“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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“My Girl” (The Temptations)

My Girl, Temptations

Today’s classic Motown song of the day is perhaps the most well-known and most fondly remembered of them all, “My Girl” by the Temptations. Released on Motown’s Gordy label in late December of 1964, it rose all the way to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles charts. “My Girl” was arguably the biggest…

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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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“I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” (Grand Funk Railroad)

Closer to Home, Grand Funk Railroad

Today’s classic song of the day was suggested by group member Paula Summerville Davis. It’s the two-part song “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” by Grand Funk Railroad. “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” was included on Grand Funk’s 1970 album, Closer to Home. It was a very long track (5:31 for the single, 10 minutes for the album version),…

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“Hold On” (Ian Gomm)

Hold On, Ian Gomm

Your classic forgotten late ’70s pop song of the day is Ian Gomms “Hold On.” This one was released in September of 1979 and rose all the way to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 later that fall. “Hold On” sounds a little Yacht Rockish, especially with that signature ’70s saxophone break, but Gomm’s background is more British pub rock.…

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“Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)” (Frank Wilson/Bruce Springsteen

Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) Frank Wilson

Today’s little-known classic soul song of the day is “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do),” originally released by Frank Wilson and most recently covered by the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. Frank Wilson was a songwriter and producer for Motown Records in the ’60s and ’70s. In 1965 he was recruited, along with a handful of others, by Berry Gordy…

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“Thunder Island” (Jay Ferguson)

Thunder Island, Jay Ferguson

Today’s classic song of the day was suggested by old friend Brad Koch. It’s “Thunder Island” by Jay Ferguson, and it hit #9 on the Billboard 100 back in April of 1978. Brad wondered how “Thunder Island” ranked on the old Yacht or Nyacht? list. (That website is no longer active, which saddens us all.) Well, “Thunder Island” isn’t really…

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