The Nations Favourite Motown Song

The Nations Favourite Motown Song. Sunday 9.00pm ITV. A celebration of the hit factory that was Motown, with the coolest moves, the sharpest threads and songs that sound as fresh today as when they were recorded in a tiny Detroit studio by Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and the many other artists on the label half a century ago. The stories behind 20 of the legendary label’s greatest hits are told by the men and women who made pop history, followed by the results of our exclusive poll to find out which Motown classic Britain loves the most.

Matt Thomas…..The Happening – Diana Ross & The Supremes

Pete Fairless….My Girl – The Temptations or  Heatwave-Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Alan Esdaile…Don’t know why I love you – Stevie Wonder or Seven Rooms Of Gloom – The Four Tops

Jane Hartley…..Marvin or Smokey!

John Wilde….Dancing in the street – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas & Bernadette…Four Tops.

Alan Esdaile…..Another brilliant number Bernadette The Four Tops. I’m sure this was constantly played in the Pam Dor.

Mark Edir…..This looks like it could be good  but where do you begin with this question ‘,,,,,,,,,,

Andre Martin….Baby I Need Your Loving – Four Tops.

John Storer……1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye 2. The Tracks Of My Tears – Smokey Robinson &The Miracles 3. Ball of Confusion – The Temptations 4. Nathan Jones – The Supremes 5. My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder

Pete Fairless…..Now, if we could have got Motown on our pier…

Alan Esdaile……Andre mentioned at the Happy Ballroom Talk he couldn’t remember any Motown or Stax acts playing the Pier. I can remember when I was working for Mecca Agency, booking the soul tours Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Edwin Starr etc. Always guaranteed to be packed and make money.

Will Cornell……Reach Out by the Four Tops, if an ex-colonial can vote. Levi was the best vocalist on the label…and the Jamerson bass parts on that tune are sublime. Intense stuff. If I had to pick one supreme (pardon the pun) Motown act to take with me to a desert island, it’s the Four Tops.

Jane Hartley….I saw the 4 Tops at Kings, Temptations at Congress, both brilliant. I had so many motown albums, but someone used to lend them out and never bothered to get them back.

Gary Kinch……Some great singles from an era when singles was the thing. There weren’t that many Motown LP’s that I would have bought though. Inner Visions (Stevie) ….not a bad track on it
Songs in the Key of Life ………ditto

John Wilde…..Music of my mind…Stevie Wonder. Brilliant!

results……

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

Carol Ann Bolton……My fave is ’25 Miles’ by Edwin Star.

Will Cornell……This is probably my second fave 4Tops tune. The Jr Walker sax on the orig was brilliant. This show was to us what “Ready Steady Go” might’ve been for ya’ll. Also worth looking up from the 4 Tops is their take on the old chestnut “It’s All In the Game” (one of our vice presidents wrote that) and “McArthur Park”. Four Tops – Something About You.

Matt Thomas……Last nights programme inspired me to go and buy a Motown compilation CD today lol

John Wilde…..How sweet it is. Junior Walker and the All Stars.

Alan Esdaile….The Marvelettes – When Your Young and in love. Brilliant.

John Storer….. Its not often that the public get it right on these “Nation’s Favourite” lists but you can’t really knock that top 20! Would make a good compilation album.

Joe Knight….did u see on telly 50 yrs of motown!!! very good hard to believe we live through a great music era 🙂