Motown 50: Yesterday, Today, Forever

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 10 available)

Tracklist

1▶CD
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Dennis Edwards (US soul & R’n’B singer) (in 1972), Damon Harris (in 1972) and Richard Street (in 1972)
conductor:
Paul Riser (in 1972)
arranger:
Paul Riser
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1972) and Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1972)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 168) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 333)
cover recording of:
Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (in 1972)
lyricist and composer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Diamond Music Corporation, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Temptations3.46:52
2What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
producer:
William "Mickey" Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
recording of:
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
writer:
James Dean (US soul songwriter), Paul Riser and William Weatherspoon
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music (UK)
Jimmy Ruffin4.652:56
3Heatwave
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1963)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 154) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 257)
recording of:
(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Songs Musikverlag GmbH, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobete Music Ltd, Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
Martha and the Vandellas42:48
4Needle in a Haystack
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Caldin "Carolyn" Gill
recording of:
Needle in a Haystack (from 1964-07-17 until 1964-07-30)
writer:
N. Whitfield and W. Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Songs, EMI Songs Australia, EMI Songs Australia Pty. Ltd. and Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
The Velvelettes2:31
5The Tracks of My Tears
producer:
Bill “Smokey” Robinson
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1965)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 50) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 54)
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears (on 1965-05-19)
writer:
Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Tarplin
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
recording of:
The Tracks of My Tears (on 1971-05-06)
writer:
Warren “Pete” Moore, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Tarplin
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles4.252:52
6Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
producer:
Norman Whitfield
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
background vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11), Eddie Kendricks (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11), Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
lead vocals:
David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations) (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
recording of:
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (from 1966-01-04 until 1966-01-11)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Norman Whitfield
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
cover recording of:
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team) and Norman Whitfield
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music and Stone Agate Music Division
The Temptations4.352:33
7Stop! In the Name of Love
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
background vocals:
The Andantes (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11), Florence Ballard (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11) and Mary Wilson (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1965)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 13) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 254)
recording of:
Stop! In the Name of Love (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Supremes4.152:53
8Stoned Love
producer:
Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
lead vocals:
Jean Terrell
arranger:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
Stoned Love
lyricist and composer:
Ken Thomas (British producer and engineer) and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
writer:
Yennek Samoht and Frank Wilson (Motown singer/songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
The Supremes3.752:56
9Baby Love
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Mike Terry (60s US soul arranger/conductor) (on 1964-08-13)
bass:
James Jamerson (on 1964-08-13)
drums (drum set):
Richard "Pistol" Allen (on 1964-08-13)
foot stomps [footstomps]:
Michael Valvano (on 1964-08-13)
guitar:
Eddie Willis (on 1964-08-13)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1964-08-13)
piano:
Earl Van Dyke (on 1964-08-13)
tenor saxophone:
Henry Cosby (on 1964-08-13)
vibraphone:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1964-08-13)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (on 1964-08-13) and Mary Wilson (on 1964-08-13)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (on 1964-08-13)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964) and UMG Recordings (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1964-08-13)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 4), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 324) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 499)
recording of:
Baby Love (on 1964-08-13)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Division
The Supremes4.352:37
10Dancing in the Street
producer:
William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
baritone saxophone:
Thomas Bowles (on 1964-06-29)
bass guitar:
James Jamerson (on 1964-06-29)
drums (drum set):
Marvin Gaye (on 1964-06-29)
guitar:
Joe Messina (on 1964-06-29), Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (on 1964-06-29) and Eddie Willis (on 1964-06-29)
other instruments [tire iron]:
Ivy Jo Hunter (on 1964-06-29)
percussion, tambourine and vibraphone [vibes]:
Jack Ashford (American Label owner, producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and arranger) (on 1964-06-29)
tenor saxophone:
Henry Cosby (on 1964-06-29)
trombone:
George Bohanon (on 1964-06-29) and Paul Riser (on 1964-06-29)
trumpet:
Russell Conway (trumpet player) (on 1964-06-29) and Herbert Williams (trumpet player) (on 1964-06-29)
background vocals:
Rosalind Ashford (on 1964-06-29), Ivy Jo Hunter (on 1964-06-29), Betty Kelly (on 1964-06-29) and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter) (on 1964-06-29)
lead vocals:
Martha Reeves (on 1964-06-29)
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964) and UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1964)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 7), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 40), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 130) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 403)
recording of:
Dancing in the Street (on 1964-06-29)
writer:
I. Hunter, M. Gaye and W. Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), FCG Music, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Martha and the Vandellas3.552:38
11Rockin’ Robin
producer:
Mel Larson and Jerry Marcellino
lead vocals:
Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”) (in 1971-10)
arranger:
James Anthony Carmichael
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1972)
cover recording of:
Rockin’ Robin (in 1971-10)
lyricist and composer:
Jimmie Thomas
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), J. Albert & Son and Recordo Music Pub.
part of:
Baby It’s You! (jukebox musical, book by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott)
Michael Jackson4.652:33
12Nowhere to Run
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 359)
recording of:
Nowhere to Run
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
writer:
Holland–Dozier–Holland
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), Jobete Music Co., Inc., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Martha and the Vandellas4.652:58
13Endless Love
recording engineer:
Reggie Dozier
producer:
Lionel Richie
mixer:
Guy Costa
additional guest performer:
Diana Ross
arranger:
Gene Page (conductor, composer, arranger and record producer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1981)
part of:
Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 20)
recording of:
Endless Love
lyricist and composer:
Lionel Richie
publisher:
Brockman Music, Café Americana Inc., PGP Music, Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner Chappell Music Publishing (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.) and Warner/Chappell North America
part of:
The 54th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2) and Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1981 nominee)
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie3.54:27
14Twenty-Five Miles
recording of:
Twenty‐Five Miles
writer:
Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua and Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr33:20
15For Once in My Live
producer:
Henry Cosby
lead vocals:
Stevie Wonder (in 1967)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1968)
cover recording of:
For Once in My Life (in 1967)
lyricist:
Ronald Miller (Motown songwriter Ronald Norman Miller)
composer:
Orlando Murden
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobette Music (UK) Ltd., Stein & Van Stock, Inc., Stone Diamond Music Corporation and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
Stevie Wonder4.12:45
16Get Ready
producer:
Smokey Robinson
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
background vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29), David Ruffin (soul singer, member of The Temptations) (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29), Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
lead vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29) and Eddie Kendricks (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1966)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
recording of:
Get Ready (from 1965-12-05 until 1965-12-29)
lyricist and composer:
William “Smokey” Robinson
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Temptations42:34
17Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1971-03)
mellotron, piano and lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
solo tenor saxophone:
Wild Bill Moore (jazz and R&B saxophonist) (in 1971-03)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1971-03) and Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
conductor:
David Van dePitte (in 1971-03)
arranger:
David Van dePitte
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1971-03)
recording of:
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (in 1971-03)
lyricist and composer:
Marvin Gaye
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
sub-publisher:
香港商百代音樂股份有限公司台灣分公司 (EMI Music Publishing (S.E.Asia) Ltd., Taiwan Branch)
Marvin Gaye4.253:15
3▶CD