NEW COMPILATION ‘MOTOWN: #1’S’ FEATURES TWO DOZEN ALL-TIME CLASSIC CHART-TOPPERS FROM THE SUPREMES, TEMPTATIONS, MARVIN GAYE, JACKSON 5, LIONEL RICHIE, STEVIE WONDER AND MORE

Before Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records 45 years ago, when Detroit was known as just the ‘Motor City.’ Today, Motown means the greatest hit factory any generation has ever heard and a sound that has influenced popular music like no other. That sound and many of those hits are now heard on Motown: #1’s (Motown/UTV Records/UMe), released April 20, 2004.

Featuring 24 #1 Pop and/or R&B hits, each digitally remastered, Motown: #1’s offers the label’s most significant chart-topping touchstones from 1961 to 1994 from its greatest artists. The collection also boasts a bonus track: Michael McDonald’s rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B for Diana Ross in 1970) from his two-time Grammy-nominated 2003 tribute album Motown.

Chronologically arranged, Motown: #1’s opens with the label’s first Pop #1 – 1961’s “Please Mr. Postman” (also #1 R&B) from The Marvelettes. In addition, the ’60s yielded “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” (#1 R&B) from Martha & The Vandellas, “My Girl” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B) from The Temptations and “My Guy” (#1 Pop) from Mary Wells. The Temptations also appear with “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” (#1 R&B).

The best-loved girl group of all-time, The Supremes, chimes in with the Pop #1s “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Stop! In The Name Of Love” (in a newly mixed version first heard on 2003’s Diana Ross & The Supremes: The #1’s). The Four Tops contribute “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B). Other #1s of the decade are “Shotgun” (#1 R&B) from Jr. Walker & The All Stars, “I Want You Back” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B) from the Jackson 5 and “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (#1 R&B) from Stevie Wonder.

Only one artist is heard four times – Marvin Gaye. From the ’60s are “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B) and “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” (#1 R&B), a duet with Tammi Terrell. From the ‘70s are his “What’s Going On” (#1 R&B) and “Let’s Get It On” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B). Other ’70s tracks are “The Tears Of A Clown” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B) from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and “Love Machine (Part 1)” (#1 Pop) from The Miracles; “War” (#1 Pop) from Edwin Starr; “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B) from Thelma Houston, and “Three Times A Lady” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B) from the Commodores, featuring Lionel Richie on lead vocals.

The two ’80s selections are “Endless Love” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B), Richie’s duet with Diana Ross, and “Rhythm Of The Night” (#1 R&B), from DeBarge. The album’s most recent track besides McDonald’s is 1994’s “I’ll Make Love To You” (#1 Pop/#1 R&B) from Boyz II Men.
 
The songs on Motown: #1’s are part of America’s musical heritage. So too is Motown itself.