Motown Greatest Hits

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

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1What’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 Gaye3.953:51
2Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Dennis Edwards (US soul & R’n’B singer) (in 1972), Damon Harris (in 1972) and Richard Street (in 1972)
conductor:
Paul Riser (in 1972)
arranger:
Paul Riser
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1972) and Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1972)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 168) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 333)
cover recording of:
Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (in 1972)
lyricist and composer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Diamond Music Corporation, 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 Temptations3.46:53
3My Cherie Amour
producer:
Henry Cosby
lead vocals:
Stevie Wonder (from 1967 until 1968)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1969)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1967 until 1968)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 399)
recording of:
My Cherie Amour (from 1967 until 1968)
writer:
Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy and Stevie Wonder
publisher:
Black Bull Music, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music Co., Inc., Sawandi Music, Stone Agate Music and 大洋音楽 (Taiyō Music)
Stevie Wonder4.32:55
4Baby Love
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Mike Terry (60s US soul arranger/conductor) (on 1964-08-13)
bass:
James Jamerson (on 1964-08-13)
drums (drum set):
Richard "Pistol" Allen (on 1964-08-13)
foot stomps [footstomps]:
Michael Valvano (on 1964-08-13)
guitar:
Eddie Willis (on 1964-08-13)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1964-08-13)
piano:
Earl Van Dyke (on 1964-08-13)
tenor saxophone:
Henry Cosby (on 1964-08-13)
vibraphone:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1964-08-13)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (on 1964-08-13) and Mary Wilson (on 1964-08-13)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (on 1964-08-13)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964) and UMG Recordings (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1964-08-13)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 4), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 324) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 499)
recording of:
Baby Love (on 1964-08-13)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Division
The Supremes4.452:35
5I Want You Back
producer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
bass guitar:
Wilton Felder (in 1969-07)
drums (drum set):
Gene Pello and Johnny Jackson (drummer for Jackson 5) (in 1969-07)
guitar:
Donald Peake, David T. Walker and Tito Jackson (in 1969-07)
guitar [lead guitar]:
Louis Shelton (in 1969-07)
keyboard:
Clarence McDonald and Ronnie Rancifer (in 1969-07)
percussion:
Sandra Crouch and Marlon Jackson (in 1969-07)
piano:
Fonce Mizell, Freddie Perren, Joe Sample and Ronnie Rancifer (in 1969-07)
background vocals:
Jackie Jackson (member of the Jackson 5), Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), Keith Washington, Jermaine Jackson (soul/pop singer, of Jackson 5) (in 1969-07), Marlon Jackson (in 1969-07) and Tito Jackson (in 1969-07)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) (in 1969-07)
vocals:
Jackie Jackson (member of the Jackson 5) (in 1969-07)
arranger:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1969)
recorded at:
The Sound Factory West in West Hollywood, California, United States (in 1969-07, from 1969-07 until 1969-09)
music videos:
I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 (The Jacksons, formerly “The Jackson 5”)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 23), Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970 (number: 28), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 104) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 120)
recording of:
I Want You Back (in 1969-07)
lyricist and composer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
publisher:
EMI April Music Inc. and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
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)
part of:
MJ: The Musical
The Jackson 54.152:56
6Reach Out I’ll Be There
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1966)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1966), Marlene Barrow (in 1966), Renaldo Benson (in 1966), Louvain Demps (in 1966), Abdul “Duke” Fakir (in 1966), Jackie Hicks (in 1966) and Lawrence Payton (in 1966)
lead vocals:
Levi Stubbs (in 1966)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1966)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 78) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 206)
recording of:
Reach Out, I’ll Be There (in 1966)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Songs, EMI Songs Australia Pty. Ltd., Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., 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) 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)
Four Tops42:59
7Dancing 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 Vandellas3.552:38
8The Tears of a Clown
guitar:
Marvin Tarplin (on 1966-09-26)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1966-09-26)
background vocals:
Warren “Pete” Moore (on 1966-09-26), Claudette Robinson (on 1966-09-26), Bobby Rogers (on 1966-09-26) and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles) (on 1966-09-26)
lead vocals:
Smokey Robinson (on 1966-09-26)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1967) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1970)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1966-09-26)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 190) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 313)
recording of:
The Tears of a Clown (on 1966-09-26)
lyricist:
Smokey Robinson
composer:
Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder
publisher:
Black Bull Music, Inc., Jobete Music Ltd and Jobette Music (UK) Ltd.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles3.92:59
9My Guy
bass:
James Jamerson (in 1964)
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer) (in 1964)
guitar:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (in 1964) and Eddie Willis (in 1964)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1964)
organ:
Earl Van Dyke (in 1964)
piano:
Johnny Griffith (in 1964)
trombone:
George Bohanon (in 1964) and Paul Riser (in 1964)
trumpet:
Russell Conway (trumpet player) (in 1964) and Herbert Williams (trumpet player) (in 1964)
vibraphone:
Dave Hamilton (US guitar/vibraphone player) (in 1964)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1964), Marlene Barrow (in 1964), Louvain Demps (in 1964) and Jackie Hicks (in 1964)
lead vocals:
Mary Wells (Motown singer) (in 1964)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (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 (in 1964)
recording of:
My Guy (in 1964)
lyricist and composer:
Smokey Robinson
publisher:
Jobette Music (UK) Ltd.
Mary Wells4.22:48
10How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)
mixer:
Suha Gur
bass:
James Jamerson
guitar:
Willie Woods (US guitarist & songwriter)
keyboard:
Vic Thomas (keyboard)
membranophone:
James Graves
saxophone:
Junior Walker
cover 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)
Jr. Walker & the All Stars43:00
11Ben
producer:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) (in 1972)
arranger:
The Corporation (Motown songwriters)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label)
recording of:
Ben (in 1972)
lyricist:
Don Black (English lyricist)
composer:
Walter Scharf
publisher:
Jobette Music (in 1972)
part of:
The 45th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
Michael Jackson3.852:44
12My Old Piano
producer:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
conductor:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
remixer:
Russ Terrana
arranger:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1980) and Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 1980)
recording of:
My Old Piano
lyricist and composer:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
publisher:
Chic Music, Inc.
Diana Ross3:53
1325 Miles
recording of:
25 Miles
writer:
Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua and Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr3:21
14Do You Love Me
producer:
Berry Gordy Jr.
guitar:
Huey Davis (guitarist) (on 1962-06-03)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1962-06-03)
additional lead vocals:
Billy Hoggs (on 1962-06-03)
background vocals:
Billy Hoggs (in 1962), Joe Billingslea (soul vocalist, songwriter) (on 1962-06-03), Hubert Johnson (singer) (on 1962-06-03) and Sylvester Potts (on 1962-06-03)
lead vocals:
Billy Gordon (The Contours) (on 1962-06-03)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1962-06-03)
music videos:
Do You Love Me (music video) by The Contours (60s soul)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1962 (number: 9)
recording of:
Do You Love Me (on 1962-06-03)
lyricist and composer:
Berry Gordy
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
The Contours4.352:53
15Behind a Painted Smile
recording of:
Behind a Painted Smile
writer:
Ivy Jo Hunter and Beatrice Verdi
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!)
The Isley Brothers2:43
16Superfreak
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 James4.153:19
17Don’t Leave Me This Way
producer:
Hal Davis
vocals:
Thelma Houston (in 1976)
arranger:
Art Wright (guitar)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 1976)
edit of:
Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 355) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 432)
cover recording of:
Don’t Leave Me This Way (Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song)
writer:
Kenneth Gamble (songwriter for Philadelphia International), Cary Gilbert and Leon Huff (Philly soul producer, of Gamble & Huff)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Thelma Houston4.53:37
18You Are Everything
producer:
Hal Davis
vocals:
Diana Ross
arranger:
Dave Blumberg
cover recording of:
You Are Everything
writer:
Linda Creed and Thom Bell (keyboards, songwriter, producer)
publisher:
Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996) and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye43:07
19Walk Away From Love
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1975)
cover recording of:
I’m Gonna Walk Away From Love
lyricist and composer:
Charles H. Kipps Jr
David Ruffin3:17
20With You I’m Born Again
recording of:
With You I’m Born Again
lyricist:
Carol Connors
composer:
David Shire (American score composer)
publisher:
Check Out Music, EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!) and Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
Billy Preston & Syreeta3:39
2▶CD
3▶CD