I’ve been trying to find an reason to publish a lot of Motown covers, however I’ve struggled with discovering a story. then I saw that Popmatters published it’s 25 favorites. I agree with a few of their choices, however “Bernadette” as #1?

I agree with a few of their choices, however “Bernadette”? That wouldn’t even make my top 20. Plus, the listing seems flawed since it includes tunes from the label’s Los Angeles period (1972 as well as on), when everybody understands the true indicating of Motown is “Motor City.” when the label left Detroit, it’s noise altered dramatically. There’s a world of difference between the Stevie question who sang “Uptight” as well as the one who sang “Superstitious.” It’s unfair to compare the two, even.

My list, is restricted to the label’s prime period, when songwriters as well as producers like Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, as well as Norman Whitfield sat around as well as made hit after hit after hit. during this period, from about 1961 to 1971, Motown had over 100 top ten hits. definitely that’s sufficient to select from for a simple top 25? as well as unlike Popmatters, my listing is in order, with #1 being my all-time favorite.

Check the end for a zip data of all the savefile songs, as well as tunes that aren’t published in the body of this post.

25. Mr. Postman-The Marvelettes (1961). Stylistically similar to “Stop! In the name of Love,” this tune is so vivid, it’s virtually a cartoon. I likewise have no covers of it. So I’m publishing this cover instead, just ’cause I dig the Lips, baby:

Lightning Strikes the Postman (Flaming Lips cover)-MarsupiaL.

24. exactly how wonderful It Is (To Be liked by You)-Marvin Gaye (1964). This is likewise right here since the versions Jerry Garcia’s Band would do online were transcendent.

How wonderful It Is-Jerry Garcia Band. From JGB’s 1980 Calderone show, one of my preferred Jerry solo bootlegs. since the Dead did this tune quite often, all the Jam Bands do it today. It’s like they don’t even understand Marvin did it before Jerry. To exemplify my point, here’s a version by the oddest-named Dead-cover band around . . .

How wonderful It Is-The Thugz. as well as it’s quite good, too.

And Mary states . . . Down in front!

23. Come See about Me-Diana Ross & the Supremes (1969). I do truly dig this song, however I absolutely like the Whigs cover version.

Come See about Me-Afghan Whigs.

22. I second That Emotion-Smokey Robinson as well as the Miracles (1967). Popmatters picked, too. I can’t suggest with them. Such a traditional tune. It’s elegant, as well as simple to ignore exactly how marvelous it is.

I second That Emotion-The Grateful Dead. From the 1971 Fillmore show, however this is a boot version, not the excellent CD release version. (I’d suggest getting that, by the way.)

21. Where Did Our like Go-The Supremes (1964). Word of advice: If you’re in High institution as well as you get discarded by your very first genuine girlfriend, don’t go house as well as listen to this song. Seriously. I might have sworn I had an afghan Whigs cover of this, however I can’t discover it anywhere. Sigh.

20. I want You Back-The Jackson 5 (1970). Yeah, I dig it a lot more than ABC. What’s your issue with that? I’m even a lot more partial to Mama’s Pearl (see #14). There’s great deals of covers of this song, however most likely my absolute preferred is the KT version.

IWYB-KT Tunstall

IWYB-Graham Parker

IWYB-Caribou Foot

19. War-Edwin Starr(1970). the most aggressively socially mindful Motown record to date, made a lot more popular by Bruce Springsteen at his killer online shows. His version is ubiquitous, as well as in my view it is the very best (and only) cover of this tune that comes close to the original. Go discover it for yourself.

18. money (That’s What I Want)-Barrett strong (1960). released on the Tamla imprint, this is still part of the Motown family. It gets a location on my listing on the stamina of the songwriting a lot more than this specific version.

$-The trick Machines. From their covers EP, “The road Leads Where It’s Lead,” which is personally my preferred release of theirs.

$-Pearl Jam with Robert Plant.

17. Smiling Faces Sometimes-The Temptations (1971). No, that’s not a typo. Although Undisputed reality re-recorded the tune in 1971, the Temptations did it first. The two versions are quite different, as well as both kick ass. It was difficult for me to pick this instead of some other Temptations tunes I love. like 1972’s Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone-The Temptations. Although it borders on the corny, it was one more attempt by the band to break out from under the like tune yoke as well as speak to its audience at a deeper level. other noteworthy attempts included sphere of confusion as well as my personal favorite, Cloud 9, which the band in interviews rejected was about medication utilize howenull