Sunday, July 24, 2016

200 MOST ESSENTIAL MOTOWN SONGS. This update: #170-161. The countdown continues next week.
Hear the 10 songs added today on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/alanrosscaffelatte
                                                                    spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
Caffe` Latte` presents…
THE 200
MOST ESSENTIAL
MOTOWN
Motown Productions
SONGS
170
I AIN'T GONNA STAND FOR IT
Stevie Wonder
One of the standout tracks on Wonder's 1980 album 'Hotter Than July' was its 2nd single "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" which rose to #11 in America and 10 in Britain. Wonder wrote & produced the song.  
 https://disclosednative.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/450e3-stevie.jpg
169
QUIET STORM
Smokey Robinson
Motown boasted some of the most creative songwriters. Smokey Robinson was a principal composer at the label. "Quiet Storm", issued in 1975, lent is name to a music genre that proved popular on radio.
 Srqs.jpg
168
SMILING FACES SOMETIMES
The Undisputed Truth
"Smiling Faces Sometimes" is a cautionary song about duplicitous persons that are best avoided. Originally recorded by The Temptations, the dark cut was written by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong. The Undisputed Truth's remake reached #3 Pop in 1971.



167
YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Married couple Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson penned a string of gems for Motown acts such as Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye. The latter recorded several duets with Tammi Terrell. Their original recording of the pair's "Your Precious Love" peaked at #5 Pop & 2 R&B in 1967.
 
166
AS
Stevie Wonder
The funky soul track "As" was lifted off Wonder's 1976 album 'Songs in the Key of Life'. It charted as a single in the following year. In 1999, George Michael and Mary J. Blige's remake reached #4 in the UK.


165
NIGHTSHIFT
The Commodores
"Nightshift" was the 1st and biggest for The Commodores after the departure of Lionel Richie. The song is a tribute to 2 soul vocalists: Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson. Both had an impact on the Motown story. Gaye was 1 of the label's greatest stars while Wilson recorded some Berry Gordy songs before the company was launched. Both singers died in 1984. A year later, the single made the Top 3 on the Pop, R&B and AC charts.
 
164
I'M STILL WAITING
Diana Ross
While "I'm Still Waiting" struggled on the US chart, it climbed to #1 in the UK, reigning there for 4 weeks in 1971.
 
163
TWENTY-FIVE MILES
Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr is best remembered for the Motown classic "War". That hit was preceded by his 1st Top 10 single, "Twenty-Five Miles". Starr co-wrote it. The song peaked at #5 in 1969.



162
SEND ONE YOUR LOVE
Stevie Wonder
"Send One Your Love" was the only noteworthy track on Wonder's soundtrack for the documentary 'The Secret Life Of Plants'. In 1979, the gentle love song reached #5 R&B, 4 Pop and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
 
161
LADY (YOU BRING ME UP)
The Commodores
"Lady (You Bring Me Up)" was one of the last Commodores hits to feature Lionel Richie in the band's line-up. In 1981, the single peaked at #8. Richie, meanwhile was tentatively testing the solo waters scoring hits in his own right.
 

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