Holland-Dozier-Holland: Top 100 Songs

l to r: Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, Brian Holland; image from irishtimes.com

Holland-Dozier-Holland Top 100 Songs

Eddie Holland was born 80 years ago today (10/30/193) in Detroit Michigan. Along with his brother Brian Holland (born 2/15/1941 in Detroit, Michigan) and Lamont Dozier (born 6/16/1941 in Detroit, Michigan), they formed the famed Holland-Dozier-Holland writing team. They crafted multiple hits for Motown for nearly a decade before leaving in the late 1960s to form Invictus, where they continued their hitmaking ways until 1973, when Dozier started a solo career. Links: DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia Entry for Lamont Dozier DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia Entry for Brian Holland DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia Entry for Eddie Holland Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. In the event of multiple versions of a song, only the song ranked highest in Dave’s Music Database is included. Songs which hit #1 on the following charts are noted: Billboard Hot 100 (US), Cashbox (CB), Hit Records (HR), Radio & Records (RR), Billboard R&B chart (RB), Billboard adult contemporary chart (AC), Billboard album rock chart (AR), United Kingdom pop chart (UK), and Canadian pop chart (CN). Holland-Dozier-Holland typically worked together, but individually they did occasionally collaborate with others and/or pen a song by just one or two of the team. Songs written by each of the three below are indicated: Brian Holland (B), Eddie Holland (E), and Lamont Dozier (L). DMDB Top 1%: 1. B-E-L: Reach Out (I’ll Be There) (Four Tops, 1966) #1 US, CB, RB, UK 2. B-E-L: Stop! In the Name of Love (The Supremes, 1965) #1 US, CB, HR 3. B-E-L: Where Did Our Love Go (The Supremes, 1964) #1 US, CB, HR, RB, CN 4. B-E-L: Baby Love (The Supremes, 1964) #1 US, CB, HR, RB, UK 5. B-E-L: You Can’t Hurry Love (The Supremes, 1966) #1 US, CB, HR, RB 6. B-E-L: I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) (Four Tops, 1965) #1 US, CB, HR, RB DMDB Top 5%: 7. E: Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (The Temptations, 1966) #1 RB 8. B-E-L: Baby I Need Your Loving (Four Tops, 1964) 9. B: Please Mr. Postman (The Marvelletes, 1961) #1 US, RB 10. B-E-L: Heat Wave (Martha & the Vandellas, 1963) #1 RB 11. B-E-L: You Keep Me Hangin’ On (The Supremes, 1966) #1 US, CB, HR, RB 12. B-E-L: Roll with It (Steve Winwood, 1988) #1 US, CB, RR, AC, AR, CN 13. B-E-L: How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You (Marvin Gaye, 1964) 14. B-E-L: Come See About Me (The Supremes, 1964) #1 US, CB, HR, CN 16. B-E-L: I Hear a Symphony (The Supremes, 1965) #1 US, CB, HR 18. L: Two Hearts (Phil Collins, 1988) #1 US, CB, RR, AC, CN 19. B-E-L: This Old Heart of Mine (The Isley Brothers, 1966) 20. B-E-L: Back in My Arms Again (The Supremes, 1966) #1 US, CB, RB, CN DMDB Top 10%: 21. B-E-L: Standing in the Shadows of Love (Four Tops, 1966) 22. E: I Know I’m Losing You (The Temptations, 1966) #1 RB 23. B-E-L: Bernadette (Four Tops, 1967) 24. B-E-L: It’s the Same Old Song (Four Tops, 1965) 25. B-E-L: Reflections (The Supremes, 1967) 27. B-E-L: The Happening (The Supremes, 1967) #1 US, CB, HR 28. E: Beauty Is Only Skin Deep (The Temptations, 1966) #1 RB 29. B-E-L: Can I Get a Witness (Marvin Gaye, 1963) 30. B-E-L: Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) (The Doobie Brothers, 1975) DMDB Top 20%: 31. B-E-L: Jimmy Mack (Martha & the Vandellas, 1967) #1 RB 32. B-E-L: When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes (The Supremes, 1963) 33. B-E-L: Give Me Just a Little More Time (Chairmen of the Board, 1970) 34. B-E-L: Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart (The Supremes, 1966) 35. B-E-L: I’m a Road Runner (Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, 1966) 36. B-E-L: My World Is Empty Without You (The Supremes, 1965) 37. B-E-L: Heaven Must Have Sent You (Bonnie Pointer, 1979) 38. B-E-L: In and Out of Love (The Supremes, 1967) 39. B-E-L: Forever Came Today (The Supremes, 1968) 40. B-E-L: You’re a Wonderful One (Marvin Gaye, 1964) 41. B-E-L: Nothing But Heartache (The Supremes, 1965) 42. E: Too Many Fish in the Sea (The Marvelettes, 1964) 43. B-E-L: Come “Round Here, I’m the One You Need (The Miracles, 1966) 44. B-E: We’re Almost There (Michael Jackson, 1975) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 45. B-E-L: You Keep Running Away (Four Tops, 1967) 46. B-E-L: Run, Run, Run (The Supremes, 1964) 47. E: Girl, Why You Wanna Make Me Blue (The Temptations, 1964) 48. B-E-L: Come and Get These Memories (Martha & the Vandellas, 1963) 49. E: He Was Really Sayin’ Something (The Velvelettes, 1965) 50. B-E-L: Leaving Here (Eddie Holland, 1964) 51. E: All I Need (The Temptations, 1967) 52. E: Loneliness Made Me Realize It’s You That I Need (The Temptations, 1967) 53. B-E-L: Mickey’s Monkey (The Miracles, 1963) 54. B-E-L: Baby Don’t You Do It (Marvin Gaye, 1964) 55. B-E-L: 7 Rooms of Gloom (Four Tops, 1967) 56. B-E: Just a Little Bit of You (Michael Jackson, 1975) 57. B-E-L: Something About You (Four Tops, 1965) 58. B-E-L: Little Darling, I Need You (Marvin Gaye, 1966) 59. B-E-L: Shake Me, Wake Me When It’s Over (Four Tops, 1966) 60. B-E-L: You’ve Got Me Dangling on a String (Chairmen of the Board, 1970) 61. B-E-L: Everything’s Tuesday (Chairmen of the Board, 1970) 62. B-E: I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking (The Supremes, 1976) 63. B-L: Chairman of the Board (The Chairmen of the Board, 1971) 64. B-E: Keep Holding On (The Temptations, 1975) 65. B-E-L: I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying (The Miracles, 1963) 66. B-E-L: Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things (Martha & the Vandellas, 1965) 67. E: The Girl’s Alright with Me (The Temptations, 1964) 68. B-E-L: Your Unchanging Love (Marvin Gaye, 1966) 69. B-E-L: I’m Ready for Love (Martha & the Vandellas, 1966) 70. B-E-L: You Lost the Sweetest Boy (Mary Wells, 1963) 71. B-E-L: I’m in a Different World (Four Tops, 1968) 72. B-E-L: Deeper and Deeper (Freda Payne, 1970) 73. B-E-L: Why Can’t We Be Lovers (Holland-Dozier, 1972) 74. B: Playboy (The Marvelletes, 1962) 75. B-E: You’re My Driving Wheel (The Supremes, 1976) 76. B-E-L: I Guess I’ll Always Love You (The Isley Brothers, 1966) 77. B-E-L: Helpless (Kim Weston, 1966) 78. B-E-L; Quicksand (Martha & the Vandellas, 1963) 79. B-L: Cherish What Is Dear to You While It’s Near to You (Freda Payne, 1971) 80. B: Twistin’ Postman (The Marvelettes, 1962) 81. B: Greetings, This Is Uncle Same (The Monitors, 1966) 82. B-E-L: There’s a Ghost in My House (The Fall, 1987) 83. B-E-L: Locking Up My Heart (The Marvelettes, 1963) 84. B-L: Forever (The Marvelettes, 1963) 85. B-E-L: Without the One You Love, Life’s Not Worthwhile (Four Tops, 1964) 86. E: Gotta See Jane (R. Dean Taylor, 1968) 87. E: Everything Is Good About You (The Lettermen, 1971) 88. B-E-L: Put Yourself in My Place (The Elgins, 1966) 89. B-E-L: In My Lonely Room (Martha & the Vandellas, 1964) 90. B-E-L: Live Wire (Martha & the Vandellas, 1964) 91. B-E-L: Just Ain’t Enough (Eddie Holland, 1964) 92. B-E-L: Candy to Me (Eddie Holland, 1964) 93. E: All I Do Is Thing of You (Troop, 1990) #1 RB 94. E: Everybody Needs Love (Gladys Knight & the Pips, 1967) 95. B-E-L: Westbound #69 (The Flaming Ember, 1970) 96. B-E-L: The Day I Found Myself (The Honey Cone, 1972) 97. B-E-L: Crumbs Off the Table (Glass House, 1969) 98. B-E-L: Girls It Ain’t Easy (The Honey Cone, 1969) 99. B-E-L: While You’re Out Looking for Sugar (The Honey Cone, 1969) 100. B-L: You Brought the Joy (Freda Payne, 1971) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Brian Holland DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Lamont Dozier DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Eddie Holland Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 12/16/2019; last updated 10/28/2023.

The Top 100 Motown Songs

Motown: Top 100 Songs

On January 12, 1959, Berry Gordy launched Tamla Records after borrowing $800 from his relatives. The label evolved into Motown. In celebration of the historic event, the DMDB presents this list of the top 100 songs in the history of Motown. The list was generated by looking at song’s status in Dave’s Music Database, which is determined by rankings on best-of lists, awards, chart appearances, sales, and airplay. Appearances on Motown specific lists and CD compilations is figured into the mix as well. Here are the results: Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Remembering Barrett Strong: 10 of His Best which references songs on this list. Premiere: February 1, 2023. New episodes based on Dave’s Music Database lists are posted every Tuesday at 7pm CST. DMDB Top 1%: 1. Marvin Gaye “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968) 2. Stevie Wonder “Superstition” (1972) 3. The Temptations “My Girl” (1964) 4. Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” (1971) 5. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross “Endless Love” (1981) 6. Martha & the Vandellas “Dancing in the Street” (1964) 7. Four Tops “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” (1966) 8. The Jackson 5 “I Want You Back” (1969) 9. Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You” (1994) 10. Marvin Gaye “Let’s Get It On” (1973) 11. Lionel Richie “All Night Long (All Night)” (1983) 12. The Supremes “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1965) 13. The Supremes “Baby Love” (1964) 14. The Miracles “The Tracks of My Tears” (1965) 15. Boyz II Men “End of the Road” (1992) 16. Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (1984) 17. The Supremes “Where Did Our Love Go” (1964) 18. Diana Ross “Upside Down” (1980) 19. The Commodores “Three Times a Lady” (1978) 20. The Jackson 5 “I’ll Be There” (1970) 21. The Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love” (1966) 22. The Jackson 5 “ABC” (1970) 23. The Temptations “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” (1972) 24. The Commodores “Brick House” (1977) 25. Four Tops “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” (1965) 26. Stevie Wonder “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” (1973) 27. The Temptations “Just My Imagination Running Away with Me” (1971) 28. Rick James “Super Freak” (1981) 29. Edwin Starr “War” (1970) 30. The Marvelettes “Please Mr. Postman” (1961) 31. Lionel Richie “Say You Say Me” (1985) 32. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (1967) 33. The Miracles “The Tears of a Clown” (1970) 34. Mary Wells “My Guy” (1964) 35. Martha & the Vandellas “Heat Wave” (1963) 36. The Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (1966) 37. Lionel Richie “Hello” (1984) 38. The Contours “Do You Love Me?” (1962) 39. Four Tops “Baby I Need Your Loving” (1964) DMDB Top 2%: 40. Stevie Wonder “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” (1970) 41. Little Stevie Wonder “Fingertips (Part 2)” (1963) 42. The Supremes “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” 1966) 43. Thelma Houston “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (1976) 44. Stevie Wonder “Living for the City” (1973) 45. Junior Walker & the All Stars “Shotgun” (1965) 46. Marvin Gaye “Got to Give It Up (Part 1)” (1977) 47. Stevie Wonder “Higher Ground” (1973) 48. The Miracles “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” (1962) 49. Marvin Gaye “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology Song)” (1971) 50. Stevie Wonder “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (1965) 51. The Supremes “Someday We’ll Be Together” (1969) 52. Marvin Gaye “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You” (1964) 53. Boyz II Men “On Bended Knee” (1994) 54. Diana Ross “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (1970) 55. The Miracles “Shop Around” (1960) 56. Martha & the Vandellas “Nowhere to Run” (1965) 57. The Supremes “Love Child” (1968) 58. Barrett Strong “Money (That’s What I Want)” (1960) 59. Lionel Richie “Truly” (1982) 60. Stevie Wonder “Sir Duke” (1977) 61. The Commodores “Easy” (1977) 62. Eddie Kendricks “Keep on Truckin’ (Part 1)” (1973) DMDB Top 5%: 63. Jimmy Ruffin “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” (1966) 64. Stevie Wonder “My Cherie Amour” (1969) 65. Diana Ross “Love Hangover” (1976) 66. The Isley Brothers “This Old Heart of Mine” (1966) 67. Smokey Robinson “Being with You” (1981) 68. The Temptations “I Can’t Get Next to You” (1969) 69. The Supremes “Come See about Me” (1964) 70. The Temptations “Ball of Confusion” (1970) 71. The Commodores “Still” (1979) 72. Diana Ross “I’m Coming Out” (1980) 73. Gladys Knight & the Pips “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1967) 74. The Supremes “I Hear a Symphony” (1965) 75. Steve Wonder “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” (1980) 76. The Miracles “Ooo Baby Baby” (1965) 77. Boyz II Men “Motownphilly” (1991) 78. Michael Jackson “Ben” (1972) 79. Stevie Wonder “Part-Time Lover” (1985) 80. The Temptations “The Way You Do the Things You Do” (1964) 81. Stevie Wonder “I Wish” (1976) 82. Commodores “Sail On” (1979) 83. Rockwell with Michael Jackson “Somebody’s Watching Me” (1984) 84. The Supremes “Back in My Arms Again” (1965) 85. Rick James “Give It to Me Baby” (1981) 86. The Temptations “Cloud Nine” (1968) 87. Stevie Wonder “For Once in My Life” (1968) 88. The Miracles “I Second That Emotion” (1967) 89. Martha Reeves & the Vandellas “Jimmy Mack” (1967) 90. Marvin Gaye “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” (1971) 91. Diana Ross “Touch Me in the Morning” (1973) 92. Diana Ross “Do You Know Where You’re Going To (Theme from Mahogany)” (1975) 93. The Jackson 5 “The Love You Save” (1970) 94. Four Tops “Bernadette” (1967) 95. The Miracles “Love Machine” (1975) 96. Stevie Wonder “I Was Made to Love Her” (1967) 97. Dazz Band “Let It Whip” (1982) 98. The Supremes Reflections” (1967) 99. The Temptations “I Wish It Would Rain” (1968) 100. Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston “It Takes Two” (1966) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia Entries for: First posted 1/14/2012; last updated 2/1/2023.

National Recording Registry: 2022

National Recording Registry: 2022 Inductions

The National Recording Registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000. The Librarian of Congress appoints members to the National Recording Preservation Board which, since 2002, has selected 25 recordings annually for preservation in the Library of Congress. As the website says, the recordings showcase “the range and diversity of American recorded sound heritage in order to increase preservation awareness.” Most inductees are songs and albums, but there are also radio, news, and sports broadcasts along with other spoken word recordings. Below is a list of the 2022 inductees, announced April 13, 2022. Click on a song or album title to see its DMDB page. Click here to read more about each of them on the National Recording Registry website. You can also read essays on more than 500 of the inductees here, including one by yours truly on Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose.” Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast: National Recording Registry 2022 which highlights all of the songs on the list below as well as selections from the album inductees. Premiere: April 19, 2022 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database. 1. SONG: James P. Johnson “Harlem Strut” (1921) 2. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Complete Presidential Speeches (1933-1945) 3. SONG: Ernest Tubb “Walking the Floor Over You” (1941) 4. “On a Note of Triumph” (May 8, 1945) 5. SONG: The Soul Stirrers “Jesus Gave Me Water” (1950) 6. ALBUM: Duke Ellington At Newport (1956) 7. ALBUM: Max Roach We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite (1960) 8. SONG: Nat “King” Cole “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” (1961) 9. ALBUM: The Shirelles Tonight’s the Night (1961) 10. SONG: Andy Williams “Moon River” (1962) 11. ALBUM: Terry Riley In C (1968) 12. SONG: The Disenyland Boys Choir “It’s a Small World After All” (1964) 13. SONG: Four Tops “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” (1966) 14. Hank Aaron’s 715th Career Home Run (April 8, 1974) 15. SONG: Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) 16. SONG: Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981) 17. ALBUM: Linda Ronstadt Canciones de Mi Padre (1987) 18. ALBUM: Bonnie Raitt Nick of Time (1989) 19. ALBUM: A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991) 20. ALBUM: Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993) 21. ALBUM: Various Artists Buena Vista Social Club (1997) 22. SONG: Ricky Martin “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (1999) 23. ALBUM: Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor (2001) 24. WNYC broadcasts for the day of 9/11 (Sept. 11, 2001) 25. “WTF with Marc Maron” (Guest: Robin Williams) (April 26, 2010) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “National Recording Registry: Albums” Dave’s Music Database: “National Recording Registry: Songs” National Recording Registry (4/13/2022). “National Recording Registry Inducts Music from Alicia Keys, Ricky Martin, Journey and More in 2022” National Recording Registry (complete listing, sortable by title, artist, year of release, year inducted, and genre) Wikipedia.org (complete listing by induction years with links for many of the recordings) First posted 4/15/2022; last updated 4/19/2022.

50 years ago: The Four Tops "Reach" #1

Reach Out (I’ll Be There) The Four Tops

Writer(s): Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland (see lyrics here) Released: August 18, 1966 First Charted: September 3, 1966 Peak: 12 US, 11 CB, 2 GR, 2 HR, 12 RB, 13 UK, 6 CN, 62 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.2 UK, 1.2 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 12.7 video, 122.5 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The Four Tops were an R&B vocal quartet who formed in Detroit in 1953. They’d soldiered along for a decade without a hit when they signed with Motown in 1963. The famed writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland crafted “Baby I Need Your Loving” for them and the group had their first hit - #4 on the R&B chart and #11 on the pop chart. Over the next two years, they reached the top 5 on the pop chart with “It’s the Same Old Song” and hit #1 with “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” They hit the top again with “Reach Out (I’ll Be There).” H-D-H cranked out many a hit for Motown Records but even in such a “strictly defined, even formulaic context,” MA much of what they “created... was brilliant, and now and then, as on this record, it was pure genius.” PW They were “increasingly ambitious” SS even as they worked within the confines of the three-minute single. This is “one of the best of all the Motown productions” DJ and a song to match “anything in the history of rock and roll.” MA In his captivating baritone, Four Tops’ lead singer Levi Stubbs belts “reach out” with a religious fervor “like a great preacher who can make merely reading the gospel a creative act.” MA Supposedly, H-D-H instructed Stubbs to sing like Bob Dylan on “Like a Rolling Stone.” SF Apparently it showed; famed producer Phil Specctor described the song, the Four Tops’ second #1 on the pop charts, as “black Dylan.” RS500 In the fall of 1966, Motown was concerned because the Tops’ last two hits had barely cracked the top 20. TB One Motown exec concluded that “Reach Out” wouldn’t sell because it was “too different.” TB Even the Four Tops, who nailed the song in just two takes, SF assumed it was just a throwaway album cut. However, Motown founder Berry Gordy disagreed, telling the Tops to prep “for the biggest hit of their career.” FB Gordy’s instincts for hits were uncanny, and he definitely got this one right. The song went to #1 on the pop and R&B charts in the U.S. and was a #1 in the UK as well. It was “their greatest performance.” SS Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Four Tops FB Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 209. DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 163. MA Dave Marsh (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New York, NY; New American Library. Page 5. RS500 Rolling Stone (2004). “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” SF Songfacts SS Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings (Volumes I & II). Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland. Page 320. TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. PW Paul Williams (1993). Rock and Roll: The Best 100 Singles. New York, NY: Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc. Page 101. First posted 9/3/2011; last updated 2/3/2023.