ALL THE MOTOWN #1s (#110-101). Continues tomorrow.

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

*110

MASTERPIECE

The Temptations

[1973] Soul 2

Norman Whitfield

The Temptations did feel frustrated as Whitfield gained more control over the vocal group’s recorded output. As producer and songwriter, the members felt more like vehicles for his creative vision. Nevertheless, Motown played a significant role in re-shaping soul music via projects issued by the group, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

*109

SAY YOU, SAY ME

Lionel Richie

[1986] Soul 2/ Pop 4

Lionel Richie

Richie collected an Academy Award in the Best Song category for this hit single from the ‘White Nights’ movie. The film’s director had asked him to compose its title song. Richie tried to create a song for the brief, but offered “Say You, Say Me” instead. Motown did not allow the hit to be included on the motion picture soundtrack which was released on Atlantic Records. The album went out without its smash, which hampered its sales. Motown enjoyed the fruits of the song’s appeal, reaching the top on both the Soul and Pop charts.

*108

I LOVE YOUR SMILE

Shanice

[1991] Soul 4

Jarvis Baker; Sylvester Jackson; Narada Michael Walden; Shanice Wilson

Shanice Wilson is best remembered for this hit, which also spent 3 weeks peaking at #2 on the Pop Chart. She placed 18 titles on the Soul Chart, spanning the years 1987-2006.

*107

SLIPPERY WHEN WET

The Commodores

[1975] Soul 1

Thomas McClary

McClary, guitarist in The Commodores, penned the group’s first Soul #1. It was a funk- flavoured hit that differs from the ballads Lionel Richie penned for the band. The Commodores had to wait another 3 years before topping the Pop Chart.

*106

BOOGIE DOWN

Eddie Kendricks

[1974] Soul 3

Frank Wilson; Leonard Caston; Anita Poree

Kendricks followed his first solo #1 “Keep On Truckin’” with “Boogie Down”. Both songs were written by the same trio. Wilson and Caston co-produced the back-to-back hits. The former member of The Temptations died of cancer in 1992, aged 52.

*105

TIME WILL REVEAL

DeBarge

[1983] Soul 5

Bunny DeBarge; Eldra DeBarge

DeBarge was a family that enjoyed a good run on the Motown roster during the 1980s. “I Like It”, issued in 1982, enjoyed 4 weeks at #2. “All This Love” peaked at #5. It was followed by “Time Will Reveal”, which was the group’s 2^nd Pop Top 20 hit. DeBarge consisted of: El, Bunny, Mark, James and Randy. Brothers Bobby and Tommy were in the Motown group Switch. Another sibling, Chico, recorded as a soloist for the label. In 1984, James married Janet Jackson.

*104

NIGHTSHIFT

The Commodores

[1985] Soul 4

Walter Orange; Dennis Lambert; Franne Golde

Diana Ross ruled the Soul Chart for 3 weeks with “Missing You”, a tribute to Marvin Gaye. At the time, she was on the RCA label. Both she and Gaye- who had been murdered in April 1984- had previously been with Motown for many years. Her tribute was penned by Lionel Richie, another Motown alumni. The single was replaced at the chart summit by another Gaye tribute, recorded by Richie’s former group The Commodores. “Nightshift” was also a tribute to Jackie Wilson, who had passed away in January 1984. The end result was a revival for The Commodores as the band had been languishing since the departure of Richie. Orange shared lead vocal duties, as he had on the group’s first Soul #1 “Slippery When Wet”. In the case of this 1985 hit, J.D. Nicholas added his voice.

*103

SHAKEY GROUND

The Temptations

[1975] Soul 1

Jeffrey Bowen; Eddie Hazel; Al Boyd

Relations between The Temptations and producer Bowen during the recording sessions for the ‘A Song For You’ parent album were far from harmonious. Dennis Edwards performed lead vocals on “Shakey Ground”. The track was co-produced by Berry Gordy Jr. Tension was also brewing within the group’s line-up. Damon Harris was later fired and replaced by Glenn Leonard.

*102

JIMMY MACK

Martha & The Vandellas

[1967] Soul 1

Brian Holland; Lamont Dozier; Eddie Holland

Dozier drew inspiration for this hit from Ronnie Mack, the writer of the Chiffons hit “He’s So Fine”. With the Holland brothers, he created a hit for Martha Reeves and The Vandellas. At the time, the lead singer was unhappy with the lack of support from the label. The Supremes had become the label’s focus. Berry Gordy Jr. relented and “Jimmy Mack” was found in the vaults. It had been recorded by the group in 1964 but shelved. Once issued, it returned the girl group to the top of the charts.

*101

YOU AND I

Rick James

[1978] Soul 2

Rick James

Rick James was born in Buffalo, but later moved to Canada where he joined The Mynah Byrds. This group also included Neil Young in its line-up. Later, he wound up working as a writer and producer for Motown. It was the track “You And I” that convinced the label to launch James’ career as a recording artist. The song was written about his wife. Follow-up “Mary Jane” peaked at #3 for 2 weeks. In 1979, “Bustin’ Out” also made the Top 10. James would return to the top 2 years later.