Motown Number 1's

by MOTOWN 1'S / VARIOUS

Overview

Owner of one of the deepest catalogs in music history, Motown/Universal allows very few recordings to escape the clutches of its archive. Once they're available, however, they're repackaged in endless permutations; such it was when Motown was ten years old, and such it was as the company approached its 45th anniversary. Motown 1*s, a collection of 24 number one hits enjoyed by the label, ranges through four decades for its material -- from "Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes to "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men -- and provides the very broadest of hits anthologies. It is an excellent selection, perhaps skimping on Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, but never spending too much time with any one artist (which allows the disc to survey Junior Walker as well as latter-day artists Thelma Houston, the Commodores, and DeBarge). Motown 1*s is presented in chronological order, with a baker's dozen of tracks from the '60s, and 11 from the '70s or later. Unnecessary for soul fans much less collectors, Motown 1*s works best for its intended audience -- those with no prior experience who wish to understand why the Motown conglomeration of singers, songwriters, musicians, and executives comprised the premier pop music organization of all time. [The bonus track, a cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Michael McDonald, is a fine reminder of how far the label's influence has carried.] ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	04/20/2004
Label:	Motown
UPC:	0602498614723
Rank:	9194

Tracks

1. Intro
2. Please Mr. Postman  - Robert Bateman  - Georgia Dobbins  - William Garrett  - Freddie Gorman  - Brian Holland  -  Marvelettes
3. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave  - Lamont Dozier  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland  -  Martha & the Vandellas
4. My Guy  - Smokey Robinson  - Mary Wells
5. My Girl  - Smokey Robinson  - Ronald White
6. Where Did Our Love Go  - Lamont Dozier  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland  -  Supremes
7. Stop! In the Name of Love  - Lamont Dozier  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland  -  Supremes
8. Shotgun  - Autry II DeWalt  - Junior Walker
9. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)  - Lamont Dozier  -  Four Tops  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland
10. Uptight (Everything's Alright)  - Henry Cosby  - Sylvia Moy  - Stevie Wonder
11. Ain't Too Proud to Beg  - Eddie Holland  -  Temptations  - Norman Whitfield
12. Reach Out (I'll Be There)  - Lamont Dozier  -  Four Tops  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland
13. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing  - Nickolas Ashford  - Marvin Gaye  - Valerie Simpson  - Tammi Terrell
14. I Heard It Through the Grapevine  - Marvin Gaye  - Barrett Strong  - Norman Whitfield
15. I Want You Back  -  Corporation  -  Jackson 5
16. War  - Edwin Starr  - Barrett Strong  - Norman Whitfield
17. The Tears of a Clown  - Henry Cosby  - Smokey Robinson  -  Robinson  - Stevie Wonder
18. What's Going On  - Renaldo Benson  - Al Cleveland  - Marvin Gaye
19. Let's Get It On  - Marvin Gaye  - Ed Townsend
20. Love Machine, Pt. 1  - William Griffin  -  Miracles  - Warren "Pete" Moore
21. Don't Leave Me This Way  - Kenny Gamble  - Cary Gilbert  - Thelma Houston  - Leon Huff
22. Three Times a Lady  -  Commodores  - Lionel Richie
23. Endless Love  - Lionel Richie  - Diana Ross
24. Rhythm of the Night  -  DeBarge  - Diane Warren
25. I'll Make Love to You  -  Babyface  -  Boyz II Men
26. Ain't No Mountain High Enough  - Nickolas Ashford  - Michael McDonald  - Valerie Simpson

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lionel Richie   Primary Artist
Tammi Terrell   Primary Artist
Junior Walker   Primary Artist
Mary Wells   Primary Artist
Michael McDonald   Primary Artist
The Supremes   Primary Artist
The Miracles   Primary Artist
Thelma Houston   Primary Artist
The Temptations   Primary Artist
Diana Ross   Primary Artist
Marvin Gaye   Primary Artist
The Marvelettes   Primary Artist
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist
Commodores   Primary Artist
Billy Griffin   Primary Artist
DeBarge   Primary Artist
Smokey Robinson   Primary Artist
Martha & the Vandellas   Primary Artist
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles   Primary Artist
Edwin Starr   Primary Artist
The Four Tops   Primary Artist
The Jackson 5   Primary Artist
Boyz II Men   Primary Artist
Junior Walker & the All-Stars   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Freddie Gorman   Composer
Jeff Moskow   Compilation Producer
Robert Bateman   Composer,Producer
Ronald White   Composer
Lionel Richie   Composer,Producer
Valerie Simpson   Composer,Producer
Renaldo Benson   Composer
James Anthony Carmichael   Arranger,Producer
Al Cleveland   Composer
Brian Holland   Composer,Producer
Georgia Dobbins   Composer
Hal Davis   Producer
William Garrett   Composer
Diane Warren   Composer
Warren "Pete" Moore   Composer
Marvin Gaye   Composer,Producer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Harry Weinger   Compilation Producer
Henry Cosby   Composer,Producer
William Griffin   Composer
William "Mickey" Stevenson   Producer
Kenneth Edmonds   Composer
Commodores   Arranger,Producer
Freddie Perren   Composer,Producer
Ellen Fitton   Digital Remastering
Deke Richards   Composer
Leon Huff   Composer
Smokey Robinson   Composer,Producer
Vartan   Art Direction
Nickolas Ashford   Composer,Producer
Norman Whitfield   Composer,Producer
The Corporation   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Monique McGuffin   Production Manager
Ryan Null   Photo Coordination
Jill Ettinger   Product Manager
Autry Dewalt   Composer
Simon Climie   Producer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer,Producer
Sylvia Moy   Composer
Babyface   Composer,Producer
Autry DeWalt II   Composer
Kenny Gamble   Composer
Lamont Dozier   Composer,Producer
Lawrence Horn   Producer
Barrett Strong   Composer
Alphonso Mizell   Composer
Richard Perry   Producer
Pat Lawrence   Executive Producer
Ed Townsend   Composer,Producer
Eddie Holland   Composer
Cary Gilbert   Composer