ALL THE MOTOWN #1s (#90-86). Continues tomorrow.

All the MOTOWN

No. 1 SINGLES

*90

DANCING MACHINE

Jackson 5

[1974] Soul 1

Hal Davis; Don Fletcher; Weldon Dean Parks

Issued after Jermaine Jackson married the label chief’s daughter Hazel Gordy, this single put the family act back at the top after a 3-year absence. In between, The Jackson 5 reached the Top 10 with all 7 of the group’s Soul Chart entries. The song was inspired by a woman Davis knew and she loved to dance. He described her to Fletcher as a ‘dancing machine’. That became the title of a song fleshed out with guitarist Dean Parks. “Dancing Machine” is the last Soul #1 by the brothers. It features Michael on lead with Jermaine on secondary vocal duties. By 1976, the group had left Motown. Jermaine quit the group and stayed on his father-in-law’s label. As Motown owned the rights to the name, the group became The Jacksons.

*89

(I KNOW) I’M LOSING YOU

The Temptations

[1966] Soul 2

Cornelius Grant; Eddie Holland; Norman Whitfield

Grant played guitar for The Temptations. He helped construct the hit with Holland and the track’s producer Whitfield. David Ruffin is featured on lead vocals. The single’s chart success marked 4 consecutive #1s for the group. Follow-up “All I Need” ended that streak, but peaked at #2 for 4 weeks. The next 2 chart entries climbed to #3. The group’s first release in 1968 returned The Temptations to the top.

*88

LET IT WHIP

Dazz Band

[1982] Soul 5

Reggie Andrews; Ndugu Chancler

The “dazz” mentioned in the group’s name is a contraction of ‘danceable jazz’. After recording a couple of singles on the 20th Century label in 1979, The Dazz Band inked with Motown. The hit’s producer Andrews co-wrote “Let It Whip” with a friend he had known since high school.

*87

WHAT DOES IT TAKE (TO WIN YOUR LOVE)

Junior Walker & The All Stars

[1969] Soul 2

Johnny Bristol; Harvey Fuqua; Vernon Bullock

This single was a change of direction for Jr. Walker & The All Stars. Previous chart entries were upbeat with scant focus on the vocals. Bristol was central to the musical shift. Walker approached the recording with some uncertainty, but was pleased with the finished product. Motown, however, remained unconvinced. At an A&R meeting, those in the room preferred “Home Cookin’”, which was like his usual fare. Berry Gordy Jr. directed the latter be released. Issued after 2 Top 10 hits, the disc stopped climbing at #19. Gordy then gave “What Does It Take” a go. Bristol was vindicated. Walker’s chart success continued into the early 1970s. He died in 1997.  

*86

I HEAR A SYMPHONY

The Supremes

[1965] Pop 2

Brian Holland; Lamont Dozier; Eddie Holland

On Billboard’s Hot 100, The Supremes had achieved an impressive 5 consecutive chart topping singles. “Nothing But Heartaches” was unleashed, with Motown hoping it would continue the trio’s impressive streak. Like its predecessors, it was created by the songwriting/ production team of Holland/ Dozier/ Holland. The disc stalled at #11. Other writers were invited to suggest songs for the follow-up. Motown was keen to get its most successful act back at the top. H-D-H pulled out a new song: “I Hear A Symphony”. The song gave the girl group its sixth Pop #1. On the Soul equivalent, the disc peaked at #2 for 2 weeks.