Soul! The Very Best of Motown

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

Tracklist

1▶CD
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1It 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 Weston33:01
2I Can’t Help Myself
Four Tops2:50
3Road Runner
Jr. Walker & the All Stars2:52
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 Supremes4.352:41
5Shop Around
recording of:
Shop Around
writer:
Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson
The Miracles2:55
6What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
producer:
William "Mickey" Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
recording of:
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
writer:
James Dean (US soul songwriter), Paul Riser and William Weatherspoon
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music (UK)
Jimmy Ruffin4.652:59
7I Heard It Through the Grapevine
cover recording of:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Australia, EMI Songs Scandinavia AB, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd., 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)
Gladys Knight & the Pips2:59
8Please Mr Postman
producer:
Robert Bateman (R&B singer/songwriter/record producer) and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
bass:
James Jamerson (in 1961-04)
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer) (in 1961-04) and Marvin Gaye (in 1961-04)
guitar:
Eddie Willis (in 1961-04)
handclaps:
Katherine Anderson (United States motown singer) (in 1961-04), Wyanetta “Juanita” Cowart (in 1961-04), Georgeanna Tillman (in 1961-04) and Wanda Young (aka Wanda Young, singer in The Marvelettes) (in 1961-04)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1961-04)
percussion:
Eddie “Bongo” Brown (in 1961-04)
piano:
Richard ‘Popcorn’ Wylie (Pianist, singer, producer, band director and songwriter) (in 1961-04)
background vocals:
Katherine Anderson (United States motown singer) (in 1961-04), Wyanetta “Juanita” Cowart (in 1961-04), Gladys Horton (in 1961-04), Georgeanna Tillman (in 1961-04) and Wanda Young (aka Wanda Young, singer in The Marvelettes) (in 1961-04)
lead vocals:
Gladys Horton (in 1961-04)
recorded at and mixed at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1961-04)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1961 (number: 10), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 331) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 410)
recording of:
Please Mr. Postman (in 1961-04)
writer:
Robert Bateman (R&B singer/songwriter/record producer) (in 1961), Georgia Dobbins (in 1961), William Garrett (in 1961), Freddie Gorman (in 1961) and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) (in 1961)
publisher:
Dominion Music, EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI United Partnership Ltd., Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Agate Music Division and United Partnership Ltd.
The Marvelettes4.62:34
9Stop! In the Name of Love
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
background vocals:
The Andantes (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11), Florence Ballard (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11) and Mary Wilson (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1965)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 13) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 254)
recording of:
Stop! In the Name of Love (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
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., 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)
The Supremes4.152:54
1025 Miles
Edwin Starr3:26
11Aint No Mountain
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell2:32
12It’s a Shame
recording of:
It’s a Shame
lyricist and composer:
Lee Garrett, Syreeta (US singer‐songwriter active 1970s–80s) and Stevie Wonder
publisher:
Black Bull Music and Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.)
The Spinners3:17
13The Tracks of My Tears
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears
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 Robinson & The Miracles3:06
14How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)
Jr. Walker & the All Stars3:05
15It’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 Tops42:50
16You 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 Supremes4.752:55
17I 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 54.153:03
18War
performer:
Edwin Starr
cover recording of:
War (on 1970-05-15)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
Edwin Starr4.23:25
19(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1963)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 154) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 257)
recording of:
(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Songs Musikverlag GmbH, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobete Music Ltd, Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
Martha and the Vandellas42:51
20The 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 Miracles3.93:03
21For Once in My Life
producer:
Henry Cosby
lead vocals:
Stevie Wonder (in 1967)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
cover recording of:
For Once in My Life (in 1967)
lyricist:
Ronald Miller (Motown songwriter Ronald Norman Miller)
composer:
Orlando Murden
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobette Music (UK) Ltd., Stein & Van Stock, Inc., Stone Diamond Music Corporation 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)
Stevie Wonder4.12:49
22My 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 Temptations4.452:43
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4▶CD