By Karyl (207.69.99.146) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:40 pm:

After reading the thread about Motown standing the test of time, here is another question.

What song, singer and/or group do you think epitomizes the Motown sound?

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:47 pm:

KARYL: INTERESTING TOPIC!!!...THE SONG..."MY GIRL"...AT LEAST THATS WHAT THE OLDIES RADIO STATIONS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE!!!...STU

By shawn1 (67.74.20.11) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:53 pm:

I would have to say Martha and The Vandellas "Come Get These Memories".Shawn

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 07:58 pm:

Dancing In The Street.

By Lagunabeach (67.24.158.189) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:03 pm:

Not just one, but several. My Girl, Baby Love, Two Lovers, and Dancing in the Street! All classic jewels of Motown.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:06 pm:

HEY LAGUNA: IS LAS BRESAS STILL A HAPPENING THING DOWN THERE???...STUBASS

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:52 pm:

Heaven Must Have Sent u-Elgins-the beat, the bass, HDH, the singer, the backgrounds, the hook, the infectiousness.

By drums (68.80.23.97) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:58 pm:

According to Berry Gordy, it would have to be....


MONEY, (Thats what I want) ;)

Barrett Strong

Daren Metz
Sony/Studio 4

By Julian (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:33 pm:

Isley Bros. - "This Old Heart Of Mine"
The urgency, the drive, the HDH.

By Cool Ju (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:34 pm:

Or similars like, "Since You've Been Gone" - Four Tops

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:47 pm:

"Get Ready" - Temptations

By Marv (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 11:07 pm:

There are probably more than one song/record that epitomizes the Motown Sound, but for me two that come to mind immediately are The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" and The Supremes " You Can't Hurry Love". These are not my favorites by these artists mind you ( my all time favorite Motown Record is "Baby I Need Your Loving"- The Four Tops), but these songs are very good examples of the "Motown Sound".

By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 11:08 pm:

Hey Fury! Send that photo back to me by mail ...

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:07 am:

I'll drop it off at the front desk. Faster than finding a stamp...

By David Meikle (213.122.63.254) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:35 am:

Jimmy Ruffin "I've passed this way before"

A sensational song that epitomises everthing about what the Motown Sound represents (IMO).

David

By BassLand (64.165.226.95) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 08:59 am:

For me the epitomy is between "Bernadette" & "Reach Out... I'll Be There"

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:01 am:

MY GIRL..HEATWAVE..SHOP AROUND..PLEASE MR.POSTMAN..MONEY,THERE ARE MANY OF COURSE,BUT WHEN I THINK OF THE CORE OF THE MOTOWN SOUND THESE ARE THE SONGS.

By TonyRussi (68.18.50.144) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:35 am:

"Please Mr. Postman", "Two Lovers", "My Guy","You've Really Got A Hold On Me", "Heat Wave" "Dancing In the Street" "Baby I Need Your Loving" Stop, In the Name of Love"....If only one would be the epitome of the Motown Sound...I would agree with SisDetroit "Dancing In the Street"

By hiram (159.53.32.41) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:54 am:

Four Tops - Same Old Song

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:08 am:

My two cents worth...
....it would have to be a song that captures both the early "rougher" sound and the later more sophistated style that "The Motown Sound" became, I would think. Although it's not one of my all time favorites, "Bernadette" probably comes closest to both styles.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:47 am:

"My Girl", "Dancing In The Street", "Baby Love", "Reach Out I'll Be There" & "I've Heard It Through The Grapevine".

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By TonyRussi (68.18.50.144) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:52 am:

As far as the singers go I feel Mary Wells & Smokey Robinson set the stage for all that followed as far as classiness,fashion and stage presence.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:53 am:

On the singers side - Temptations & Supremes.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:54 am:

Kev...
....which version of "Grapevine"? They're two completely different songs in my ears.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:54 am:

The only reason I chose "Dancing..." is because that song is played most when they talk about Motown. "My Girl" is second as it relates to being played when talking about Motown.

When Bernadette was released, it was in a category all by itself. It really stood alone for me. I will never forget how I thought, "It just can't get any better than this." (((LEVI))

_________________________________________________
Unrelated
((((Al-Jazeera))))

By Karyl (65.33.211.201) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:08 pm:

Since I am the one who started this thread, guess I need to add my opinion.

I think what really epitomizes the Motown sound for me is the Funk Brothers.

Singers: Stevie Wonder!

Vocal groups: Of course, The Temptations!

Thanks to everyone for contributing! :-)

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:10 pm:

For those of us who prefer the earlier, more R&B-oriented sound, "Heat Wave," "Shop Around," "Please Mr. Postman" and "Bye Bye Baby" are standouts.

I don't care for much post-'66 Motown.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

Karyl - Of course no doubt, the Sounds of Motown are the Funk Brothers. Was this a trick question?? LOL The Funk Brothers are within a part of each singer and each group.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:21 pm:

Fury13 - Bye Bye Baby was the beginning of something new. What about "Way Over There?"

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:35 pm:

What about that intro. to "I Can't Help Myself"?

By mhc (172.145.76.67) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:36 pm:

For me, Motown was always great, but during the last couple years they were in Detroit they just kept topping themselves over and over again; they reached their artistic pinnacle in the early '70s with Norman Whitfield, Frank Wilson, Marvin, et. al. Excluding "What's Going On", the record that epitomizes that time frame for me is "Papa Was a Rolling Stone".

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:46 pm:

MHC - "Over, and over, and over, and over, etc."

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:54 pm:

Sis: "Way Over There" is just great. A little different sound in terms of when it came out... I don't know if the public was quite ready for it, and maybe that's why it wasn't a monster hit at that time.

I DO like the late '60s-early '70s Temps stuff ("I Can't Get Next To You" leaves me speechless), but for the most part, the later sound is too slick, too polished for me.

But then, I'm a Fortune fan, so that's understandable.

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 01:08 pm:

I used to have the LP, "Tamla Special No. 1." I believe it was originally released in 1961. What a great compilation of some really early Motown stuff... I think Singin' Sammy Ward was on that one, as well as the Miracles, Barrett Strong, and Mary Wells. Would anyone here have a track listing? I imagine that LP is quite rare now and commands a high price.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 01:27 pm:

Doug:
Marvin Gaye's "Grapevine"
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Karyl (207.69.119.67) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:07 pm:

Sis, this was not intended to be a trick question. LOL! But I guess I can see how you might think it is, and maybe it was ! LOL!!!!

It's just that when I was a teen-ager, I was always attracted to the Motown Sound and it wasn't until SITSOM came out that I realized (hitting myself in the head) the Funk Brothers were really my attraction in the first place.

ALL HAIL THE FUNK BROTHERS ! ! !

By motown_david (205.188.209.38) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:30 pm:

Really liked Vandelron's reasons for choosing the Elgins....but I'd say

HEAT WAVE BY MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS

for the beat, the bass, HDH, the singer, the backsgrounds, the hook, the infectiousness.

Hope this original description wasn't copyrighted!!
David

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 09:48 pm:

Hands Down! The Temptations doing "My Girl".

By Eli (151.197.47.219) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:08 pm:

I would have to say the the cornerstone records that epitomize the Motown sound would have to be :
My Girl
I cant help myself
Tears of a clown
Baby Love
Heat wave
The way you do the things you do

By Kegtapper (65.58.38.238) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:48 pm:

I think it "Ain't No Place Like Motown, Hitville USA", by the Velvelettes

Also Called the "MOTOWN THEME SONG"-

(released on A CELLERFUL of Motown 2002

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:31 am:

Hi!
Here I think I go with David. For me the ultimate Motown TWO-SIDER was Jimmy Ruffin's I've Passed This Way Before/Tomorrow's Tears.
I even prefer Tomorrow's Tears. Please give it a listen. It's one of the most underrated songs.
Best regards
Heikki

By Edgar (200.46.12.195) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:46 am:

Four Tops' "Reach Out, I'll Be There".

By David Meikle (213.122.47.254) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 10:11 am:

Nice one Heikki.

I never tire of hearing "I've passed this way before", no matter how often it is on the radio.

It is so atmospheric, so tense, so wonderful!

David

By Sly fan (64.169.107.185) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:16 pm:

"My Girl" The Temptations...

By Sly fan (64.169.107.185) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:18 pm:

or "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" by Smokey and The Miracles..

By tamla60 (217.1.8.254) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 05:45 pm:

what about "Love Child" or "Bless you"

By John Lester (81.132.10.127) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 06:08 pm:

Kegtapper

Now you're the man.....Velvelettes live OK!!!

I am right with you there!

By littlevoice (67.24.157.224) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 07:48 pm:

Come and get These Memories..Martha and Vandellas
You Can't Hurry Love....Supremes
Two Lovers....Mary Wells
Beauty is only Skin Deep....Temps
Jimmy Mack....Martha and Vandellas
Reach Out .....4 Tops

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (152.163.188.68) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 08:34 pm:

I guess the one distinct 'sound', which would (to me) epitomize the 'sound' of Motown, well... that would have to be "Baby I Need Your Lovin'"... that one (1964) song just happened to be the very first Motown 'debut' release by the 'FOUR TOPS'....

By MichaelOH (24.157.156.82) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 03:47 pm:

hard to pick...but I'd say "Back In My Arms Again" by the Supremes....! MichaelOH

By Kdubya (206.126.224.7) on Thursday, May 01, 2003 - 03:10 pm:

Well gang for starters :


Come & get These Memories
My Baby Loves Me
Heard It Through the Grapevine (all versions)
Paradise
Hey Love
Baby I need Your Lovin
Shotgun
Function At The Junction
Hunter Gets Captured by The Game
Love I saw in you, was just a mirage
Tracks of My Tears
Since I Lost My Baby
Reach out, I'll be There
Baby Love
Come see About Me
Hitchhike
Shoo-be-doo-be-doo-be-doo da day
Fingertips
Dont Mess with Bill
My Girl has Gone
Come Round here
OOO Baby Baby
Dont Look Back
I wish it Would Rain
Do You Love Me
First I Look at The Purse
I'm Wondering
These Eyes
Baby I'm for real
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted
Aint Nothing Like The Real Thing
Its Growing
Cloud Nine
Poppa was a rollin stone
Same Old Song

By TD (68.70.126.246) on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 09:17 pm:

All you old Soulful Detroiter will remember my earlier thread from last year i.e. the "Ultimate Motown song".
The most popular
"I Can't Help Myself". I think this is the song that all people old and young will remember fourever. It probably has been in more movies and commercial than all other Motown songs.
On the other hand the perfect record is no doubt "Reach Out".
Greatest act
Who else the Four Tops

TD