Motown Number 1s

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:	05/16/2025
Label:	Universal Import
UPC:	0602475821533

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Jackson 5   Primary Artist
Commodores   Primary Artist
Tammi Terrell   Primary Artist
DeBarge   Primary Artist
Smokey Robinson   Primary Artist
Martha & the Vandellas   Primary Artist
The Four Tops   Primary Artist
Billy Griffin   Primary Artist
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles   Primary Artist
Edwin Starr   Primary Artist
Lionel Richie   Primary Artist
Junior Walker & the All-Stars   Primary Artist
Junior Walker   Primary Artist
Marvin Gaye   Primary Artist
The Marvelettes   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
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist
Boyz II Men   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

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
Freddie Gorman   Composer
Jeff Moskow   Compilation Producer
Robert Bateman   Composer,Producer
Ronald White   Composer
Lionel Richie   Composer,Producer
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
Babyface   Composer,Producer
Autry DeWalt II   Composer
Freddie Perren   Composer,Producer
Ellen Fitton   Digital Remastering
Simon Climie   Producer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer,Producer
Sylvia Moy   Composer
Valerie Simpson   Composer,Producer
Warren "Pete" Moore   Composer
Marvin Gaye   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
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Harry Weinger   Compilation Producer
Henry Cosby   Composer,Producer
William Griffin   Composer
William "Mickey" Stevenson   Producer
Kenneth Edmonds   Composer
Commodores   Arranger,Producer