| Author | Message | ||
  GO_GET_GONE_GIRL (gogogirl) 5-Doyen Username: gogogirl Post Number: 184 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.1.9.65 |
Hey All, This one is probably easy for some - but does anyone know what is the biggest selling record that Motown released? I read up on it the other day - but can't remember where. | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 351 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.78.25.242 |
Stevie's - "Fingertips" (Pt.1&2)..."Hey Love"..."If You Really Love Me"..."My Cherie Amour"..."Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours"... "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"..."Lately"..."Uptight (Everything's Alright)"..."Do I Do"..."Ribbon In The Sky"..."I Was Made To Love Her"..."Rocket Love"..."Superstition"..."Sir Duke"..."Master Blaster"..."Part Time Lover"..."Living For The City"..."All I Do"..."That Girl"..."These Three Words"..."Love Light In Flight"..."Higher Ground"..."Boogie On Reggae Woman"..."All I Do..."Send One Your Love"..."Isn't She Lovely"..."You & I"..."I Just Called To Say I Love You"..."Ebony & Ivory"..."Standing On The Frontline", etc. The Miracles - "Way Over There"..."I'll Try Something New"..."Mickey's Monkey"..."Going To A Go-Go"..."Bad Girl"..."Ooo Baby Baby"..."Tracks Of My Tears"..."Bad Girl"..."The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage"...You Really Got A Hold On Me"..."Tears Of A Clown"..."Special Occasion"..."More Love"..."Shop Around", etc Marvin's - "What's Going On"..."Got To Give It Up" (Pts. 1&2)..."I Want You"..."After The Dance"..."I Heard It Through The Grapevine"..."Trouble Man"..."Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)"..."Pride And Joy"..."Stubborn Kind Of Fellow"..."Mercy Mercy Me (The Eclogy)"..."How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You"..."Distant Lover"..."Hitch Hike"..."Let's Get It On"...""Can I Get A Witness"..."Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"..."That's The Way Love Is"..."You're A Wonderful One"..."Ain't That Peculiar"..."I'll Be Doggone"..."Try It Baby". P.S. Sorry, If I left out songs or included and/or any other artists and their songs that went to # 1. Just going on memory as I remember as hit singles on Tamla/Motown. Don Chi-Town | ||
Lady Mystique (ladymystique) 6-Zenith Username: ladymystique Post Number: 415 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 216.222.243.148 |
Didn't the Supremes have a couple? | ||
GO_GET_GONE_GIRL (gogogirl) 5-Doyen Username: gogogirl Post Number: 189 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.1.9.65 |
All, Let's sleep on it. If I didn't phrase my ? right - I meant - the biggest money making and biggest selling single of all time - put out there from Berry's Motown. Hint-hint. The artist was big at Motown. LOL! I'll holler at you all tomorrow. My daughter is itching to get on the Net. LOL! Have a good one. | ||
zebop (zebop) 4-Laureate Username: zebop Post Number: 80 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.139 |
Marvin Gaye-"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" has to be up there. (Message edited by zebop on July 21, 2004) | ||
mike s (mike_s) 4-Laureate Username: mike_s Post Number: 76 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Difficult to know for sure as Motown were not members of RIAA for many years. Grapevine was often quoted as the biggest seller for years but I believe Endless Love outsold that...staying at number 1 for nine weeks in all -one of over 50 Number 1 records in the Billboard (pop) chart over the years. | ||
john dixon (john_dixon) 3-Pundit Username: john_dixon Post Number: 60 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.58.196.3 |
"Endless Love"? Man, that's sad. | ||
Wonder B (wonder_b) 6-Zenith Username: wonder_b Post Number: 594 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 80.14.7.88 |
Well, according to BILLBOARD, the ALL Time top 100 #1 hits lists Marvin Gaye Sexual Healing in #32 (the first Motown or ex Motown since that track was on Columbia) The first Motown single listed is Stevie Wonder with 'That Girl' at #41. The Four Tops 'I Can't Help Myself' is right next at #42 The if you go by decade, in the 60's the first Motowner to come on the list is Four Tops at #4 with I Can't Help Myself. Shop Around is #6 Ain't Too Proud To Beg is at #7 etc... Wonder B If you mess with the 'fro, you gotta go! | ||
Gary (gary) 4-Laureate Username: gary Post Number: 86 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 172.139.36.82 |
Wonder B...Do you know if that Billboard list based on record sales or chart performance? I'm just curious because whenever I see one of those "ALL TIME (fill in the blank)" lists I get skeptical because I'm never sure how the rankings are dertermined. Sometimes, they are based purely on someone's opinion, other times they may be the result of some sort of survey/opinion poll. "Sexual Healing" is a great tune, but Billboard is telling us it's the 32nd best song of all time??? Sounds like a bunch of horse shit to me. I can name 32 Motown songs alone that are better IMHO. | ||
caliluv (caliluv) 2-Debutant Username: caliluv Post Number: 21 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.251.57.2 |
I heard that before "Endless Love" was Motown's biggest hit was Marvin Gaye's "Grapevine." To my understanding, Boys II Men "End Of The Road" went on to be Motown's biggest hit after "Endless Love." | ||
GO_GET_GONE_GIRL (gogogirl) 5-Doyen Username: gogogirl Post Number: 190 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.1.9.65 |
Greetings All, I will tell you the truth! I saw on a site that I can't find now - that - drum roll please - Marvin's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" was the biggest selling Motown single TO DATE. I just looked it up on Google - and found the below. http://tracy_prinze.tripod.com /atributetomotown/id11.html http://classic.motown.com/arti st.aspx?ob=ros&src=lb&aid=65 http://www.warr.org/marvin.htm l http://www.artistdirect.com/sh owcase/urban/steviewonder.html Now I am reading up on three different top sellers. Marvin's "Grapevine" - Stevie's - "I Just Called" & "Endless Love." LOL! And - I saw something about Boyz To Men - as being the biggest selling Motown group. Now which is it? LOL! How confusing can one question and answer be? What to think - what to think. Where is the resource that knows the true score? Btw - Johnny Griffith was an original Funk Brother. Has he been discussed here? I saw where he played on Marvin's "Grapevine." | ||
Wonder B (wonder_b) 6-Zenith Username: wonder_b Post Number: 595 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 81.248.47.7 |
Well my facts are from the BILLBOARD TOP R'nB singles book and are based on weeks charted, weeks at #1 spot weeks in top 40 and top 10 all combined together.. so I guess that's what is most accurate... Of course this is only the R'nB charts... I didn't check among the POP hits because I don't care about them basically... LOL I am digging the info from the charts I respect most because they reflect the love for the music I care for. Wonder B If you mess with the 'fro, you gotta go! | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 378 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.59.66 |
Do anyboby here remember back when Smokey released One Heartbeat in 87 on Motown. He had some like 4-5 songs from his lp, that even got play on the pop (and even jazz?) charts. Does that count? Don | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke Post Number: 415 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.198.48.201 |
Im just about positive it was a Boyz2men single--I'll Make Love to u or one of those. | ||
GO_GET_GONE_GIRL (gogogirl) 5-Doyen Username: gogogirl Post Number: 200 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.1.9.65 |
All, I see now said the blind man. I also was looking at the money intake angle for Motown. But tell the truth - if Marvin's "Grapevine" was the biggest selling single to date - then as it equates to $$$$'s - it couldn't have raked in more cash than - let's say - Stevie's hit - for the cost of records were more when Stevie's hit - hit. LOL! | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 381 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.59.66 |
That's a interesting thought. I never thought about it in hinsight. Don | ||
Rick (bassik4) 1-Arriviste Username: bassik4 Post Number: 3 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 141.152.237.215 |
Biggest selling Motown record ever? hmmm. I would have thought it would have been Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On'.Or possibly J-5's 'Diana Ross presents the Jackson 5'. Could I be wrong on that? | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 389 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.59.66 |
Yo Rick, I can vibe on that. Don | ||
Wonder B (wonder_b) 6-Zenith Username: wonder_b Post Number: 596 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 80.14.54.223 |
If you're talking about LP's I am sure S.Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life is not far from the top. Personally I do not know a person who doesn't have that one... a true masterpiece... Wonder B | ||
Michael/Cleoharvey (cleoharvey) 3-Pundit Username: cleoharvey Post Number: 40 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.172.87.4 |
I have always thought that it was Marvin Gaye's "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" which supposedly sold 4 million single copies in its day. I don't believe another Motown single has topped that. | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke Post Number: 419 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.198.48.201 |
Boyz2Men---I think it was 14 weeks at #1--and more records sold in the 90s than in the 60s | ||
GO_GET_GONE_GIRL (gogogirl) 5-Doyen Username: gogogirl Post Number: 208 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.1.9.65 |
All, Jimmy - how many records did B2M sell off of that smash hit - "I'll Make Love To You?" Was it ova $4M? | ||
Don (don) 5-Doyen Username: don Post Number: 400 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.172.131 |
Yo GOGO, I can vibe with that. Don | ||
Rick (bassik4) 1-Arriviste Username: bassik4 Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 68.162.118.129 |
Hey Don,dig this... I think WonderB may be right. Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" may be the one. Remember back in '76-77 when he racked up all those grammys that year for that album? If I'm not mistaken didn't he get quaudruple platinum for that? | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 6-Zenith Username: luke Post Number: 425 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.198.48.201 |
Im tellin u tis Boyz2men. Accept reality.-I dont like it either. | ||
Bob Olhsson (bob_olhsson) 1-Arriviste Username: bob_olhsson Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 209.247.222.83 |
At the time I left in 1972 it was Marvin's Grapevine which replaced Gladys & the Pip's Grapevine. I'm pretty sure it is still the biggest selling of the Detroit singles. | ||
mike s (mike_s) 4-Laureate Username: mike_s Post Number: 81 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
It has got to be Boyz II Men...they were top of the BB pop charts for 14 weeks and top of the soul charts for 9 weeks with I'll Make Love To You. Endless Love was there for 2 months but Stevie's Just Called only made it for three! Even so, I think Stevie probably sold more than Boyz around the world but the Boyz were bigger in the USA. Ain't nuthin' easy! | ||
GO_GET_GONE_GIRL (gogogirl) 5-Doyen Username: gogogirl Post Number: 215 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.1.9.65 |
All, Hey Bob Olhsson. Thanks for hitting up this thread w/your input. I'm with you. For some reason - I think Marvin's "Grapevine" was the biggest eva. Have a good one. | ||
Walt B (walt_b) 2-Debutant Username: walt_b Post Number: 19 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 149.174.164.84 |
I was told at the time by a Motown promtion person, that Boyz II Men's "End Of The Road" was Motown's biggest selling single ever. If you're talking albums, who do you know that doesn't own Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" either on vinyl tape or cd if not all three configurations? | ||
NYC Diva (nyc_diva) 3-Pundit Username: nyc_diva Post Number: 39 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.237.20.46 |
I think it is "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men, Second is "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross, third place is "Three Times a Lady" by the Commodores, fourth is "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. (Message edited by nyc_diva on August 01, 2004) | ||
GO_GET_GONE_GIRL (gogogirl) 5-Doyen Username: gogogirl Post Number: 229 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.1.9.65 |
Morning All, Hey NYC Diva. Long time no hear from. I hope all is well. How many sigs have you gotten for your petition? Again - I think we are talking about a Single 45 record - right? Regardless of the answer to the question - I wonder how much the original 45 titled "Grapevine" would fetch these days? Probably a dollar - and I got one. LOL! | ||
NYC Diva (nyc_diva) 3-Pundit Username: nyc_diva Post Number: 40 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.237.216.235 |
Hey Gogo, I'm doing well, just been preoccupied doing other things as of late but I still lurk over here. Don't post very much, but I'm still around. At last count we're at about 600 sigs - a bit disappointing, IMO. I was hoping we'd have more by now, but I'm not giving up. All the songs I mentioned (as singles) supposedly each superceded the others in sales. I was wondering though, if Motown didn't allow the RIAA to view their books before 1979 or 1980, just how would they be able to say that "Grapevine" and "Three Times A Lady" were the biggest selling singles in Motown history at one point? Those two songs came out prior to 1980! The only songs they could possibly say sold more than any other Motown single according to the RIAA were "Endless Love" (1981) and "End of the Road" (1992). | ||
Don (don) 6-Zenith Username: don Post Number: 505 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.167.86 |
Yo Rick, I think Stevie got like 9 awards that year and couldn't even hold them all. Don | ||
Rick (bassik4) 2-Debutant Username: bassik4 Post Number: 11 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 141.158.250.4 |
Jimmy Mack,you're right. It was BoyzII men. It was 'End of the Road' that was Motown's biggest selling single because it was on the charts for 16 weeks if I'm not mistaken and it was knocked off the charts again by them when they didi that duet with Mariah Carey. I think... |
