With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought I would introduce you to this Motown anthology of Love Songs. Of course, I’m a big Smokey Robinson fan so I’m delighted by “Tears of Clown” included on this CD. And, of course there’s “Cruisin'”–featured in an Allstate commerical–which is classified as: “A pair of astronauts smoothly traverses the moon as Smokey Robinson’s “Cruisin” sets the mood. Not beholden to gravity, these drivers know they’ll be rewarded with savings from Allstate.”
22 thoughts on “ENDLESS LOVE: 15 OF MOTOWN’S GREATEST LOVE SONGS”
Steve Oerkfitz
Too much Diana Ross for my tastes. She being my least favorite Motown act this side of Rare Earth. I do like Smokey Robinson but nothing from The Four Tops or the Temptations?
Some of those songs are about heartbreak, not happy love (“Tears of A Clown,” “Someday We’ll Be Together”), and one of them is decidedly about things other than happy love (“Love Child”—which seems so antiquated now in its theme of “I’m holding out for marriage because I don’t want to have an out-of-wedlock baby”). However, I do like “With You I’m Born Again,” which I think is a lovely song. Sadly, both Billy Preston and Syreeta (Stevie Wonder’s first wife, iirc) are no longer with us.
Deb, I agree. “Love” is a very elastic concept on this CD. I remember hearing “With You I’m Born Again” being played during an Olympic skating routine.
Too much latter-day Motown for my taste (never big on Richie), although I like the Supremes selections and those ’70s MOR tunes by Diana Ross. I doubt many other Motown followers share my opinion on the Ross songs. Knock me down with a feather — “I’ve Never Been to Me” was Motown?
Fred, according to WIKIPEDIA: “I’ve Never Been to Me” is a ballad, written and composed by Ron Miller and Kenneth Hirsch and made popular via a recording by American singer Charlene. Although its original release in 1977 barely registered on the Billboard Hot 100, its re-release in 1982 hit number three in the US and earned her a Gold certification in Australia, where it held the number one spot for six weeks. In addition, the song topped the charts in Canada (4 weeks), Ireland (3 weeks), and the United Kingdom. It was also a Top Ten triumph in Norway, Belgium, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, and became Motown’s first Top Ten hit by a white female solo singer.
I guess you can just drive me out of Motown. Even though I’m at least somewhat familiar with all but two of the artists involved (Charlene and ElDebarge) I actually remember only 4-5 of the individual songs. Favorite love song of the rock/Motown era? I’d have to think about that for a while, but just off the top of my head I’d go with the Beatles’ “Here, There, and Everywhere”.
Michael, The Beatles specialized in Love Songs early in their career. Loved “I Want to Hold Your Hand” when The Beatles were just getting radio play in the U.S.
Wow, this is certainly NOT the choice of 15 Motown love songs I would have made. I always disliked that Charlene song and had no idea it was Motown either.
15 Motown love songs? Let’s see.
Ooh Baby Baby
My Girl
You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell version ONLY)
Baby I Need Your Loving
You’re My Everything
I Second That Emotion
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
The Tracks of My Tears
My Girl Has Gone
Love is Here and Now You’re Gone
Being With You
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
You’re All I Need to Get By (Marvin & Tammi)
What’g Going On
I’m sure you’ll notice a big Smokey Robinson vibe, as he wrote a lot of the ones he didn’t sing.
Jeff, I agree with you on Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. They could have made a Motown CD just of their Love Songs! Smokey wrote some great songs. Certainly “My Girl” should have been included on this CD.
I’d add Sam & Dave’s Hold On, and Build me up Buttercup (but not sure they’re Motown)
I definitely like Jeff’s selections better
I have a motown cd I play in the car if I’m out of audio books and now feeling boy from ozish. I skip about 1/3 of the songs in a compilation cd similiar to Ktel
I’m not such a big fan of Motown – prefered Tina Turner.
Much (Most?) of it is too kitschy for me.
OK, Smokey Robinson sounds great as well as Marvin Gaye – but I’m too much of a Rock fan.
Thanks, or no thanks, to John O’Neill at Black Gate, I ventured onto eBay and wound up buying – for very cheap! – some SF paperbacks, as you’ll see in a post in a day or three…
No snow here yet, but they say it will. Meanwhile, deck railings are iced up.
Too much Diana Ross for my tastes. She being my least favorite Motown act this side of Rare Earth. I do like Smokey Robinson but nothing from The Four Tops or the Temptations?
Steve, whoever made the choices for ENDLESS LOVE certainly was a Diana Ross fan!
Some of those songs are about heartbreak, not happy love (“Tears of A Clown,” “Someday We’ll Be Together”), and one of them is decidedly about things other than happy love (“Love Child”—which seems so antiquated now in its theme of “I’m holding out for marriage because I don’t want to have an out-of-wedlock baby”). However, I do like “With You I’m Born Again,” which I think is a lovely song. Sadly, both Billy Preston and Syreeta (Stevie Wonder’s first wife, iirc) are no longer with us.
Deb, I agree. “Love” is a very elastic concept on this CD. I remember hearing “With You I’m Born Again” being played during an Olympic skating routine.
Too much latter-day Motown for my taste (never big on Richie), although I like the Supremes selections and those ’70s MOR tunes by Diana Ross. I doubt many other Motown followers share my opinion on the Ross songs. Knock me down with a feather — “I’ve Never Been to Me” was Motown?
Fred, according to WIKIPEDIA: “I’ve Never Been to Me” is a ballad, written and composed by Ron Miller and Kenneth Hirsch and made popular via a recording by American singer Charlene. Although its original release in 1977 barely registered on the Billboard Hot 100, its re-release in 1982 hit number three in the US and earned her a Gold certification in Australia, where it held the number one spot for six weeks. In addition, the song topped the charts in Canada (4 weeks), Ireland (3 weeks), and the United Kingdom. It was also a Top Ten triumph in Norway, Belgium, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, and became Motown’s first Top Ten hit by a white female solo singer.
I guess you can just drive me out of Motown. Even though I’m at least somewhat familiar with all but two of the artists involved (Charlene and ElDebarge) I actually remember only 4-5 of the individual songs. Favorite love song of the rock/Motown era? I’d have to think about that for a while, but just off the top of my head I’d go with the Beatles’ “Here, There, and Everywhere”.
Michael, The Beatles specialized in Love Songs early in their career. Loved “I Want to Hold Your Hand” when The Beatles were just getting radio play in the U.S.
Wow, this is certainly NOT the choice of 15 Motown love songs I would have made. I always disliked that Charlene song and had no idea it was Motown either.
15 Motown love songs? Let’s see.
Ooh Baby Baby
My Girl
You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell version ONLY)
Baby I Need Your Loving
You’re My Everything
I Second That Emotion
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
The Tracks of My Tears
My Girl Has Gone
Love is Here and Now You’re Gone
Being With You
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
You’re All I Need to Get By (Marvin & Tammi)
What’g Going On
I’m sure you’ll notice a big Smokey Robinson vibe, as he wrote a lot of the ones he didn’t sing.
Jeff, I agree with you on Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell. They could have made a Motown CD just of their Love Songs! Smokey wrote some great songs. Certainly “My Girl” should have been included on this CD.
I’d add Sam & Dave’s Hold On, and Build me up Buttercup (but not sure they’re Motown)
I definitely like Jeff’s selections better
I have a motown cd I play in the car if I’m out of audio books and now feeling boy from ozish. I skip about 1/3 of the songs in a compilation cd similiar to Ktel
Maggie, like you I travel around with MOTOWN CDs in my car.
That is a much better selection.
Steve, Jeff Meyerson should have been in charge of selecting songs for these compilation CDs!
Of these, I’d play the Commodores song, that’s about it, though I do like the Smokey song too.
Rick, I have a Smokey Robinson’s GREATEST HITS CD around here somewhere. Time to find it and listen to it!
I’m not such a big fan of Motown – prefered Tina Turner.
Much (Most?) of it is too kitschy for me.
OK, Smokey Robinson sounds great as well as Marvin Gaye – but I’m too much of a Rock fan.
Wolf, I just found two Tina Turner CDs I didn’t know I had. They’ll be up for review in the weeks ahead!
Thanks, or no thanks, to John O’Neill at Black Gate, I ventured onto eBay and wound up buying – for very cheap! – some SF paperbacks, as you’ll see in a post in a day or three…
No snow here yet, but they say it will. Meanwhile, deck railings are iced up.
Rick, congratulations on the eBay score! I’m always envious of John O’Neill’s ability to scoop up bargain SF books!
I agree with those who say there’s too much Ross! Jeff’s list was much better!
Bob, Jeff Meyerson is a master of music lists! He also just bought tickets to the Steely Dan and Steve Winwood concert!