Do you have a favourite Motown/Tamla Motown record ?

[WildRosie]

I couldn't name just one as there are so many great songs so I have five, in no particular order:

The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson And The Miracles
If I Were A Carpenter - The Four Tops
I'm Still Waiting - Diana Ross
The Onion Song - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder

If I were forced to choose just one of these five, I think I'd settle for The Tears Of A Clown. It took three years for it to be a UK hit. Motown's finest hour.

The Foundations was a British group signed to Pye Records, so quite a long way from Motown really!

Apart from R. Dean Taylor who is Canadian, I don't know of any other non - American Motown acts.

Anything with Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross tbh..

'You Are Everything' Marvin Gaye's voice just makes me shiver in his part.. it's perfect. I could write lists and lists just about Stevie Wonder. Impossible to pick one.

Marvin Gaye's voice just makes me shiver in his part.. it's perfect

I’m only a very recent convert to soul and Motown music, but my god the voices! Having a great voice and being able to hold a tune were such integral and necessary parts of being a soul singer.

Marvin Gaye’s voice is absolutely stunning.

Heard it through the grapevine and
Tracks of my tears Smokey Robinson

@LittleDidSheKnow
Music wise
I lived through the best of times
Imho

25 miles - Edwin Starr

I play this LOUD in the car - it’s a total banger!

I love Motown so much.

Tracks of My Tears is definitely up there

My Girl - The Temptations
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Reach Out I'll Be There - The Four Tops
What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye
You're All I Need to Get By - Marvin and Tammi
Do You Love Me - The Contours
Get Ready - The Temptations
Bernadette - The Four Tops
Everything by Stevie Wonder

I also love Nightshift by The Commodores even though it's not from the classic Motown era

Anything by Jimmy Ruffin!
He was my mum’s favourite artist.

We played Farewell is a Lonely Sound at her funeral.

There's a Ghost in my House, R Dean Taylor.

Followed by Something About You, Four Tops.

We listen to a LOT of Northern Soul & Motown.

@SingleHandSue

Anything by Jimmy Ruffin! He was my mum’s favourite artist.

We played Farewell is a Lonely Sound at her funeral.

So lovely that you could play her favourite artist at her funeral

I'll Say Forever My Love by Jimmy Ruffin makes my heart soar whenever I hear it.

Nathan Jones - The Supremes.

Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations.

Just My Soul Responding - Smokey Robinson.

I really like
Ain't nothing like the real thing by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Also like the Elton John and Marcella Detroit version too.

Another duet that hasn't been mentioned is "You ain't living till you're loving"

I also like Tear It On Down by Marvin Gaye and Where Did Our Love Go by The Supremes - but Donnie Elbert's version of WDOLG is better.

Sooo many! 'I'll pick a rose for my rose' came into my mind yesterday, for some random reason. The verse on that is brilliant.

Ooh thanks for this thread OP
Some wonderful listening inspiration for tomorrow!

And as someone said up thread, the quality of singing and musicianship on those songs is just incredible. My mum is a massive Tamla Motown fan and it's massively rubbed off on me and my bro.

Do I love you, indeed I do - Frank Wilson
Young Hearts - Candi Staton
These are my all time favourites

These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding

Anything by Marvin
Tears of A Clown, Smokey
Anything by The Temptations
Superstition, My Cherie Amour by Stevie
I Can't Help Myself by The Four Tops.

I listen to Magic Soul Radio all day long, I love it.

@nobeer

Ooh thanks for this thread OP Some wonderful listening inspiration for tomorrow!

Don't mention it. I've never been given flowers before, real or virtual.

I highly recommend the film Hitsville: The Making Of Motown too.

Mr Big Stuff Jean Knight

I’d rather go blind Etta James

Walk on by Dionne Warwick
Are these allowed?
They are sooooo good

Anything by Aretha

Like many others, Tracks of my Tears. It's my favourite single, never mind favourite Motown.