• Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • OTE – Meagan Good
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · The Playlist

Happy Birthday, Motown! 9 Of The Iconic Label's Biggest Hits

Motown has undeniably changed American music, so we're celebrating the label's 60th birthday with a roundup of its biggest songs.
Happy Birthday, Motown! 9 Of The Iconic Label’s Biggest Hits
GAB Archive/Redferns
By Sydney Scott · Updated October 23, 2020
Launched in 1959 by Berry Gordy Jr., Motown has become one of American music’s most storied labels. The label has been behind the careers of some of music’s biggest icons, including Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Today, the label celebrates its 60th birthday, so we’ve rounded up a few of the labels most memorable songs. In no particular order, here are 9 of Motown’s biggest tracks. 1. Mary Wells – “My Guy” Signed during the early days of Motown, Wells teamed up with singer Smokey Robinson for a number of incredible hits. “My Guy” was a crossover hit, charting on Billboard’s Hot 100 and jumping across the pond to peak at Number 5 on the U.K. chart. 2. Marvin Gaye – “What’s Going On” It’s nearly impossible to pick just one Marvin Gaye song from his string of hits with the label, but “What’s Going On” has an enduring message that’s relevant to this day. 3. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” A classic duet, Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was a Top 20 hit and in, 1999, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 4. Stevie Wonder – “Superstition” There may not be a person on the planet who doesn’t know Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Released in 1972, the song has been covered by the likes of Raven-Symoné and British reggae band UB40. 5. Martha & The Vandellas – “Dancing in the Street” The title of the track alone is enough to make you want to get up and dance. “Dancing in the Street” peaked at Number Two on the Billboard Hot 100 and is the group’s biggest hit. 6. The Temptations – “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” To be honest, this may be one of the most iconic songs about how triflin’ men can be. 7. The Marvelettes – “Please Mr. Postman” The group’s debut single, “Please Mr. Postman,” was the first Motown hit to reach Number One on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also included in Ava Duvernay’s August 28: A Day in the Life of a People for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. 8. The Temptations – “My Girl” The Temptations make the list once again with their iconic hit “My Girl.” The group’s first U.S. number one single, “My Girl,” has been covered by the likes of Otis Redding, Sauve, and The Whispers. 9. The Supremes – “Baby Love” Nominated for a Grammy in 1965, “Baby Love” is one of the group’s most popular songs. The song reached number one on U.S. and U.K. charts.
TOPICS:  motown
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now