***motown poll***motown poll***motown poll***

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1964

1 = - IN MY LONELY ROOM - Martha & Vandellas
2 = - BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING - Four Tops
3 - COME SEEA BOUT ME - Supremes
4 = - EVERY LITTLE BIT HURTS - Brenda Holloway
5 = - DANCING IN THE STREET - Martha & Vandellas
6 - MY GIRL -Temptations
7 = - WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO - Supremes
8 = - MY GUY -Mary Wells
9 - GIRL [[WHY YOU WANNA MAKE ME BLUE) - Temptations
10 - NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK - Velvelettes
11 - HE WAS REALLY SAYING SOMETHING - Velvelettes
12 - THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO - Temptations
13 = - YOU'RE MY REMEDY - Marvelettes
14 = - MY SMILE IS JUST A FROWN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN - Carolyn Crawford
15 - TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA - Marvelettes
16 - OH LITTLE BOY - Mary Wells
17 - BABY LOVE- Supremes
18 = - LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT GUY - Kim Weston
19 = - I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Brenda Holloway
20 - DEVIL WITH THE BLUE DRESS - Shorty Long
21 - YOU'RE A WONDERFUL ONE - Marvin Gaye
22 - SWEET THING - Spinners
23 - HOW SWEET IT IS - Marvin Gaye
24 = -MIDNIGHT JOHNNY - Liz Lands
25 = - BABY DON'T YOU DO IT - Marvin Gaye
26 = - ASK ANY GIRL - Supremes
27 - THE GIRLS ALRIGHT WITH ME - Temptations
28 = - WHEN SOMEONE'S GOOD TO YOU - Carolyn Crawford
29 = - JUST AIN'T ENOUGH LOVE - Eddie Holland
30 - LAND OF A THOUSAND BOYS - Brenda Holloway

Two recordstied for first place in 1964, an almost unbelievable result. In the last fewweeks, the records have either shared the top spot or one has moved slightlyahead of the other but they finally ended together in pole position. Madness!

Even thoughNumber 3 ended just two points behind the leaders, it was never a
front-runner.

I still can'tquite get it in my head that Martha's Number 1 beat her Number 5,
especially asthe latter record is often referred to as the epitome of the Motown Sound.

TheVelvelettes were within a hair's breadth of reaching the top ten and were justpipped at the post.

Again, therewere some interesting B-sides in the top thirty.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1965

1 - NOWHERE TO RUN - Martha & Vandellas
2 = - I'LL KEEP HOLDING ON - Marvelettes
2 = - ASK THE LONELY - Four Tops
4 - I CAN'T HELP MYSELF - Four Tops
5 - THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS - Miracles
6 - AIN'T THAT PECULIAR - Marvin Gaye
7 - BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN - Supremes
8 = - STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE - Supremes
8 = - SINCE I LOST MY BABY - Temptations
10 - DON'T MESS WITH BILL - Marvelettes
11 = - WHEN I'M GONE - Brenda Holloway
11 = - GOING TO A GO GO - Miracles
13 - LONELY LONELY GIRL AM I - Velvelettes
14 - OOO BABY BABY - Miracles
15 - I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Spinners
16 - IT'S GROWING - Temptations
17 - TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS - Kim Weston
18 - A BIRD IN THE HAND - Velvelettes
19 - IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG - Four Tops
20 - I HEAR A SYMPHONY - Supremes
21 - FIRST I LOOK AT THE PURSE - Contours
22 - MY WORLD IS EMPTY WITHOUT YOU - Supremes
23 - DO I LOVE YOU - Frank Wilson
24 - UPTIGHT -Stevie Wonder
25 - A THRILL A MOMENT - Kim Weston
26 = - YOU'RE GONNA LOVE MY BABY - Barbara McNair
26 = - NOTHING BUT HEARTACHES - Supremes
28 = - YOU CAN CRY ON MY SHOULDER - Brenda Holloway
28 = - DON'T LOOK BACK - Temptations
30 - SOMETHING ABOUT YOU - Four Tops

Here we havethe favourite records for 1965, in the thick of the Motown Sound
most peoplelove.

The Number 1 recordgot twice as many points as the Number 10.

Of course,Number 23 was an unreleased record back in 1965 yet it collected
enough votesto get into the top thirty.

This is a goodexample of artists getting many chart places on the strength of having multiplesingle releases in one year. When you note how popular some of the records areby the so-called second tier acts, it makes you wonder what the chart wouldlook like if those artists had been treated to having so many recordingspromoted as singles.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1966

1 - THIS OLD HEART OF MINE - Isley Brothers
2 - HEAVEN MUST HAVE SENT YOU - Elgins
3 - REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE - Four Tops
4 - THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME - Marvelettes
5 - YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON - Supremes
6 - YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE - Supremes
7 - JUST A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING - Contours
8 - WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED - Jimmy Ruffin
9 - LOVE IS LIKE AN ITCHING IN MY HEART - Supremes
10 - [[COME ROUND HERE) I'M THE ONE YOU NEED - Miracles
11 - MY BABY LOVES ME - Martha & Vandellas
12 - [[I KNOW) I'M LOSING YOU - Temptations
13 - [[I'M A) ROADRUNNER - Jr Walker & All Stars
14 = - THESE THINGS WILL KEEP ME LOVING YOU - Velvelettes
14 = -HELPLESS - Kim Weston
16 = - I GUESS I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Isley Brothers
16 = - GET READY - Temptations
18 - I'M READY FOR LOVE - Martha & Vandellas
19 - STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE - Four Tops
20 - TOGETHER TIL THE END OF TIME - Brenda Holloway
21 = - LOVING YOU IS SWEETER THAN EVER - Four Tops
21 = - JUST WALK IN MY SHOES - Gladys & Pips
23 = - I MISS YOU BABY - Marv Johnson
23 = - AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG - Temptations
25 - LOVE'S GONE BAD - Chris Clark
26 - WHOLE LOTTA SHAKING IN MY HEART - Miracles
27 = - SHAKE ME WAKE ME [[WHEN IT'S OVER) - Four Tops
27 = - IT TAKES TWO - Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
29 - KEEP ON LOVING ME - Frances Nero
30 = - TRULY YOURS - Spinners
30 = - THERE'S NO LOVE LEFT - Isley Brothers

Happily, I amnot the only Motown fan who regards 1966 as Motown's peak year.
More voterstook part for 1966 than for any other year. The competition has been
fierce at thetop, between the top six winners and it was difficult to predict who the charttopper would be. Surprisingly, the Isleys won by a comfortable margin.

Number 2 isprobably my favourite record of all time. It gathered some votes in the year ofits re-issue in the seventies but, I am relieved to say, even if I had addedthose points to the 1966 tally, it would still not have won top place.

Surprisingly,Number 3 had more votes as record of the year than any other record but in astrong field it was the sheer number of people who picked the Number 1somewhere in their list that swung the result.

With so manygreat records released in the year, I could easily have constructed
a top sixtyfor 1966.

Again, nice tosee the same act at the top and bottom end of the chart.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1967

1 - AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH - Marvin & Tammi
2 -REFLECTIONS - Supremes
3 - JIMMY MACK- Martha & Vandellas
4 = - THE LOVE I SAW IN YOU WAS JUST A MIRAGE - Miracles
4 = - JUST LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE - Brenda Holloway
6 - I WANT TO GO BACK THERE AGAIN - Chris Clark
7 - TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS AND LOVE ME - Gladys Knight & Pips
8 = - WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE - Marvelettes
8 = - LOVE IS HERE AND NOW YOU'RE GONE - Supremes
10 - I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER - Stevie Wonder
11 = - YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING - Temptations
11 = - I GOT AFEELING - Barbara Randolph
13 - THERE'S NO STOPPING US NOW - Supremes
14 = - I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - Gladys Knight & Pips
14 = - ALL INEED - Temptations
16 -[[LONELINESS MADE ME REALISE) IT'S YOU THAT I NEED - Temptations
17 - MY BABY MUST BE A MAGICIAN - Marvelettes
18 -BERNADETTE - Four Tops
19 - YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE - Marvin & Tammi
20 = - THIRD FINGER LEFT HAND - Martha & Vandellas
20 = - I WISH IT WOULD RAIN - Temptations
22 - MORE LOVE- Miracles
23 - THERE'S A GHOST IN MY HOUSE - R Dean Taylor
24 - GOING DOWN FOR THE THIRD TIME - Supremes
25 - I SECOND THAT EMOTION - Miracles
26 - TWO CAN HAVE A PARTY - Marvin & Tammi
27 - I'LL TURN TO STONE - Four Tops
28 - EVERYBODY NEEDS LOVE - Gladys Knight & Pips
29 = - SEVEN ROOMS OF GLOOM - Four Tops
29 = - IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE - Marvin & Tammi

Deep in theMotown Sound, 1967 proved to be stuffed with classic records and
watching theresults come in was so exciting. For a while, Number 6 was way out in front andI wondered if we were going to have an unusual chart topper for once.

As it turnedout, Number 1 was a very strong winner with the Number 2 record
scoring just58% of the points of the chart topper. It scored more points than the conjoinedtwins at Number 8 did between them.

It wassatisfying to see Marvin & Tammi at both ends of the chart, symmetry is
something thatbrings a warm glow to the cockles of my heart.

Again, thereare some surprisingly popular B-sides in the chart for 1967, a fact that futurecompilers of hits collections need to keep in mind.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1968

1 - I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - Marvin Gaye
2 - LOVE CHILD- Supremes
3 - I'M IN A DIFFERENT WORLD - Four Tops
4 -DESTINATION ANYWHERE - Marvelettes
5 - YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY - Marvin & Tammi
6 - BEHIND A PAINTED SMILE - Isley Brothers
7 - I CAN'T GIVE BACK THE LOVE I FEEL FOR YOU - Rita Wright
8 - FOREVER CAME TODAY - Supremes
9 = - AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING - Marvin & Tammi
9 = - WALK AWAY RENEE - Four Tops
11 - I CAN'T DANCE TO THAT MUSIC YOU'RE PLAYING - Martha & Vandellas
12 - I LOVE YOU MADLY - Fantastic Four
13 - I COULD NEVER LOVE ANOTHER - Temptations
14 = - GOTTA SEE JANE - R Dean Taylor
14 = - KEEP OFF NO TRESPASSING - Marvelettes
16 - THIS OLD HEART OF MINE - Tammi Terrell
17 - FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE - Stevie Wonder
18 = - CLOUD NINE - Temptations
18 = - DOES YOUR MAMA KNOW ABOUT ME - Bobby Taylor & Vancouvers
20 = - I'LL PICK A ROSE FOR MY ROSE - Marv Johnson
20 = - I WOULDN'T CHANGE THE MAN HE IS - Blinky
22 - I'M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME - Supremes & Temptations
23 - SOMETHINGS YOU NEVER GET USED TO - Supremes
24 -YESTERDAY'S DREAMS - Four Tops
25 - WHY WHEN LOVE IS GONE - Isley Brothers
26 = - IF YOU CAN WANT - Miracles
26 = - YOU AIN'T LIVIN UNTIL YOU'RE LOVIN - Marvin & Tammi
28 = - FORGET ME NOT - Martha & Vandellas
28 = - I'LL SAY FOREVER MY LOVE - Jimmy Ruffin
30 = - CHAINED- Marvin Gaye
30 = - IF I WERE A CARPENTER - Four Tops
30 = - WHERE WOULD I BE WITHOUT YOU - Barbara McNair

With three records tied for thirtieth place there are actually thirty-two records in thistop thirty.

For years, the1968 Number 1 has been touted as Motown's biggest hit of the sixties, so Isuppose it's no surprise to see it at the top of the poll for this year. Eventhough it has won by a clear majority, as the results were coming in, top placemight have gone to any of the records in the top three. he Number 1 scored asmany points as the bottom six records combined.

It's great tosee some very popular B-sides making the top thirty and this phenomenon will beeven more apparent in some other years.

You'll notethe "other half" of R Dean Taylor's votes at Number 14. If I had addedhis 1971 points tally here, his record would have reached Number 8 in this chart.That's an amazing result and proves what a very popular record Gotta See Janeis.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1969

1 - SOMEDAY WE'LL BE TOGETHER - Supremes
2 - WHAT DOES IT TAKE [[TO WIN YOUR LOVE) - Jr Walker & All Stars
3 - DIDN'T YOU KNOW [[YOU'D HAVE TO CRY SOMETIME) - Gladys Knight & Pips
4 - TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY - Marvin Gaye
5 - MY CHERIE AMOUR - Stevie Wonder
6 - I WANT YOU BACK - Jackson5
7 - MY WHOLE WORLD ENDED - David Ruffin
8 = - THAT'S HOW HEARTACHES ARE MADE - Marvelettes
8 = - I DON'T KNOW WHY - Stevie Wonder
10 - I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU - Temptations
11 = - GOOD LOVIN' AIN'T EASY TO COME BY - Marvin & Tammi
11 = - BABY I'M FOR REAL - Originals
13 - 25 MILES- Edwin Starr
14 - I'M LIVIN' IN SHAME - Supremes
15 - WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT - Marvin Gaye
16 - GREEN GROW THE LILACS - Originals
17 - RAINY MOURNING - Marvelettes
18 - FAREWELL IS A LONELY SOUND - Jimmy Ruffin
19 - KEEP AN EYE - Gladys & Pips
20 - RUNNING AWAY [[AIN'T GONNA HELP YOU) - Temptations
21 = -YESTER-ME YESTER-YOU YESTERDAY - Stevie Wonder
21 = -REACHING FOR SOMETHING I CAN'T HAVE - Marvelettes
23 = - RUNAWAY CHILD RUNNING WILD - Temptations
23 = - OH HOW HAPPY - Edwin & Blinky
23 = - DON'T LET THE JONESES GET YOU DOWN - Temptations
26 - WE'VE GOT A WAY OUT LOVE - Originals
27 - I HAD A DREAM - Shorty Long
28 = - WHAT IS A MAN - Four Tops
28 = - FEEL LIKE I'M FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN - Fantastic Four
30 = - THE KEY- Four Tops
30 = - CHEATING IS TELLING ON YOU - Lollipops

And so to1969, where we have one of the lowest scoring chart toppers in the poll. Indeedthere are just four points separating Number 1 from Number 2 and it was a neckand neck race right from the start.

Six peopleselected Number 1 as their chart favourite whilst just three people pickedNumber 2 [[and another three people picked Number 3) as theirs. If you add the points collected by the bottom five chartplaces, you nearly get to the number of points accumulated by the Number 1.

You willnotice a lot of tied places throughout the results. I kept wishing that a newvoter would separate these conjoined songs and I had to resist the temptationto put the one I preferred ahead of the other.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1970

1 - STONEDLOVE - Supremes
2 - UP THELADDER TO THE ROOF - Supremes
3 - IF I WEREYOUR WOMAN - Gladys & Pips
4 - TEARS OF ACLOWN - Miracles
5 - AIN'T NOMOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH - Diana Ross
6 - IT'S ASHAME - Spinners
7 - REMEMBERME - Diana Ross
8 - STAY ALITTLE LONGER - Yvonne Fair
9 - SIGNEDSEALED DELIVERED [[I'M YOURS) - Stevie Wonder
10 - STILL WATER- Four Tops
11 - BALL OFCONFUSION - Temptations
12 - WAR -Edwin Starr
13 -MARIONETTE - Marvelettes
14 - THE ONIONSONG - Marvin & Tammi
15 = - THEBELLS - Originals
15 = - IT'SALL IN THE GAME - Four Tops
17 - I SHOULDBE PROUD - Martha & Vandellas
18 - I GOTTALET YOU GO - Martha & Vandellas
19 - NEVER HADA DREAM COME TRUE - Stevie Wonder
20 - WHO'SGONNA TAKE THE BLAME - Miracles
21 - IT'SSUMMER - Temptations
22 - THE LOVEYOU SAVE - Jackson5
23 - I'LL BETHERE - Jackson 5
24 -EVERYBODY'S GOT THE RIGHT TO LOVE - Supremes
25 - DO YOUSEE MY LOVE FOR YOU GROWING - Jr Walker & All Stars
26 = - I LIKEYOUR STYLE - Originals
26 = - HEAVENHELP US ALL - Stevie Wonder
28 = - WAYBACK HOME - Jazz Crusaders
28 = - THESETHINGS WILL KEEP ME LOVING YOU - Diana Ross
28 = - BUT ILOVE YOU MORE - Supremes

The year 1970was another where the leader kept changing back and forth between
the threerecords that reached the very top. Finally, Number 1 zoomed ahead to a mostimpressive victory, scoring ten times as many points as the songs at the otherend of the chart.

There arevery, very strong results, points-wise, at the top end of the 1970 chart whencompared with 1971 and 1972.

One of thethings I was most excited about, when collating the 1970 results, was seeinghow the new Supremes fared against a newly solo Diana Ross. If I had to guess,I thought Diana would come out on top but I was very wrong. Number 1 scoredmore than one and a half times the number of points awarded to Number 5.

It's amazingto see records that didn't dent the charts reaching the top ten in any year andthe high placing for Number 8 pleases me immensely.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1971

1 - JUST MY IMAGINATION - Temptations
2 - WHAT'S GOING ON - Marvin Gaye
3 - NATHAN JONES - Supremes
4 - SMILING FACES SOMETIMES - Undisputed Truth
5 - BLESS YOU- Martha & Vandellasn
6 - SURRENDER- Diana Ross
7 - IN AND OUT OF MY LIFE - Martha & Vandellas
8 - MERCY MERCY ME - Marvin Gaye
9 - I DON'T BLAME YOU AT ALL - Miracles
10 - NEVER DREAMED YOU'D LEAVE IN SUMMER - Stevie Wonder
11 - MAKE ME THE WOMAN YOU GO HOME TO - Gladys & Pips
12 - FLOY JOY- Supremes
13 - I DON'T WANT TO DO WRONG - Gladys & Pips
14 - WE CAN WORK IT OUT - Stevie Wonder
15 = - TAKE ME GIRL I'M READY - Jr Walker & All Stars
15 = - NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - Jackson5
15 = - I WANT TO GO BACK THERE AGAIN - Thelma Houston
18 = - WAY BACK HOME - Jr Walker & All Stars
18 = - TOUCH -Supremes
18 = - I'M STILL WAITING - Diana Ross
21 - THIS USED TO BE THE HOME OF JOHNNY MAE - Eddie Kendricks
22 = - TLC - PJ
22 = - INNER CITY BLUES - Marvin Gaye
24 - YOU GOT THE LOVE I NEED - Undisputed Truth
25 = - YOU CAN COME RIGHT BACK TO ME - David Ruffin
25 = - GOTTA SEE JANE - R Dean Taylor
27 = - KEEP ME- Originals
27 = - CAN'T IT WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW - Valerie Simpson
29 = - IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME - Stevie Wonder
29 = - AGENT DOUBLE 0 SOUL - Edwin Starr

Five peopleselected Number 3 as their favourite record of the year and six people selectedNumber 2. Even though just four people made the Number 1 their chart topper, itwas so enormously popular across the board that it ended up as a strong winner.

I fact thereis a bit of a gulf between the top three and the others, with the third placedfavourite getting one and a half times as many points as the Number 4.

If I am right,then the song at the bottom of this list is an example of a UK release being popular enough toscore highly in the results.

R DeanTaylor's tune, Number 25, also appears in the 1968 chart. Rather than add thetwo scores together, I've decided to keep the releases separate [[a decision thatalso affect the Elgins' biggest hit and The tempts' It's Summer).

[grapevine]

MOTOWN TREASURES ANNUAL POLL RESULTS:-1972

1 PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE- Temptations
2 = SUPERSTITION - StevieWonder
2 = NEITHER ONE OF US -Gladys & Pips
4 WALK IN THE NIGHT - JrWalker & All Stars
5 A SIMPLE GAME - FourTops
6 AUTOMATICALLY SUNSHINE -Supremes
7 A BREATHTAKING GUY -Marvelettes
8 TEAR IT ON DOWN - Martha& Vandellas
9 YOUR WONDERFUL SWEETS WEET LOVE - Supremes
10 TAKE A LOOK AROUND -Temptations
11 = THE NIGHT - FrankieValli & 4 Seasons
11 = HELP ME MAKE ITT HROUGH THE NIGHT - Gladys & Pips
13 = SILLY WASN'T I -Valerie Simpson
13 = I GUESS I'LL MISS THE MAN - Supremes
15 TROUBLE MAN - MarvinGaye
16 TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU - Syreeta
17 GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE- Diana Ross
18 LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOWS - Jackson 5
19 WE'VE COME TOO FAR TO END IT NOW - Miracles
20 THE ZOO - Commodores
21 I WANNA BE WHERE YOU ARE - Michael Jackson
22 MR FIX-IT MAN - SistersLove
23 FLOY JOY - Supremes
24 SMILING FACES SOMETIMES- Temptations
25 PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE - Undisputed Truth
26 = NO ONE'S GONNA BE A FOOL FOREVER - Thelma Houston
26 = AIN'T NO SUNSHINE -Michael Jackson
28 BEN - Michael Jackson
29 I'M SOMEONE WHO CARES -Originals
30 IT'S THE SAME OLD LOVE- Courtship

Voting for 1972 favouriteswas where voters started dropping out or sending in less than ten choices.

The Number 1 was verypopular indeed and accumulated more points than Numbers 7 and 8 added together.It was more than seven times as popular as the Number 30.

Having said that, lessthan half the voters picked the Number 1 in their top ten and only four voterschose it as their record of the year [[in marked contrast to some other years).Both A BREATHTAKING GUY and NEITHER ONE OF US were picked as
top choice for four voters,too.

Number 5 was another verypopular choice but not one voter picked it as their number one.

So, there you have the topthirty records for each of the years from 1959/61 to 1972.

I have to get ready for myfamily Christmas now but, in a few days, I'll present some lists by individualsingers and groups to show how which were their most popular records. I'll alsodo a little more analysis of the results.

Have a smashing MotownChristmas and a very Tamla New Year.

...Eric

[144man]

There's some very interesting and unexpected results there.

Thank you, Eric, for collating the Poll, and Grapevine for giving us the information each week and posting the results.

[jobeterob]

Thanks for doing this guys; always interesting and I'm sure a lot of work.

[robb_k]

It's interesting to see how different the results are from actual record sales and unrelated to how much marketing push each record got. There is a lot of affect of first exposure to the music from The Motown oldies and Northern soul scene, as well as from exposure through the CD market, and also a bigger influence from being exposed to ALL of the music all at once with no push given to company-chosen "leaders", and thus, the fan who was not around at the time of release chooses based solely on the song's sound.

[westgrandboulevard]

Very many thanks and Happy Christmas to Eric, not only for all his dedication and attention but also his abiding love of his subject, the results of which do make for interesting and really rather intriguing reading.

It's a pity that Eric prefers not to directly post here on SDF. I can't possibly think why that is so....although, of course,maybe it is because a fireproof suit for members has yet to be invented, to protect us from certain inflammatory situations?!LOL)

Thanks also and Happy Christmas to our 'Agent in Soul' Grape [[and Maggi), for relaying the results. Hope all is going well with those recent health concerns....

One thing that makes me wonder, on reading the outcome of the poll....

I've seen statements to the effect that Motown in the 60s had one of the highest hit : release ratios of any of the record labels.

While this would certainly appear to be true, I'm unsure if that was Motown 'puff', or based on actual industry analysis.

These poll results once again prove that there was indeed a huge pool of talent at Motown, and a very considerable number of recordings on which to draw.

Also, that sales of a Motown released track, and appreciation of it by fans, did not always equate with each other. A situation which clearly endures to the present day.

Does anyone have any information to share on how it was with the larger labels - perhaps Columbia, RCA, etc, in respect of their own released product, covering a wider range of music styles- for example, what percentage of the releases were considered to be 'hits', etc...?

[grapevine]

...some analysis from Eric...

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - Martha & theVandellas

I thought it might beinteresting to look at some of the results by artist. As Martha & theVandellas were very popular in the poll, here's a list of their top 35 records,which includes tracks by The Vells:-

1 - HEAT WAVE
2 - NOWHERE TO RUN
3 - IN MY LONELY ROOM
4 - DANCING IN THE STREET
5 - COME AND GET THESEMEMORIES
6 - JIMMY MACK
7 - BLESS YOU
8 - IN AND OUT OF MY FIFE
9 - QUICKSAND
10 - MY BABY LOVE ME
11 - I CAN'T DANCE TO THATMUSIC YOU'RE PLAYING
12 - TEAR IT ON DOWN
13 - I'M READY FOR LOVE
14 - THIRD FINGER LEFTHAND
15 - I'LL HAVE TO LET HIMGO
16 - I SHOULD BE PROUD
17 - I GOTTA LET YOU GO
18 - FORGET ME NOT
19 - HONEY CHILE
20 - YOU'LL NEVER CHERISHA LOVE
21 - A LOVE LIKE YOURS
22 - [[WE'VE GOT) HONEYLOVE
23 - YOU'VE BEEN IN LOVETOO LONG
24 - LOVE BUG LEAVE MYHEART ALONE
25 - YOUR LOVE MAKES ITALL WORTHWHILE
26 - LOVE MAKES ME DOFOOLISH THINGS
27 - I WANT YOU BACK
28 - HEARTLESS
29 - SHOW ME THE WAY
30 - DARLING I HUM OURSONG
31 - WILD ONE
32 - THERE HE IS AT MYDOOR
33 - TAKING MY LOVE [[ANDLEAVING ME)
34 - SWEET DARLIN'
35 - A TEAR FOR THE GIRL

Heat Wave was the mostpopular record in the poll and it scored almost double the points of the Number2 and an incredible eighty-four times the number of points of Number 35.

Of course, we didn't votefor our favourite Martha & the Vandellas songs, but threw them againstcontemporary releases by other Motown artists, so this list needs to be takenwith a pinch of salt. Songs from the earliest and latest years of the poll did betterbecause there wasn't as much competition with popular chart hits.

Seeing Wild One and SweetDarlin' so low in the list is, I must confess, a bit of a surprise.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - The Marvelettes

Sticking to Motown's girlgroups, here are the top 35 records by The Marvelettes, as voted for in thepoll [[including The Darnells):-

1 - PLEASE MR POSTMAN
2 - I'LL KEEP HOLDING ON
3 - BEECHWOOD 45789
4 - THE HUNTER GETSCAPTURED BY THE GAME
5 - DESTINATION ANYWHERE
6 - THAT'S HOW HEARTACHESARE MADE
7 - WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG ANDIN LOVE
8 - DON'T MESS WITH BILL
9 - PLAYBOY
10 - A BREATHTAKING GUY
11 - YOU'RE MY REMEDY
12 - TOO MANY FISH IN THESEA
13 - LOCKING UP MY HEART
14 - MY BABY MUST BE AMAGICIAN
15 - KEEP OFF NOTRESPASSING
16 - TOO HURT TO CRY
17 - FOREVER
18 - MARIONETTE
19 - RAINY MOURNING
20 - AS LONG AS I KNOWHE'S MINE
21 - DANGER HEARTBREAKDEAD AHEAD
22 - STRANGE I KNOW
23 - REACHING FORSOMETHING I CAN'T HAVE
24 - TWISTIN' POSTMAN
25 - I WANT A GUY
26 - SO LONG BABY
27 - HERE I AM BABY
28 - TOO STRONG TO BESTRUNG ALONG
29 - GODDESS OF LOVE
30 - SOMEDAY SOMEWAY
31 - DON'T MAKE HURTING MEA HABIT
32 - LITTLE GIRL BLUE
33 - I NEED SOMEONE
34 - WHAT'S EASY FOR TWOIS SO HARD FOR ONE
35 - HE'S A GOOD GUY YESHE IS

The top record scored morethan double the points of the runner-up and I'll Keep Holding On record scoredmore than double the points of Locking Up My Heart.

I always associate Number2 with Number 21 and I simply cannot fathom how one of them is so much morepopular than the other.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - The Supremes

When looking at a top 35for The Supremes, it is best to remember the distortion at either end of thespan of years. Early and late records had less competition from popular hitsand may have fared better than they would have, if we had asked people toselect their Supremes favourites. Of the duets between The Supremes and TheFour Tops and The Temptations, only one record gained enough points to beincluded here:-

1 - STONED LOVE
2 - UP THE LADDER TO THEROOF
3 - NATHAN JONES
4 - WHEN THE LOVELIGHTSTARTS
5 - COME SEE ABOUT ME
6 - SOMEDAY WE'LL BETOGETHER
7 - LOVE CHILD
8 - YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON
9 - WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO
10 - YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE
11 - REFLECTIONS
12 - LOVE IS HERE AND NOWYOU'RE GONE
13 - LOVE IS LIKE ANITCHING IN MY HEART
14 - BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN
15 - STOP IN THE NAME OFLOVE
16 - FLOY JOY
17 - THERE'S NO STOPPINGUS NOW
18 - AUTOMATICALLYSUNSHINE
19 - YOUR HEART BELONGS TOME
20 - FOREVER CAME TODAY
21 - I'M LIVIN' IN SHAME
22 - BABY LOVE
23 - YOUR WONDERFUL SWEETSWEET LOVE
24 - I HEAR A SYMPHONY
25 - MY WORLD IS EMPTYWITHOUT YOU
26 - BUTTERED POPCORN
27 - I GUESS I'LL MISS THEMAN
28 - I'M GONNA MAKE YOULOVE ME
29 - SOME THINGS YOU NEVERGET USED TO
30 - NOTHING BUTHEARTACHES
31 - I WANT A GUY
32 - GOING DOWN FOR THETHIRD TIME
33 - TIME CHANGES THINGS
34 - LET ME GO THE RIGHT WAY
35 - TOUCH

Unlike Martha & theVandellas and the Marvelettes, The Supremes had dozens of recordings eligiblefor inclusion in the poll. Possibly, being spoilt for choice meant thatSupremes records weren't given as much prominence as 45s by other Motownartists.

Quite a number of A-sidesfailed to be included in the chart and were beaten by some superior B-sides.

Stoned Love accumulatedenough points to make it to number 2 in both The Marvelettes and Martha &The Vandellas top 35 lists. There are only 26 points worth of differencebetween the Number 2 and Number 7 positions, so all of those records are veryclose together in popularity.

I found these positionssurprising and, if I'd been asked to guess the order of popularity, wouldn'thave come close to the list in a million years.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - The Four Tops

Another Uk favourite, like Martha & TheVandellas, is The Four Tops and here is the group's records in order ofpopularity:-

1 BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING
2 ASK THE LONELY
3 REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE
4 I'M IN A DIFFERENT WORLD
5 I CAN'T HELP MYSELF
6 A SIMPLE GAME
7 WALK AWAY RENEE
8 IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG
9 STILL WATER
10 BERNADETTE
11 STANDING IN THE SHADOWSOF LOVE
12 LOVING YOU IS SWEETERTHAN EVER
13 IT'S ALL IN THE GAME
14 YESTERDAY'S DREAMS
15 SOMETHING ABOUT YOU
16 SHAKE ME WAKE ME [[WHENIT'S OVER)
17 I'LL TURN TO STONE
18 SEVEN ROOMS OF GLOOM
19 IF I WERE A CARPENTER
20 WHAT IS A MAN
21 THE KEY
22 SAD SOUVENIRS
23 WHERE DID YOU GO
24 WITHOUT THE ONE YOULOVE
25 WALK WITH ME TALK WITHME DARLING
26 I'LL NEVER CHANGE
27 I CAN'T QUIT YOUR LOVE
28 I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUTYOU
29 I GOT A FEELING
30 DO WHAT YOU GOTTA GO
31 CALL ON ME
32 [[IT'S THE WAY) NATUREPLANNED IT
33 YOU KEEP RUNNING AWAY
34 DON'T BRING BACKMEMORIES
35 JUST SEVEN NUMBERS

Some great B-sides andUK-only releases here. There is a wide gap between the top 5 and the rest ofthe list. Number 1 has twice the number of points of Number 7, which has twicethe number of points of Number 16.

A couple of A-sides failedto get on this short-list, surprisingly.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - The Temptations

We are often told thatAmericans prefer The Tempts to The Tops. Like The Supremes, The Temptations hadplenty of 45s released and there's no denying the quality of these favourites:-

1 - JUST MY IMAGINATION
2 - PAPA WAS A ROLLINGSTONE
3 - MY GIRL
4 - GIRL [[WHY YOU WANNAMAKE ME BLUE)
5 - YOU'RE MY DREAM COMETRUE
6 - SINCE I LOST MY BABY
7 - I CAN'T GET NEXT TOYOU
8 - I WANT A LOVE I CANSEE
9 - YOU'RE MY EVERYTHING
10 - THE WAY YOU DO THETHINGS YOU DO
11 - IT'S GROWING
12 - ALL I NEED
13 - [[I KNOW) I'M LOSINGYOU
14 - [[LONELINESS MADE MEREALISE) IT'S YOU THAT I NEED
15 - I COULD NEVER LOVEANOTHER
16 - BALL OF CONFUSION
17 - CHECK YOURSELF
18 - TAKE A LOOK AROUND
19 - PARADISE
20 - GET READY
21 - CLOUD NINE
22 - I WISH IT WOULD RAIN
23 - IT'S SUMMER
24 - AIN'T TOO PROUD TOBEG
25 - I'M GONNA MAKE YOULOVE ME
26 - DON'T LOOK BACK
27 - THE GIRLS ALRIGHTWITH ME
28 - THE FURTHER YOU LOOKTHE LESS YOU SEE
29 - RUNNING AWAY [[AIN'TGONNA HELP YOU)
30 - RUNAWAY CHILD RUNNINGWILD
31 - DON'T LET THE JONESESGET YOU DOWN
32 - SMILING FACESSOMETIMES
33 - PSYCHEDELIC SHACK
34 - MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE
35 - WHY [[MUST WE FALL INLOVE)

The Number 1 record is sofar ahead of the others that it had more points than Numbers 3 and 4 combined -and seventeen times the number of points of Number
35.

Numbers 25 and 35 are theonly duets with The Supremes to make the list of favourites and the latter tunewas a UK only 45, I believe.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - Marvin Gaye

A large chunk of thefavourite tracks by Marvin Gaye are duets with Mary, Kim and Tammi, as you willsee below:-

1 - CAN I GET A WITNESS
2 - AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGHENOUGH
3 - I HEARD IT THROUGH THEGRAPEVINE
4 - WHAT'S GOING ON
5 - STUBBORN KIND OFFELLOW
6 - TOO BUSY THINKINGABOUT MY BABY
7 - YOU'RE ALL I NEED TOGET BY
8 - AIN'T THAT PECULIAR
9 - HITCH HIKE
10 - MERCY MERCY ME
11 - AIN'T NOTHING LIKETHE REAL THING
12 - GOOD LOVIN' AIN'TEASY TO COME BY
13 - PRIDE AND JOY
14 - YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE
15 - WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT
16 - TROUBLE MAN
17 - THE ONION SONG
18 - YOU'RE A WONDERFULONE
19 - HOW SWEET IT IS
20 - TWO CAN HAVE A PARTY
21 - IT TAKES TWO
22 - IF THIS WORLD WEREMINE
23 - BABY DON'T YOU DO IT
24 - INNER CITY BLUES
25 - YOU AIN'T LIVIN UNTILYOU'RE LIVIN
26 - I'LL BE DOGGONE
27 - CHAINED
28 - THAT'S THE WAY LOVEIS
29 - LITTLE DARLING
30 - ONE MORE HEARTACHE
31 - ONCE UPON A TIME
32 - ABRAHAM MARTIN ANDJOHN
33 - TAKE THIS HEART OFMINE
34 - IT'S GOT TO BE AMIRACLE
35 - DON'T MESS WITHMISTER T

The top four here aremiles above the rest of the pack. For example, Number 4 has twice the number ofpoints of Number 10. A surprising number of excellent singles did not attract alot of votes, hence their absence from this list.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - The Miracles

One of the highlights ofthe poll, for me, was being reminded about how many fantastic records TheMiracles released between 1959 and 1972. Although The Miracles did not top thechart of any year, the group was consistently popular throughout.

1 - YOU'VE REALLY GOT AHOLD ON ME
2 - TEARS OF A CLOWN
3 - THE LOVE I SAW IN YOUWAS JUST A MIRAGE
4 - THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS
5 - I'LL TRY SOMETHING NEW
6 - MICKEY'S MONKEY
7 - I GOTTA DANCE TO KEEPFROM CRYING
8 - [[COME ROUND HERE) I'MTHE ONE YOU NEED
9 - GOING TO A GO GO
10 - OOO BABY BABY
11 - I DON'T BLAME YOU ATALL
12 - MORE LOVE
13 - WHOLE LOTTA SHAKINGIN MY HEART
14 - WE'VE COME TOO FAR TOEND IT NOW
15 - WHO'S GONNA TAKE THEBLAME
16 - I SECOND THAT EMOTION
17 - IF YOU CAN WANT
18 - IF YOUR MOTHER ONLYKNEW
19 - COME SPY WITH ME
20 - [[YOU CAN'T LET THEBOY OVERPOWER) THE MAN IN YOU
21 - THAT'S WHAT LOVE ISMADE OF
22 - SWEPT FOR YOU BABY
23 - MY GIRL HAS GONE
24 - WHATEVER MAKES YOUHAPPY
25 - MUCH BETTER OFF
26 - HAPPY LANDING
27 - BABY BABY DON'T CRY
28 - WHEN THE WORDS FROMYOUR HEART GET CAUGHT UP IN YOUR THROAT
29 - HERE I GO AGAIN
30 - DOGGONE RIGHT
31 - I LIKE IT LIKE THAT
32 - CHOOSEY BEGGAR
33 - I CAN'T STAND TO SEEYOU CRY
34 - DARLING DEAR
35 - SATISFACTION

In this list, Number 1scored twice as many points as Number 9 and twelve times as many points asNumber 32. The Number 1 was so popular that it received more points than thechart toppers in years 1972, 1969 and 1964, an amazing feat.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - Stevie Wonder

One artist who faredparticularly poorly in the poll was Stevie Wonder. A Motown stomper isNothing's Too Good For My Baby, yet only two people voted for the song and itfailed to find a place in a rather limp top twenty:-

1 - SUPERSTITION
2 - MY CHERIE AMOUR
3 - I DON'T KNOW WHY
4 - I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER
5 - NEVER DREAMED YOU'D LEAVE IN SUMMER
6 - SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED [[I'M YOURS)
7 - NEVER HAD A DREAM COME TRUE
8 - CONTRACT ON LOVE
9 - FINGERTIPS PT2
10 - UPTIGHT
11 - FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE
12 - WE CAN WORK IT OUT
13 - YESTER-ME YESTER-YOU YESTERDAY
14 - IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME
15 - SHOO BE DOO BE DOO DADAY
16 - HEAVEN HELP US ALL
17 - WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANSTO ME
18 - SUPERWOMAN
19 - HOLD ME
20 - CASTLES IN THE SAND

Loving Stevie's sixtiesalbums more than his seventies material, I was disappointed and surprised thathe was not more popular. I'm wondering if, for reasons that I am unaware of,Stevie Wonder is out of favour at the moment and that, should we conduct thesame poll in a year or two, he would be better represented in future.

Of all the mainstreamartists, Stevie's records scored the fewest points and his Number 1 would rankas 5th place in Marvin's chart and 8th place in the Supremes' chart. His Number20 reached a little over 10% of the score achieved by his own Number 1.

[grapevine]

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - Gladys Knight &The Pips

There really isn't roomfor more than a solid top twenty for Gladys Knight & The Pips, anotherMotown act that I thought would have done better in the poll:-

1 - IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN
2 - NEITHER ONE OF US
3 - DIDN'T YOU KNOW [[YOU'DHAVE TO CRY SOMETIME)
4 - TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMSAND LOVE ME
5 - I HEARD IT THROUGH THEGRAPEVINE
6 - MAKE ME THE WOMAN YOUGO HOME TO
7 - HELP ME MAKE ITTHROUGH THE NIGHT
8 - JUST WALK IN MY SHOES
9 - I DON'T WANT TO DOWRONG
10 - KEEP AN EYE
11 - EVERYBODY NEEDS LOVE
12 - FRIENDSHIP TRAIN
13 - IF YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE[[JUST LEAVE)
14 - YOU NEED LOVE LIKE IDO
15 - IT SHOULD HAVE BEENME
16 - I WISH IT WOULD RAIN
17 - THE END OF OUR ROAD
18 - CAN'T GIVE IT UP NOMORE
19 - IS THERE A PLACE IN HIS HEART FOR ME
20 - THE NITTY GRITTY

I've always preferred thegroup's soulful tracks to the funkier tunes and it seems the voters agreed withme.

Number 1 had as manypoints as Numbers 6, 7 and 8 combined.

Given the strength ofGladys' B-sides, I am surprised that they did not attract more votes. Could itbe that this exceptionally strong group just wasn't Motown enough foreverybody?

[grapevine]

...more analysis from Eric...

MOTOWN ANNUAL POLL - The Top 200

Well, it's actually theTop 202 recordings as voted for in this year's annual poll.

The further down the listyou go, there are more shared chart placements. I could easily separate theseconjoined tracks by using the number of voters or some other criterion but Iprefer to keep everything as clear as possible, without tampering.

I think we all knew, longbefore the poll was over that there would be a bias towards the results fromthe very early years and the late years, where there were fewer popular charthits and much less of the classic Motown Sound. Records released in thosespecial years [[from about 1963 to 1968, IMHO) suffered through having a mass ofexcellent records to compete against.

Of course, any poll isbetter with more participants. Even with the best efforts of Grapevine [[who Icannot thank enough for his help and support) and myself plugging away on MTand SDF and the Saturday Sounds collective [[and our personal friends) we didn'tattract as many pollsters as I would have liked. The two years with the lowestturnout were 1972 and 1959/61, where the music was either too late or too earlyfor some voters' tastes. Here, we had 52 and 51 voters, respectively. [[I know thatseveral people who liked to take their time to ponder before leaving theirvotes missed out on 1972 and one person, who shall remain nameless, managed toget his 1972 votes in within minutes of the deadline.) Additionally, somevoters struggled to name ten tracks at either end of the date range, so sometruncated lists of votes were received.

In the most popular years- those in the middle - we reached 67 voters.

If we had more peoplejoining in, there would have been a better separation of those tied-for-placerecords in the Top 200. It is maddening when there are plenty of places wherejust one point would make a difference. For the next poll, we must think of away to encourage more participants.

I had decided it would notbe fair, therefore, to compile a Top 200, but here it is, complete with umpteenhealth warnings:-

1 - HEAT WAVE - Martha& Vandellas
2 - PLEASE MR POSTMAN -Marvelettes
3 - MONEY - Barrett Strong
4 - JUST MY IMAGINATION -Temptations
5 - SHOP AROUND - Miracles
6 - STONED LOVE - Supremes
7 - CAN I GET A WITNESS -Marvin Gaye
8 - AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGHENOUGH - Marvin & Tammi
9 - THIS OLD HEART OF MINE- Isley Brothers
10 - I HEARD IT THROUGHTHE GRAPEVINE - Marvin Gaye
11 = - YOU LOST THESWEETEST BOY - Mary Wells
= - WHAT'S GOING ON -Marvin Gaye
13 = - TWO LOVERS - MaryWells
= - NOWHERE TO RUN -Martha & Vandellas
15 - UP THE LADDER TO THEROOF - Supremes
16 - NATHAN JONES - Supremes
17 - JAMIE - Eddie Holland
18 - WHEN THE LOVELIGHTSTARTS - Supremes
19 - THE ONE WHO REALLYLOVES YOU - Mary Wells
20 - YOU'VE REALLY GOT AHOLD ON ME - Miracles
21 = - IN MY LONELY ROOM -Martha & Vandellas
= - BABY I NEED YOURLOVING - Four Tops
23 - YOU BEAT ME TO THEPUNCH - Mary Wells
24 = - BYE BYE BABY - MaryWells
= - COME SEE ABOUT ME -Supremes
26 - IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN- Gladys & Pips
27 - PAPA WAS A ROLLINGSTONE - Temptations
28 - TEARS OF A CLOWN -Miracles
29 = HEAVEN MUST HAVE SENTYOU - Elgins
= - SOMEDAY WE'LL BETOGETHER - Supremes

[grapevine]

31 = - I'LL KEEP HOLDINGON - Marvelettes
= - ASK THE LONELY - FourTops
33 - LOVE CHILD - Supremes
34 = - WHAT DOES IT TAKE[[TO WIN YOUR LOVE) - Jr Walker & All Stars
= - DO YOU LOVE ME -Contours
36 = - REACH OUT I'LL BETHERE - Four Tops
= - AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGHENOUGH - Diana Ross
38 = - BEECHWOOD 45789 -Marvelettes
= - STUBBORN KIND OFFELLOW - Marvin Gaye
40 = - I'M IN A DIFFERENTWORLD - Four Tops
= - NEITHER ONE OF US -Gladys & Pips
= - IT'S A SHAME -Spinners
43 = - EVERY LITTLE BITHURTS - Brenda Holloway
= - DANCING IN THE STREET- Martha & Vandellas
45 = - MY GIRL -Temptations
= - I CAN'T HELP MYSELF -Four Tops
= - THE HUNTER GETSCAPTURED BY THE GAME - Marvelettes
48 = - WHO WOULDN'T LOVE AMAN LIKE THAT - Mable John
= - COME AND GET THESEMEMORIES - Martha & Vandellas
= - YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON- Supremes
= - SUPERSTITION - StevieWonder
52 = - WAY OVER THERE -Miracles
= - WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO- Supremes
= - MY GUY - Mary Wells
55 = - YOU CAN'T HURRYLOVE - Supremes
= - WALK IN THE NIGHT - JrWalker & All Stars
= - SMILING FACESSOMETIMES - Undisputed Truth
58 - WHAT'S EASY FOR TWO -Mary Wells
59 = - REFLECTIONS -Supremes
= - DIDN'T YOU KNOW [[YOU'DHAVE TO CRY SOMETIME) - Gladys Knight & Pips
= - JUST A LITTLEMISUNDERSTANDING - Contours
62 - TOO BUSY THINKINGABOUT MY BABY - Marvin Gaye
63 = - JIMMY MACK - Martha& Vandellas
= - DESTINATION ANYWHERE -Marvelettes
= - MY CHERIE AMOUR -Stevie Wonder
66 = - GIRL [[WHY YOU WANNAMAKE ME BLUE) - Temptations
= - BLESS YOU - Martha& Vandellas
68 = - THE LOVE I SAW INYOU WAS JUST A MIRAGE - Miracles
= - JUST LOOK WHAT YOU'VEDONE - Brenda Holloway
= - NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK -Velvelettes
= - THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS- Miracles
72 = - YOU'RE ALL I NEEDTO GET BY - Marvin & Tammi
= - AIN'T THAT PECULIAR -Marvin Gaye
74 = - I WANT TO GO BACKTHERE AGAIN - Chris Clark
= - WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUTGOODBYE - Miracles
= - WHAT BECOMES OF THEBROKENHEARTED - Jimmy Ruffin
77 - I WANT YOU BACK - Jackson 5
78 = - BEHIND A PAINTEDSMILE - Isley Brothers
= - MY WHOLE WORLD ENDED -David Ruffin
= - REMEMBER ME - DianaRoss
81 = - TAKE ME IN YOURARMS AND LOVE ME - Gladys Knight & Pips
= - I'LL TRY SOMETHING NEW- Miracles
= - SURRENDER - Diana Ross
84 = - I CAN'T GIVE BACKTHE LOVE I FEEL FOR YOU - Rita Wright
= - THAT'S HOW HEARTACHESARE MADE - Marvelettes
= - I DON'T KNOW WHY -Stevie Wonder
87 - MICKEY'S MONKEY -Miracles
88 - COME TO ME - MarvJohnson
89 = - WHEN YOU'RE YOUNGAND IN LOVE - Marvelettes
= - LOVE IS HERE AND NOWYOU'RE GONE - Supremes
= - A SIMPLE GAME - FourTops

[grapevine]

92 = - HITCH HIKE - MarvinGaye
= - LOVE IS LIKE ANITCHING IN MY HEART - Supremes
94 = - YOU'RE MY DREAMCOME TRUE - Temptations
= - BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN- Supremes
= - IN AND OUT OF MY LIFE- Martha & Vandellas
= - STAY A LITTLE LONGER -Yvonne Fair
98 = - I CAN'T GET NEXT TOYOU - Temptations
= - STOP IN THE NAME OFLOVE - Supremes
= - SINCE I LOST MY BABY -Temptations
101 = - I WAS MADE TO LOVEHER - Stevie Wonder
= - I GOTTA DANCE TO KEEPFROM CRYING - Miracles
= - DON'T MESS WITH BILL -Marvelettes
104 = - QUICKSAND - Martha& Vandellas
= - MERCY MERCY ME -Marvin Gaye
106 = - BAD GIRL -Miracles
= - I WANT A LOVE I CANSEE - Temptations
= - WHEN I'M GONE - BrendaHolloway
= - GOING TO A GO GO -Miracles
= GOTTA SEE JANE - R DeanTaylor
111 - [[COME ROUND HERE)I'M THE ONE YOU NEED - Miracles
112 = - YOU'RE MYEVERYTHING - Temptations
= - I GOT A FEELING -Barbara Randolph
= - HE WAS REALLY SAYINGSOMETHING - Velvelettes
115 - LONELY LONELY GIRLAM I - Velvelettes
116 = - YOUR LOVE ISWONDERFUL - Hattie Littles
= - PLAYBOY - Marvelettes
= - OOO BABY BABY -Miracles
= - MY BABY LOVE ME -Martha & Vandellas
120 = - THERE'S NOSTOPPING US NOW - Supremes
= - AUTOMATICALLY SUNSHINE- Supremes
122 = - FOREVER CAME TODAY- Supremes
= - YOUR HEART BELONGS TOME - Supremes
= - THE WAY YOU DO THETHINGS YOU DO - Temptations
= - I DON'T BLAME YOU ATALL - Miracles
126 = - AIN'T NOTHING LIKETHE REAL THING - Marvin & Tammi
= - WALK AWAY RENEE - FourTops
= - LEAVING HERE - EddieHolland
= - FORGET ABOUT ME -Carolyn Crawford
= - YOU'RE MY REMEDY -Marvelettes
= - MY SMILE IS JUST AFROWN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN - Carolyn Crawford
= - I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU -Spinners
133 = - GOOD LOVIN' AIN'TEASY TO COME BY - Marvin & Tammi
= - BABY I'M FOR REAL -Originals
= - MY BELOVED -Satintones
= - TOO MANY FISH IN THESEA - Marvelettes
= - IT'S GROWING -Temptations
138 - NEVER DREAMED YOU'DLEAVE IN SUMMER - Stevie Wonder
139 = - I HEARD IT THROUGHTHE GRAPEVINE - Gladys Knight & Pips
= - ALL I NEED -Temptations
= - [[I KNOW) I'M LOSINGYOU - Temptations
= - SIGNED SEALEDDELIVERED [[I'M YOURS) - Stevie Wonder
143 = - WHO'S LOVING YOU -Miracles
= - JUST LOVING YOU - KimWeston
145 = - I CAN'T DANCE TOTHAT MUSIC YOU'RE PLAYING - Martha & Vandellas
= - LOCKING UP MY HEART -Marvelettes
= - TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS -Kim Weston
148 = - I LOVE YOU MADLY -Fantastic Four
= - A BIRD IN THE HAND -Velvelettes
= - TEAR IT ON DOWN -Martha & Vandellas

[grapevine]

151 = - [[LONELINESS MADEME REALISE) IT'S YOU THAT I NEED - Temptations
= - 25 MILES - Edwin Starr
= - CONTRACT ON LOVE -Stevie Wonder
= - IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG- Four Tops
155 = - MY BABY MUST BE AMAGICIAN - Marvelettes
= - I COULD NEVER LOVEANOTHER - Temptations
= - I'M LIVIN' IN SHAME -Supremes
= - PRIDE AND JOY - MarvinGaye
= - FINGERTIPS PT2 -Stevie Wonder
= - OH LITTLE BOY - MaryWells
= - STILL WATER - FourTops
162 = - I DON'T WANT TOTAKE A CHANCE - Mary Wells
= - BABY LOVE - Supremes
= - A BREATHTAKING GUY -Marvelettes
= - BALL OF CONFUSION -Temptations
166 = - YOU CAN DEPEND ONME - Miracles
= - STRANGE LOVE - MaryWells
= - CHECK YOURSELF -Temptations
= - [[I'M A) ROADRUNNER -Jr Walker & All Stars
= - YOUR WONDERFUL SWEETSWEET LOVE - Supremes
171 = - KEEP OFF NOTRESPASSING - Marvelettes
= - PARADISE- Temptations
= - THESE THINGS WILL KEEPME LOVING YOU - Velvelettes
= - HELPLESS - Kim Weston
= - TAKE A LOOK AROUND -Temptations
176 = - BERNADETTE - FourTops
= - THIS OLD HEART OF MINE- Tammi Terrell
= - I HEAR A SYMPHONY -Supremes
= - I GUESS I'LL ALWAYSLOVE YOU - Isley Brothers
= - GET READY -Temptations
181 - WAR - Edwin Starr
182 = - FOR ONCE IN MYLIFE - Stevie Wonder
= - FIRST I LOOK AT THEPURSE - Contours
= - I'M READY FOR LOVE -Martha & Vandellas
185 = - BUTTERED POPCORN -Supremes
= - MY WORLD IS EMPTYWITHOUT YOU - Supremes
= - THE NIGHT - FrankieValli & 4 Seasons
= - HELP ME MAKE ITTHROUGH THE NIGHT - Gladys & Pips
= - MAKE ME THE WOMAN YOUGO HOME TO - Gladys & Pips
190 = - YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE- Marvin & Tammi
= - CLOUD NINE -Temptations
= - DOES YOUR MAMA KNOWABOUT ME - Bobby Taylor & Vancouvers
= - WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT- Marvin Gaye
= - DO I LOVE YOU - FrankWilson
= - STANDING IN THESHADOWS OF LOVE - Four Tops
196 = - GREEN GROW THELILACS - Originals
= - TOO HURT TO CRY -Darnells
= - FOREVER - Marvelettes
= - LOOKING FOR THE RIGHTGUY - Kim Weston
= - I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU -Brenda Holloway
= - TOGETHER TIL THE ENDOF TIME - Brenda Holloway
= - FLOY JOY - Supremes

[grapevine]

There may not have been as many voters as I would have liked but, by golly, they were of a very high quality. Split almost half and half between USA/Canada and the UK, we managed to attract the attention of some very interesting experts [[some of whom are neither on MT nor SDF) and we had published authors from both sides of the pond, Northern Soul DJs, CD compilers and producers, Motown experts from the early days, Radio DJs, record label owner/managers, and blog masters [[is that a term?) amongst the fans and experts. I've promised them all anonymity.

Most people were of a certain age and there were not too many youngsters, judging from the e-mails accompanying votes. Although voting for 120 of your favourite Motown records may have seemed like a pretty onerous task, everyone who took part expressed great joy at wracking their brains to appreciate Motown in a new way and I get the feeling that it was fun, too.

For me, learning about how special some of these records are to people and reading some very special memories from contributors has made the thing more than worthwhile. My thanks go to all those souls who took the time to play the game.

- Eric Charge

Well done eveybody!

[grapevine]

...in case you missed the results over the festive period...!