A new countdown starts with this post.  ALL THE MOTOWN #1s (#141-131). 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

*141

YOU WILL KNOW

Stevie Wonder 

[1988] Soul 1

Stevie Wonder

Produced by Wonder, this song has a spiritual theme. It was a ballad lifted off his ‘Characters’ album. It remains Wonder’s most recent chart topping single. This was his 18^th Soul Chart #1.

*140

LUCKY CHARM

The Boys

[1989] Soul 1

Babyface; L.A. Reid; Greg Scelsa; Daryl Simmons

L.A. Reid and Babyface produced and played all of the instruments on this hit, the second of 3 #1s for the brothers. It was replaced at the chart summit by another Motown single: “Girl I Got My Eyes On You” by Today.

*139

SKELETONS

Stevie Wonder 

[1987] Soul 2

Stevie Wonder

This lead single for his ‘Characters’ LP has Wonder criticizing politicians and other public figures.

*138

BABY I’M FOR REAL

The Originals

 

[1969] Soul 5

Anna Gaye; Marvin Gaye

By the time The Originals achieved this #1, the members had performed background vocal duties on other Motown hits, including “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” (Jimmy Ruffin) and “For Once In My Life” (Stevie Wonder). “Baby I’m For Real” was a throwback to the harmony vocal groups.

*137

BABY THAT’S BACKATCHA

Smokey Robinson

[1975] Soul 1

William “Smokey” Robinson

Robinson had quit The Miracles in 1972. His solo career took off with the release of the single “Baby That’s Backatcha” and his ‘Quiet Storm’ album.

*136

COLD BLOODED

Rick James

[1983] Soul 6

Rick James

James dubbed his musical style “punk funk”. He wrote and produced “Cold Blooded”, inspired by his partner at the time: actress Linda Blair (the song is not meant as a criticism).

*135

GIRL I GOT MY EYES ON YOU

Today

[1989] Soul 1

Lee Drakeford; Larry Singletary; Wesley Adams, Larry McCain; Gene Griffin

The members of Today met at high school. They formed an outfit named The Gents. When they met Teddy Riley, he chose a new moniker for the act: Today.

*134

BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND

Stevie Wonder 

[1966] Soul 1

Bob Dylan

In the 1970s, Motown acts released music that reflected the turmoil in the world and especially the African-American community. This new direction was spearheaded by The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Bob Dylan’s anthem “Blowin’ In The Wind” was one of the most significant songs of the 1960s. It influenced many R&B artists such as Nina Simone, Sam Cooke and the aforementioned Motown acts. Wonder’s remake was produced by frequent collaborator Clarence Paul.  

*133

DIAL MY HEART

The Boys

[1988] Soul 1

L.A. Reid; Babyface; Daryl Simmons

When The Boys decided to begin performing in public, their ages ranged from 6 to 11. The brothers recorded a demo which their parents sent to 3 labels. “Dial My Heart” was similar in sound to popular boy band New Edition. It was produced by L.A and Babyface and became the siblings’ first Soul chart -topper.

*132

WRAP MY BODY TIGHT

Johnny Gill

[1991] Soul 1

Jimmy Jam Harris; Terry Lewis

In the early 1990s, Johnny Gill placed 2 songs at the top. “Fairweather Friend” followed, peaking at #2. “Wrap My Body Tight” became his third (and last to date) chart- topping single.

*131

BAG LADY

Erykah Badu

[2000] Soul 7

Erykah Badu; Isaac Hayes; Harold Martin

Badu had scored 3 R&B Chart #1s on MCA Records in 1997. She was on Motown by 1999. “Bag Lady” remains her biggest chart hit. Badu is one of the roster’s most unique artists.