The 101+ Club

THE MOTOWN ARTISTS WHO BUBBLED UNDER

The Supremes were members, fleetingly. So was a post-Supremes Diana Ross, also briefly. The Miracles joined early in their career, while Smokey Robinson made abundant visits during the 1980s. But the Jackson 5 never signed up, neither did the Commodores nor Lionel Richie, solo.

It’s the 101+ Club, of course – otherwise known as Bubbling Under, where a total of 57 Motown artists placed one or more singles below the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1962 and 1985.

Every one of those acts had hoped their latest releases would soar higher than No. 101, of course – and with other singles, most of them did. But it’s intriguing to observe which 45s fell short of the U.S. record industry’s primary measure of popularity during Motown’s heyday. (Can you imagine the internal discussions about some of these chart shortfalls, and the apportionment of blame?)

First, some background. Billboard unveiled its Bubbling Under chart in the issue dated June 1, 1959 – less than a year after introducing the Hot 100 itself. The latter tabulated the singles said to be America’s most popular in any given week, based on a combination of record retail sales and radio airplay, as reported to the magazine. Up to the Hot 100’s debut in August 1958, Billboard ran separate charts ranking records’ popularity by radio play, retail sales and jukebox spins; it also had a Top 100 which sought to offer a combination of those listings.

When Bubbling Under first appeared in mid-1959, Billboard ranked the singles on the 15-position chart by “relative potential to earn an early listing on the Hot 100.” It also noted, “These records, while they have not yet developed enough strength throughout the country for inclusion on any national chart anywhere, already have stimulated considerable regional action.”

Such regional action played to Motown’s advantage in the 1960s, when Detroit was one of the nation’s largest music markets, and when sales and airplay in the Motor City had influence beyond its boundaries. In part, this is why so many Hitsville U.S.A. releases graduated to national popularity – that, and the music itself, of course.

FIRST MEMBERS: THE MIRACLES

On June 1, 1959, Berry Gordy’s record company was barely six months old, with only a handful of single releases to its name (Tamla, at the time). He had interests in two titles on that week’s Hot 100, both of which he co-wrote: Marv Johnson’s “Come To Me” and Jackie Wilson’s “That’s Why (I Love You So).” The two were declining from their chart peaks – of 30 and 13, respectively – with “Come To Me” being the master acquired and reissued nationally by United Artists Records after its Detroit debut in January as Tamla 101. On the initial Bubbling Under chart, there was nothing Gordy-related.

In fact, the first members of the 101+ Club were the Miracles, whose “I’ve Been Good To You” spent four weeks bubbling under in the spring of 1962, with a chart peak of 103. Moreover, this was the flipside of a 45 which had already been a Top 40 success, “What’s So Good About Good Bye,” and which had dropped off the Hot 100.

***The Four Tops’ sole membership moment (the Motown singles at 113 and 117 both went on to the Hot 100)***

“I’ve Been Good To You” was one of two Miracles undersides to chart below the Hot 100. Five years later, the Temptations’ take on the Smokey Robinson song also bubbled under (it reached 124) as the B side of “You’re My Everything.” In addition, the Tempts were the Motown act with the most 101+ flips: four.

Billboard expanded Bubbling Under to an average of 20 positions in 1961 and most of 1962. Then it went to an average of 30-35 slots until mid-1970, followed by four years of an average of 20. From July 1974 to August 1985, the chart was just 10 positions deep. After that, no Bubbling Unders were published until the list was reinstated at the end of 1992. The data below only covers the years of Motown’s ownership by Berry Gordy, which ended in 1988.

As noted above, a total of 57 Motown acts were members of the 101+ Club. Most of these (39) were during the 1960s, followed by the ’70s (32) and the ’80s (28). A solo Smokey had the most singles (7) on the chart as an artist, followed by the Temptations (6).

Now, here’s what is shown below: a list of Motown’s first ten Bubbling Under singles, with each record’s peak position and the date of that particular achievement. This is followed by a tabulation of all of the Motown singles which peaked on Bubbling Under between No. 101 and No. 110, together with the peak date and the number of weeks each record spent on the chart. With luck, everything is accounted for, but those releases which peaked below No. 110 are not listed. And if you see errors or omissions, please get in touch.

MOTOWN’S FIRST TEN BUBBLING UNDER SINGLES

#103 The Miracles, “I’ve Been Good To You” (Tamla 54053) April 21, 1962

#122 The Temptations, “Paradise” (Gordy 7010) December 1, 1962

#129 The Supremes, “My Heart Can’t Take It No More” (Motown 1040) April 13, 1963

#107 The Miracles, “I Can Take A Hint” (Tamla 54078) April 13, 1963

#101 Little Stevie Wonder, “I Call It Pretty Music, But The Old People Call It The Blues (Part 1)” (Tamla 54061) August 31, 1963

#117 The Darnells, “Too Hurt To Cry, Too Much In Love To Say Goodbye” (Gordy 7024) November 30, 1963

#102 The Temptations, “The Girl’s Alright With Me” (Gordy 7032) August 8, 1964

#125 Shorty Long, “Devil With The Blues Dress” (Soul 35001) June 20, 1964

#133 Tony Martin, “Talkin’ To Your Picture” (Motown 1071) January 16, 1965

#123 The Temptations, “You’ve Got To Earn It” (Gordy 7032) August 7, 1965

MOTOWN’S 101-110 BUBBLING UNDER SINGLES 1963-1985

#101

Little Stevie Wonder, “I Call It Pretty Music, But The Old People Call It The Blues” (Tamla 54061) August 31, 1963 (1)

Eddie Kendricks, “Can I” (Tamla 54210) November 20, 1971 (3)

Jr. Walker & the All Stars, “Gimme That Beat (Part 1)” (Soul 35104) March 10, 1973 (4)

The Miracles, “Gemini” (Tamla 54259) May 17, 1975 (4)

Smokey Robinson, “Vitamin U” (Tamla 54284) August 6, 1977 (3)

High Inergy, “Shoulda Gone Dancin’ ” (Gordy 7166) July 28, 1979 (9)

Marvin Gaye, “Praise” (Tamla 54322) March 21, 1981 (6)

The Mary Jane Girls, “Candy Man” (Gordy 1670) June 11, 1983 (6)

The Mary Jane Girls, “All Night Long” (Gordy 1690) August 20, 1983 (8)

Rick James, “U Bring The Freak Out” (Gordy 1703) November 19, 1983 (3)

Smokey Robinson, “I’ve Made Love To You A Thousand Times” (Tamla 1655) March 12, 1983 (4)

Duke Jupiter, “Rescue Me” (Morocco 1748) August 18, 1984 (3)

#102

The Temptations, “The Girl’s Alright With Me” (Gordy 7032) August 8, 1964 (8)

The Velvelettes, “These Things Will Keep Me Loving You” (Soul 35025) November 5, 1966 (2)

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, “Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)” (Gordy 7094) October 4, 1969 (4)

The Four Tops, “I Can’t Quit Your Love” (Motown 1198) June 3, 1972 (3)

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, “In And Out Of My Life” (Gordy 7113) April 1, 1972 (6)

The Dynamic Superiors, “Leave It Alone” (Motown 1342) May 31, 1975 (7)

T.G. Sheppard, “Motels And Memories” (Melodyland 6028) February 14, 1976 (2)

Teena Marie, “I’m A Sucker For Your Love” (Gordy 7169) August 11, 1979 (3)

Rick James, “Ghetto Life” (Gordy 7215) January 30, 1982 (1)

The Mary Jane Girls, “Boys” (Gordy 1704) December 17, 1983 (9)

#103

The Miracles, “I’ve Been Good To You” (Tamla 54053) April 21, 1962 (4)

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, “Tear It On Down” (Gordy 7118) June 24, 1972 (3)

Bettye LaVette, “Right In The Middle (Of Falling In Love)” (Motown 1532) March 13, 1982 (7)

Smokey Robinson, “Don’t Play Another Love Song” (Tamla 1700) December 3, 1983 (1)

#104

Jimmy Ruffin, “Farewell Is A Lonely Sound” (Soul 35060) December 13, 1969 (2)

R. Dean Taylor, “Candy Apple Red” (Rare Earth 5030) August 21, 1971 (4)

The Temptations, “Oh, What A Night” (Gordy 7213) December 5, 1981 (4)

Bobby Nunn, “She’s Just A Groupie” (Motown 1643) October 30, 1982 (9)

#105

Chris Clark, “Love’s Gone Bad” (V.I.P. 25038) November 26, 1966 (4)

High Inergy, “Back In My Arms Again” (Gordy 1688) August 13, 1983 (3)

#106

The Undisputed Truth, “Lil’ Red Riding Hood” (Gordy 7140) November 23, 1974 (2)

The Magic Disco Machine, “Control Tower” (Motown 1362) August 30, 1975 (2)

Rare Earth, “It Makes You Happy (But It Ain’t Gonna Last Too Long)” (Rare Earth 5058) November 15, 1975 (3)

Marvin Gaye, “A Funky Space Reincarnation (Part 1)” (Tamla 54298) March 17, 1979 (5)

Billy Preston & Syreeta, “Searchin’ ” (Motown 1520) August 15, 1981 (1)

Smokey Robinson, “And I Don’t Love You” (Tamla 1735) June 23, 1984 (6)

The Mary Jane Girls, “Jealousy” (Gordy 1721) February 18, 1984 (1)

Rick James, “Glow” (Gordy 1796) August 10, 1985 (2)

Vanity, “Mechanical Emotion” (Motown 1767) January 17, 1985 (3)

#107

The Miracles, “I Can Take A Hint” (Tamla 54078) April 13, 1963 (5)

Chuck Jackson, “Are You Lonely For Me Baby” (Motown 1144) April 26, 1969 (3)

The Undisputed Truth, “Girl You’re Alright” (Gordy 7122) December 2, 1972 (3)

Tata Vega, “I Need You Now” (Tamla 54304) August 4, 1979 (2)

Smokey Robinson, “Yes It’s You Lady” (Tamla 1630) July 31, 1982 (2)

#108

Rare Earth, “Ma” (Rare Earth 5053) April 21, 1973 (3)

David Ruffin, “Just Let Me Hold You For A Night” (Motown 1420) October 8, 1977 (6)

Tata Vega, “You’ll Never Rock Alone” (Tamla 54282) July 23, 1977 (2)

Billy Preston & Syreeta, “Go For It” (Motown 1460) May 12, 1979 (1)

Sam Harris, “Hearts On Fire” (Motown 1743) January 26, 1985 (1)

Rockwell, “He’s A Cobra” (Motown 1772) February 23, 1985 (1)

#109

Popcorn Wylie, “Funky Rubber Band” (Soul 35087) October 23, 1971 (1)

The Undisputed Truth, “Mama, I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don’t Say No)” (Gordy 7124) March 31, 1973 (3)

The Dazz Band, “Invitation To Love” (Motown 1507) April 4, 1981 (1)

Charlene, “It Ain’t Easy Comin’ Down” (Motown 1621) July 24, 1982 (1)

Diana Ross, “My Old Piano” (Motown 1531) January 23, 1982 (2)

Smokey Robinson, “I Can’t Find” (Tamla 1756) October 13, 1984 (2)

#110

Rare Earth, “Hum Along And Dance” (Rare Earth 5054) October 27, 1973 (8)

Edwin Starr, “Ain’t It Hell Up In Harlem” (Motown 1284) March 23, 1974 (1)

Jennifer, “Do It For Me” (Motown 1417) June 25, 1977 (2)

Kagny & the Dirty Rats, “At 15” (Motown 1672) August 20, 1983 (1)

Smokey Robinson, “Touch The Sky” (Tamla 1678) May 14, 1983 (1)

The Dazz Band, “Heartbeat” (Motown 1775) March 23, 1985 (1)

Credit notes: the data above is derived from the Billboard charts, of course, but without the late Joel Whitburn’s essential work in tracking and assembling those numbers, such a list would be time-consuming beyond measure to compile. The primary Whitburn source for this information (including the Bubbling Under chart’s history) was his Top Pop Singles volume, but there’s also a book devoted entirely to the topic. Thank you, Joel.

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