Top 109 Motown songs

Happy birthday, Motown! Fifty-three years ago today, the first single was released on Tamla Records. It was Come to Me by Marv Johnson, a pleasing slice of doo-wop with surprise flute. I love Motown and happily devour it to excess. There is so much of it, after all – so many genius takes on the famous Sound of Young America beat.

Below are my 109 favourite Motown songs, starting with the very best. It is a list I put together over two years ago, following a request from a faraway friend. Perhaps the request didn't specify quite so many tracks, arranged in order; obsession just works that way. Of course two years later, I'm sure I could minutely rearrange it (and again tomorrow), but I shall hold myself back.

A lot of the choices seem obvious (they are classics after all), but hopefully there are enough surprises to lend a personal touch. There is a noticeable lean towards the Four Tops and Stevie Wonder. I don't care, because the list is mine. What is important is that all of these songs fill me with joy. They make me dance and cry. Motown was a hit machine at the poppier end of the soul spectrum, often lacking the grit of Southern soul. But to me, that does not make the music any less valid or powerful. The voices sing, the music snaps, and my feet dance...

1. Reach Out I'll Be There – Four Tops (1966)

2. The Tracks of My Tears – The Miracles (1965)

3. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted – Jimmy Ruffin (1966)

4. Superstition – Stevie Wonder (1972)

5. Every Little Bit Hurts – Brenda Holloway (1964)

6. Dancing in the Street – Martha & The Vandellas (1964)

7. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5 (1969)

8. Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes (1964)

9. This Old Heart of Mine – The Isley Brothers (1966)

10. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye (1968)

11. Get Ready – The Temptations (1966)

12. Go Ahead and Laugh – Kim Weston (1964)

13. I Wish It Would Rain – Gladys Knight & The Pips (1968)

14. Stop! In the Name of Love – The Supremes (1965)

15. Ain't No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)

16. Money (That's What I Want) – Barrett Strong (1959)

17. Didn't You Know (You'd Have to Cry Sometime) – Gladys Knight & The Pips (1969)

18. What's Going On – Marvin Gaye (1971)

19. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me – Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations (1968)

20. Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder (1973)

21. Just a Little Misunderstanding – The Contours (1966)

22. I Was Made to Love Her – Stevie Wonder (1967)

23. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops (1965)

24. Baby Love – The Supremes (1964)

25. Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder (1976)

26. Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes (1961)

27. Baby I Need Your Living – Four Tops (1964)

28. Living for the City – Stevie Wonder (1973)

29. Stoned Love – The Supremes (1970)

30. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – Marvin Gaye (1971)

31. Uptight (Everything's Alright) – Stevie Wonder (1965)

32. Shotgun – Jr. Walker & The All Stars (1965)

33. A Simple Game – Four Tops (1972)

34. Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes (1968)

35. My Girl – The Temptations (1964)

36. I Want to Go Back There Again – Chris Clark (1967)

37. Standing in the Shadows of Love – Four Tops (1966)

38. You Can't Hurry Love – The Supremes (1966)

39. My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder (1969)

40. Love Hangover – Diana Ross (1976)

41. Ooo Baby Baby – The Miracles (1965)

42. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson (1965)

43. You're All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1968)

44. Twenty-Five Miles – Edwin Starr (1969)

45. (Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need – The Miracles (1966)

46. Bernadette – Four Tops (1967)

47. As – Stevie Wonder (1976)

48. Super Freak – Rick James (1981)

49. For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder (1968)

50. You Keep Me Hangin' On – The Supremes (1966)

51. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone – The Temptations (1972)

52. Come and Get These Memories – Martha & The Vandellas (1963)

53. (I'm a) Road Runner – Jr. Walker & The All Stars (1966)

54. Nowhere to Run – Martha & The Vandellas (1965)

55. I'm in a Different World – Four Tops (1968)

56. You've Made Me So Very Happy – Brenda Holloway (1967)

57. Do You Love Me – The Contours (1962)

58. The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game – The Marvelettes (1966)

59. Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile) – Four Tops (1964)

60. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye (1971)

61. It's the Same Old Song – Four Tops (1965)

62. Got to Be There – Michael Jackson (1971)

63. Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing – Stevie Wonder (1973)

64. Actions Speak Louder Than Words – Mable John (1961)

65. Helpless – Kim Weston (1966)

66. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever – Four Tops (1966)

67. I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose – Marv Johnson (1967)

68. My Guy – Mary Wells (1964)

69. Behind a Painted Smile – The Isley Brothers (1968)

70. I Got a Feeling – Four Tops (1967)

71. I'll Be There – The Jackson 5 (1970)

72. Number One in Your Heart – The Monitors (1966)

73. Leaving Here – Eddie Holland (1963)

74. Still Water (Love) – Four Tops (1970)

75. Live Wire – Martha & The Vandellas (1964)

76. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Gladys Knight & The Pips (1968)

77. Love Having You Around – Stevie Wonder (1972)

78. Can I Get a Witness – Marvin Gaye (1963)

79. Going to a Go-Go – The Miracles (1965)
80. Heaven Must Have Sent You – The Elgins (1966)

81. Too High – Stevie Wonder (1973)

82. No Matter What Sign You Are – Diana Ross & The Supremes (1969)

83. Who's Lovin' You – The Jackson 5 (1969)

84. My Baby Loves Me – Martha & The Vandellas (1966)

85. All Your Love – Brenda Holloway (unknown: unreleased until 2002)

86. The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1967)

87. Something About You – Four Tops (1965)

88. Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me – Gladys Knight & The Pips (1967)

89. I Wish – Stevie Wonder (1976)

90. Heat Wave – Martha & The Vandellas (1963)
91. It Takes Two – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston (1966)

92. Brick House – The Commodores (1977)
93. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) – Four Tops (1966)

94. Whisper You Love Me Boy – The Supremes (1965)

95. Cloud Nine – The Temptations (1968)

96. Your Precious Love – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)

97. I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You – Rita Wright (1968)

98. Who's the Fool – Singin' Sammy Ward (1960)

99. ABC – The Jackson 5 (1970)

100. Chained – Paul Petersen (1966)

101. Keep on Running – Stevie Wonder (1972)
102. Ain't That Peculiar – Marvin Gaye (1965)
103. Don't Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston (1976)
104. Just My Soul Responding – Smokey Robinson (1973)

105. My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) – David Ruffin (1969)

106. One Day in Your Life – Michael Jackson (1975)

107. Ain't Too Proud to Beg – The Temptations (1966)

108. Shop Around – The Miracles (1960)

109. When I'm Gone – Mary Wells (1964)