40 Best Motown Songs, from My Girl to Ain't No Mountain High Enough

What is the most famous Motown song?

"My Girl" by The Temptations is the most famous Motown song, and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell is the favorite duet. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye became Motown's best-selling single of its time, and "I Want You Back" launched The Jackson 5.

Early Motown hits

1. "Money (That's What I Want)", Barrett Strong: one of the label's first hits.
2. "Shop Around", The Miracles: Motown's first million-seller.
3. "Please Mr. Postman", The Marvelettes: the label's first number one pop hit.
4. "Do You Love Me", The Contours: a dance-floor classic.
5. "Heat Wave", Martha and the Vandellas: a 1963 burst of energy.
6. "My Guy", Mary Wells: written by Smokey Robinson.
7. "Dancing in the Street", Martha and the Vandellas: a summer party anthem.

The Supremes

8. "Where Did Our Love Go", The Supremes: their first number one.
9. "Baby Love", The Supremes: soft and catchy.
10. "Stop! In the Name of Love", The Supremes: famous for its hand gesture.
11. "You Can't Hurry Love", The Supremes: patience in love.
12. "You Keep Me Hangin' On", The Supremes: a dramatic 1966 hit.

The Temptations and the Four Tops

13. "My Girl", The Temptations: the ultimate Motown love song.
14. "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", The Temptations: a gritty soul classic.
15. "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", The Temptations: a dreamy ballad.
16. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", The Temptations: a long, moody 70s epic.
17. "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", Four Tops: impossible not to sing along.
18. "Reach Out I'll Be There", Four Tops: a promise of support.

Marvin Gaye

19. "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", Marvin Gaye: pure joy.
20. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: the classic duet.
21. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", Marvin Gaye: heartbreak with a groove.
22. "What's Going On", Marvin Gaye: a soulful plea for peace.

Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder

23. "The Tracks of My Tears", Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: sadness behind a smile.
24. "The Tears of a Clown", Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: a circus-flavored hit.
25. "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", Stevie Wonder: a young Stevie at full speed.
26. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", Stevie Wonder: a joyful commitment.
27. "Superstition", Stevie Wonder: the famous clavinet riff.
28. "Isn't She Lovely", Stevie Wonder: written for his newborn daughter.

The Jackson 5

29. "I Want You Back", The Jackson 5: their first number one.
30. "ABC", The Jackson 5: as easy as one, two, three.
31. "I'll Be There", The Jackson 5: a tender ballad.
32. "Ben", Michael Jackson: an early solo hit.

70s and 80s Motown

33. "War", Edwin Starr: a powerful protest song.
34. "Easy", Commodores: a laid-back Lionel Richie ballad.
35. "Brick House", Commodores: a funky dance favorite.
36. "Three Times a Lady", Commodores: a classic anniversary song.
37. "Got to Give It Up", Marvin Gaye: a disco-era party song.
38. "Upside Down", Diana Ross: a 1980 disco hit.
39. "I'm Coming Out", Diana Ross: a celebration of self.
40. "Endless Love", Diana Ross and Lionel Richie: the biggest wedding duet of the 80s.

The story of Motown

Berry Gordy founded Motown in Detroit in 1959 with a small family loan and turned a house on West Grand Boulevard into a studio he called Hitsville U.S.A. Songwriters like Smokey Robinson and the team of Holland, Dozier and Holland wrote the hits, and a house band later known as The Funk Brothers played on most of them. The result was a sound that crossed every color line on American radio.

Motown songs for a wedding

Motown is the most reliable music for a wedding dance floor because every generation knows it. "My Girl" or "How Sweet It Is" works for the first dance, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" makes a joyful exit and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" brings everyone together for a singalong. See our wedding dance songs for more.

Motown songs for a party

For a birthday or retirement party, mix "Dancing in the Street", "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "Brick House" with a few slow songs. For an anniversary, "Three Times a Lady" and "Endless Love" are favorites. See our old love songs for more classics.

Why Motown still matters

Motown songs are short, catchy and full of feeling, which is why they still sound fresh at weddings, in movies and on the radio. Many of today's pop and R&B stars name Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross as their biggest influences, and Motown songs are sampled and covered in every new generation of music.

A Motown-style song about your story

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How to create a personalized song

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