ALL THE MOTOWN #1s (#65-61). Continues tomorrow.

All the MOTOWN

No. 1 SINGLES

*65

DO YOU LOVE ME

The Contours

[1962] Soul 3

Berry Gordy Jr.

Right place, right time: when The Temptations didn’t turn up for the recording session, this hit was offered to The Contours. It soon grew into one of Motown’s first hits. On the Pop Chart, the disc peaked at #3 for 3 weeks.

*64

PART-TIME LOVER

Stevie Wonder

[1980] Soul 6/ Pop 1

Stevie Wonder

Wonder wrote and produced this hit for his ‘In Square Circle’ album. He also handled drums and synthesizer on the track. Luther Vandross shared lead vocal duties. Also contributing vocals on the song are Syreeta Wright and Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind & Fire).

*63

LOVE IS HERE AND NOW YOU’RE GONE

The Supremes

[1967] Soul 2 / Pop 1

Brian Holland; Lamont Dozier; Eddie Holland

This single features Diana Ross in a different context: showcasing her sultry and dramatic spoken lyrics amidst the sung verses. By year’s end, the group’s releases would give her top billing as Diana Ross and The Supremes.

*62

GIVE IT TO ME BABY

Rick James

[1981] Soul 5

Rick James

Although James is best remembered for the hit “Super Freak” (sampled years later on MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This”), that signature song failed to reach the chart summit. It only reached #16 on the Pop chart and peaked at #3 for 5 weeks on the Soul equivalent. It was issued as the follow-up to “Give It To Me Baby”. Both were included on James’ classic ‘Street Songs’ album. It is worth noting that this Soul #1 only managed to reach #40 on the Pop Chart.

*61

THE TEARS OF A CLOWN

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

[1970] Soul 3 / Pop 2

Henry Cosby; William “Smokey” Robinson; Stevie Wonder

The Miracles’ US hits were seldomly embraced by record buyers in Britain. EMI marketed Motown’s singles ithere. Searching through the group’s back catalogue had provided its first hit: a re-release of 1965’s “The Tracks Of My Tears” in 1969. The same approach was used the following year. “The Tears Of A Clown” was discovered on the 1967 LP ‘Make It Happen’. It was its closing track and had never been released as a single. EMI issued the song. The disc shot to the chart summit. Motown decided to do the same in the U.S. and the move resulted in a #1 on both the Pop and Soul charts. The album was re-titled after the new hit single.