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  1. #1
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    Most Popular Motown Cover Versions

    Over in the Facebook group Motown From The Vaults we have this week posted our 20,000th youtube of Motown recordings, cover versions or live performances. Thought you might be interested to see which Motown sounds have been covered the most. This list features Motown songs covered 10 or more times. With up to 20 new cover versions being posted daily to the group the figures below are not exhaustive …and god-willing I’ll do this again when we reach 30,000…!!!

    I Heard It Through The Grapevine - 130 versions
    For Once In My Life - 120
    Reach Out I'll Be There - 95
    Money That's What I Want - 93
    My Cherie Amour - 92
    My Girl - 92
    You Keep Me Hangin' On - 92
    Dancing In The Street - 88
    You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - 83
    Just My Imagination Running Away With Me - 75
    Get Ready - 72
    Ain't That Peculiar - 71
    The Tracks Of My Tears - 71
    Baby I Need Your Loving - 70
    Ooo Baby Baby - 63
    What's Going On - 63
    Where Did Our Love Go - 63
    Ain't No Mountain High Enough - 61
    Ain't Too Proud To Beg - 60
    Stop In The Name Of Love - 59
    What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - 59
    You've Made Me So Very Happy - 58
    Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours - 57
    You've Really Got A Hold On Me - 57
    Never Can Say Goodbye - 56
    How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You - 53
    I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - 53
    Uptight Everything's Alright - 53
    Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - 49
    Come See About Me - 46
    My World Is Empty Without You - 46
    Superstition - 46
    You Can't Hurry Love - 45
    I Can't Help Myself Sugar Pie Honey Bunch - 44
    My Guy - 42
    Please Mr Postman - 42
    I Want You Back - 41
    Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - 41
    I Wish It Would Rain - 40
    Love Is Like A Heat Wave - 40
    Didn't We - 39
    I Was Made To Love Her - 39
    Nowhere To Run - 38
    You're All I Need To Get By - 38
    Every Little Bit Hurts - 37
    What Does It Take To Win Your Love - 37
    A Place In The Sun - 36
    Do You Love Me - 36
    Baby Love - 35
    I'll Be There - 35
    The Tears Of A Clown - 35
    The Way You Do The Things You Do - 35
    Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - 35
    Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing - 34
    I Second That Emotion - 34
    Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever - 34
    This Old Heart Of Mine Is Weak For You - 33
    What Christmas Means To Me - 33
    Heaven Help Us All - 32
    I Can't Get Next To You - 32
    Shotgun - 32
    All In Love Is Fair - 31
    It's The Same Old Song - 31
    Living For The City - 31
    Someday We'll Be Together - 31
    Twenty-Five Miles - 31
    Can I Get A Witness - 30
    1 2 3 - 29
    If This World Were Mine - 29
    Mickey's Monkey - 29
    Ask The Lonely - 28
    If I Were Your Woman - 28
    Isn't She Lovely - 28
    Reflections - 28
    Ball Of Confusion That's What The World Is Today - 27
    Ben - 27
    Let's Get It On - 27
    Love Child - 27
    I Hear A Symphony - 26
    It Takes Two - 26
    Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye - 26
    War - 26
    Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday - 26
    Abraham Martin And John - 25
    Back In My Arms Again - 25
    California Soul - 25
    I'm A Road Runner - 25
    Inner City Blues Make Me Wanna Holler - 25
    Touch Me In The Morning - 25
    You've Got What It Takes - 25
    Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - 24
    I Know I'm Losing You - 24
    Standing In The Shadows Of Love - 24
    Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher And Higher - 24
    Hitch Hike - 23
    Jimmy Mack - 23
    Lonely Teardrops - 23
    Shop Around - 23
    Until You Come Back To Me That's What I'm Gonna Do - 23
    I Just Called To Say I Love You - 22
    I'll Be Doggone - 22
    Ain't No Sunshine - 21
    Cloud Nine - 21
    Going To A Go-Go - 21
    Got To Be There - 21
    Honey Come Back - 21
    I Wish - 21
    Since I Lost My Baby - 21
    All I Could Do Was Cry - 20
    Don't Leave Me This Way - 20
    Easy - 20
    Leaving Here - 20
    Oh How Happy - 20
    Someday At Christmas - 20
    Stormy - 20
    Take Me In Your Arms Rock Me A Little While - 20
    Don't Look Back - 19
    Endless Love - 19
    Love Hangover - 19
    One More Heartache - 19
    Stop Him On Sight SOS - 19
    The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - 19
    You Beat Me To The Punch - 19
    Blame It On The Sun - 18
    I Wanna Be Where You Are - 18
    Just Like Romeo And Juliet - 18
    Love Makes The World Go 'Round - 18
    My Eyes Adored You - 18
    Overjoyed - 18
    Theme From Mahogany Do You Know Where You're Going To - 18
    Too Many Fish In The Sea - 18
    Who's Lovin' You - 18
    All I Do Is Think About You - 17
    Baby I'm For Real - 17
    Come And Get These Memories - 17
    Function At The Junction - 17
    Higher Ground - 17
    I Love Every Little Thing About You - 17
    I Want You - 17
    If You Really Love Me - 17
    Love Is Like An Itchin' In My Heart - 17
    Mercy Mercy Me The Ecology - 17
    Smiling Faces Sometimes - 17
    Upside Down - 17
    ABC - 16
    Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone - 16
    Creepin' - 16
    Distant Lover - 16
    Heaven Must Have Sent You - 16
    It's A Shame - 16
    Just A Little Misunderstanding - 16
    La La La La La - 16
    Needle In A Haystack - 16
    Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer - 16
    The One Who Really Loves You - 16
    With You I'm Born Again - 16
    Your Precious Love - 16
    A Love Like Yours Don't Come Knocking Everyday - 15
    Baby Don't You Do It - 15
    Bird Of Beauty - 15
    I'll Keep My Light In My Window - 15
    More Love - 15
    Reet Petite - 15
    Shake Me Wake Me When It's Over - 15
    Sir Duke - 15
    Superwoman Where Were You When I Needed You - 15
    Three Times A Lady - 15
    First I Look At The Purse - 14
    Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got - 14
    Got To Give It Up - 14
    Hello - 14
    I've Never Been To Me - 14
    Knocks Me Off My Feet - 14
    Lately - 14
    Mashed Potato Time - 14
    Master Blaster Jammin' - 14
    Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand - 14
    Trouble Man - 14
    Does Your Mama Know About Me - 13
    Everybody Needs Love - 13
    I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You - 13
    My Baby Loves Me - 13
    Pride And Joy - 13
    That's How Heartaches Are Made - 13
    There's A Ghost In My House - 13
    Visions - 13
    Walk Away Renee - 13
    Another Star - 12
    Do I Love You Indeed I Do - 12
    Do What You Gotta Do - 12
    Don't Know Why I Love You - 12
    Don't Mess With Bill - 12
    Golden Lady - 12
    I Believe When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever - 12
    I Want A Love I Can See - 12
    If I Ever Lose This Heaven - 12
    It's Growing - 12
    Just Walk In My Shoes - 12
    Message From A Blackman - 12
    Mojo Hannah - 12
    Put Yourself In My Place - 12
    Still Water Love - 12
    That's The Way Love Is - 12
    To Be Loved - 12
    Try It Baby - 12
    Up The Ladder To The Roof - 12
    When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes - 12
    When You're Young And In Love - 12
    Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home - 12
    You Are Everything - 12
    Bernadette - 11
    Boogie On Reggae Woman - 11
    Chained - 11
    Corner Of The Sky - 11
    Happier Than The Morning Sun - 11
    I Want To Go Back There Again - 11
    It Should Have Been Me - 11
    Love's In Need Of Love Today - 11
    Ribbon In The Sky - 11
    Too High - 11
    Behind A Painted Smile - 10
    Being With You - 10
    Cruisin' - 10
    Give Love On Christmas Day - 10
    I'll Try Something New - 10
    I'm Still Waiting - 10
    Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me - 10
    The Happening - 10
    The Love You Save - 10
    What Love Has Joined Together - 10

    The list above does not include the many hundreds of foreign language covers that are posted under their foreign titles. For the full list of the 20,000 Motown youtube sounds posted so far check in the ‘Files’ in the FB group.

    Grape
    Last edited by grapevine; 12-09-2018 at 03:00 PM.

  2. #2
    STAG-G-G-G-G-G-ER-ING! I just took my hat off to you and then shredded it, because, yes, this is an exhaustive list and I can see a LOT of hard work went into compiling, let alone TYPING this list out!

    Some huge surprises here at the songs that have been covered AND the sheer number of covers. Great job here on all the work that went into this!

  3. #3
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    You mentioned that this list includes live as well as recorded cover. "Up the Ladder to the Roof" has been performed live 100s of times by vocal ensembles, chorale groups and choirs at colleges and high schools across the country.

    This list illustrates why Berry Gordy insisted on owning the publishing for Motown songs.

  4. #4
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    I don't believe this is a Motown song, "Mashed Potato Time" Who recorded it?

  5. #5
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    Oooh interesting stuff thanks grape. Wasn't sure what would be #1, not sure I expected "Grapevine" either, but "For Once In My Life" being #2 makes sense to me.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by marv2 View Post
    I don't believe this is a Motown song, "Mashed Potato Time" Who recorded it?
    ..from DFTMC

    Mashed Potato Time [[William Garrett-Robert Bateman-Brian Holland-Freddie Gorman-Kal Mann) published Jobete

    The Marvelettes; recorded Hitsville, completed 14-Mar-62 ; produced by William Stevenson ; [2nd odb, lead Gladys Horton]

    Apr-62; LP [[M): Tamla TM229 The Marvelettes Sing
    08-May-09; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0011516-02 Forever: The Complete Motown Albums Volume 1
    Dee Dee Sharp; recording details unknown
    17-Feb-62; 45 [[M): Cameo 212 A


  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by marv2 View Post
    You mentioned that this list includes live as well as recorded cover. "Up the Ladder to the Roof" has been performed live 100s of times by vocal ensembles, chorale groups and choirs at colleges and high schools across the country.

    This list illustrates why Berry Gordy insisted on owning the publishing for Motown songs.
    ...we can only post what's available on YouTube...to date there aren't a 100 versions of Up The Ladder To The Roof there...!


  8. #8
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    Wow! It's great to know that the Motown Catalog of songs is still going strong with cover versions. Thanks for posting Grapevine.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by grapevine View Post
    ..from DFTMC

    Mashed Potato Time [[William Garrett-Robert Bateman-Brian Holland-Freddie Gorman-Kal Mann) published Jobete

    The Marvelettes; recorded Hitsville, completed 14-Mar-62 ; produced by William Stevenson ; [2nd odb, lead Gladys Horton]

    Apr-62; LP [[M): Tamla TM229 The Marvelettes Sing
    08-May-09; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0011516-02 Forever: The Complete Motown Albums Volume 1
    Dee Dee Sharp; recording details unknown
    17-Feb-62; 45 [[M): Cameo 212 A

    Thank you Grapevine!

  10. #10
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    Very interesting thread. What an amazing body of work! I can't believe how many versions of some of these songs have been recorded.

    For the poster who asked about "Mashed Potato Time," here's an earlier thread which discusses the similarities and differences [[and the legal action) which resulted after "Mashed" came out.

    https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...ed-Potato-Time

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