Top 100 R&B Acts of All Time

R&B: Top 100 Acts

These are the top 100 R&B acts of all time, based on an aggregate of 60 lists, R&B related awards, and R&B chart performance. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre. 1. Stevie Wonder 2. Aretha Franklin 3. Marvin Gaye 4. Luther Vandross 5. Michael Jackson 6. Ray Charles 7. James Brown 8. Whitney Houston 9. Al Green 10. Sam Cooke 11. Smokey Robinson 12. Prince 13. Mariah Carey 14. R. Kelly 15. Mary J. Blige 16. Gladys Knight & The Pips 17. The Temptations 18. Barry White 19. Etta James 20. Patti LaBelle 21. Chaka Khan/Rufus 22. Usher 23. Janet Jackson 24. The Supremes 25. Otis Redding 26. Beyoncé 27. Earth, Wind & Fire 28. The Isley Brothers 29. Curtis Mayfield 30. The O’Jays 31. Diana Ross 32. The Jackson 5/The Jacksons 33. Boyz II Men 34. Lionel Richie 35. Alicia Keys 36. Teddy Pendergrass 37. Four Tops 38. Dionne Warwick 39. Jackie Wilson 40. Destiny’s Child 41. TLC 42. Anita Baker 43. En Vogue 44. Kool & the Gang 45. The Drifters 46. The Miracles 47. Spinners 48. Tina Turner 49. Babyface 50. Sly & the Family Stone 51. Donny Hathaway 52. New Edition 53. Isaac Hayes 54. Ruth Brown 55. Aaliyah 56. Fats Domino 57. Donna Summer 58. Sade 59. The Commodores 60. The Pointer Sisters 61. Rick James 62. Keith Sweat 63. Bill Withers 64. Louis Jordan 65. Bobby Womack 66. Little Richard 67. Maxwell 68. Erykah Badu 69. Parliament/Funkadelic 70. D’Angelo 71. The Impressions 72. Martha & the Vandellas 73. Wilson Pickett 74. The Dells 75. Rihanna 76. Chris Brown 77. Jill Scott 78. Roberta Flack 79. Ne-Yo 80. Toni Braxton 81. Chuck Berry 82. Bobby Brown 83. Nat “King” Cole 84. Ashford & Simpson 85. B.B. King 86. The Chi-Lites 87. Natalie Cole 88. Brandy 89. Dinah Washington 90. Sisters with Voices (SWV) 91. Bobby “Blue” Bland 92. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes 93. Tony! Toni! Toné! 94. The Weeknd 95. Frank Ocean 96. John Legend 97. SZA 98. Chic 99. Joe 100. Keyshia Cole Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre First posted 1/22/2012; last updated 3/5/2026.

Apollo Theater Walk of Fame: 2006-2024

The famed Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, dates back to the mid-19th century when Civil War General Edward Ferrero founded Apollo Hall as a dance hall and ballroom. In 1872, his lease expired and the building was converted to a theater. It closed shortly before the turn of the century, but the Apollo Theater resurfaced around 1913 in a new building at 253 West 125th Street. It declined again in the 1960s and ‘70s, but was revived in 1983. It gained fame over the years for featuring almost exclusively African-American performers. Somewhere in the mid-2000s, the Apollo launched its own Walk of Fame (also called the Legends Hall of Fame). The first group looks to have been inducted in 2006 although other sources say the Walk of Fame wasn’t established until 2010. Even the official Apollo Theater website offers no details about the Walk of Fame so the list of inductees below has been compiled from various sources. The most recent inductee appears to be Clive Davis on June 6, 2025. See other Hall of Fames. Louis Armstrong Babyface (2024) Mary J. Blige (2021) James Brown (2006) Celia Cruz Clive Davis (2025) Billy Eckstine Ella Fitzgerald (2006) Aretha Franklin (2010) Marvin Gaye Daryl Hall & John Oates Billie Holiday Michael Jackson (2010) The Jacksons Etta James (2012) Elton John Quincy Jones (2009) Chaka Khan (2013) Gladys Knight & The Pips (2006) Patti LaBelle (2009) Little Richard (2006) Prince (2016) Lionel Richie (2012) Smokey Robinson (2008) The Supremes The Temptations (2021) Stevie Wonder (2011) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Hall of Fames” ApolloTheater.org Wikipedia: Apollo Theater First posted 6/13/2016; last updated 6/6/2026.

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.

Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Music Makers' Inductees (June 2021)

Music Maker Inductees: June 2021

Top 20 R&B Acts Originally posted 6/22/2021. January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog! To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This tenth class of music maker inductees focuses on the top R&B acts of all time (see the full top 100 list here). These are the top 20 from that list, minus previous inductees, which included Mariah Carey, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Stevie Wonder. See the full list of music maker inductees here.

Mary J. Blige (1971-) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

Blige was born in the Bronx in 1971. She reached the R&B chart 75 times from 1992 to 2021, hitting #1 six times – most notably with “Family Affair,” which also topped the Hot 100. She is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and ranks as one of the top 100 singers of all time according to the DMDB. VH1 ranked her as one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Read more.

James Brown (1933-2006) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B/funk singer and dancer born in Toccoa, GA. Nicknamed “The Godfather of Soul.” Inducted into the inaugural class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag” and “I Got You (I Feel Good)” are in the DMDB’s the top 1% of all time. His Live at the Apollo Volume 1 is in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time and rates #1 on the DMDB list of the top live albums of all time. He is also an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and R&B Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . Read more.

Sam Cooke (1931-1964) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B singer/songwriter born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Inducted into the inaugural class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “You Send Me” and “A Change Is Gonna Come” are the top 1% of all time. His compilation, The Man and His Music, ranks as one of the top 1000 of all time. He is also an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and R&B Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . Read more.

Marvin Gaye (1939-1984) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B singer born in Washington, D.C. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” is a DMDB Hall of Fame inductee. That song and “What's Going On” are both in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. Those two, as well as “Let’s Get It On” and “Sexual Healing” rank in the top 1% of all time. What's Going On and Let's Get It On rank in the top 1000 albums of all time; the former is in the DMDB book The Top 100 Albums of All Time and is a DMDB Hall of Fame inductee. Gaye is also an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and R&B Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . Read more.

Al Green (1946-) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

Green was born in Arkansas in 1946. He landed 32 hits on the R&B charts, six of which went to #1. “Let’s Stay Together” also topped the Hot 100 and is featured in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. His album Call Me ranks as one of the top 1000 of all time. Green is an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . He is also a Kennedy Center Honoree and ranks as one of the top 100 singers of all time and one of the top 100 songwriters of the rock era. Read more.

Etta James (1938-2012) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B/blues singer born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, CA. She has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the R&B Hall of Fame, and the Blues Hall of Fame. She is also a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award .. “At Last” ranks in the top 1% of all time. It is also in the Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry and in the DMDB lists of the top blues songs, jazz songs, love songs, and R&B songs. Her album Tell Mama is one of the top R&B albums and is in the Blues Hall of Fame. Read more.

R. Kelly (1967-) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B singer and executive Robert Sylvester Kelly was born in Chicago in 1967. He charted 82 songs on the R&B charts from 1991 to 2014, including ten #1 songs – most notably “I Believe I Can Fly” (a Grammy winner for R&B Song of the Year and one of the top 100 movie songs of all time) and “Ignition (remix)” (BMI R&B Song of the Year). Kelly is a recipient of the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more.

Gladys Knight (1944-) & the Pips (active 1961-1988) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

Gladys Knight was born in 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. eached the R&B chart 66 times from 1961 to 1996 as a solo act and with the group The Pips. She hit #1 ten times, most notably with “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.” The latter ranks as the top 1% of all time in the DMDB song database. Knight ranks as one of the top 100 singers of all time according to the DMDB. She is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and R&B Hall of Fame. She is a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award and the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . She is also a Kennedy Center Honoree. Read more.

Patti LaBelle (1944-) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B singer Patti LaBelle was born in 1944 in Philadelphia. She reached the R&B chart 53 times, first with the girl group Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles, then with the female disco trio LaBelle, and then as a solo act. The song “Lady Marmalade” was one of three #1 R&B hits for her; it also topped the Billboard Hot 100 and ranks as one of the top 100 disco songs and one of the top 50 songs by girl groups. “On My Own” was also an R&B and Hot 100 chart topper. She is a recipient of the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award and the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . Read more.

Smokey Robinson (1940-) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B singer/songwriter and music executive born William Robinson, Jr. in Detroit, Michigan. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee makes the DMDB’s lists of top executives, R&B acts, singers, and rock-era songwriters. “The Tracks of My Tears” and “The Tears of a Clown,” both recorded with the Miracles rank in the top 1% of all time. Robinson is also an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and R&B Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . Read more.

The Temptations (active 1960-) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

This R&B group from Detroit, Michigan, has existed in different incarnations for decades, but its best known members from their ‘60s heyday include Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, and Paul Williams. “My Girl” is in the DMDB book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era. That song, as well as “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Just My Imagination Running Away with Me,” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” rank in the top 1% of all time. The Temptations are also inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and R&B Hall of Fame. They are also recipients of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award . Read more.

Luther Vandross (1951-2005) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

R&B singer Luther Vandross was born in 1951 in New York City. He reached the R&B charts sixty times from 1976 to 2006, including seven #1 hits. One of those, “Here and Now,” ranks as one of the top 100 love songs of all time according to the DMDB. “Dance with My Father” won a Grammy for Song of the Year. The DMDB also ranks Vandross as one of the top 100 singers of all time. He is also a recipient of the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award , and an R&B Hall of Fame inductee. Read more.

Barry White (1944-2003) Inducted June 2021 as a “Top 20 R&B Act”

This R&B singer and producer was born Barry Eugene Carter in Galveston, Texas, in 1944. He was known for his deep bass voice and romantic persona. He reached the R&B chart 43 times from 1973 to 1999, including six #1 songs – most notably with “Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” a pop #1 as well. White is a recipient of the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award , and an R&B Hall of Fame inductee. Read more.

Smokey Robinson: Top 100 Songs

First posted 2/14/2020.

Smokey Robinson Image from shazam.com

R&B singer/songwriter born William Robinson, Jr. on 2/19/1940 in Detroit, Michigan. With The Miracles (55-72) and later a solo artist. Record executive and songwriter for Motown.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs This list includes Robinson’s work as a solo artist, with the Miracles, and as a songwriter. The recording artist is noted in parentheses. 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. Songs which hit #1 on various charts are noted. (Click for codes to singles charts.) DMDB Top 1%: 1. My Girl (Temptations, 1964) #1 US, RB 2. The Tracks of My Tears (The Miracles, 1965) DMDB Top 5%: 3. The Tears of a Clown (The Miracles, 1970) #1 US, CB, RB, UK 4. My Guy (Mary Wells, 1964) #1 US, CB, RB, AU 5. Shop Around (The Miracles, 1960) #1 RB 6. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me (The Miracles, 1962) #1 RB 7. Being with You (Smokey Robinson, 1981) #1 CB, HR, RR, RB, UK 8. The Way You Do the Things You Do (The Temptations, 1964) 9. Ooo Baby Baby (The Miracles, 1965) DMDB Top 10%: 10. I Second That Emotion (The Miracles, 1967) #1 RB 11. Love Machine (The Miracles, 1975) #1 US, CB, HR 12. Cruisin’ (Smokey Robinson, 1979) #1 CB 13. The Tracks of My Tears (Linda Ronstadt, 1975) 14. Get Ready (The Temptations, 1966) #1 RB 15. Going to a Go-Go (The Miracles, 1965) 16. Ooh Baby Baby (Linda Ronstadt, 1978) 17. Get Ready (Rare Earth, 1969) 18. The Way You Do the Things You Do (UB40, 1989) DMDB Top 20%: 19. Ain’t That Peculiar (Marvin Gaye, 1965) #1 RB 20. Shop Around (Captain & Tennille, 1976) #1 AC 21. The Way You Do the Things You Do (Hall & Oates, 1985) 22. More Love (Kim Carnes, 1980) 23. Since I Lost My Baby (The Temptations, 1965) 24. Just to See Her (Smokey Robinson, 1987) #1 AC 25. My Girl (Hall & Oates, 1985) 26. Going to a Go-Go (The Rolling Stones, 1982) 27. More Love (The Miracles, 1967) 28. Floy Joy (The Supremes, 1971) 29. It’s Growing (The Temptations, 1965) 30. Who’s Lovin’ You (The Jackson 5, 1969) 31. Come ‘Round Here, I’m the One You Need (The Miracles, 1966) 32. Automatically Sunshine (The Supremes, 1972) 33. Still Water (Love) (The Four Tops, 1970) 34. I’ll Try Something New (The Miracles, 1962) 35. One Heartbeat (Smokey Robinson, 1987) 36. I’ll Be Doggone (Marvin Gaye, 1965) #1 RB 37. I Don’t Blame You at All (The Miracles, 1971) 38. The Composer (The Supremes, 1969) 39. Mickey’s Monkey (The Miracles, 1963) 40. Do It Baby (The Miracles, 1974) 41. My Guy (Sister Sledge, 1982) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 42. If You Can Want (The Miracles, 1968) 43. Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father) (Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, & Stevie Wonder; 1978) 44. I’ll Be in Trouble (The Temptations, 1964) 45. The Tracks of My Tears (Aretha Franklin, 1969) 46. Don’t Look Back (The Temptations, 1965) 47. One More Heartache (Marvin Gaye, 1966) 48. The Way You Do the Things You Do (Rita Coolidge, 1978) 49. My Baby (The Temptations, 1965) 50. Two Lovers (Mary Wells, (1962) #1 RB 51. I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying (The Miracles, 1963) 52. The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage (The Miracles, 1967) 53. First I Look at the Purse (The Contours, 1965) 54. Your Wonderful, Sweet, Sweet Love (The Supremes, 1972) 55. A Breath Taking Guy (The Supremes, 1963) 56. Cruisin’ (Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow, 2000) #1 AC, AU 57. You Threw a Lucky Punch (Gene Chandler, 1962) 58. Who’s Lovin’ You (Brenda & the Tabulations, 1967) 59. The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game (The Marvelettes, 1966) 60. You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me (Eddie Money, 1977) 61. You Beat Me to the Punch (Mary Wells, 1962) #1 RB 62. When I’m Gone (Brenda Holloway, 1965) 63. That’s What Love Is Made Of (The Miracles, 1964) 64. What’s So Good About Goodbye (The Miracles, 1962) 65. Way Over There (The Miracles, 1960) 66. Take This Heart of Mine (Marvin Gaye, 1966) 67. The One Who Really Loves You (Mary Wells, 1962) 68. Don’t Mess with Bill (The Marvelettes, 1966) 69. Ebony Eyes (Rick James with Smokey Robinson, 1983) 70. My Guy/My Girl (Amii Stewart & Johnny Bristol, 1980) 71. Ain’t It Baby (The Miracles, 1961) 72. Baby, Baby Don’t Cry (The Miracles, 1969) 73. Happy (Bobby Darin, 1972) 74. A Love She Can Count On (The Miracles, 1963) 75. My Guy (Petula Clark, 1972) 76. I Like It Like That (The Miracles, 1964) 77. Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues (The Miracles, 1961) 78. Mighty Good Lovin’ (The Miracles, 1961) 79. The Tears of a Clown (The English Beat, 1979) 80. Blame It on Love (Smokey Robinson & Barbara Mitchell, 1983) 81. Walk and Don’t Look Back (Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger, 1978) 82. Who’s Lovin’ You (Terence Trent D’Arby, 1987) 83. My Girl Has Gone (The Miracles, 1965) 84. Happy (Michael Jackson, 1973) 85. Tell Me Tomorrow (Smokey Robinson, 1982) 86. Old Fashioned Love (Smokey Robinson, 1982) 87. We’ve Saved the Best for Last (Kenny G with Smokey Robinson, 1989) 88. Come on Do the Jerk (The Miracles, 1964) 89. What’s Too Much (Smokey Robinson, 1987) 90. Special Occasion (The Miracles, 1968) 91. Yester Love (The Miracles, 1968) 92. My Girl (Suave, 1988) 93. Double Good Everything (Smokey Robinson, 1991) 94. We’ve Come Too Far to End It Now (The Miracles, 1972) 95. Bad Girl (The Miracles, 1959) 96. You Can’t Let the Boy Overpower the Man in You (The Miracles, 1964) 97. Whole Lot of Shakin’ in My Heart Since I Met You (The Miracles, 1966) 98. Doggone Right (The Miracles, 1969) 99. Point It Out (The Miracles, 1969) 100. Abraham, Martin and John (The Miracles, 1969) Resources and Related Links: Smokey Robinson’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry The Miracles’ DMDB Encyclopedia entry

Today in Music (1965): The Miracles “The Tracks of My Tears” charted

The Tracks of My Tears The Miracles

Writer(s): Smokey Robinson/Warren Moore/Marv Tarplin (see lyrics here) Released: June 23, 1965 First Charted: July 10, 1965 Peak: 16 US, 16 CB, 27 GR, 17 HR, 2 RB, 9 UK, 5 CN, 3 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 0.2 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 24.20 video, 131.0 streaming

The Tracks of My Tears Linda Ronstadt

First Charted: December 20, 1975 Peak: 25 BB, 25 CB, 23 GR, 38 HR, 30 RR, 4 AC, 11 CW, 24 CL, 42 UK, 22 CN, 10 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 12.70 video, 5.31 streaming

Awards (Miracles): Click on award for more details. Awards (Ronstadt):

About the Song: Smokey Robinson was more “Motown’s answer to Bing Crosby” DM than a soul singer. “If you’re going to be the coolest crooner around, it helps to know how to craft such material. Only one guy did.” DM His “talents as songwriter, arranger, and producer far surpass his vocal ability” DM although “The Tracks of My Tears” is marked by his “velvety high tenor voice” NRR which “conveys the passion and pain required to maintain a false, happy exterior after a romantic breakup.” NRR The Miracles’ guitarist Marvin Tarplin developed the main riff after he listened to “The Banana Boat Song” by Harry Belafonte. BBC Robinson almost immediately wrote most of the lyrics, but it took a few weeks before he came up with the idea of tears leaving tracks on the face. BBC It has been called “one of the most gut-wrenching songs on record.” SF The group’s Pete Moore said, “there was just something about it that people loved…It…tapped into the depth of their emotions. Every time we sang that song people in the audience would cry.” TC One line – “Although she may be cute/She’s just a substitute” – actually inspired Pete Townshend to write the Who’s 1966 hit “Substitute.” He explained that he “decided to the celebrate the word itself with a song all its own.” RS500 The song has endured over time, but was not a huge hit initially. It cracked the top 20 in the U.S. and didn’t make it onto the UK charts (#9) until it was reissued four years later. BBC It was actually a bigger hit for Johnny Rivers, who took it to #10 in 1967. Aretha Franklin had a #71 hit with it in 1969 and Linda Ronstadt took it to #25 in 1976. SF The song was prominently featured in the movies The Big Chill (1983) and Platoon (1986). Resources: BBC BBC Radio 2 (2004). “Sold on Song Top 100” TC Toby Creswell (2005). 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time. Thunder’s Mouth Press: New York, NY. Page 508. DM Dave Marsh (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. New American Library: New York, NY. Page 36. NRR National Recording Registry RS500 Rolling Stone (4/7/2011). “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” SF Songfacts Related Links: First posted 4/20/2020; last updated 2/4/4/26/2024.