ALL THE MOTOWN #1s (#70-66). Continues tomorrow.

All the MOTOWN

No. 1 SINGLES

*70

THE LOVE YOU SAVE

The Jackson 5

[1970] Soul 6 / Pop 2

Freddie Perren; Fonce Mizell, Deke Richards; Berry Gordy Jr.

Once Diana Ross had quit the Supremes, Motown’s top priority group became The Jackson 5. This was the brothers' third single. Its success gave the group 3 consecutive chart toppers on both charts: a rarity. Production was credited to ‘The Corporation’, which was the 4 writers. The siblings would score a fourth #1 in-a-row with the follow-up single.

*69

THAT GIRL

Stevie Wonder

[1982] Soul 9

Stevie Wonder

After a lucrative 1981, Motown had slim pickings in its release schedule for the following year. The label planned to issue a Stevie Wonder compilation album; a guaranteed major seller. This new set was to focus on his work as an adult. Wonder had been granted significant control over his catalogue by Motown. He was offered $2 million for the compilation LP. Wonder came back with a few requests: an extra million dollars, the set would be a double album and it would contain 4 new songs. “That Girl” was one of those four. Wonder performed all of the instruments on the track. It became one of the longest running #1 singles on the Soul Chart.

*68

SHOTGUN

Jr. Walker & The All Stars

[1965] Soul 4

Junior Walker

Autry DeWalt is credited as the songwriter of this gritty R&B song. That was Walker’s birth name. Motown engineer Lawrence Horn co-produced the track with Berry Gordy Jr. “Shotgun” was very different from the usual Motown style, but packed as much as punch.

*67

COME SEE ABOUT ME

The Supremes

[1964] Pop 2

Brian Holland; Lamont Dozier; Eddie Holland

The first US group to lift 3 #1 singles from one album? That historical watershed belongs to The Supremes. This single became the third consecutive chart-topper for the trio. Its release date was brought forward when Berry Gordy Jr. was informed that a rival label was about to issue a remake. The Supremes’ original peaked at #2 for 2 weeks on the Soul Chart. While The Beatles were dominating around the planet, the Motown girl group would continue to ensure some American product would consistently occupy the top position.

*66

WHO’S JOHNNY

El DeBarge

[1986] Soul 1

Peter Wolf; Ina Wolf

Following in the tradition of other Motown artists such as Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, El launched a solo career. He had found fame as a member of DeBarge with his siblings. Producer Peter Wolf co-wrote “Who’s Johnny” with his wife Ina for the film ‘Short Circuit’. The film starred Ally Sheedy. On the Pop Chart, the single peaked at #3.