T20:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/1 "2007-05-13T20:21:23Z")
The Lendervedder Institute of Music just released a list of the top ten Motown songs of all time. [Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8568730&postcount=1) 1. “I Heard it through the Grapevine,” Marvin Gaye 2. “My Girl,” The Temptations 3. “The Happening,” The Supremes 4. “I Wish,” Stevie Wonder 5. “A Place in the Sun,” Stevie Wonder 6. “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” Smokey & the Miracles 7. “You Can’t Hurry Love,” The Supremes 8. “Dancing in the Street,” Martha & the Vandellas 9. “I Second that Emotion,” Smokey & the Miracles 10. “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye Thoughts? Opinions? Anything glaringly missing? What’s your top ten? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/2 "2007-05-13T20:25:19Z")
Could someone explain to me what _My Girl_ has going for it, other than being slightly catchy? It’s a nice tune, but it bores me musically. I think _I Wish_ is a great Stevie Wonder choice. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/3 "2007-05-13T20:26:36Z")
Hard to fight that list. Virtually any list would have about half of that list. “Midnight Train To Georgia”, “Tears Of A Clown”, “Sexual Healing”, “I Want You Back”, “Superstition”, “Baby Love”, “Stop! In the Name of Love”, and Respect" are glaring omissions, but it’s hard to take something off this list to put one of those on. Out of those, I’d say “Respect” goes in for “A Place In the Sun”. I’d hate to be the guy that had to limit this list to just 10. Edit: They wouldn’t be top ten, but it’s fun to bring them up in discussion. “War!”, “Super Freak”, “Brick House”, and Somebody’s Watching Me" are fun songs. Double edit: I was suspicious about “Sexual Healing”. It’s not technically a Motown song. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kneepants_Erasmus_the_Humanist)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/4 "2007-05-13T20:29:05Z")
I always preferred “Nowhere to Run” by Martha & the Vandellas. I can’t say that I am madly in love with any of the songs listed. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/5 "2007-05-13T20:31:26Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Hard to fight that list. Virtually any list would have about half of that list. “Midnight Train To Georgia”, “Tears Of A Clown”, “Sexual Healing”, “I Want You Back”, “Superstition”, “Baby Love”, “Stop! In the Name of Love”, and Respect" are glaring omissions, but it’s hard to take something off this list to put one of those on. Out of those, I’d say “Respect” goes in for “A Place In the Sun”. … Double edit: I was suspicious about “Sexual Healing”. It’s not technically a Motown song. Carry on. [/QUOTE] Neither is “Respect.” Aretha released it on Atlantic Records and Otis Redding released it on Volt. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/6 "2007-05-13T20:32:41Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Hard to fight that list. Virtually any list would have about half of that list. “Midnight Train To Georgia”, “Tears Of A Clown”, “Sexual Healing”, “I Want You Back”, “Superstition”, “Baby Love”, “Stop! In the Name of Love”, and Respect" are glaring omissions [/QUOTE] Some of those songs aren’t Motown releases. “Respect” certainly was not. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/7 "2007-05-13T20:32:47Z")
Bad Trevor. Ignore my ramblings, then. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/8 "2007-05-13T20:41:57Z")
I have a hard time not making all ten places Temptations songs, but here goes… 1. “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” - Temptations 2. “Reach Out I’ll Be There” - Four Tops 3. “I Can’t Get Next to You” - Temptations 4. “I Was Made to Love Her” - Stevie Wonder 5. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” - Supremes 6. “Psychedelic Shack” - Temptations 7. “Ain’t That Peculiar” - Marvin Gaye 8. “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” - David Ruffin 9. “Ooo Baby Baby” - Miracles 10. “Love Child” - Supremes ---
**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:** [May 13, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/9 "2007-05-13T22:03:45Z")
“Heat Wave” for Martha and the Vandellas instead of “Dancing in the Street,” “Where Did our Love Go” and “Come See About Me” for The Supremes instead of "You Can’t Hurry Love"and “The Happening” (which is one of their weakest). “Uptight” by Stevie Wonder instead of “A Place in the Sun” “War” by Edwin Starr needs a place. Heck, you could replace all ten and not lose any quality. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/10 "2007-05-13T22:59:22Z")
Number one Supreme’s song: “Stop In the Name of Love” We have to have The Jackson Five somewhere on there. I’m partial to “I’ll Be There” (just look over your shoulder, honey! oooh!) The Temptations songs sound the same to me. But if I had to pick one, it would be “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (just look over your shoulders, honey! ooh!) I prefer Glady’s version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”. Smokie gets on the list with “Tears of the Clown” and “Second that Emotion”. And Stevie gets… Shoot, he IS the Top 10 List. You need a separate list just for him. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/11 "2007-05-13T23:38:03Z")
No _Reach Out_? No _Bernadette_? No _I Was Made to Love her_? Good grief, no _Respect_? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/12 "2007-05-14T00:22:27Z")
[QUOTE=koeeoaddi] No _Reach Out_? No _Bernadette_? No _I Was Made to Love her_? Good grief, no _Respect_? :eek: [/QUOTE] “Respect” doesn’t get any respect in a Motown thread. psst! It’s not Motown! ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/13 "2007-05-14T00:37:11Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] “Respect” doesn’t get any respect in a Motown thread. psst! It’s not Motown! [/QUOTE] Well, shit. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/14 "2007-05-14T00:41:21Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] The Temptations songs sound the same to me. But if I had to pick one, it would be “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (just look over your shoulders, honey! ooh!) [/QUOTE] If you had to pick one Temptations song, it would be a Four Tops song? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/15 "2007-05-14T01:03:09Z")
**Ain’t to Proud to Beg** or **Papa was a Rolling Stone** should replace **My Girl**. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/16 "2007-05-14T01:14:21Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] If you had to pick one Temptations song, it would be a Four Tops song? 😛 [/QUOTE] Motown should be renamed Doh!-town. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/17 "2007-05-14T02:07:00Z")
Too many great tunes to condense to a list of ten. I’m not a fan of lists anyway, although I understand the sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/18 "2007-05-14T02:09:27Z")
_Just My Imagination._ ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/19 "2007-05-14T02:31:19Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] _Just My Imagination._ [/QUOTE] Ooooh, love that one. I’m a big Temptations fan, but that’s got to be in their top 5 for sure. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2007, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956/20 "2007-05-14T02:47:47Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] “Heat Wave” for Martha and the Vandellas instead of “Dancing in the Street,” [/QUOTE] “Heat Wave” is a supremely irritating, screechy song. I just despise it and I’ll fight any attempt to include it in a “Best of Motown” list. I don’t see what people like about that song. Sorry, I just hate “Heat Wave.” Surely there’s some Stevie we can replace it with. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-motown-songs/403956.md?page=2)