ALL THE MOTOWN #1s RANKED (#45-41). 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

*45

THEME FROM MAHOGANY

(DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO)

Diana Ross

[1976] Pop 1

Gerry Goffin; Michael Masser

After an Oscar nomination for her role in the film ‘Lady Sings The Blues’, Ross starred in ‘Mahogany’. Although the single was very popular, giving Ross her third solo chart-topper, it missed out on the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The winner in that category was “I’m Easy” from the film ‘Nashville’.

*44

PAPA WAS A ROLLIN’ STONE

The Temptations

[1972] Pop 1

Norman Whitfield; Barrett Strong

It is surprising that this epic failed to reach #1 on the Soul Chart. The single peaked at #5. It features Dennis Edwards on lead vocals. Damon Harris, the group’s latest recruit, made his debut on this hit. He replaced Eddie Kendricks. The original version of the song was recorded by another Motown group: The Undisputed Truth.

*43

GOT TO GIVE IT UP (PART 1)

Marvin Gaye

[1977] Soul 5/ Pop 1

Marvin Gaye

This funky single features Marvin’s brother Frankie and wife-to-be Jan Hunter on background vocals. Art Stewart handled production. The track was recorded in Los Angeles in 1976. “Got To Give It Up (Part 2)” was on the disc’s flip side. Gaye would visit the Soul chart summit one final time in his life, with the 1982 hit “Sexual Healing”. By then, Gaye had quit Motown. This single enjoyed a 10-week reign at the top of the Soul Chart. Two years later, Gaye was fatally shot by his father one day before his 45^th birthday.  

*42

ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT)

Lionel Richie

[1983] Soul 7/ Pop 4

Lionel Richie

Once a decision had been made to quit The Commodores, Richie began working on his debut solo album. He had scored a huge #1 single with “Endless Love”, a duet he recorded with Diana Ross. None of the singles from his solo debut album reached #1 on the Soul Chart, but “Truly” did just that on the Pop equivalent. His sophomore LP 'Can't Slow Down' contained the Caribbean-flavoured song “All Night Long (All Night)”. The track was recorded in Hollywood. It featured a then unknown Richard Marx on background vocals. Finally, Richie accomplished a solo #1 on both charts. Globally, the single was a smash hit. The following year, Richie was invited to perform the song at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Across 120 countries, an estimated audience of over 2.5 billion witnessed the event.

*41

YOU HAVEN’T DONE NOTHIN’

Stevie Wonder

[1974] Soul 2/ Pop 1

Stevie Wonder

The lead single from Wonder’s ‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale’ album was this attack on politicians who promise much, but deliver little. It was a timely release, coming out a fortnight before disgraced American President Richard Nixon resigned. The Jackson 5 contributed background vocals.