Great Motown-Style Songs

[Bobbert]

I'll start with two.

[matt1]

Martha Davis & The Motels "Forever Mine" (from 1982 "All Four One") Went to # 60 (Hot 100) in December of 1982. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMXJn5d ... lanSuboter

[matt1]

Canadian group Motherlode "When I Die" (Buddah Records) which went to # 18 (Billboard Hot 100) on October 11, 1969 & their only 1 hit wonder. Performance video from 1970: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DairoBz ... =MikeDaley & album stereo version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6fgy38 ... lode-Topic Heard this song for the first time when I was 20 years old on Dick Bartley's "Solid Gold Saturday Night" in late 1985 on 96 WHNN. Also Chatham Kent AM 630 CFCO (former "Classic Gold" station) as well!!

[Bobbert]

Martha Davis & The Motels "Forever Mine" (from 1982 "All Four One") Went to # 60 (Hot 100) in December of 1982. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMXJn5d ... lanSuboter

Very good. I love the chord changes when she sings "Live forever, love forever".

A lot of nice music was made in that early '80s period between the peak of punk/new wave/disco and the big synthesized dance beat of the mid-80s.

[Bobbert]

Canadian group Motherlode "When I Die" (Buddah Records) which went to # 18 (Billboard Hot 100) on October 11, 1969 & their only 1 hit wonder. Performance video from 1970: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DairoBz ... =MikeDaley & album stereo version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6fgy38 ... lode-Topic Heard this song for the first time when I was 20 years old on Dick Bartley's "Solid Gold Saturday Night" in late 1985 on 96 WHNN. Also Chatham Kent AM 630 CFCO (former "Classic Gold" station) as well!!

Good, peaceful transition song from Motown to Philadelphia soul. In 1969 and 1970, my family belonged to a swimming club. When they'd clear the pool to clean it, I would head for the clubhouse where the jukebox was filled with songs like this.

[stopnswop2]

Ecstacy by Eruption, from their 1983 album Our Way.

Actually the whole album. The opening track is even a cover of 2 Four Tops songs in medley.

Also check out their 1980 album called Fight, Fight, Fight

[ChrisWL1980]

Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's two #1 songs from 1987 were both Motown pastiches.

"Head to Toe" was inspired by The Supremes' "Back in My Arms Again" (the pre-chorus is almost a direct steal) and "My World Is Empty Without You."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck2egUnhbt4

And "Lost in Emotion" was a mix of "You Beat Me to the Punch" and "Two Lovers" by Mary Wells.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm6mAu7cNII

[ChrisWL1980]

Phil Collins obviously had a love for Motown. Not only did he cover "You Can't Hurry Love," he worked with Lamont Dozier himself on "Two Hearts," which became his fifth solo #1 song (sixth #1 apart from Genesis, seventh of his career) in early 1989.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9wq5GV2uIU

Speaking of Lamont Dozier, he also wrote Alison Moyet's sole U.S. Top 40 hit (either solo or with Yazoo), from 1985. Not sure how Motown-influenced you'd call "Invisible," but Dozier's involvement lends it credibility at least in terms of song craft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8CeAHfAD2w