ALL THE MOTOWN #1s RANKED (#40-36). 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

*40

WAR

Edwin Starr

[1970] Pop 3

Norman Whitfield; Barrett Strong

Starr’s recording of “War” was a remake. The song had previously been cut by The Temptations. The Vietnam War was raging around this time and there was demand for Motown to release the track as a single. Berry Gordy Jr. regarded the idea too risky for that group’s brand, fearing it would repel conservative fans. Producer Whitfield then offered the song to another Motown group: Rare Earth. They rejected it. Third time lucky, Starr covered the song and it was a crossover smash. The single peaked at #3 on the Soul Chart, his biggest hit on that listing. Starr passed away in 2003, aged 61. “War” remains a peace anthem to this day.

*39

YOU’RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

[1968] Soul 5

Nickolas Ashford; Valerie Simpson

Many argue that no pairing of singers ever sparked as much beauty and magic as the duets recorded by Gaye and Terrell. He was paired with a series of other Motown females: Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross and Oma Page. His duets with the latter remained unreleased until decades later. None of the others gelled as effectively as with Terrell. In 1967, she collapsed into his arms onstage. Terrell was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery on several occasions. Whenever she could, she continued recording with Gaye.

*38

NEITHER ONE OF US

(WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)

Gladys Knight & The Pips

[1973] Soul 4

Jim Weatherly

By the 1970s, many Motown acts and staffers had grown dissatisfied. Writer / producers Holland- Dozier-Holland, Mary Wells, The Isley Brothers, The Spinners were among the first to join the exodus. In time, stalwarts such as The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5 and Gladys Knight & The Pips would depart. The latter group had been frustrated for some time, believing other acts were a higher priority, particularly The Supremes. In March 1973, Knight & The Pips switched from Motown to Buddah Records. The move proved to be wise, with the group scoring many pop and soul hits, including the #1 crossover single “Midnight Train To Georgia”. Its writer was Weatherly, who also penned “Neither One Of Us”. The latter proved to be a perfect swansong prior to severing ties with Motown. On subsidiary label Soul, Knight & The Pips achieved 3 Soul #1s but none on the Pop equivalent. The group would visit the top a further 6 times after leaving Motown. Knight went solo in 1989.

*37

TRULY

Lionel Richie

[1982] Pop 2

Lionel Richie

If Richie required any further evidence that his transition from member of The Commodores to soloist would prove to be lucrative, this single made the point clear. The singer had just topped the Soul and Pop charts with “Endless Love”, a worldwide smash hit recorded with Diana Ross. He was still a member of the group when that disc was selling. “Truly” was his solo debut single. As well as topping the Billboard Hot 100, the disc spent a staggering 9 weeks peaking at #2. Follow-up “You Are” sat in the runner-up position for 3 weeks and climbed to #4 Pop. Another single from his self-titled solo debut album, “My Love”, reached the Top 5 on both charts. Richie’s solo career was off to a flying start.

*36

UPSIDE DOWN

Diana Ross

[1980] Soul 4 / Pop 4

Nile Rodgers; Bernard Edwards

Ross had been made a household name by Motown. Her romantic involvement with Berry Gordy Jr. did not hinder her climb up the hierarchy first as one of The Supremes and then as a soloist. The label worked tirelessly to establish her as a film and musical superstar in her own right. By 1980, Ross wanted more. She was contemplating a big move. Her ‘Diana’ album hinted at what was to come, especially with “I’m Coming Out”. This project involved 2 members of the funk group Chic: Rodgers and Edwards. It would prove to be her last studio album on the label. Soon after, Ross would release music on RCA. By decade’s end, she was reunited with Motown. In the process, Ross had proved her worth and secured a better financial deal with her old label home. She has a new album due in late 2021 on Motown.