Essential Motown songs?

[electracoyote]

Okay, I guess anything goes...

 

[Spidey2112]

Midnight Train To Georgia, Gladys Knight and the Pips...

 

[MisterFabulous]

Aretha, The Shirelles, early Isley Brothers, The Staple Singers all are not Motown. Motown is the Tamla, Motown, Gordy and Soul labels primarily. The Hitsville USA boxed set is super, lots of under-the-radar stuff on it, too.

Try this on: "I Don't Know Why" Stevie Wonder

 

[MisterFabulous]

Midnight Train To Georgia, Gladys Knight and the Pips...

Buddah, not Motown

But one of my favorites from Gladys

 

[nolaguy]

Make "MY Girl" number one and expand from there all the way to "Ball Of Confusion".

And learn the CORRECT bass line to My Girl. Nothing shouts "hack" more than a bassist playing the guitar part to that song.

 

[consectaneus]

Buddah, not Motown

But one of my favorites from Gladys

With that wonderful bass line played by Bob Babbitt. I need to learn that one myself some time.

 

[luisthebassplayer]

You should check out the book "Motown Bass Classics". It has 21 of the most popular motown hits with the bass transcribed note for note in standard notation and tab. I play in a motown band and we play most of these songs in our show.... and it's only $14 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Motown-Bass-...&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=motown+bass+classics

 

[HolmeBass]

I'll Take You There
Mr Big Stuff

2 of my faves

I'll Take You There is Staples Singers, so Stax, not Motown. I don't think Mr. Big Stuff is Motown either.

But two killer basslines nonetheless. David Hood on I'll Take You There, his son Patterson fronts The Driveby Truckers.

A couple of other good ones: Gladys Knight & The Pips' version of "Heard It Through The Grapevine" has Jamerson on bass, killing it. And Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up (pt 1)" is another great JJ recording.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Songs I've gigged.....

Dancing In The Street
Heard It Through The Grapevine
You Can't Hurry Love
Let's Get It On
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
River Deep Mountain High
Master Blaster
Superstition
I Want You Back
Ain't No Mountain High Enough

 

[Groove Doctor]

Top 100 Motown Songs
100 Greatest Motown Songs

List of most requested DJ songs for weddings.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I thought OP wanted classic Motown recordings.

Some of these suggestions aren't Motown, but still great music..

 

[Mosstone]

Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman

The O'Jays - Backstabber

The Temptations - Pappa Was a Rollin' Stone

Not strictly Motown, but great songs that I don't think anybody's mentioned yet.

 

[stringthrough]

For me these two tunes capture Jamerson at his funkiest. There's some deep sh*t in those tracks that should be studied and absorbed by all bassists.

 

[electracoyote]

Some of these suggestions aren't Motown, but still great music..

I'm not denying it's great music.

Sorry for pointing that out in the interest of accuracy and addressing the OP's actual question. I forgot where I was for a minute there.

 

[electracoyote]

And learn the CORRECT bass line to My Girl. Nothing shouts "hack" more than a bassist playing the guitar part to that song.

Amen.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I'm not denying it's great music.

Sorry for pointing that out in the interest of accuracy and addressing the OP's actual question. I forgot where I was for a minute there.

Nah man..no harm, no foul as far as I'm concerned...you didn't come off that way..I'm an old school nerd who resisted the urge to be anal about it myself, but me not wanting to be "that guy" ultimately won over...but you are absolutely right...

 

[dannster]

Today I'm digging Wlison Pickett - In the Midnight Hour.

 

[LanEvo]

My top 3 would be:

1. Bernadette
2. What's Goin' On
3. I Want You Back

Start with those and see what you think.

 

[Spidey2112]

Buddah, not Motown

But one of my favorites from Gladys

Close... enough.

 

[bassliner50]

Signed sealed Delivered
Bernadette
Whats going on
I want you back
Dont mess with Bill
My Guy
Dancin in the street