Any Motown songs with three or more versions?

[daviddesper]

I know we have had countless discussions on here about Motown artists who covered one another's songs, such as I Heard it Through the Grapevine. But are there any songs in which there are three or more Motown versions? I can't think of any.

[marybrewster]

"Put Yourself in My Place": The Elgins in 1965, The Supremes, Chris Clark and The Isley Brothers in 1966.

[Methuselah2]

WHO COULD EVER DOUBT MY.LOVE
Brenda Holloway/The Supremes/The Isley Bros.

I KNOW BETTER
The Marvelettes/Barbara McNair/Gladys Knight & the Pips

[bradsupremes]

I believe the song most recorded at Motown is... For Once In My Life

Jack Soo [[1965 - unreleased)
Barbara McNair [[1965)
The Four Tops [[1966)
The Temptations [[1967)
Martha & the Vandellas [[1967)
Stevie Wonder [[1968)
Soupy Sales [[1968)
Jonah Jones [[1968)
Blinky [[1969)
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles [[1969)
Joe Harnell [[1969)
Kiki Dee [[1969)
Sammy Davis Jr. [[1970)
The Ding Dongs [[1970)
Gladys Knight & the Pips [[1971)
Diana Ross [[1977)

and I wouldn't be surprised if there were more versions in the Motown vaults.

Other mentions:

Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone
Gladys Knight & the Pips [[1966 & 1969) , The Temptations [[1967) , Chuck Jackson [[1967), Diana Ross & the Supremes [[1968), The Undisputed Truth [[1970)

I Can't Wait Till Summer Comes - The only song recorded by the three big Motown girl-groups and all went unreleased!
The Marvelettes [[1969), The Supremes [[1970), Martha Reeves & the Vandellas [[1970)

[jobeterob]

Scary about For Once In My Life!

[longtimefan]

I do not recall any previous mention of The Supremes having recorded "I Can't Wait Till Summer Comes."

[mowest]

Speaking of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine:" Miracles, Gladys & Pips, Temptations and Marvin.

[mowest]

My Guy: Mary Wells, Supremes, Barbara McNair.

You Beat Me To The Punch: Mary Wells, Temptations, Barbara McNair and Edwin Starr.

You've Really Got A Hold On Me: Miracles, Temptations, Jackson 5, Barbara McNair, Supremes

Reach Out, I'll Be There: Four Tops, Diana Ross, Thelma Houston

Forever Came Today: Supremes, Jackson 5, Commodores

[roger]

Speaking of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine:" Miracles, Gladys & Pips, Temptations and Marvin.
And lets not forget this version ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlj2staUlg8
:)
Roger

[Jaap]

Speaking of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine:" Miracles, Gladys & Pips, Temptations and Marvin.

And Bettye Lavette on her Motown album Tell Me A Lie [[1982)

[Hotspurman]

I Heard It Through The Grapevine was also covered by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, Rustix, Sounds Nice [[licensed in from EMI) and Rare Earth.

[midnight johnny]

"I Want You Back"-J5, Vandellas, David Ruffin

[midnight johnny]

"This Time Last Summer" Danny Day, Blinky, Brenda Holloway [[Brenda's version has been identified in a few places as having been recorded, yet and still her version has not been
heard of or found)

[midnight johnny]

"Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"-Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell [[2 Versions),
Diana Ross/Supremes and the Temptations,
Supremes and the Four Tops, J5

[TomBairdFan]

Don't forget Ron Miller's other classic [[and my all-time favorite!), GREEN GROW THE LILACS

Released by:

The Originals [[1969)
Soupy Sales [[1969)
Joe Harnell [[1969)
Jonah Jones [[1969)

TCMS9 says the song was also ''cut on Tammi Terrell'', and the same song title appears on TCMS Vol 12B by The Festivals.

Ron Miller recycled the melody of ''Green Grow'' and recorded it as ''I Want To Come Back As A Song''on Charlene.

If I'd been Ron Miller back in the day, I'd have had a word with Johnny Bristol, Frank Wilson, Norman Whitfield et al., and insisted that Jr. Walker, Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Four Tops, Billy Eckstine, Jack Ashford [[for a solo vibes album) The Fantastic Four, Chuck Jackson, Kiki Dee, The San Remo Strings, The Marvelettes, David Ruffin, Bobby Taylor, Edwin Starr and Blinky, Martha Reeves, Jimmy Ruffin, Rita Wright, Paul Peterson, Ivy Jo Hunter, to name but a few, all went into the studio and recorded their own versions! Later on in the 70's, I'd have G.C. Cameron, Thelma Houston, Matrix, Eddie Kendricks, The Undisputed Truth and Frankie Valli record ''Green Grow The Lilacs'' so that there would be more Motown versions than ''For Once In My Life''! Then I'd be able to compile a whole album of ''Motown Sings Green Grow The Lilacs''! Heaven!

[marv2]

I believe the song most recorded at Motown is... For Once In My Life

Jack Soo [[1965 - unreleased)
Barbara McNair [[1965)
The Four Tops [[1966)
The Temptations [[1967)
Martha & the Vandellas [[1967)
Stevie Wonder [[1968)
Soupy Sales [[1968)
Jonah Jones [[1968)
Blinky [[1969)
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles [[1969)
Joe Harnell [[1969)
Kiki Dee [[1969)
Sammy Davis Jr. [[1970)
The Ding Dongs [[1970)
Gladys Knight & the Pips [[1971)
Diana Ross [[1977)

and I wouldn't be surprised if there were more versions in the Motown vaults.

Other mentions:

Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone
Gladys Knight & the Pips [[1966 & 1969) , The Temptations [[1967) , Chuck Jackson [[1967), Diana Ross & the Supremes [[1968), The Undisputed Truth [[1970)

I Can't Wait Till Summer Comes - The only song recorded by the three big Motown girl-groups and all went unreleased!
The Marvelettes [[1969), The Supremes [[1970), Martha Reeves & the Vandellas [[1970)

You can add "The Supremes Live In Japan" [[1973). to the list.

[marybrewster]

"Whisper You Love Me Boy" - Mary Wells, The Supremes, Chris Clark

[Motown Eddie]

Here's one;
"That's The Way Love Is" by The Isley Bros., The Temptations & Marvin Gaye.

[reese]

Here's one;
"That's The Way Love Is" by The Isley Bros., The Temptations & Marvin Gaye.

You can add Gladys and the Pips as well, so there's at least four.

[robb_k]

I know we have had countless discussions on here about Motown artists who covered one another's songs, such as I Heard it Through the Grapevine. But are there any songs in which there are three or more Motown versions? I can't think of any.
7568
There have been HUNDREDS. Way too many for me to start listing them all.

[Motown Eddie]

I know we have had countless discussions on here about Motown artists who covered one another's songs, such as I Heard it Through the Grapevine. But are there any songs in which there are three or more Motown versions? I can't think of any.

Here's some more;
"Who's Lovin' You"-The Miracles, The Temptations, The Jackson 5
"Money [[That's What I Want)"-Barrett Strong, The Miracles, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, Mary Wells, Hattie Littles
"How Sweet It Is [[To Be Loved By You)"-Marvin Gaye, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, The Isley Bros.

[Motown Eddie]

And this;
"Come See About Me"-The Supremes, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, The Originals.

[RossHolloway]

Here's some more;
"Who's Lovin' You"-The Miracles, The Temptations, The Jackson 5
"Money [[That's What I Want)"-Barrett Strong, The Miracles, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, Mary Wells, Hattie Littles
"How Sweet It Is [[To Be Loved By You)"-Marvin Gaye, Jr. Walker & The All-Stars, The Isley Bros.

The Supreme's also did a version of Money.

[rovereab]

The Boy From Crosstown - Velvelettes and Marvelettes [[2 different versions by each group)

[noel181]

Amos Milburn also did Money [[That's What I Want) on the Return To Amos Milburn Album.
It was simply titled "Money" and is the only song that was not included on The Motown Sessions 1962-1964. I noticed someone on a previous thread stated everything was already released on this CD which is not the case. He steered away from the blues on this one, as it sounds more R&B much like Barrett Strong.

[johnny_raven]

Blinky also recorded a version of Money.

[reese]

The Supreme's also did a version of Money.

Diana recorded MONEY as a solo artist as well.

[mysterysinger]

Great question for forum involvement, but who consulted DFTMC for their answers?

I also love "Green Grow The Lilacs", in fact The Originals can do very little wrong for me.

Did anyone mention "Heaven Must Have Sent You"? Supremes, Elgins, Bonnie Pointer.
"Ask The Lonely" - Jackson 5, Billy Eckstine, Four Tops.
"Chained" - Marvin Gaye, Barbara Randolph, Paul Petersen
"Its Got To Be A Miracle [[This Thing Called Love)" - Marvin Gaye/Kim Weston, Barbara Randolph, Supremes/Four Tops.
"My Whole World Ended" - Kiki Dee, Motown Spinners, David Ruffin.

[144man]

In addition to Post #28, "Chained" was also recorded by Bobby Taylor, The Jackson 5, and Rare Earth.

[thomas96]

Everybody Needs Love - Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jimmy Ruffin, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

[[Didn;t need dftmc for this one... It's one of my favorites.)

@144man

"Chained" wasn't recorded by Bobby Taylor in the studio... A live version was recorded but I wouldn't really count that.

[thomas96]

Gonna Give Her All the Love I Got - Jimmy Ruffin, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations.

A Place In the Sun - Stevie, Four Tops, Supemes with the Temptations.

Ooo Baby Baby - Miracles, Brenda Holloway, Blinky & Edwin Starr.

Take Me In Your Arms [[Rock Me A Little While) - Kim Weston, Eddie Holland, Isley Brothers.

[thomas96]

Technically, every single song recorded at Motown had 3 or more VERSIONS as there were different mixes, different takes, etc. I know you mean 3 different artists, but it technically is all songs with 3 or more versions.

[mowest]

[QUOTE=thomas96;201209]Everybody Needs Love - Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jimmy Ruffin, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

[[Didn;t need dftmc for this one... It's one of my favorites.)

Also recorded by Mary Wells.

[johnny_raven]

[QUOTE=thomas96;201209]Everybody Needs Love - Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jimmy Ruffin, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

[[Didn;t need dftmc for this one... It's one of my favorites.)

Also recorded by Mary Wells.

... and the Velvelettes.

[smark21]

Who's Lovin' You was also recorded by The Supremes. And didn't Martha and the Vandellas record a version of I Want You Back?

[thomas96]

[QUOTE=mowest;201221]

... and the Velvelettes.

And I believe the Temptations did too.

[robb_k]

Blinky also recorded a version of Money.
7574
So did Popcorn Wylie and The Mohawks, and probably several more artists and groups we haven't mentioned yet.

[johnjeb]

The Boy From Crosstown - Velvelettes and Marvelettes [[2 different versions by each group)

and Gladys Knight & The Pips

[JohnnyB]

and Gladys Knight & The Pips

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin & Tammi, Diana Ross, Supremes & Temptations

[daviddesper]

Boy do I feel pretty stupid about right now!! And I thought I knew my Motown pretty well. Thanks for the education!

[mowest]

Boy do I feel pretty stupid about right now!! And I thought I knew my Motown pretty well. Thanks for the education!

No need to feel that way. I'm sure everyone here has learned something they didn't know before. That's one of the benefits of the forum!

[thomas96]

I think an interesting question would be are there any Motown songs with 3 or more HIT versions? I can't think of any of those.

[Motown4Ever518]

Boy do I feel pretty stupid about right now!! And I thought I knew my Motown pretty well. Thanks for the education!

Thank you for posting an interesting thread.

[smark21]

I think an interesting question would be are there any Motown songs with 3 or more HIT versions? I can't think of any of those.

Well if you include non Motown recorded versions of Motown hits, then You Keep Me Hangin’ ON would count as The Supremes, Vanilla Fudge and Kim Wilde all had hits with that song.

[mysterysinger]

Would "Do You Love Me" count as a 3 hitter as well as a 3 Motown recorder?

Hits Contours / Brian Poole & Tremeloes / Dave Clark Five.

Motown versions Contours / Temptations / Supremes.

[kenneth]

I think an interesting question would be are there any Motown songs with 3 or more HIT versions? I can't think of any of those.

Heard it Through the Grapevine - Gladys & Pips, Gaye, CCR

[roger]

Heard it Through the Grapevine - Gladys & Pips, Gaye, CCR

And ROGER's version got to #1 R&B as well .. :)

Roger