5 Decades of Motown: Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Jackson Five, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, India Arie, Four Tops

Berry Gordy Jr. changed music and American culture in the 1960's and 70's arguably more than any other individual.  With the opening of Motown Records (Detroit is the Motor City), a new soundtrack to people's lives was being formed with each new record on the label.  

Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, on and on, music acts that competed with The Beatles and dominated the charts worldwide.  Even more incredible was how they changed public perception and an awareness and acceptance of black artists being respected by the masses.  

Smokey Robinson wrote, "Into the '60s, I was still not of a frame of mind that we were not only making music, we were making history. But I did recognize the impact because acts were going all over the world at that time. I recognized the bridges that we crossed, the racial problems and the barriers that we broke down with music. I recognized that because I lived it. I would come to the South in the early days of Motown and the audiences would be segregated. Then they started to get the Motown music and we would go back and the audiences were integrated and the kids were dancing together and holding hands."  

Motown has been putting out amazing records for 5 decades, here's a recap of the decades and some unforgettable favorites.   If you aren't smiling, dancing, and singing along to these songs, check your pulse, you may be dead.


60's  "AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING"   MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL 

60's   "REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE"   THE FOUR TOPS

70's   "I WANT YOU BACK"   JACKSON 5
Motown in the 70's released some of the all time greatest albums like Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and "Let's Get It On", Stevie Wonder's "Talking Book" and "Songs In The Key of Life".   Add in the Diana Ross solo albums, Gladys Knight & The Pips, the Commodores, and The Temptations and Motown's legacy grew with their 70's classics.

70's  "TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING" (alternate raw version!)  DIANA ROSS

80's   "RUNNING WITH THE NIGHT"  LIONEL RICHIE
Big acts on Motown in the 80's included the Commodores, the Lionel Richie solo CDs, Rockwell (Berry Gordy's son), DeBarge, and Rick James.

80's "PART TIME LOVER" STEVIE WONDER

90's   "END OF THE ROAD"   BOYZ II MEN
Motown had lost steam in the 90's but still had major success with Boyz II Men, Shanice, Johnny Gill, Tony Toni Tone, and even 98 Degrees!

00's   "VIDEO" INDIA.ARIE
By the mid 2000's, Motown had merged with Universal and sadly marked the end of almost 50 years of life changing music from the greatest American record label.   Brian McKnight, Erykah Badu,  Michael McDonald, India.Arie, and some old favorites like Diana Ross were still on the label.

No Ordinary Love : Sade, Stephen Marley, Diana Ross, Rick James

"NO ORDINARY LOVE"                  SADE

If I made of a list of the 10 sexiest songs ever, "No Ordinary Love" would be on the list.    I remember it being used in the sex scene with Demi Moore/Robert Redford in the film Indecent Proposal.   The lyrics are actually sad.   She sings of giving all she can to her lover.  She keeps trying but sometimes even if you give all your love, it still won't work.  Regardless of the tone of the lyrics, the dreamy soft beats, Sade's breathy delivery, and the passionate emotions emoted here really drives the song's sex appeal.   Plus it doesn't hurt that Sade is so exotic, unique, and strikingly beautiful.

"HEY BABY"   (Ft Mos Def)                  STEPHEN MARLEY

Bob Marley is not only the greatest reggae singer/writer of all-time, he is the father of an incredibly talented family.   Stephen, Ziggy, Julien, and Damien have all had very successful music careers.   Rohan Marley played outside linebacker for my Miami Hurricanes and he's the husband of Lauryn Hill.    "Hey Baby" has a chill-out beach vibe with a little hip hop beat making it perfect for a Florida sunset.   The lyrics perfectly describe a long distance relationship and how "even though the road is rocky, I'll be coming to home again".

"EBONY EYES"                    RICK JAMES & SMOKEY ROBINSON

A quiet storm classic from the 80's by two of Motown's biggest stars.   The smooth velvety voice of Smokey Robinson mixed with the raw and funky style of Rick James.    This video is one of the Thriller-inspired mini movies that dominated the 80's.   My good friend, Mel, told me of a guy who wanted to impress her, so he made her a mixtape of nothing but this song over and over.   That's either a bold statement or the creepiest move ever :)    In the video, check out how "convenient" the box of tuxedos wash up on shore.

"LOVE HANGOVER"                        DIANA ROSS  

One of my favorite disco songs of the 70's!    Diana Ross oozes sex appeal here.   From her seductive opening line, "If there's a cure for this I don't want it" :)     Halfway through the song, the disco beat takes over and Diana really gets into the groove.  It's one of my favorite Diana Ross songs.   I was surprised to hear she's still touring as I just noticed she's coming to St Petersburg in February.    I would have guessed she was doing a Vegas show.