ALL THE MOTOWN #1s RANKED (#55-51). Continues tomorrow.

Motown scored its first #1 60 years ago. The label, founded by Berry Gordy Jr., made Detroit a pivotal city in R&B history. Its roster boasted soul music legends such as: Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes, Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson and Lionel Richie. All of these titans enjoyed time at the chart summit.

Caffè Lattè pays tribute to the 141 songs on Tamla Motown and its subsidiary labels that reached #1 on the U.S. Pop / Soul charts, ranked in order of impact and influence. Each song’s year of chart peak; weeks spent at the top & writer(s) is included.

All the MOTOWN

No. 1 SINGLES

Hear the songs as the countdown continues on Spotify:

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

*55

ABC

The Jackson 5

[1970] Soul 4/ Pop 2

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

Motown’s The Corporation created the siblings’ follow-up to breakthrough smash single “I Want You Back”. Both singles topped the Pop and Soul charts. The group’s next 2 singles did the same, establishing The Jackson 5 as one of the label’s most successful acts.

*54

DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY

Thelma Houston

[1977] Soul 1/ Pop 1

Kenny Gamble; Leon Huff; Cary Gilbert

After scoring success with Diana Ross and her disco single “Love Hangover”, that hit’s producer Hal Davis finally gave Thelma Houston a #1 of her own, with a remake of a song originally recorded by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Teddy Pendergrass performed the lead vocal on the original. Davis changed the song into a disco classic. Both Ross and Houston’s #1 songs were recorded in Los Angeles with many of the same musicians.

*53

YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE

Stevie Wonder

[1973] Pop 1

Stevie Wonder

The first verse features vocals performed by Jim Gilstrap and Gloria Barley. On the Soul Chart, this single peaked at #3 for 2 weeks.

*52

I WISH IT WOULD RAIN

The Temptations

[1968] Soul 3

Norman Whitfield; Barrett Strong; Roger Penzabene

This song started with the title “At The End Of A Long, Hard Working Day”. The concept was based on the actual heartache felt by one of the co-writers. Penzabene’s wife had been unfaithful. He never got over it, committing suicide before the song became successful. David Ruffin delivered a powerful lead vocal on the recording.

*51

LOVE MACHINE (Part 1)

The Miracles

[1976] Pop 1

William Griffin; Warren Moore

The Miracles never returned to the Soul chart summit following the departure of Smokey Robinson. His final release with the group was issued in late 1972. Griffin stepped in as the new lead vocalist. On the Pop Chart, the group scored its only #1 without Smokey with “Love Machine”. Part 1 was featured on the A-side of the single. Part 2 was on the flip. This would be the final chart hit for The Miracles on either chart.