Name Motown's Two Longest Charting 45s [[Most Weeks Spent) On Billboard's R&B Chart

[Boogiedown]

Within the period of 1942-1988.

Joel Whitburn's TOP R&B SINGLES book lists 32 singles that charted 27 weeks or more on Billboard's Soul chart . At #32 [[ w/ 27 weeks) is Chaka's AIN'T NOBODY from 1983.
At #1 is CHERRY RED BLUES from Cootie Williams [[1944) charting for a 39 week total.
In between those two songs are thirty others , two of which were released through Motown.

NAME THOSE TUNES !!!......????:confused:

[[I've named the source, but no cheating please !)

[jobeterob]

No clue!

Upside Down?

[Boogiedown]

reasonable guess jobeterob!
but , ...no !

[Worntorndress]

Marvin Gaye 'I heard it through the grapevine'?

[Worntorndress]

Four Tops 'Reach out I'll be there'?

[Worntorndress]

Supremes 'Baby Love'?

[Worntorndress]

Jackie Wilson 'Reet Petite'?

[roger]

I know the answer, but I cheated and looked in the book so I'm not telling.

Let's just say that I wouldn't have thought of either of those two and Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", which is on the list, wasn't released via Motown so isn't one of them.

Roger

[jack020]

Prob BoyzIIMen End Of The Road

[roger]

Prob BoyzIIMen End Of The Road

That did spend 27 weeks on Billboard's R&B chart jack020, but it wasn't released until 1992. :)

[marv2]

"Stone Love".

[marv2]

"I'll Be There" - The Jackson 5

[alexstassi]

I'm sure Rick James' "Give it to me baby" had a long spell.

[alexstassi]

And Stevie Wonder "MasterBlaster"

[alexstassi]

Ok I've just checked... I think I was on the right lines but my guesses were wrong too!!!

[benross]

My guess is Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston and Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie.

[mowest]

I too just checked the chart and was very surprised!

[copley]

I think that 'Cruisin'' may be one of them. As for the other one possibly a J5.

[copley]

OMG! I have just been told what the other one is and TBH I have never even heard it!

[khansperac]

I just called to say I love you - Stevie W

[marv2]

I think that 'Cruisin'' may be one of them. As for the other one possibly a J5.

That is a good choice. It was released in 1979 and did not peak until 1980.

[marv2]

"With You I'm Born Again" Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright. It was the soundtrack was released in early 1979 and did not peak until 1980. I saw them perform the song on the Mike Douglas Show very early in 1979 and forgot about it until it peaked almost a year later.

[khansperac]

I love your smile- Shanice

[alexstassi]

I love your smile- Shanice that was released in 1992

[alexstassi]

Well 1992 in the UK.. end of 91 in the US

[JohnnyB]

Well 1992 in the UK.. end of 91 in the US

Endless Love?

[alexstassi]

Endless Love?

I wouldn't have guessed either of them and definitely not one of them. Mind blowing lol

[Boogiedown]

Yes roger, the one other Motown alumni on this list is Marvin Gaye with 1982's SEXUAL HEALING [[CBS) with 27 weeks on the chart , its song #28 on the list.

good candidates mentioned!!
I'm betting amongst those is Motown's third longest charting single. My money would be on DONT LEAVE ME THIS WAY since it took a very slow climb to reach its #1 spot , or WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN , a sort of self-determined hit against all odds. OR it could be ENDLESS LOVE , Motown's all-time biggest single ....or ....lol!
Anyone know ?

In the meantime , for sure , one of the two longest charting singles has been mentioned --- Smokey's CRUISIN", it was the 21st longest charting record , 28 weeks on the chart in 1979. Well done copley!:cool:

One down ....
.....one to go!!

[roger]

"With You I'm Born Again" Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright. It was the soundtrack was released in early 1979 and did not peak until 1980. I saw them perform the song on the Mike Douglas Show very early in 1979 and forgot about it until it peaked almost a year later.

"With You I'm Born Again" did spend 29 weeks on Billboard's "Pop" Hot-100 Chart, peaking at #4, so it does sound a likely choice Marv2 …. However it didn't find much favour with the R&B crowd and only peaked at #86 during a three week run early in 1980. :)

[jack020]

Gladys Knight?

[Boogiedown]

"With You I'm Born Again" did spend 29 weeks on Billboard's "Pop" Hot-100 Chart, peaking at #4, so it does sound a likely choice Marv2 …. However it didn't find much favour with the R&B crowd and only peaked at #86 during a three week run early in 1980. :)

that's amazing ....three weeks on the soul chart , Penny McLean's LADY BUMP did better! lol!

[marv2]

"With You I'm Born Again" did spend 29 weeks on Billboard's "Pop" Hot-100 Chart, peaking at #4, so it does sound a likely choice Marv2 …. However it didn't find much favour with the R&B crowd and only peaked at #86 during a three week run early in 1980. :)

I always thought it was a nice, dull record.

[vgalindo]

So has anyone guessed the 2 correct songs?

[jobeterob]

So I Love Your Smile is one?

[copley]

No not Shanice for one very good reason, it was a hit in 1991 outwith the time frame! The second song has not been named yet. I was shocked when I was told. It wasn't even a hit in the UK and only a medium sized US Top 100 hit! Think out of the box.

[Boogiedown]

No not Shanice for one very good reason, it was a hit in 1991 outwith the time frame! The second song has not been named yet. I was shocked when I was told. It wasn't even a hit in the UK and only a medium sized US Top 100 hit! Think out of the box.

Yes its certainly not one of the immediate Motown biggies that might come to mind to hold a distinction like this. I think Motown made it a practice to release a follow-up replacement to a hit as soon as it showed any sign of slippage , making the previous tune immediately obsolete , which might be why many of the bigger hits shot quicky up and then quickly off the chart.

So for the still unaccounted for answer , think of a strong R&B release that didn't take the Pop chart by storm enabling it to run its long course over on the R&B chart.

Oh, thanks to those of you that [[cheated:p) and researched the answer but didn't barge in here with it. :cool:

[jack020]

Tears Of a clown?

[Boogiedown]

hmmmm..... TEARS OF A CLOWN was a #1 Pop Hit.

[alexstassi]

Yes its certainly not one of the immediate Motown biggies that might come to mind to hold a distinction like this. I think Motown made it a practice to release a follow-up replacement to a hit as soon as it showed any sign of slippage , making the previous tune immediately obsolete , which might be why many of the bigger hits shot quicky up and then quickly off the chart.

So for the still unaccounted for answer , think of a strong R&B release that didn't take the Pop chart by storm enabling it to run its long course over on the R&B chart.

Oh, thanks to those of you that [[cheated:p) and researched the answer but didn't barge in here with it. :cool:

..and the biggest hint has just been dropped

[khansperac]

Oh, thanks to those of you that [[cheated:p) and researched the answer but didn't barge in here with it. :cool:

If there is a clue in this, perhaps the clue is “barge”. So I will go with something by Debarge or Switch. Not sure what song though.

[marv2]

Let It Whip - Dazz Band

[jack020]

rhythm of the night

[Boogiedown]

OK then good guesses , but without further ado , here is Motown's longest chart running single [[28 weeks*) and Number 20 on the longevity list of all songs appearing on the Billboard R&B chart thru 1988:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoBpNjV4peU
Debarge 1983: I LIKE IT

*which actually ties "CRUISIN'" with the same number of weeks , so not sure how one gets ranked above the other ,

[jobeterob]

Interesting

It’s just that in one era songs charted forever - like in the early 80’s

Whereas in 60’s, singles sales may have even been greater, but there were many more releases and less longevity

[marv2]

OK then good guesses , but without further ado , here is Motown's longest chart running single [[28 weeks*) and Number 20 on the longevity list of all songs appearing on the Billboard R&B chart thru 1988:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoBpNjV4peU
Debarge 1983: I LIKE IT

*which actually ties "CRUISIN'" with the same number of weeks , so not sure how one gets ranked above the other ,

What a great song! I loved this song all of these years. Thanks Boogiedown!

[roger]

Interesting

It’s just that in one era songs charted forever - like in the early 80’s

Whereas in 60’s, singles sales may have even been greater, but there were many more releases and less longevity

All very true Jobeterob, but another thing to consider is that in The '60s Billboard's R&B chart only consisted of 50 or 60 records. This was expanded to 100 in 1973 so the combination of less singles and more chart positions was bound to result in longer chart runs.

Roger

[midnightman]

Had no idea I Like It stayed on the charts like that! No wonder it's become such a historic song lol

The minute that beat hits... it's on!

[Boogiedown]

What a great song! I loved this song all of these years. Thanks Boogiedown!

You're welcome Marv! Thanks for being thankful!

Do you know which Debarge it is that sings here first?[[pink shirt) Really like his voice. Also the Debarge on the far right [[gray pants) ... his dancing , he's a natural.


https://youtu.be/uoBpNjV4peU

[marv2]

You're welcome Marv! Thanks for being thankful!

Do you know which Debarge it is that sings here first?[[pink shirt) Really like his voice. Also the Debarge on the far right [[gray pants) ... his dancing , he's a natural.


https://youtu.be/uoBpNjV4peU

Randy DeBarge starts the song off. That is Marty DeBarge on the far right. Bunny is in the center of course and James is on the left on the end.

[marv2]

DeBarge and Val Young were some of the last artists from Detroit to join Motown. They both also have roots in the Brewster Projects of Detroit.

[Boogiedown]

Randy DeBarge starts the song off. That is Marty DeBarge on the far right. Bunny is in the center of course and James is on the left on the end.

thanks Marv. I appreciate your knowledge.

Now I am curious..............What was Motown's THIRD longest running radio hit??

One candidate might be Rick James' GIVE IT TO ME BABY . On the chart for 25 weeks, five of which were at #1.
Now that's a HIT!!

[marv2]

thanks Marv. I appreciate your knowledge.

Now I am curious..............What was Motown's THIRD longest running radio hit??

One candidate might be Rick James' GIVE IT TO ME BABY . On the chart for 25 weeks, five of which were at #1.
Now that's a HIT!!

"Super Freak" was even more successful. Are you referring to the Pop or R&B charts?

[marv2]

"Three Times A Lady" seemed to stay on the charts forever in the second half of 1978.

[Boogiedown]

"Super Freak" was even more successful. Are you referring to the Pop or R&B charts?


Sticking to the R&B chart and using same Joel Whitburn book as the source.

SUPERFREAK --- 17 weeks
3X A LADY -----Also 17 weeks although you're right , it seemed a lot longer. lol!

[marv2]

Sticking to the R&B chart and using same Joel Whitburn book as the source.

SUPERFREAK --- 17 weeks
3X A LADY -----Also 17 weeks although you're right , it seemed a lot longer. lol!

I was a freshman in college and it seemed like everytime you turned on the radio that Fall it was either "Three Times A Lady" or Anne Murray's "You Needed Me" was on. Radio in Colorado sucked! LOL!

[midnightman]

Randy wrote the verses, Bunny the bridge and El the music. El produced it with Idris Gordy. Idris is the only one who got him to go really high in the song at the end.

[midnightman]

DeBarge and Val Young were some of the last artists from Detroit to join Motown. They both also have roots in the Brewster Projects of Detroit.

Etterlene DeBarge's family, the Abneys, lived there.

[marv2]

Randy wrote the verses, Bunny the bridge and El the music. El produced it with Idris Gordy. Idris is the only one who got him to go really high in the song at the end.

Her name is Iris. She use to be married to Johnny Bristol. I know her daughter Karla.