Motown Essentials

Apple Music Oldies

Editors’ Notes Despite its inauspicious start in a residential Detroit home, Motown surpassed even its own grand ambitions as a world-beating hit factory by the mid-’60s. Founder Berry Gordy captained a dream team of young Black producers and songwriters, including the multi-talented Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye, introducing high-drama soul to mainstream pop with a long string of hits. The Supremes became the decade’s definitive girl group, while Motown introduced legends like Stevie Wonder and the Jackson 5 to the world. From there, the label adapted to rapid social changes, with output more explicitly about civil rights and Black life in America.
Marvin Gaye
In the Groove
3:16
 
Mary Wells
Mary Wells Sings My Guy
2:54
 
Four Tops
Four Tops - Second Album
2:42
 
The Supremes
The Supremes A' Go-Go
2:47
 
The Temptations
The Temptations Sing Smokey
2:41
 
The Marvelettes
Please Mr. Postman
2:28
 
The Miracles
The 35th Anniversary Collection
2:59
 
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Dancing In the Street
2:40
 
Stevie Wonder
Signed Sealed and Delivered
2:41
 
Jackson 5
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5
3:01
 
Junior Walker & The All Stars
Shotgun
2:56
 
The Isley Brothers
This Old Heart of Mine
2:47
 
The Velvelettes
Hitsville USA - The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
2:29
 
Edwin Starr
Soul Master
2:43
 
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Nitty Gritty
3:50
 
The Spinners
2nd Time Around (Expanded Edition)
3:10
 
The Undisputed Truth
Face To Face With the Truth
4:56
 
Marvin Gaye
What's Going On
3:15
 
Mary Wells
Motown: The Complete No. 1's
2:46
 
Four Tops
Reach Out
2:39
 
Diana Ross & The Supremes
Love Child
2:56
 
The Temptations
Gold
6:57
 
The Marvelettes
Deliver: The Singles 1961-1971
2:27
 
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Make It Happen
3:01
 
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Detroit (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2:55
 
Stevie Wonder
I Was Made To Love Her
2:36
 
The Isley Brothers
This Old Heart of Mine
2:26
 
David Ruffin
Feelin' Good
2:48
 
Brenda Holloway
The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway
3:18
 
Gladys Knight & The Pips
If I Were Your Woman
3:14
 
The Contours
Motown Rarities 1965-1968
3:13
 
Eddie Kendricks
Motown: The Complete No. 1's
3:33
 
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten
2:58
 
Jackson 5
Third Album
3:59
 
Marvin Gaye
How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You
2:59
 
Mary Wells
Two Lovers
2:50
 
Four Tops
Four Tops
2:46
 
The Supremes
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Best of Diana Ross & The Supremes, Vol. 1
2:37
 
The Temptations
The Temptations Sing Smokey
2:44
 
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes
2:50
 
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Going to a Go-Go
2:55
 
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Hitsville USA - The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
2:45
 
The Isley Brothers
Soul On the Rocks
2:45
 
Michael Jackson
Got to Be There
3:17
 
Stevie Wonder
For Once in My Life
2:49
 
Edwin Starr
The Hits Of Edwin Starr
3:23
 
Kim Weston
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Kim Weston
2:50
 
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Silk N' Soul
3:29
 
Brenda Holloway
The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway
2:10
 
Barrett Strong
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Barrett Strong
2:37
 
Michael Jackson
Ben
2:46
 
The Velvettes
Come See About Me
2:32
 
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
2:55
 
Jackson 5
ABC
2:59
 
The Elgins
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 11B: 1971
2:33
 
Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell
You're All I Need
2:15
 
Mary Wells
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 2: 1962
2:26
 
Four Tops
Four Tops - Second Album
2:30
 
The Isley Brothers
Hitsville: The Making of Motown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2:38
 
The Supremes
More Hits by The Supremes
2:54
 
The Temptations
Gettin' Ready
2:33
 
The Marvelettes
The Definitive Collection: The Marvelettes
2:31
 
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Hitsville USA - The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
2:41
 
Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten
2:42
 
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Ridin' High
2:29
 
Stevie Wonder
Hitsville: The Making of Motown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2:49
 
Brenda Holloway
The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 7: 1967
2:53
 
The Contours
Motown Rarities 1965-1968
2:41
 
Diana Ross
Surrender
3:30
 
David Ruffin
David Ruffin
3:51
 
Eddie Holland
Eddie Holland
2:25
 
The Spinners
The Original Spinners
3:14
 
Kim Weston
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Kim Weston
2:48
 
Eddie Kendricks
People... Hold On
5:40
 
Edwin Starr
The Hits Of Edwin Starr
3:16
 
The Originals
Superstar Series - Celebrating Motown's Twentieth Anniversary
3:19
 
The Elgins
The Elgins' On My Own - EP
2:37
 
Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell
United
2:27
 
Michael Jackson
Got to Be There
4:12
 
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Standing Ovation
4:23
 
The Isley Brothers
This Old Heart of Mine
3:33
 
J.J. Barnes
A Cellarful of Motown!
2:48
 
Jackson 5
ABC
3:04
 
Jimmy Ruffin, David Ruffin
I Am My Brother's Keeper (Expanded Edition)
4:04
 
Junior Walker & The All Stars
Road Runner
2:48
 
The Monitors
Greetings!... We're The Monitors
3:02
 
The Undisputed Truth
The Undisputed Truth
3:18
 
R. Dean Taylor
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 1 (1970)
3:35
 
Rare Earth
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 11A: 1971
2:54
 
Tammi Terrell
Irresistible
2:34
 
Marv Johnson
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 1: 1959-1961
2:17
 
Rita Wright
Syreeta: The Rita Wright Years - Rare Motown 1967-1970
2:54
 
Mable John
My Name Is Mable: The Complete Collection
2:24
 
Shorty Long
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 8: 1968
2:34
 
Kim Weston
Kim Weston's Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) - EP
2:46
 
The Velvelettes
A Cellarful of Motown!
3:19
 
Brenda Holloway
The Artistry Of Brenda Holloway
2:56
 
The Elgins
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 5: 1965
2:35
 
Thelma Houston
The Best Of
3:37
 
The Originals
Superstar Series - Celebrating Motown's Twentieth Anniversary
3:04
 

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