The Reign of Hitsville U.S.A.

TRACKING MOTOWN’S TOP 20 TOTALITY

“It was just an unbelievable moment,” said Smokey Robinson. “And it was done so spontaneously for the Miracles and me – we didn’t know anything [about it]. We had sung a couple of songs, and were getting ready to sing ‘Shop Around.’ Berry interrupted the show, and came up and presented us with the gold record. We were just flabbergasted.”

      Robinson’s crystal-clear recollection is understandable: he was telling me about the surprise which the Motown Records founder sprung upon the group, handing over a framed gold record to mark one million sales of “Shop Around.”

The Miracles: looking forward to Rod-O-Rama

      Over that last weekend of February 1961, the Miracles were performing at Michigan’s annual Rod-O-Rama hot rod show. Gordy had evidently prepared for the occasion: joining him on stage were Motown sales executive Loucye Wakefield along with Barney Ales, sales manager of Tamla’s local distributor, Aurora, who would join Hitsville U.S.A. later that year. Plus, there was a photographer present, so that the resulting snap could be sent to the trade press.

      “This was our most impossible dream coming true,” remembered Robinson. “Come on, a million records. We were teenagers. The company was fledgling – we were fledgling!”

      “Shop Around” was something else: Motown’s first Top 20 hit on Billboard’s all-important Hot 100 singles chart. In fact, it peaked at No. 2 on the listing exactly one week before the surprise at Rod-O-Rama.

      Which is a roundabout way of bringing you to the topic of the latest WGB: a chronological list of all the 45s which reached the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 when Motown was owned and operated by Berry Gordy – that is, from 1959 to 1988. During that period, the firm enjoyed 269 such hits, including one which reached the Top 20 twice, decades apart.

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

      The extent of Motown’s chart achievements won’t surprise you, but some of the specifics may – and perhaps it’s useful to have all this logged and laid out once more, for the record.

      For instance, the company scored 53 Number Ones out of the 269 Top 20 hits, and its best Hot 100 performance was in 1970, when seven of its singles rose above the rest. Quantitatively, the firm’s finest year was 1967, with 23 titles taking Top 20 slots, and 14 of those advancing into the Top 10. (In Britain, Motown’s supreme chart year was 1969, also with 23 Top 20 entries, as outlined here.)

Full-time music maker: 34 Top 20 hits from 1963-85

      The three most impactful U.S. hits, as measured by the length of time at Number One, were Diana Ross and Lionel Richie’s “Endless Love” (nine weeks) in 1981, Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (seven) in 1968, and the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” (five) in 1970. Among other observations from WGB’s chart analysis:

• The acts which spent the most time at Number One were the Supremes (20 weeks across 12 singles) from 1964-69, and Diana Ross (also 20 weeks, across six singles) from 1970-81, including “Endless Love.” With a total of 40 weeks atop the Hot 100 during her time at Motown, Ross was indisputably its Queen.

• Lionel Richie occupied the summit for a total of 17 weeks from 1981-85, followed by Stevie Wonder (14 weeks) from 1963-85, Marvin Gaye (10) from 1968-77, and the Jackson 5 (also 10) in 1970. When you add Richie’s Number Ones with the Commodores, his total at the top turns into 20 weeks.

• Wonder secured the most Top 20 titles (34) during the survey period, followed by Gaye (26), including his duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell. Thereafter, it’s a tie between the Temptations and the Supremes, with both acts scoring 24 Top 20 hits. The Temps’ total includes their duet with Diana Ross & the Supremes, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”; the Supremes’ total incorporates their five post-Ross hits, including their duet with the Four Tops, “River Deep — Mountain High.” The Miracles registered 16 hits in the Top 20, and the Four Tops took 14. Diana Ross and Lionel Richie each essayed 13 hits, plus their “Endless Love” excursion.

• The Temptations’ total of hits includes an unbroken ten-year stretch – that is, they reached the Top 20 every year from 1964-73. No other Motown act matched that consecutive count.

• Motown’s late ’60s rock adventure rounded up five Top 20 hits from 1970-72 for Rare Earth – the band and the label. On the subject of labels, the individual counts by imprint were: Motown (119 hits), Tamla (81), Gordy (43), Soul (18), Rare Earth (6) and one apiece for V.I.P. and MoWest.

• MoWest’s Tom Clay was one of 17 acts who reached the Top 20 just once. The others were Brenda Holloway, the Isley Brothers, Kim Weston (duetting with Gaye), Shorty Long, the Spinners, R. Dean Taylor, the Undisputed Truth, Thelma Houston, High Inergy, Bonnie Pointer, Billy Preston & Syreeta, Charlene, Rockwell, the Mary Jane Girls and, er, Bruce Willis. El DeBarge scored only one solo Top 20 single, but enjoyed four others with DeBarge, his siblings.

A Supreme reign: the first of their 12 Number Ones

      With luck, Motown’s arc of development, success and decline is made clear by this chart accounting – at least in the singles game. (Earlier WGB chart editions focused on the top 50 Motown titles as documented in Billboard’s Hottest Hot 100 Hits, and on the first-hand recollections of artists, songwriters and producers about their Number One hits.)

      One coincidence highlighted by the latest analysis: the fact that when Berry Gordy finally sold his record company in 1988, its only Top 20 entry that year was the reissue of a hit he’d written and produced more than a quarter-century before: the Contours’ “Do You Love Me.” By that point, we all knew that the Chairman could dance. Metaphorically, of course.

      Now, the minutiae. The listing below draws from the Billboard Hot 100 (a word of credit to Joel Whitburn) and, as noted, features only those Motown singles which made the Top 20. Year by year, each record’s peak is shown first, with the date of that peak in parentheses. For each Number One hit, weeks at the top are also shown in parentheses. (And by all means, if you see any mistakes, please get in touch.) So…

1961

#2 “Shop Around” (February 26) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54034)

#1 (1) “Please Mr. Postman” (December 11) THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54046)

1962

#8 “The One Who Really Loves You” (June 9) MARY WELLS (Motown 1024)

#7 “Playboy” (June 23) THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54060)

#9 “You Beat Me To The Punch” (September 22) MARY WELLS (Motown 1032)

#17 “Beechwood 4-5789” (September 22) THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54065)

#3 “Do You Love Me” (October 20) THE CONTOURS (Gordy 7005)

1963

#7 “Two Lovers” (January 19) MARY WELLS (Motown 1035)

#8 “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” (February 9) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54073)

#15 “Laughing Boy” (March 30) MARY WELLS (Motown 1039)

#10 “Pride And Joy” (July 20) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54079)

#1 (3) “Fingertips – Pt. 2” (August 10) LITTLE STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54080)

#4 “Heat Wave” (September 21) MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7022)

#8 “Mickey’s Monkey” (September 21) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54083)

1964

#8 “Quicksand” (January 4) MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7025)

#11 “The Way You Do The Things You Do” (April 11) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7028)

#15 “You’re A Wonderful One” (April 18) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54093)

#1 (2) “My Guy” (May 16) MARY WELLS (Motown 1056)

#13 “Every Little Bit Hurts” (June 6) BRENDA HOLLOWAY (Tamla 54094)

#19 “Once Upon A Time” (June 6) MARY WELLS & MARVIN GAYE (Motown 1057)

#17 “What’s The Matter With You Baby” (July 4) MARY WELLS & MARVIN GAYE (Motown 1057)

#15 “Try It Baby” (July 25) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54095)

#1 (2) “Where Did Our Love Go” (August 22) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1060)

#11 “Baby I Need Your Loving” (October 3) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1062)

#2 “Dancing In The Street” (October 17) MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7033)

#1 (4) “Baby Love” (October 31) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1066)

#1 (2) “Come See About Me” (December 19) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1068)

1965

#6 “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (January 30) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54107)

#1 (1) “My Girl” (March 6) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7038)

#1 (2) “Stop! In The Name Of Love” (March 27) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1074)

#4 “Shotgun” (April 3) JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul 35008)

#8 “Nowhere To Run” (April 10) MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7039)

#8 “I’ll Be Doggone” (May 15) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54112)

#16 “Ooo Baby Baby” (May 15) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54113)

#18 “It’s Growing” (May 15) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7040)

#1 (1) “Back In My Arms Again” (June 12) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1075)

#1 (2) “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” (June 19) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1076)

#5 “It’s The Same Old Song” (August 28) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1081)

#17 “Since I Lost My Baby” (August 28) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7043)

#11 “Nothing But Heartaches” (September 4) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1080)

#16 “The Tracks Of My Tears” (September 4) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54118)

#1 (2) “I Hear A Symphony” (November 20) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1083)

#8 “Ain’t That Peculiar” (November 20) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54122)

#13 “My Baby” (November 27) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7047)

#14 “My Girl Has Gone” (November 27) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54123)

#19 “Something About You” (December 4) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1084)

1966

#3 “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (February 12) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54124)

#11 “Going To A Go-Go” (February 12) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54127)

#5 “My World Is Empty Without You” (February 19) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1089)

#7 “Don’t Mess With Bill” (February 26) THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54126)

#18 “Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over)” (March 26) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1090)

#12 “This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)” (April 23) THE ISLEY BROTHERS (Tamla 54128)

#20 “Nothing’s Too Good For My Baby” (May 14) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54130)

#9 “Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart” (May 28) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1094)

#20 “(I’m A) Road Runner” (June 11) JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul 35015)

#13 “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” (July 16) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7054)

#9 “Blowin’ In The Wind” (September 3) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54136)

#1 (2) “You Can’t Hurry Love” (September 10) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1097)

#18 “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (September 24) JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul 35024)

#3 “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” (October 1) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7055)

#1 (2) “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (October 15) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1098)

#7 “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” (October 29) JIMMY RUFFIN (Soul 35022)

#1 (2) “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (November 19) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1101)

#9 “I’m Ready For Love” (December 10) MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7056)

#9 “A Place In The Sun” (December 24) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54139)

#8 “(I Know) I’m Losing You” (December 31) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7057)

#17 “(Come ’Round Here) I’m The One You Need” (December 17) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54140)

1967

#6 “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” (January 21) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1102)

#17 “I’ve Passed This Way Before” (January 28) JIMMY RUFFIN (Soul 35027)

#14 “It Takes Two” (March 4) MARVIN GAYE & KIM WESTON (Tamla 54141)

#1 (1) “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” (March 11) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1103)

#13 “The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game” (March 18) THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54143)

#4 “Bernadette” (April 8) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1104)

#20 “The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage” (April 8) SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54145)

#10 “Jimmy Mack” (April 15) MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7058)

#1 (1) “The Happening” (May 13) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1107)

#8 “All I Need” (June 17) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7061)

#14 “7-Rooms Of Gloom” (June 17) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1110)

#19 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (July 15) MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL (Tamla 54149)

#2 “I Was Made To Love Her” (July 29) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54151)

#2 “Reflections” (September 9) DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES (Motown 1111)

#6 “You’re My Everything” (September 16) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7063)

#19 “You Keep Running Away” (October 14) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1113)

#5 “Your Precious Love” (November 4) MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL (Tamla 54156)

#12 “I’m Wondering” (November 4) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54157)

#14 “(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need” (November 11) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7065)

#9 “In And Out Of Love” (December 9) DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES (Motown 1116)

#2 “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (December 16) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35039)

#4 “I Second That Emotion” (December 16) SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54159)

#11 “Honey Chile” (December 30) MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS (Gordy 7067)

1968

#10 “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” (January 20) MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL (Tamla 54161)

#17 “My Baby Must Be A Magician” (February 10) THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54158)

#4 “I Wish It Would Rain” (February 17) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7068)

#14 “Walk Away Renee” (March 9) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1119)

#15 “The End Of Our Road” (March 9) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35042)

#11 “If You Can Want” (April 27) SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54162)

#8 “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” (May 25) MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL (Tamla 54163)

#9 “Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day” (May 25) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54165)

#20 “If I Were A Carpenter” (June 8) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1124)

#13 “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)” (June 15) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7072)

#8 “Here Comes The Judge” (July 6) SHORTY LONG (Soul 35044)

#7 “You’re All I Need To Get By” (September 14) MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL (Tamla 54169)

#1 (2) “Love Child” (November 30) DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES (Motown 1135)

#1 (7) “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (December 14) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54176)

#2 “For Once In My Life” (December 28) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54174)

1969

#6 “Cloud Nine” (January 4) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7081)

#2 “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (January 11) DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES & THE TEMPTATIONS (Motown 1137)

#10 “I’m Livin’ In Shame” (February 22) DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES (Motown 1139)

#8 “Baby, Baby Don’t Cry” (March 1) SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54178)

#6 “Runaway Child, Running Wild” (March 29) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7084)

#9 “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” (March 29) DAVID RUFFIN  (Motown 1140)

#6 “Twenty-Five Miles” (April 26) EDWIN STARR (Gordy 7083)

#4 “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” (June 28) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54181)

#20 “Don’t Let The Joneses Get You Down” (June 28) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7086)

#4 “My Cherie Amour” (July 26) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54180)

#4 “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” (August 9) JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul 35062)

#19 “The Nitty Gritty” (September 13) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35063)

#1 (2) “I Can’t Get Next To You” (October 18) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7093)

#7 “That’s The Way Love Is” (October 18) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54185)

#14 “Baby, I’m For Real” (November 29) THE ORIGINALS (Soul 35066)

#7 “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday” (December 13) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54188)

#1 (1) “Someday We’ll Be Together” (December 27) DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES (Motown 1156)

#16 “These Eyes” (December 27) JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (Soul 35067)

#17 “Friendship Train” (December 27) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35068)

1970

#1 (1) “I Want You Back” (January 31) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1157)

#7 “Psychedelic Shack” (February 28) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7096)

#12 “The Bells” (April 11) THE ORIGINALS (Soul 35069)

#10 “Up The Ladder To The Roof” (April 18) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1162)

#1 (2) “ABC” (April 25) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1163)

#20 “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” (June 6) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1165)

#4 “Get Ready” (June 13) RARE EARTH (Rare Earth 5012)

#1 (2) “The Love You Save” (June 27) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1166)

#3 “Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today)” (June 27) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7099)

#3 “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (August 8) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54196)

#1 (3) “War” (August 29) EDWIN STARR (Gordy 7101)

#1 (3) “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (September 19) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1169)

#7 “(I Know) I’m Losing You” (October 3) RARE EARTH (Rare Earth 5017)

#1 (5) “I’ll Be There” (October 17) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1171)

#14 “It’s A Shame” (October 17) THE SPINNERS (V.I.P. 25057)

#11 “Still Water (Love)” (October 24) THE FOUR TOPS (Motown 1170)

#5 “Indiana Wants Me” (November 7) R. DEAN TAYLOR (Rare Earth 5013)

#9 “Heaven Help Us All” (November 28) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54200)

#1 (2) “The Tears Of A Clown” (December 12) SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54199)

#7 “Stoned Love” (December 19) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1172)

1971

#14 “River Deep – Mountain High” (January 9) THE SUPREMES & FOUR TOPS (Motown 1173)

#17 “Born To Wander” (January 30) RARE EARTH (Rare Earth 5021)

#16 “Remember Me” (February 6) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1176)

#9 “If I Were Your Woman” (February 13) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35078)

#2 “Mama’s Pearl” (February 27) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1177)

#1 (2) “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” (April 3) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7105)

#2 “What’s Going On” (April 10) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54201)

#13 “We Can Work It Out” (May 1) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54202)

#2 “Never Can Say Goodbye” (May 8) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1179)

#18 “I Don’t Blame You At All” (May 15) SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54205)

#16 “Nathan Jones” (June 19) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1182)

#17 “I Don’t Want To Do Wrong” (July 17) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35083)

#8 “What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin And John” (August 14) TOM CLAY (MoWest 5002)

#4 “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)” (August 21) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54207)

#20 “Maybe Tomorrow” (August 21) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1186)

#3 “Smiling Faces Sometimes” (September 4) THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (Gordy 7108)

#7 “I Just Want To Celebrate” (September 11) RARE EARTH (Rare Earth 5031)

#8 “If You Really Love Me” (October 16) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54208)

#9 “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” (November 6) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54209)

#4 “Got To Be There” (December 11) MICHAEL JACKSON (Motown 1191)

#18 “Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)” (December 18) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7111)

1972

#10 “Sugar Daddy” (January 22) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1194)

#19 “Hey Big Brother” (January 22) RARE EARTH (Rare Earth 5038)

#16 “Floy Joy” (March 11) THE SUPREMES (Motown 1195)

#2 “Rockin’ Robin” (April 22) MICHAEL JACKSON (Motown 1197)

#13 “Little Bitty Pretty One” (May 27) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1199)

#16 “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (July 15) MICHAEL JACKSON (Motown 1202)

#16 “Lookin’ Through The Windows” (August 26) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1205)

#1 (1) “Ben” (October 14) MICHAEL JACKSON (Motown 1207)

#1 (1) “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” (December 2) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7121)

#18 “Corner Of The Sky” (December 16) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1214)

1973

#1 (1) “Superstition” (January 27) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54226)

#7 “Trouble Man” (February 3) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54228)

#9 “Daddy’s Home” (March 17) JERMAINE JACKSON (Motown 1216)

#2 “Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)” (April 7) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35098)

#7 “Masterpiece” (April 28) THE TEMPTATIONS (Gordy 7126)

#1 (1) “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” (May 19) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54232)

#19 “Daddy Could Swear, I Declare” (July 7) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (Soul 35105)

#1 (1) “Touch Me In The Morning” (August 18) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1239)

#1 (2) “Let’s Get It On” (September 8) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54234)

#4 “Higher Ground” (October 13) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54235)

#1 (2) “Keep On Truckin’ (Part 1)” (November 10) EDDIE KENDRICKS (Tamla 54238)

#12 “You’re A Special Part Of Me” (November 17) DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE (Motown 1280)

1974

#8 “Living For The City” (January 12) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54242)

#14 “Last Time I Saw Him” (February 23) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1278)

#2 “Boogie Down” (March 9) EDDIE KENDRICKS (Tamla 54243)

#19 “My Mistake (Was To Love You)” (May 4) DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE (Motown 1269)

#2 “Dancing Machine” (May 18) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1286)

#16 “Don’t You Worry ’Bout A Thing” (June 1) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54245)

#13 “Do It Baby” (October 26) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54248)

#1 (1) “You Haven’t Done Nothin’ ” (November 2) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54252)

1975

#3 “Boogie On Reggae Woman” (February 1) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54254)

#15 “I Am Love (Parts I & II)” (March 22) THE JACKSON 5 (Motown 1310)

#18 “Shoeshine Boy” (May 31) EDDIE KENDRICKS (Tamla 54257)

#19 “Slippery When Wet” (August 9) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1338)

1976

#1 (1) “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” (January 24) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1377)

#9 “Walk Away From Love” (January 24) DAVID RUFFIN (Motown 1376)

#1 (1) “Love Machine Pt. 1” (March 6) THE MIRACLES (Tamla 54262)

#5 “Sweet Love” (April 24) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1381)

#1 (2) “Love Hangover” (May 29) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1392)

#15 “I Want You” (June 26) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54264)

#7 “Just To Be Close To You” (November 27) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1402)

1977

#1 (1) “I Wish” (January 22) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54274)

#1 (1) “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (April 23) THELMA HOUSTON (Tamla 54278)

#1 (3) “Sir Duke” (May 21) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54281)

#1 (1) “Got To Give It Up (Pt. 1)” (June 25) MARVIN GAYE (Tamla 54280)

#4 “Easy” (August 27) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1418)

#5 “Brick House” (November 5) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1425)

#12 “You Can’t Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)” (December 24) HIGH INERGY (Gordy 7155)

1978

#1 (2) “Three Times A Lady” (August 12) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1443)

#13 “You And I” (September 23) RICK JAMES (Gordy 7156)

1979

#19 “The Boss” (October 6) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1462)

#4 “Sail On” (October 13) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1466)

#11 “Heaven Must Have Sent You” (October 13) BONNIE POINTER (Motown 1459)

#1 (1) “Still” (November 17) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1474)

#4 “Send One Your Love” (December 22) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54303)

1980

#4 “Cruisin’ ” (February 2) SMOKEY ROBINSON (Tamla 54306)

#4 “With You I’m Born Again” (April 19) BILLY PRESTON & SYREETA (Motown 1477)

#9 “Let’s Get Serious” (July 12) JERMAINE JACKSON (Motown 1469)

#20 “Old-Fashion Love” (August 30) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1489)

#1 (4) “Upside Down” (September 6) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1494)

#5 “I’m Coming Out” (November 15) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1491)

#5 “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” (December 6) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54317)

1981

#9 “It’s My Turn” (January 24) DIANA ROSS (Motown 1496)

#11 “I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It” (March 7) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 54320)

#2 “Being With You” (May 23) SMOKEY ROBINSON (Tamla 54321)

#1 (9) “Endless Love” (August 15) DIANA ROSS & LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1519)

#8 “Lady (You Bring Me Up)” (September 5) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1514)

#16 “Super Freak (Part 1)” (October 24) RICK JAMES (Gordy 7205)

#4 “Oh No” (December 5) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1527)

1982

#4 “That Girl” (March 20) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 1602)

#3 “I’ve Never Been To Me” (May 22) CHARLENE (Motown 1611)

#13 “Do I Do” (July 10) STEVIE WONDER (Tamla 1612)

#5 “Let It Whip” (July 17) THE DAZZ BAND (Motown 1609)

#18 “Let Me Tickle Your Fancy” (September 25) JERMAINE JACKSON (Motown 1628)

#1 (2) “Truly” (November 27) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1644)

1983

#4 “You Are” (March 26) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1657)

#5 “My Love” (June 11) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1677)

#17 “All This Love” (July 9) DeBARGE (Gordy 1660)

#1 (4) “All Night Long (All Night)” (November 12) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1698)

1984

#18 “Time Will Reveal” (January 21) DeBARGE (Gordy 1705)

#7 “Running With The Night” (February 4) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1710)

#2 “Somebody’s Watching Me” (March 24) ROCKWELL (Motown 1702)

#1 (2) “Hello” (May 12) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1722)

#3 “Stuck On You” (August 25) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1746)

#1 (3) “I Just Called To Say I Love You” (October 13) STEVIE WONDER (Motown 1745)

#8 “Penny Lover” (December 1) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1762)

1985

#17 “Love Light In Flight” (February 2) STEVIE WONDER (Motown 1769)

#3 “Nightshift” (April 20) THE COMMODORES (Motown 1773)

#3 “Rhythm Of The Night” (April 27) DeBARGE (Gordy 1770)

#7 “In My House” (June 8) THE MARY JANE GIRLS (Gordy 1741)

#6 “Who’s Holding Donna Now” (August 10) DeBARGE (Gordy 1793)

#1 (1) “Part-Time Lover” (November 2) STEVIE WONDER (Motown 1808)

#1 (4) “Say You, Say Me” (December 21) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1819)

1986

#10 “Go Home” (February 1) STEVIE WONDER (Motown 1817)

#3 “Who’s Johnny” (July 5) EL DeBARGE (Gordy 1842)

#2 “Dancing On The Ceiling” (September 13) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1843)

#9 “Love Will Conquer All” (November 29) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1866)

1987

#7 “Ballerina Girl” (February 21) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1873)

#5 “Respect Yourself” (March 7) BRUCE WILLIS (Motown 1876)

#20 “Se La” (May 16) LIONEL RICHIE (Motown 1883)

#8 “Just To See Her” (July 4) SMOKEY ROBINSON (Motown 1877)

#10 “One Heartbeat” (October 3) SMOKEY ROBINSON (Motown 1897)

#19 “Skeletons” (December 5) STEVIE WONDER (Motown 1907)

1988

#11 “Do You Love Me” (August 6) THE CONTOURS (Motown Yesteryear 448)

Top notes: when better to offer a new West Grand playlist than with this particular subject matter? And so here it is on Spotify, comprising all the Motown singles (with one or two in album versions) which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the period tracked above. After all, it’s what’s in the grooves that count, right?

Credit notes: an earlier edition of this post miscalculated the Temptations’ total of Top 20 hits (it’s 24) and the number of entries on the Gordy label (43), as well as the overall count of Top 20 entries (269). Thanks to John (see below) for making me double-check the math.