Motown Top 20

So what were the 20 best Motown records ever?  ITV featured what they claimed were 'The Nation's Favourite Motown Songs' last night, which seems to tie in with a CD they are promoting. Narrated by Craig Charles, it was surprisingly good, with some excellent original footage and quotes from many of the singers, songwriters and musicians who played on classic tracks in the sixties. But inevitably the top 20 records chosen were fairly predictable and many of the great acts from Tamla Motown didn't get a look in. These are the 20 selected by a panel of viewers:
20. Jimmy Mack – Martha & The Vandellas – 1967
19. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder – 1966
18. Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone - The Temptations – 1972
17. What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye -1971
16. My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder -1969
15. I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops – 1965
14. My Guy – Mary Wells – 1964
13. The Tracks Of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – 1969
12. Reach Out I’ll Be There – The Four Tops – 1966
11. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5 – 1970
10. Stop! In The Name Of Love – The Supremes – 1965
9. War – Edwin Starr – 1970
8. Baby Love – The Supremes – 1964
7. I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5 – 1970
6. The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – 1970
5. My Girl – The Temptations – 1964
4. Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas – 1964
3. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross – 1970
2. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted – Jimmy Ruffin – 1966
Winner: 1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye – 1969.
Not a bad list, I have to admit, but I couldn't resist putting up an alternative list, featuring only artists missing from the show's top 20. So here, in no particular arder, are my choices (only one per artist):
1. Money - Barrett Strong (1959)
2. Please Mr Postman - Marvelettes (1961)
3. First I Look At The Purse - Contours (1965)
4. Take Me In Your Arms - Kim Weston (1965)
5. Come On And See Me - Tammi Terrell (1966)
6. Function At The Junction - Shorty Long (1966)
7. Behind A Painted Smile - Isley Brothers ( 1969)
8. Girls Girls Girls - Chuck Jackson (1968)
9. I Miss You Baby - Marv Johnson (1969)
10. Just Walk In My Shoes - Gladys Knight & the Pips (1965)
11. Shotgun - Junior Walker & the All Stars (1965)
12. It's A Shame - Detroit Spinners (1970)
13. My Whole World Ended - David Ruffin ( 1969)
14. Jamie - Eddie Holland (1961)
15. Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway (1964)
16. Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That - Mable John (1960)
17. Needle In A Haystack - Velvelettes (1964)
18. Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) - Monitors (1966)
19. My Smile Is Just A Frown Turned Upside Down - Carolyn Crawford (1965)
20. You're Gonna Love Me Baby - Barbara McNair (1964)
21. (for luck) Put Yourself In My Place - Elgins (1965)
There are lots more I could have chosen, and I didn't pick anything after 1970, by which time the golden days of Motown were already well and truly over. But other suggestions are more than welcome. Here is a selection of LPs featuring tracks by some of the above.