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February 12, 2011
18. "Endless Love" — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (1981)
If you can get through the painful cheesiness, you'll experience what's arguably one of the best Motown duos of all time. But not actually the best; that would be Marvin and Tammi.
Listen: "Endless Love"
MP3
17. "Love Child" — Diana Ross & The Supremes (1968)
Nothing like "social issues" and a slow, difficult-to-dance-to tempo to bring down a song's ranking. Fun fact: this song terrified me as a child.
Listen: "Love Child"
MP3
16. "Walk Away From Love" — David Ruffin (1976)
After listening to this song, I’m almost willing to forgive David Ruffin for breaking up The Temptations — his voice is just incredible. Is that sacrilege?
Listen: "Walk Away From Love"
MP3
15. "I'll Make Love To You" — Boyz II Men (1994)
The video for this magical baby-making jam gives it an unfair advantage. It. Is. Awesome.
Listen: "I'll Make Love To You"
MP3
14. "Part-Time Lover" — Stevie Wonder (1985)
Oh Stevie, the ‘80s really weren’t your decade, huh?
Listen: "Part-Time Lover"
MP3
13. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" — Marvin Gaye (1965)
Marvin Gaye is a God among men. Although this isn’t his best work, the melody always soothes my soul.
Listen: "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)"
MP3
12. "Love Hangover" — Diana Ross (1976)
This track makes me want to either dance all night at Studio 54 or roller-skate all day at the roller rink in bell-bottoms. You know, whichever.
Listen: "Love Hangover"
MP3
11. "Baby Love" — Diana Ross & The Supremes (1964)
Fans of The Supremes know that this song sounds eerily similar to “Where Did Our Love Go.” Like apples and oranges, everyone has a preference. Obviously, this is mine.
Listen: "Baby Love"
MP3
10. "The Love You Save" — The Jackson 5 (1970)
In this song, baby Michael Jackson warns a young floozy that if she doesn't "take it slow" some day, she'll be all alone. Classic.
Listen: "The Love You Save"
MP3
Commentarium (31 Comments)
I was waiting for an article about Happy Love Songs after Last Weeks Selection of Heartbreakers! <3 Gotta Love the Temptations
Who do you think would win in a fight between Prince and James Debarge?
Prince
I sense a Supremes bias. Other than that, David Ruffin didn't break up The Temptations.
What the hell? You realize that there are motown artists out there other than Diana Ross and the Supremes right? Where is Smokey Robinson? Where are the Drifters and the Coasters?? And what the fuck are Shanice and Boyz 2 Men doing on a MOTOWN list??????
Boyz 2 Men were Motown artists for about a decade. I'm not saying that I agree with their placement on this list, but they were Motown artists nonetheless.
Nobody read the intro, huh?
Since when is "Love child" a love song?
Actually "Two Lovers" is about monogamy, too. Mary Wells was dating a guy with multiple personalities.
He didn't have multiple personalities, he had a bad temper. Wow. The author of this article is dumb.
There were several Marvin Gaye songs missing from this list. Distant Lover has to be one of my favorites. What about Teena Marie's "Portuguese Love" or "Cassanova Brown"? I agree that there are way too many Supremes songs on this list.
Man, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but this is an atrocious list. Have you ever heard of The Four Tops? They should have several songs on this list.
I think you missed the concept, guys. It says up top -- Motown, #1, w/ love in the title. That's the criteria.
Also, Motown isn't a style. It's a record label. Boyz II Men was on it.
Unfortunately, they're probably not going to read this either.
I'm reading it. I just think this was a dumb premise for a list. Why not consider Motown as a style rather than a label? You could include a greater variety of artists. And why not just make it about love songs rather than songs with "love" in the title? As it turns out I don't hate this list... I hate the concept of this list. :)
Excuse me: The great Supremes' song--"Love is Like and Itching in My Heart! The Funk Brothers are in top form. And the Supremes sound almost gritty. Great song.... "The Love Bug done and bit me..............."
'Reach Out I'll Be There" by The Four Tops was #1
I'm quite a bit older than most of you so I disagree with this list, but thanks for the trip down Memory Lane
im fifty where are the drifters?
No Four Tops? Levi Stubbs laid down some of the out-and-out sexiest vocal tracks in the history of the single, and you managed to ignore all of them. The fabulous percussion, using the backing vocalists as another instrument, the sudden twists and turns in the arrangements...they all put many of the listed singles to shame. The pleading, unhinged yearning of "Bernadette," the wailing (and the fabulous tempo changes) of "Seven Rooms of Gloom," "Standing in the Shadows of Love." I mean, for fuck's sake... did you even realize the Four Tops were a Motown act?
The picture for #6 s is not Jr. Walker & The All-Stars but the Temptations.
"Love Hangover" is amazing in its long version. Because 2 1/2 minutes ain't enough.
"Love Hangover" is amazing in its long version. Because 2 1/2 minutes ain't enough.
"Love Hangover" is amazing in its long version. Because 2 1/2 minutes ain't enough.
take "worst" out of the title...theis are classic songs but Marvin Gaye "Distant Lover" should be on this list along with many others.
Wow this is quite the collection and clearly you have quite a breadth of knowledge concerning motown! I LOVE your blurbs about each song...kept me chuckling.
So, has anyone ever thought how weird it was that the Jackson 5 would sing songs with this depressing adult themes?
AKAIK you've got the ansewr in one!
all the music go hard
Pointless discussion, Motown was nothing but mass manufactured garbage.
You're garbage grime