Best of Motown, Volume 1

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1CD
2CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1My Girl
producer:
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles)
bass:
James Jamerson (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
guitar:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
strings:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
background vocals:
Eddie Kendricks (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17), Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
performer:
The Temptations (Motown soul vocal group) (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
strings arranger:
Paul Riser
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 3), Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 11), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 43) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 88)
recording of:
My Girl (from 1964-09-25 until 1964-11-17)
lyricist:
Smokey Robinson
composer:
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles)
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Music for Africa (South Africa), Poochum, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Temptations4.252:43
2You Can’t Hurry Love
recording engineer:
Russ Terrana
engineer:
Lamont Dozier
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
bass:
James Jamerson (on 1966-06-11)
brass [horns]:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (on 1966-06-11)
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer) (on 1966-06-11)
guitar [Gibson L-5]:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (on 1966-06-11)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1966-06-11)
piano:
Earl Van Dyke (on 1966-06-11)
tambourine:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1966-06-11)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (on 1966-07-05) and Mary Wilson (on 1966-07-05)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (on 1966-07-05)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966) and Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 2015, in 2017)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1966-06-11 until 1966-07-05)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 280)
recording of:
You Can’t Hurry Love (from 1966-06-11 until 1966-07-05)
writer:
Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) and Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jobete (now‐defunct US music publisher, affiliated with BMI), Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. (in 1965) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Supremes4.752:44
3It’s the Same Old Song
recording engineer:
Lawrence T. Horn
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
mixer:
Robert L. Gordy (music publishing executive)
baritone saxophone:
Mike Terry (60s US soul arranger/conductor)
bass [1962 Fender Precision Bass]:
James Jamerson
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer)
guitar [1964 Gibson Firebird III]:
Eddie Willis
guitar [Fender Telecaster with Jazzmaster Neck]:
Joe Messina
guitar [Gibson L-5]:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist)
piano:
Earl Van Dyke
strings:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
tambourine:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger)
vibraphone:
Jack Brokensha
background vocals:
Marlene Barrow, Renaldo Benson, Louvain Demps, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Jackie Hicks and Lawrence Payton
lead vocals:
Levi Stubbs
recorded at and mixed at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States
recording of:
It’s the Same Old Song (on 1965-07-07)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia
Four Tops42:46
4The Track of My Tears
producer:
Bill “Smokey” Robinson
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1965)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 50) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 54)
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears (on 1965-05-19)
writer:
Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Tarplin
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears (on 1971-05-06)
writer:
Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Tarplin
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
Smokey Robinson4.252:59
5Yester Me, Yester You, Yesterday
producer:
Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1969)
recording of:
Yester‐Me, Yester‐You, Yesterday
writer:
Ron Miller (Motown songwriter Ronald Norman Miller) and Bryan Wells
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.)
Stevie Wonder53:03
6ABC
producer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
drums (drum set):
Gene Pello (in 1970-01)
electric bass guitar:
Wilton Felder (in 1970-01) and Bob West (US session bassist, producer & songwriter) (in 1970-01)
guitar:
Don Peake (in 1970-01), Louis Shelton (in 1970-01) and David T. Walker (in 1970-01)
keyboard:
Freddie Perren (in 1970-01)
background vocals:
Jackie Jackson (member of the Jackson 5) (in 1970-01), Marlon Jackson (in 1970-01) and Tito Jackson (in 1970-01)
background vocals and lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) (in 1970-01)
lead vocals:
Jackie Jackson (member of the Jackson 5) (in 1970-01), Jermaine Jackson (soul/pop singer, of Jackson 5) (in 1970-01) and Tito Jackson (in 1970-01)
arranger:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1970)
recorded at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1970-01)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 174)
recording of:
ABC (in 1970-01)
writer:
Berry Gordy, Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren and Deke Richards (American songwriter and record producer)
composer:
Erik Huber (audio engineer, producer, composer)
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
The Jackson 54.12:57
7It Takes Two
vocals:
Kim Weston
recording of:
It Takes Two
writer:
Sylvia Moy and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Stone Agate Music
Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston52:56
8Dancing in the Street
producer:
William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Thomas Bowles (on 1964-06-29)
bass guitar:
James Jamerson (on 1964-06-29)
drums (drum set):
Marvin Gaye (on 1964-06-29)
guitar:
Joe Messina (on 1964-06-29), Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (on 1964-06-29) and Eddie Willis (on 1964-06-29)
other instruments [tire iron]:
Ivy Jo Hunter (on 1964-06-29)
percussion, tambourine and vibraphone [vibes]:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1964-06-29)
tenor saxophone:
Henry Cosby (on 1964-06-29)
trombone:
George Bohanon (on 1964-06-29) and Paul Riser (on 1964-06-29)
trumpet:
Russell Conway (trumpet player) (on 1964-06-29) and Herbert Williams (trumpet player) (on 1964-06-29)
background vocals:
Rosalind Ashford (on 1964-06-29), Ivy Jo Hunter (on 1964-06-29), Betty Kelly (on 1964-06-29) and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter) (on 1964-06-29)
lead vocals:
Martha Reeves (on 1964-06-29)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1964)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 7), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 40), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 130) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 403)
recording of:
Dancing in the Street (on 1964-06-29)
writer:
I. Hunter, M. Gaye and W. Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), FCG Music, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Martha and the Vandellas3.552:37
9I Hear a Symphony
cover recording of:
I Hear a Symphony
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
writer:
Holland–Dozier–Holland
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Stone Agate Music Division and Jobete (now‐defunct US music publisher, affiliated with BMI) (in 1965)
The Isley Brothers3:19
10The Look of Love
cover recording of:
The Look of Love
lyricist:
Hal David
composer:
Burt Bacharach
publisher:
Colgems Music Corp., Colgems-EMI Music Inc. and Screen Gems–EMI Music, Inc. (USA, affiliated with BMI)
sub-publisher:
Screen Gems–EMI Music Ltd., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
part of:
The 40th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
Gladys Knight & the Pips33:56
11(I’m a) Roadrunner
mixer:
Suha Gur
bass:
James Jamerson
guitar:
Willie Woods (US guitarist & songwriter)
keyboard:
Vic Thomas (keyboard)
membranophone:
James Graves
saxophone:
Junior Walker
recording of:
(I’m a) Road Runner
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Corp., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Jr. Walker & the All Stars22:46
12It’s Wonderful (to Be Loved By You)
recording of:
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
ABKCO Music, Inc. (this is a music publisher; for release labels, please use “ABKCO”), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
Jimmy Ruffin2:43
13Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
producer:
Nickolas Ashford, Henry Cosby and Valerie Simpson
arranger:
Paul Riser
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1970)
part of:
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970 (number: 6)
cover recording of:
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
writer:
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Songs, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
EMI Songs Australia Pty. Ltd. and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
Diana Ross4.153:33
14What’s Going On
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (on 1971-05-06)
instruments:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (on 1971-05-06) and The Funk Brothers (on 1971-05-06)
percussion [box drum], piano and lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06)
background vocals:
Lem Barney (on 1971-05-06), Mel Farr (on 1971-05-06) and Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte (on 1971-05-06)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1971-05-06)
part of:
Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 4), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 4), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 6), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 102) and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock
recording of:
What’s Going On (on 1971-05-06)
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Marvin Gaye3.953:52
15One Day in Your Life
producer:
Sam Brown
arranger:
Sam Brown
recording of:
One Day in Your Life
lyricist:
Samuel F. Brown III
composer:
Renée Armand
publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30), Jobete Music Co., Inc. (from 1974 to present) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Michael Jackson3.64:10
16I Love Your SmileShanice44:18
17Superfreak
recording engineer and mixer:
Tom "Super" Flye
assistant engineer:
Rick "Port Hole" Sanchez
engineer:
Bobby Brooks (US producer/engineer/remixer), Rick "Port Hole" Sanchez and Tom "Super" Flye
executive producer:
Alonzo Miller (Singer-songwriter, producer)
producer:
Rick James (US vocalist, multi‐instrumentalist, composer & producer)
bass:
Oscar Alston
drums (drum set):
Lanise Hughes
electric piano and synthesizer [Crumar]:
Levi Ruffin, Jr.
guitar:
Tom McDermott (guitarist)
handclaps and percussion:
Oscar Alston, Rick James (US vocalist, multi‐instrumentalist, composer & producer) and Tom McDermott (guitarist)
other instruments [flexatone] and vibraslap:
Rick James (US vocalist, multi‐instrumentalist, composer & producer)
tenor saxophone:
Daniel LeMelle
background vocals:
Dennis Edwards (US soul & R’n’B singer), Melvin Franklin, Taborah Johnson, Glenn Leonard, Richard Street and Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants)
horn arranger:
Daniel LeMelle and Rick James (US vocalist, multi‐instrumentalist, composer & producer)
arranger:
Rick James (US vocalist, multi‐instrumentalist, composer & producer)
recorded at:
Motown Studios - Hitsville West (recording and mastering studios in West Hollywood, CA) in West Hollywood, California, United States (background vocals) and The Plant Studios (1981–2008) in Sausalito, California, United States
mixed at:
Westlake Studios (founded as Westlake Audio in the early 1970s) in West Hollywood, California, United States
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 71), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 153) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 477)
recording of:
Super Freak
lyricist and composer:
Alonzo Miller (Singer-songwriter, producer) and Rick James (US vocalist, multi‐instrumentalist, composer & producer)
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Diamond Music Corporation
Rick James4.153:18
18Don’t Look Any Further
recording engineer:
Jeremy Smith (producer/engineer)
drum machine programming and associate co-producer:
Paul M. Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
producer:
Dennis Lambert
bass guitar:
Nathan East
bass synthesizer and electric guitar [Valley Arts Stratocaster]:
Paul M. Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
cabasa, shakers, talking drum, tambourine and timbales:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
synthesizer:
Dennis Lambert
guest vocals:
Siedah Garrett
performer:
Siedah Garrett
arranger:
Dennis Lambert and Paul M. Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
recorded at:
Soundcastle Studios (former LA location) in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, United States
mixed at:
Motown Studios - Hitsville West (recording and mastering studios in West Hollywood, CA) in West Hollywood, California, United States
recording of:
Don’t Look Any Further
writer:
Franne Golde, Duane Hitchings and Dennis Lambert
publisher:
BMG Platinum Songs US, Universal Music Careers and VMG Worldwide
Dennis Edwards & Siedah Garrett43:59