Category Motown

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell/Diana Ross)

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

This is the last day of Motown week here at the classic song of the day blog, and our final classic Motown song of the day is “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” a song great enough to be a hit for two different Motown artists within the span of three years. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was first released by…

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“The Tears of a Clown” (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles)

Tears of a Clown, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Today’s classic Motown song of the day comes from one of Motown’s top composers and performers. It’s “The Tears of a Clown” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. This one was initially released on the Miracles’ 1967 album, Make It Happen, but not released as a single. Motown released it as a single in England in 1970, where it rose…

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“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” (The Four Tops)

I Can't Help Myself, the Four Tops

Today’s classic Motown song of the day is my favorite Motown tune, period, and I know it’s probably one of yours, too. I’m talking about “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” sung by the inimitable Levi Stubbs and the Four Tops. Released in April of 1965, this tune topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and Billboard’s…

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“Heat Wave” (Martha and the Vandellas/Linda Ronstadt)

Heat Wave, Martha & the Vandellas

Today’s classic Motown song of the day is “Heat Wave,” which was a hit twice—for Martha and the Vandellas in 1963 and a little over a decade later for Linda Ronstadt. We’ll focus on the original version first, since this is Motown week at the Classic Song of the Day blog. Martha and the Vandellas recorded “Heat Wave” on June…

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“Please Mr. Postman” (The Marvelettes/The Beatles/The Carpenters)

Please Mr. Postman, Marvelettes

Today’s classic song of the day is “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes. It was one of the first big Motown hits, released in August of 1961 on the Tamla label. It went all the way to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard’s Hot R&B Sides charts. If you’ve been following this blog you might have noticed…

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