The word Motown may bring to mind an array of chart-topping dance hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s, with an infectious signature sound that blended soul, funk, and R&B. Indeed, the first two decades of the Detroit-based company’s recordings included some of the most memorable songs in American music. Here are the 50 greatest Motown hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
However, Motown was still churning out the hits in the ‘80s and 90’s. After relocating to Los Angeles and surviving decades of pop music evolution, Motown signed new acts like Rick James, Queen Latifah, Boyz II Men, and Brian McKnight, rounding out its legacy as one of the most influential independent record labels – and one of the most successful Black-owned businesses of any kind – in American history.
To determine the 25 greatest Motown singles of the 1980s and 1990s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on historical Billboard Hot 100 chart performance. Songs released by the Motown Records label or its subsidiaries between 1980 and 1999 were ranked based on a custom scoring wherein a week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 with 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Supplemental data on chart entry dates and total time spent on the Hot 100 were also calculated using Billboard data.
Click here to see the greatest Motown hits of the ‘80s and ‘90s
While many of these hits come from artists who’d long recorded for the company, including Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and former Commodores frontman Lionel Richie, a new generation of ‘80s and ‘90s musicians also saw success with Motown. In 1985, a group of siblings recording under their surname, DeBarge, released the pop/R&B smash hit “Rhythm of the Night,” and in 1990 the hip hop group Another Bad Creation released their biggest hit “lesha” under the Motown label.
But 1991 saw the rise of the internationally successful Philly-based vocal harmony group Boyz II Men, who have seven hit singles on the list and have gone down in Billboard history for spending over 50 cumulative weeks at number one. (On the other hand, here are famous musicians who never topped the Billboard Hot 100.)
25. “In My House” by Mary Jane Girls
> Original Hot 100 appearance: March 9, 1985
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 for 3 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 22 weeks
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24. “Truly” by Lionel Richie
> Original Hot 100 appearance: October 9, 1982
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 18 weeks
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23. “Running with the Night” by Lionel Richie
> Original Hot 100 appearance: November 26, 1983
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 19 weeks
22. “Let’s Get Serious” by Jermaine Jackson
> Original Hot 100 appearance: March 29, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 23 weeks
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21. “Rhythm of the Night” by Debarge
> Original Hot 100 appearance: February 16, 1985
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 22 weeks
20. “You Are” by Lionel Richie
> Original Hot 100 appearance: January 15, 1983
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 4 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 18 weeks
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19. “It’s My Turn” by Diana Ross
> Original Hot 100 appearance: October 25, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 for 3 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 21 weeks
18. “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell
> Original Hot 100 appearance: January 28, 1984
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 for 3 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 20 weeks
17. “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross
> Original Hot 100 appearance: September 6, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 for 3 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 23 weeks
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16. “Part-Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder
> Original Hot 100 appearance: September 7, 1985
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 21 weeks
15. “Iesha” by Another Bad Creation
> Original Hot 100 appearance: January 12, 1991
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 for 1 week
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 23 weeks
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14. “Let It Whip” by Dazz Band
> Original Hot 100 appearance: April 24, 1982
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 23 weeks
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13. “Rub You the Right Way” by Johnny Gill
> Original Hot 100 appearance: May 12, 1990
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 23 weeks
12. “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men
> Original Hot 100 appearance: December 13, 1997
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 for 2 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 20 weeks
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11. “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” by Stevie Wonder
> Original Hot 100 appearance: September 20, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 for 3 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 23 weeks
10. “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder
> Original Hot 100 appearance: August 18, 1984
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 3 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 26 weeks
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9. “4 Seasons of Loneliness” by Boyz II Men
> Original Hot 100 appearance: September 27, 1997
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 1 week
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 20 weeks
8. “Motownphilly” by Boyz II Men
> Original Hot 100 appearance: June 15, 1991
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 for 3 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 24 weeks
7. “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz II Men
> Original Hot 100 appearance: September 21, 1991
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 for 4 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 22 weeks
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6. “All Night Long (All Night)” by Lionel Richie
> Original Hot 100 appearance: September 17, 1983
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 4 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 24 weeks
5. “Upside Down” by Diana Ross
> Original Hot 100 appearance: July 12, 1980
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 4 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 29 weeks
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4. “Water Runs Dry” by Boyz II Men
> Original Hot 100 appearance: April 29, 1995
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 for 1 week
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 28 weeks
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3. “On Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men
> Original Hot 100 appearance: November 19, 1994
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 6 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 27 weeks
2. “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men
> Original Hot 100 appearance: August 13, 1994
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 for 14 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 33 weeks
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1. “Back at One” by Brian McKnight
> Original Hot 100 appearance: August 28, 1999
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 for 8 weeks
> Total time spent on Hot 100: 37 weeks
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