Motown's Top 10 Achievers

KINGS AND QUEENS OF THE BILLBOARD CHARTS

Exactly how many Top 10 hits has Motown had?

Of course, it’s what’s in the grooves that counts, but there’s a statistic currently doing the rounds which deserves to be corrected, clarified or validated – namely, that this most celebrated of record companies scored 110 Top 10 hits in the U.S. during its heyday.

Motown’s Wikipedia entry identifies that total for Top 10 titles from 1961-1971. It is not sourced, but one assumes that the tally is taken from the Billboard Hot 100 for the period. The Detroit Historical Society uses the same number, as does the BBC and Goldmine magazine, as well as a recent Far Out article about Motown’s influence on Bruce Springsteen.

The trouble is that by my count, the figure should be 106 (I know, I know: this seems like nitpicking, but…). So what better moment to tabulate those hits precisely, while at the same time ranking the artists by their individual totals? You may find it of interest.

This accounting covers the period from Tamla’s 1959 debut (although the firm’s first Top 10 pop hit didn’t occur until 1961) through to 1988, the year when Berry Gordy sold Motown Records. A couple of titles show up twice under different acts because they are duets (Diana Ross & the Supremes & the Temptations, Diana Ross & Lionel Richie) but are only counted once each for the purpose of this tally. Also, Stevie Wonder’s duet with Paul McCartney (“Ebony And Ivory”) is excluded because it wasn’t released by Motown. Also excluded are Marv Johnson’s two Top 10 entries, co-written and produced by Gordy, but by then, he had signed the singer to United Artists Records.

As you will see, Wonder leads the Top 10 count, with 26. He also registers the longest stretch of such hits, from 1963 to 1986 – although if you combine Smokey Robinson’s group and solo successes, his Top 10 pop career runs even longer, from 1961 to 1987.

Diana Ross, too, can be heard on 26 Top 10 tracks between 1964-1981: with the Supremes, 18, and as a solo superstar, eight (including “Endless Love”). Lionel Richie has 22 hits under his belt, nine with the Commodores, 12 on his own, and one with Ross. The Supremes have the most Number Ones: 12. Motown’s best year for Top 10 triumphs on the Billboard Hot 100 is 1970, with a total of 16 – seven of which went to Number One.

53 NUMBER ONE HITS

Motown’s total number of Top 10 hits from 1959-88 comes to 179. When subdivided into decades, this works out at 78 (1960s), 63 (1970s) and 38 (1980s). Fifty-three of the 179 went to Number One, for a total of 114 weeks.

On the downside, one Motown act was unlucky enough to miss the Top 10 by just one slot – Bonnie Pointer, with “Heaven Must Have Sent You” – and she never came that close again. Seven Top 10 acts also had the No. 11 experience: the Temptations (“The Way You Do The Things You Do”), the Four Tops (“Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Still Water (Love)”), the Supremes (“Nothing But Heartaches”), the Miracles (“Going To A Go-Go,” “If You Can Want”), Martha Reeves & the Vandellas (“Honey Chile”), Stevie Wonder (“I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It”) and the Contours (a reissue of “Do You Love Me”).

And so to the count, which should speak for itself. Each Top 10 title is listed with its peak position, and in the case of chart-toppers, the number of weeks at Number One (in parentheses). Also shown is the year in which each record achieved its peak.

STEVIE WONDER (26)

#1 (3) “Fingertips – Pt. 2” (Tamla) 1963

#3 “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (Tamla) 1966

#9 “Blowin’ In The Wind” (Tamla) 1966

#9 “A Place In The Sun” (Tamla) 1966

#2 “I Was Made To Love Her” (Tamla) 1967

#9 “Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day” (Tamla) 1968

#2 “For Once In My Life” (Tamla) 1968

#4 “My Cherie Amour” (Tamla) 1969

#7 “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday” (Tamla) 1969

#3 “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (Tamla) 1970

#9 “Heaven Help Us All” (Tamla) 1970

#8 “If You Really Love Me” (Tamla) 1971

#1 (1) “Superstition” (Tamla) 1973

#1 (1) “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life”(Tamla) 1973

#4 “Higher Ground” (Tamla) 1973

#8 “Living For The City” (Tamla) 1974

#1 (1) “You Haven’t Done Nothin’ ” (Tamla) 1974

#3 “Boogie On Reggae Woman” (Tamla) 1975

#1 (1) “I Wish” (Tamla) 1977

#1 (3) “Sir Duke” (Tamla) 1977

#4 “Send One Your Love” (Tamla) 1979

#5 “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” (Tamla) 1980

#4 “That Girl” (Tamla) 1982

#1 (3) “I Just Called To Say I Love You” (Motown) 1984

#1 (1) “Part-Time Lover” (Motown) 1985

#10 “Go Home” (Motown) 1986

THE SUPREMES (20)

*Diana Ross & the Supremes ** & The Temptations

#1 (2) “Where Did Our Love Go” (Motown) 1964

#1 (4) “Baby Love” (Motown) 1964

#1 (2) “Come See About Me” (Motown) 1964

#1 (2) “Stop! In The Name Of Love” (Motown) 1965

#1 (1) “Back In My Arms Again” (Motown) 1965

#1 (2) “I Hear A Symphony” (Motown) 1965

#5 “My World Is Empty Without You” (Motown) 1966

#9 “Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart” (Motown) 1966

#1 (2) “You Can’t Hurry Love” (Motown) 1966

#1 (2) “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (Motown) 1966

#1 (1) “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” (Motown) 1967

#1 (1) “The Happening” (Motown) 1967

#2 “Reflections” (Motown)* 1967

#9 “In And Out Of Love” (Motown)* 1967

#1 (2) “Love Child” (Motown)* 1968

#2 “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (Motown)** 1969

#10 “I’m Livin’ In Shame” (Motown)* 1969

#1 (1) “Someday We’ll Be Together” (Motown)* 1969

#10 “Up The Ladder To The Roof” (Motown) 1970

#7 “Stoned Love” (Motown) 1970

THE TEMPTATIONS (15)

*& Diana Ross & the Supremes

#1 (1) “My Girl” (Gordy) 1965

#3 “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” (Gordy) 1966

#8 “(I Know) I’m Losing You” (Gordy) 1966

#8 “All I Need” (Gordy) 1967

#6 “You’re My Everything” (Gordy) 1967

#4 “I Wish It Would Rain” (Gordy) 1968

#6 “Cloud Nine” (Gordy) 1969

#2 “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” (Motown)* 1969

#6 “Runaway Child, Running Wild” (Gordy) 1969

#1 (2) “I Can’t Get Next To You” (Gordy) 1969

#7 “Psychedelic Shack” (Gordy) 1970

#3 “Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today)” (Gordy) 1970

#1 (2) “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” (Gordy) 1971

#1 (1) “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” (Gordy) 1972

#7 “Masterpiece” (Gordy) 1973

MARVIN GAYE (17)

*& Tammi Terrell

#10 “Pride And Joy” (Tamla) 1963

#6 “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (Tamla) 1965

#8 “I’ll Be Doggone” (Tamla) 1965

#8 “Ain’t That Peculiar” (Tamla) 1965

#5 “Your Precious Love” (Tamla)* 1967

#10 “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” (Tamla)* 1968

#8 “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” (Tamla)* 1968

#7 “You’re All I Need To Get By” (Tamla)* 1968

#1 (7) “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Tamla) 1968

#4 “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” (Tamla) 1969

#7 “That’s The Way Love Is” (Tamla) 1969

#2 “What’s Going On” (Tamla) 1971

#4 “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)” (Tamla) 1971

#9 “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” (Tamla) 1971

#7 “Trouble Man” (Tamla) 1973

#1 (2) “Let’s Get It On” (Tamla) 1973

#1 (1) “Got To Give It Up (Pt. 1)” (Tamla) 1977

LIONEL RICHIE (13)

*& Diana Ross

#1 (9) “Endless Love” (Motown)* 1981

#1 (2) “Truly” (Motown) 1982

#4 “You Are” (Motown) 1983

#5 “My Love” (Motown) 1983

#1 (4) “All Night Long (All Night)” (Motown) 1983

#7 “Running With The Night” (Motown) 1984

#1 (2) “Hello” (Motown) 1984

#3 “Stuck On You” (Motown) 1984

#8 “Penny Lover” (Motown) 1984

#1 (4) “Say You, Say Me” (Motown) 1985

#2 “Dancing On The Ceiling” (Motown) 1986

#9 “Love Will Conquer All” (Motown) 1986

#7 “Ballerina Girl” (Motown) 1987

THE COMMODORES (10)

#5 “Sweet Love” (Motown) 1976

#7 “Just To Be Close To You” (Motown) 1976

#4 “Easy” (Motown) 1977

#5 “Brick House” (Motown) 1977

#1 (2) “Three Times A Lady” (Motown) 1978

#4 “Sail On” (Motown) 1979

#1 (1) “Still” (Motown) 1979

#8 “Lady (You Bring Me Up)” (Motown) 1981

#4 “Oh No” (Motown) 1981

#3 “Nightshift” (Motown) 1985

DIANA ROSS (8)

*& Lionel Richie

#1 (3) “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Motown) 1970

#1 (1) “Touch Me In The Morning” (Motown) 1973

#1 (1) “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” (Motown) 1976

#1 (2) “Love Hangover” (Motown) 1976

#1 (4) “Upside Down” (Motown) 1980

#5 “I’m Coming Out” (Motown) 1980

#9 “It’s My Turn” (Motown) 1981

#1 (9) “Endless Love” (Motown)* 1981

THE JACKSON 5 (8)

#1 (1) “I Want You Back” (Motown) 1970

#1 (2) “ABC” (Motown) 1970

#1 (2) “The Love You Save” (Motown) 1970

#1 (5) “I’ll Be There” (Motown) 1970

#2 “Mama’s Pearl” (Motown) 1971

#2 “Never Can Say Goodbye” (Motown) 1971

#10 “Sugar Daddy” (Motown) 1972

#2 “Dancing Machine” (Motown) 1974

THE MIRACLES (7)

*Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

#2 “Shop Around” (Tamla) 1961

#8 “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” (Tamla) 1963

#8 “Mickey’s Monkey” (Tamla) 1963

#4 “I Second That Emotion” (Tamla)* 1967

#8 “Baby, Baby Don’t Cry” (Tamla)* 1969

#1 (2) “The Tears Of A Clown” (Tamla)* 1970

#1 (1) “Love Machine Pt. 1” (Tamla) 1976

MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS (6)

#4 “Heat Wave” (Gordy) 1963

#8 “Quicksand” (Gordy) 1964

#2 “Dancing In The Street” (Gordy) 1964

#8 “Nowhere To Run” (Gordy) 1965

#9 “I’m Ready For Love” (Gordy) 1966

#10 “Jimmy Mack” (Gordy) 1967

THE FOUR TOPS (5)

#1 (2) “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” (Motown) 1965

#5 “It’s The Same Old Song” (Motown) 1965

#1 (2) “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (Motown) 1966

#6 “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” (Motown) 1967

#4 “Bernadette” (Motown) 1967

MARY WELLS (4)

#8 “The One Who Really Loves You” (Motown) 1962

#9 “You Beat Me To The Punch” (Motown) 1962

#7 “Two Lovers” (Motown) 1963

#1 (2) “My Guy” (Motown) 1964

SMOKEY ROBINSON (4)

#4 “Cruisin’” (Tamla) 1980

#2 “Being With You” (Tamla) 1981

#8 “Just To See Her” (Motown) 1987

#10 “One Heartbeat” (Motown) 1987

THE MARVELETTES (3)

#1 (1) “Please Mr. Postman” (Tamla) 1961

#7 “Playboy” (Tamla) 1962

#7 “Don’t Mess With Bill” (Tamla) 1966

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (3)

#2 “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Soul) 1967

#9 “If I Were Your Woman” (Soul) 1971

#2 “Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)” (Soul) 1973

MICHAEL JACKSON (3)

#4 “Got To Be There” (Motown) 1971

#2 “Rockin’ Robin” (Motown) 1972

#1 (1) “Ben” (Motown) 1972

RARE EARTH (3)

#4 “Get Ready” (Rare Earth) 1970

#7 “(I Know) I’m Losing You” (Rare Earth) 1970

#7 “I Just Want To Celebrate” (Rare Earth) 1971

EDWIN STARR (2)

#6 “Twenty-Five Miles” (Gordy) 1969

#1 (3) “War” (Gordy) 1970

EDDIE KENDRICKS (2)

#1 (2) “Keep On Truckin’ (Part 1)” (Tamla) 1973

#2 “Boogie Down” (Tamla) 1974

JR. WALKER & THE ALL STARS (2)

#4 “Shotgun” (Soul) 1965

#4 “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” (Soul) 1969

DeBARGE (2)

#3 “Rhythm Of The Night” (Gordy) 1985

#6 “Who’s Holding Donna Now” (Gordy) 1985

DAVID RUFFIN (2)

#9 “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” (Motown) 1969

#9 “Walk Away From Love” (Motown) 1976

JERMAINE JACKSON (2)

#9 “Daddy’s Home” (Motown) 1973

#9 “Let’s Get Serious” (Motown) 1980

THELMA HOUSTON (1)

#1 (1) “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (Tamla) 1977

ROCKWELL (1)

#2 “Somebody’s Watching Me” (Motown) 1984

THE CONTOURS (1)

#3 “Do You Love Me” (Gordy) 1962

THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (1)

#3 “Smiling Faces Sometimes” (Gordy) 1971

CHARLENE (1)

#3 “I’ve Never Been To Me” (Motown) 1982

EL DeBARGE (1)

#3 “Who’s Johnny” (Gordy) 1986

BILLY PRESTON & SYREETA (1)

#4 “With You I’m Born Again” (Motown) 1980

R. DEAN TAYLOR (1)

#5 “Indiana Wants Me” (Rare Earth) 1970

THE DAZZ BAND (1)

#5 “Let It Whip” (Motown) 1982

BRUCE WILLIS (1)

#5 “Respect Yourself” (Motown) 1987

JIMMY RUFFIN (1)

#7 “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” (Soul) 1966

THE MARY JANE GIRLS (1)

#7 “In My House” (Gordy) 1985

SHORTY LONG (1)

#8 “Here Comes The Judge” (Soul) 1968

TOM CLAY (1)

#8 “What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin And John” (MoWest) 1971

Chart notes: an earlier edition of West Grand Blog linked here tabulated all Motown Records’ Top 20 hit singles by year on the Billboard Hot 100, covering 1959-88, including peak dates. For a complete account of Motown’s Top 10 albums, check here.