ALL THE MOTOWN #1s RANKED (#25-21). Continues tomorrow.

All the MOTOWN

No. 1 SINGLES

Hear the songs as the countdown continues on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/26CwsmyHenDGwqbVozUPxz?si=def5399e3bfc472f

*25

HEAT WAVE

Martha & The Vandellas

[1963] Soul 4

Brian Holland; Lamont Dozier; Eddie Holland

Before The Supremes became Motown’s flag-bearing girl group, Martha & The Vandellas and The Marvelettes had topped the charts with their timeless hits. The former was led by Martha Reeves. As was the case later with The Supremes, the songwriting team of Holland- Dozier- Holland created their first major hits, including the Top 10s: “Come And Get These Memories”, “Quicksand”, “In My Lonely Room” and “Nowhere To Run”.

*24

FINGERTIPS (Pt. 2)

Stevie Wonder

[1963] Soul 6 / Pop 3

Henry Cosby; Clarence Paul

Few acts reveal their genius at an early age. One rare exception was Wonder. At the age of 13, he displayed his talent on this chart debut hit. It was a live recording with Part 1 on the B-side. The disc topped both charts. Wonder's lengthy chart run had begun.

*23

ENDLESS LOVE

Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

[1981] Soul 7 / Pop 9

Lionel Richie

Richie tested the waters away from The Commodores with the title song from a film starring Brooke Shields. As the song developed, it was suggested that it should be recorded as a duet. Ross was recruited. By this time, she was no longer on the Motown roster, having switched labels to RCA. So, before Ross released any new music for her new record company, they allowed her to cut one final song for the former Supreme's previous boss. “Endless Love” was a worldwide smash. It encouraged Richie to issue his first solo singles and eventually quit his old group. The ballad remains one of Motown’s all-time best-selling discs.

*22

AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

[1968] Soul 1

Nickolas Ashford; Valerie Simpson

Although Gaye recorded duets with other Motown women, only his recordings with Terrell reached the chart summit. The first was this duet in June, followed by “You’re All I Need To Get By” two months later. Among their other hits together were the singles “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Your Precious Love”, “If I Could Build My World Around You” and “If This World Were Mine”. In later years, while they were collaborating, Terrell’s health deteriorated. The brain tumour caused her death in March 1970. She was only 24 years of age. Gaye was never the same after her passing away.

*21

NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE

Jackson 5

[1971] Soul 3

Clifton Davis

Following the chart-topping success of “I’ll Be There” in 1970, producer Hal Davis believed lightning could strike twice with a new ballad. He overheard songwriter Clifton Davis (no relation) performing “Never Can Say Goodbye” at Motown and decided instantly that this would be a hit for the siblings. On the Pop chart the disc peaked at #2 for a fortnight. The song would be resurrected in 1974 by Gloria Gaynor and in 1987 by The Communards. Both remakes were Top 10 hits.