Motown’s Biggest Pop Hits: All #1 on Billboard’s Charts

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1I Heard It Through the Grapevine
producer:
Norman Whitfield
bass [1962 Fender Precision Bass]:
James Jamerson (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
congas and tambourine:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
drums (drum set):
Uriel Jones (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
French horn:
Don Ozga (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10) and Edwin Jones (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
guitar [1964 Gibson Firebird III]:
Eddie Willis (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
guitar [Fender Telecaster with Jazzmaster Neck]:
Joe Messina (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
Hammond organ [B-3]:
Earl Van Dyke (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
tom-tom:
Richard "Pistol" Allen (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
Wurlitzer electric piano:
Johnny Griffith (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
background vocals:
The Andantes (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10), Marlene Barrow (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10), Louvain Demps (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10) and Jackie Hicks (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
orchestra:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
strings arranger:
Paul Riser (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
orchestrator:
Paul Riser (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
recorded at and mixed at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 80), Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 93), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 119) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 307)
cover recording of:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (from 1967-02-03 until 1967-04-10)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Australia, EMI Songs Scandinavia AB, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd., Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
Marvin Gaye4.053:18
2I’ll Be There
producer:
Nickolas Ashford, Hal Davis and Valerie Simpson
arranger:
Bob West (US session bassist, producer & songwriter)
recording of:
I’ll Be There (in 1970-06)
writer:
Bob West (US session bassist, producer & songwriter), Hal Davis, Berry Gordy and Willie Hutch
publisher:
EMI April Music Inc., EMI Songs Australia, Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Diamond Music Corporation
part of:
MJ: The Musical
The Jackson 54.353:58
3Upside Down
producer:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
vocals:
Diana Ross
conductor:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
remixer:
Russ Terrana
arranger:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 1980)
part of:
Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 89)
recording of:
Upside Down
writer:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
publisher:
Bernard’s Other Music, Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Tommy Jymi Inc., ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Diana Ross3.754:07
4Baby Love
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Mike Terry (60s US soul arranger/conductor) (on 1964-08-13)
bass:
James Jamerson (on 1964-08-13)
drums (drum set):
Richard "Pistol" Allen (on 1964-08-13)
foot stomps [footstomps]:
Michael Valvano (on 1964-08-13)
guitar:
Eddie Willis (on 1964-08-13)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1964-08-13)
piano:
Earl Van Dyke (on 1964-08-13)
tenor saxophone:
Henry Cosby (on 1964-08-13)
vibraphone:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1964-08-13)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (on 1964-08-13) and Mary Wilson (on 1964-08-13)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (on 1964-08-13)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964) and UMG Recordings (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1964-08-13)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 4), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 324) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 499)
recording of:
Baby Love (on 1964-08-13)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Division
The Supremes4.452:38
5Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
producer:
Nickolas Ashford, Henry Cosby and Valerie Simpson
arranger:
Paul Riser
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1970)
cover recording of:
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
writer:
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Songs, EMI Songs Australia Pty. Ltd., Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music Co., Inc. and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
Diana Ross4.653:30
6War
performer:
Edwin Starr
cover recording of:
War (on 1970-05-15)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
Edwin Starr4.253:25
7Fingertips (Part II)
producer:
Berry Gordy
bass:
James Jamerson (on 1962-06-01) and Larry Moses (bass player) (on 1962-06-01)
bongos, harmonica and lead vocals:
Stevie Wonder (on 1962-06-01)
drums (drum set):
Marvin Gaye (on 1962-06-01)
arranger:
Clarence Paul
recorded at:
Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1962-06-01)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1963 (number: 13)
live partial recording of:
Fingertips (on 1962-06-01)
writer:
Henry Cosby and Clarence Paul
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
Stevie Wonder53:13
8Let’s Get It On
producer:
Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend
percussion:
Emil Richards
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label), Motown Record Corp. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1973) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1973)
remix of:
Let’s Get It On (album version) by Marvin Gaye
part of:
Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 46)
recording of:
Let’s Get It On
writer:
Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobete Music Ltd and Stone Diamond Music Corporation
Marvin Gaye44:02
9Three Times a Lady
producer:
James Anthony Carmichael and Commodores (US funk/soul band with Lionel Richie)
lead vocals:
Lionel Richie
arranger:
James Anthony Carmichael and Commodores (US funk/soul band with Lionel Richie)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1978), Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1978, in 1979) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1978)
part of:
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1978 (number: 10)
recording of:
Three Times a Lady
lyricist and composer:
Lionel Richie
publisher:
Brenda Richie Publishing, Brockman Enterprises, Inc., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Libren Music
Commodores3.653:38
10Love Child
producer:
The Clan (Motown composers/producers group)
background vocals:
The Andantes
arranger:
Paul Riser
recording of:
Love Child (Diana Ross & the Supremes song)
writer:
Deke Richards (American songwriter and record producer), Pam Sawyer (British‐born American lyricist and songwriter), R. Dean Taylor (Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer) and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music Division
Diana Ross & The Supremes3.52:58
11I Can’t Get Next to You
producer:
Norman Whitfield
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
lead vocals:
Dennis Edwards (US soul & R’n’B singer) (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03), Eddie Kendricks (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03) and Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1969)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
recording of:
I Can’t Get Next to You (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations2.652:54
12I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
recording engineer:
Russ Terrana
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Mike Terry (60s US soul arranger/conductor) (in 1965)
bass [1962 Fender Precision Bass]:
James Jamerson
drums (drum set):
Richard "Pistol" Allen (in 1965)
guitar [1964 Gibson Firebird III]:
Eddie Willis (in 1965)
guitar [Fender Telecaster with Jazzmaster Neck]:
Joe Messina (in 1965)
guitar [Gibson L-5]:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (in 1965)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1965)
piano:
Earl Van Dyke (in 1965)
strings:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (in 1965)
tambourine:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (in 1965)
vibraphone:
Jack Brokensha (in 1965)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1965), Marlene Barrow (in 1965), Renaldo Benson (in 1965), Louvain Demps (in 1965), Abdul “Duke” Fakir (in 1965), Jackie Hicks (in 1965) and Lawrence Payton (in 1965)
lead vocals:
Levi Stubbs (in 1965)
recorded at and mixed at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1965)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 30), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 148), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 415) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 483)
recording of:
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) (in 1965)
lyricist:
Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) and Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Stone Agate Music Division
Four Tops3.62:43
13The Tears of a Clown
guitar:
Marvin Tarplin (on 1966-09-26)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1966-09-26)
background vocals:
Warren “Pete” Moore (on 1966-09-26), Claudette Robinson (on 1966-09-26), Bobby Rogers (on 1966-09-26) and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles) (on 1966-09-26)
lead vocals:
Smokey Robinson (on 1966-09-26)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1967) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1970)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1966-09-26)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 190) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 313)
recording of:
The Tears of a Clown (on 1966-09-26)
lyricist:
Smokey Robinson
composer:
Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder
publisher:
Black Bull Music, Inc., Jobete Music Ltd and Jobette Music (UK) Ltd.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles3.93:01
14Keep On Truckin’ (Part 1)
producer:
Leonard Caston (son of Leonard Caston) and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
arranger:
James Carmichael and Jerry Long (Motown songwriter Jerry Long, Sr.)
recording of:
Keep On Truckin’
writer:
Lenny Caston (son of Leonard Caston), Anita Porée and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Stone Diamond Music Corporation
Eddie Kendricks3:36
15Where Did Our Love Go
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Mike Terry (60s US soul arranger/conductor) (on 1964-04-08)
bass:
James Jamerson (on 1964-04-08)
drums (drum set):
Richard "Pistol" Allen (on 1964-04-08)
foot stomps [footstomps]:
Michael Valvano (on 1964-04-08)
guitar:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (on 1964-04-08) and Eddie Willis (on 1964-04-08)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1964-04-08)
piano:
Earl Van Dyke (on 1964-04-08)
vibraphone:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1964-04-08)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (on 1964-04-08) and Mary Wilson (on 1964-04-08)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (on 1964-04-08)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1964-04-08)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 9), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 29) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 472)
recording of:
Where Did Our Love Go (on 1964-04-08)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
writer:
Holland / Dozier / Holland
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Supremes52:34
16ABC
producer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
drums (drum set):
Gene Pello (in 1970-01)
electric bass guitar:
Wilton Felder (in 1970-01) and Bob West (US session bassist, producer & songwriter) (in 1970-01)
guitar:
Don Peake (in 1970-01), Louis Shelton (in 1970-01) and David T. Walker (in 1970-01)
keyboard:
Freddie Perren (in 1970-01)
background vocals:
Jackie Jackson (member of the Jackson 5) (in 1970-01), Marlon Jackson (in 1970-01) and Tito Jackson (in 1970-01)
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) (in 1970-01)
lead vocals:
Jackie Jackson (member of the Jackson 5) (in 1970-01), Jermaine Jackson (soul/pop singer, of Jackson 5) (in 1970-01) and Tito Jackson (in 1970-01)
arranger:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1970)
recorded at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1970-01)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 174)
recording of:
ABC (in 1970-01)
writer:
Berry Gordy, Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren and Deke Richards (American songwriter and record producer)
composer:
Erik Huber (audio engineer, producer, composer)
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc. and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
The Jackson 54.12:59
17Come See About Me
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1964-07-13)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (on 1964-07-13) and Mary Wilson (on 1964-07-13)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (on 1964-07-13)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1964-07-13)
recording of:
Come See About Me (on 1964-07-13)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
writer:
Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) and Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Stone Agate Music Division
The Supremes52:45
18Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Eddie Kendricks (from 1970-01-24 until 1970-12-03)
vocals:
The Temptations (Motown soul vocal group) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971), Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971), Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Golden World in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 233) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 389)
recording of:
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
lyricist:
Barrett Strong
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations53:48