Favorite Post Motown Songs from Famous Motown Artists

[Optimal Saint]

What are some of your favorite songs made by famous Motown acts after they left Motown?

For me I'm personally leaving Michael Jackson out of this, I consider him a completely different situation

[Optimal Saint]

[Optimal Saint]

I'm sure I have more, but i'll have to think more about it

Love the song, but this video is awful BTW

And as much as I love the song i wish it used more real instruments and instead of the 80s production

[sansradio]

Here's a hot one:

[sansradio]

Gladys & The Pips had so many, but here's an undersung standout:

[Starguard4]

I have my own favorites, too. Here's a couple...

On the Four Tops post-Motown, nothing can top their 1981 Casablanca single "When She Was My Girl".

On The Spinners, their debut Atlantic single "I'll Be Around" equals anything recorded by them previously, either at Motown or Tri-Phi.

On Gladys Knight, I'll stick with the Motown tracks, and especially their Norman Whitfield productions

[mysterysinger]

Detroit Spinners - "Ghetto Child"
Jacksons - "Even Though You're Gone"
Kiki Dee - "Loving and Free"
Jermaine Jackson - "Do What You Do"
Pointer Sisters - "Jump [[For My Love)"
Gladys Knight and The Pips - "A Perfect Love"
Four Tops - "The Good Lord Knows"
Johnny Bristol - "Hang On In There Baby"
Meatloaf - "I Will Do Anything For Love [[But I Won't Do That)"
Chuck Jackson - "I've Got The Need"
Jimmy Ruffin - "Hold On To My Love"
Stephanie Mills - "Never Knew Love Like This Before"
Isley Brothers - "Summer Breeze"
Four Seasons - "Who Loves You"
Frankie Valli - "Swearin' To God"
Ashford and Simpson - "Solid"
Bobby Taylor - "I Can't Quit Your Love"
R Dean Taylor - "Window Shopping"
Linda Griner [[Lyn Roman) - "Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy"
Edwin Starr - "Contact"
Kim Weston - "The Exodus Song"

[Optimal Saint]

Detroit Spinners - "Ghetto Child"
Jacksons - "Even Though You're Gone"
Kiki Dee - "Loving and Free"
Jermaine Jackson - "Do What You Do"
Pointer Sisters - "Jump [[For My Love)"
Gladys Knight and The Pips - "A Perfect Love"
Four Tops - "The Good Lord Knows"
Johnny Bristol - "Hang On In There Baby"
Meatloaf - "I Will Do Anything For Love [[But I Won't Do That)"
Chuck Jackson - "I've Got The Need"
Jimmy Ruffin - "Hold On To My Love"
Stephanie Mills - "Never Knew Love Like This Before"
Isley Brothers - "Summer Breeze"
Four Seasons - "Who Loves You"
Frankie Valli - "Swearin' To God"
Ashford and Simpson - "Solid"
Bobby Taylor - "I Can't Quit Your Love"
R Dean Taylor - "Window Shopping"
Linda Griner [[Lyn Roman) - "Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy"
Edwin Starr - "Contact"
Kim Weston - "The Exodus Song"

The Pointer Sisters were on Motown?

[sansradio]

The Pointer Sisters were on Motown?

Yes, for the Right Rhythm album [1990].

[lucky2012]

I have my own favorites, too. Here's a couple...

On the Four Tops post-Motown, nothing can top their 1981 Casablanca single "When She Was My Girl".

On The Spinners, their debut Atlantic single "I'll Be Around" equals anything recorded by them previously, either at Motown or Tri-Phi.

On Gladys Knight, I'll stick with the Motown tracks, and especially their Norman Whitfield productions

Interesting.

I think Spinners post-Motown success far eclipsed their Motown years, especially 1972-1976. I'll Be Around, Could It Be I'm Falling Love, Mighty Love, Games People Play, How Could I Let You Get Away.

On the other hand, Gladys & the Pips achieved pop mega-success right after leaving Motown [~1973-1975, Midnight Train, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, Imagination being my favorites], but, like you, I prefer their Motown output. [Neither One of Us, Grapevine, End of Our Road, If I Were Your Woman, etc.]

Same with The Four Tops. I like When She Was My Girl post-Motown but their Motown hits are untouchable.

[Starguard4]

Detroit Spinners - "Ghetto Child"
Jacksons - "Even Though You're Gone"
Kiki Dee - "Loving and Free"
Jermaine Jackson - "Do What You Do"
Pointer Sisters - "Jump [[For My Love)"
Gladys Knight and The Pips - "A Perfect Love"
Four Tops - "The Good Lord Knows"
Johnny Bristol - "Hang On In There Baby"
Meatloaf - "I Will Do Anything For Love [[But I Won't Do That)"
Chuck Jackson - "I've Got The Need"
Jimmy Ruffin - "Hold On To My Love"
Stephanie Mills - "Never Knew Love Like This Before"
Isley Brothers - "Summer Breeze"
Four Seasons - "Who Loves You"
Frankie Valli - "Swearin' To God"
Ashford and Simpson - "Solid"
Bobby Taylor - "I Can't Quit Your Love"
R Dean Taylor - "Window Shopping"
Linda Griner [[Lyn Roman) - "Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy"
Edwin Starr - "Contact"
Kim Weston - "The Exodus Song"

There's a good few in there, that are favorites of mine, too...

Stephanie Mills - "Never Knew Love Like This Before"
Isley Brothers - "Summer Breeze"
Edwin Starr - "Contact"
Johnny Bristol - "Hang On In There Baby"
Ashford and Simpson - "Solid"

Not on your list, but 2 favorites of mine post-Motown on Mary Wells now come to mind... "Ain't It The Truth" [[late-1964) and "Dear Lover" [[late-1965)

There's nothing I like on R. Dean Taylor after Motown.

[rovereab]

I like many of those that have been posted above and would add:

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing, 'Till Midnight
Diana Ross - Let Somebody Know, Chain Reaction, Your Love
Four Tops - Loco In Acapolco, Love Music

[Starguard4]

Can also add another goodie on Frankie Valli/Four Seasons - one of my favorites...

"December 1963 [Oh, What A Night]"

[robb_k]

What are some of your favorite songs made by famous Motown acts after they left Motown?

Mary Wells: "Me Without You"

Kim Weston: "You're Just The Kind of Guy"

Patrice Holloway: "Ecstasy"

[sansradio]

[robb_k]

What are some of your favorite songs made by famous Motown acts after they left Motown?

Satintones[[Pyramids): "I'm The Playboy"


Herman Griffin: "Dream Girl"

Popcorn Wylie: "Brand New Man"

[Motown Eddie]

Here's one:

[Motown Eddie]

And one more:

Brenda Holloway's "Let Love Grow".

[robb_k]

What are some of your favorite songs made by famous Motown acts after they left Motown?

Attachment 21997
Linda Griner[[Lyn Roman): "G.B. Day

Freddie Gorman: "In A Bad Way"


J.J. Barnes: "Sweet Sherry"

[robb_k]

Attachment 21997
Marv Johnson: "The Man Who Don't Believe In Love"

The Parliaments: "That Was My Girl"

Mary Wells: "Why Don't You Let Yourself Go"

[Motown Eddie]

Can't forget about this one, Four Tops' "I Believe In You And Me".

[mysterysinger]

The Pointer Sisters were on Motown?

As sansradio said The Pointers did record for Motown but I'm wrong because "Jump [[For My Love)" was before their Motown days, not after, which I should have realised. Maybe it's a good answer for a favourite pre-Motown records thread instead lol.

[Stax_of_Motown]

Jimmy Ruffin - Tears Of Joy

[DWSheffer]

This is probably the one I listen to the most, and it's another Four Tops tune for the thread.
Darin

[rovereab]

Can't forget about this one, Four Tops' "I Believe In You And Me".

Such a brilliant song and performance.

[Starguard4]

Grover Washington's 1981 single for Elektra - "Just The Two Of Us", and...

The Undisputed Truth's 1976 single [Whitfield Records] - "You + Me = Love"

[Motown Eddie]

[Motown Eddie]

[motony]

all of Mary Wells Jubilee Records that she & Cecil Womack wrote & produced.

[Optimal Saint]

[tjl]

Chain Reaction - Diana Ross
I Believe In You And Me - Tops
Bobby Smith's leads and co-leads on all the Atlantic Spinners stuff
Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye [[acapella version)

[Philles/Motown Gary]

DIANA ROSS - "Chain Reaction"
DIANA ROSS & JULIO IGLESIAS - "All Of You"
EDDIE KENDRICKS - "I'm In Need Of Love"
EDDIE KENDRICKS - "In Love We're One"
FOUR TOPS - "When She Was My Girl"
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS - "Home Is Where The Heart Is" [[Van McCoy)
JOHNNY BRISTOL - "Hang On In There Baby"
JOHNNY BRISTOL & ALTON MCCLAIN - "Hang On In There Baby" [[Duet Version)
JOHNNY BRISTOL - "I Sho Like Groovin' With Ya"
MARTHA REEVES - "I've Got To Use My Imagination"
MARY WELLS - "Use Your Head"
MARY WELLS - "Everlovin' Boy"
MARY WELLS - "Why Don't You Let Yourself Go"
MARY WELLS - "Such A Sweet Thing"
MARY WELLS - "Gigolo"
MARY WELLS - "These Arms"
THE SPINNERS - [[ALL of their Atlantic/Philly Soul Thom Bell productions)
TEENA MARIE - "Lover Boy"
KIKI DEE - "Once A Fool"

[sansradio]

^Hey, PMG, "Going Up in Smoke" was a Tamla release.

[BayouMotownMan]

Spinners I'll Be Around [[by far my favorite)
Good Times, Heartbreak Hotel-Jacksons
It Seems To Hang On, Flashback-Ashford & Simpson
Bourgie, Bourgie-Gladys Knight
Midnight Flower, When She Was My Girl-4 Tops
Stop Takin' Me For Granted, Gigolo-Mary Wells
That's The Way Love Grows-Jean Terrell

[BayouMotownMan]

Oh my bad

Martha Reeves-entire MCA lp, Thank You, Second Chance

[grapevine]

...I think this has been mentioned ...but it's still good to see and hear it ...written and produced by Ashford & Simpson...



Grape

[YourOldStandBy]

Mary Wells = Dear Lover/Never, Never Leave Me/Hands off My Baby

Florence Ballard = Forever Faithful, Love Ain't Love, It Doesn't Matter How I Say It, Everything Wonderful

Gladys Knight and the Pips = I've Got to Use My Imagination, If I Were Your Woman, Midnight Train to Georgia

Diana Ross = Chain Reaction

[robb_k]

Mable John: "Your Good Thing [[Is About To End)" -

The Monitors: "Fence Around Your Heart"

The Spinners: "I'll Be Around"

[Philles/Motown Gary]

^Hey, PMG, "Going Up in Smoke" was a Tamla release.

Hey, by golly you're right, Sans! Senior moment for a minute there! I was somehow confusing "Ain't No Smoke Without Fire" with Eddie's "Vintage '78" album on Arista. Thanks for steering me clear! [[I've since corrected it.)

[robb_k]

Attachment 21999
Barrett Strong: "I Better Run"

The Four Tops: "Ain't No Woman [[Like The One I've Got)"

David Ruffin: "Still In My Heart" A Don Davis Groovesville Music production, recorded in between his Temptations' artist contract ending and his resigning with Motown as a solo act on Motown Records.

[theboyfromxtown]

Four Tops - For Your Love

[theboyfromxtown]

[reese]

Diana Ross: Missing You, Chain Reaction
Mary Wilson: Don't Get Mad, Get Even
Gladys Knight and the Pips: Midnight Train to Georgia, "Claudine" soundtrack
Martha and the Vandellas: Step Into My Shoes
Martha Reeves: Power of Love, Love Strong Enough to Move Mountains
The Marvelettes: Holding on with Both Hands
Marvin Gaye: Sexual Healing
Michael Jackson: Off the Wall, Thriller

[tamlaboy]

Yes, for the Right Rhythm album [1990].

but longer after "Jump"

[mysterysinger]

As sansradio said The Pointers did record for Motown but I'm wrong because "Jump [[For My Love)" was before their Motown days, not after, which I should have realised. Maybe it's a good answer for a favourite pre-Motown records thread instead lol.

but longer after "Jump"

Yes we covered that above.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

DAVID RUFFIN - "Break My Heart"
https://youtu.be/HmJzgGo6Lr8?si=dpqqKVfHFGpW7OLP

FRANKIE VALLI - "Let It Be Whatever It Is"
https://youtu.be/3PdQE28rJ5A?si=J7vUNfhdqC6VIRg6

FRANKIE VALLI & CHRIS FORDE - "Heaven Above Me"
https://youtu.be/cFBbjLryfRY?si=uvSjr6PUIdFWbuY4

[Boogiedown]

there's this one,




then there's the rest.

[Motown Eddie]

A few more of my favorite post-Motown songs-

Frankie Valli [*with The Four Seasons]-"My Eyes Adored You", "Swearing To God", "Who Loves You"*, "December 1963 [Oh What A Night]"*, "Grease"

Michael Jackson-"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", "I Can't Help It", "Wanna Be Startin' Something", "Man In The Mirror", "Remember The Time"

Mable John-"Same Time Same Place"