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February 12, 2011
9. "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" — Diana Ross & The Supremes (1967)
A moving break-up anthem for the ages, complete with voiceovers. When Diana wails, "Look at me / Look what loving you has done to me," your heart can't help but go out to her.
Listen: "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
MP3
8. "You Can't Hurry Love" — Diana Ross & The Supremes (1966)
Some schmuck named Phil Collins covered this song in the ‘80s and it sucked. The original is so upbeat, so desperate, and so quintessentially Motown, it should never have been messed with.
Listen: "You Can't Hurry Love"
MP3
7. "(Love Is Like A) Heatwave" — Martha & the Vandellas (1963)
Aren’t similes great? If Martha were singing this today, she probably would sing, “My love is like literally a heatwave,” and that just wouldn’t have worked. Luckily, we have this, a danceable classic about overwhelming emotion.
Listen: "(Love Is Like A) Heatwave"
MP3
6. "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" — Jr. Walker & The All-Stars (1969)
The horns and the All-Stars really make this song what it is — amazing. The pleading in Jr. Walker's voice is also pretty incredible.
Listen: "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)"
MP3
5. "Where Did Our Love Go" — Diana Ross & The Supremes (1964)
Yes, I prefer this one to “Baby Love.” And the world seems to agree with me, if the number of covers this song has provoked is any indication. Plus, that chapping sound heard at the beginning of the song? Actual stomping and clapping.
Listen: "Where Did Our Love Go"
MP3
4. "Do You Love Me" — The Contours (1962)
If you’re looking to simply break it down on the dance floor, this is the song to do it. It’s not because the lyrics name a variety of dance moves (though I do find that helpful). It’s the beat — perfect for hip swiveling. And as we know from Shakira, who learned it from The Contours, hips don’t lie.
Listen: "Do You Love Me"
MP3
4. "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" — Diana Ross & The Supremes/The Temptations (1969)
The power of two Motown super-groups cannot be toppled. They pull out all the stops on this one — voiceovers, all-star harmonies, and lyrics full of self-confident determination. Diana and David, you have succeeded.
Listen: "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
MP3
2. "I Was Made To Love Her" — Stevie Wonder (1967)
Finally, a Stevie jam on this list I can get behind. With the power of his harmonica and the strength of his voice, Stevie has me completely convinced that he is indeed made to love this mystery woman. Yeah, yeah, yeeeeah.
Listen: "I Was Made To Love Her"
MP3
1. "Stop! In The Name Of Love" — The Supremes (1965)
Diana Ross & The Supremes have the most Number One hits of any Motown artist, and this song is a great example of why. The beat, the lyrics, the hand motions that go so seamlessly along with them — it has hit written all over it. Although Diana is singing about potential heartbreak, what she’s saying is actually rather empowering. Baby, think it over.
Listen: "Stop! In The Name Of Love"
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