4 Motown Records That Hit No. 1 in the 1960s

Motown Records was the premier record label for R&B in the 1960s. Many groups spawned from the label and generated massively successful songs. Singing groups were the backbone of the label in the 60s, helping define the decade. Motown Records was founded by Berry Gordy, located in Detroit, Michigan. The iconic “Hitsville U.S.A” sign still hangs above the entrance of the house, where Gordy lived upstairs with his family. Within the house, Gordy produced countless hit records with 53 No. 1 hits between 1959 and 1988. The location is now The Motown Museum. Here are 4 No. 1 hits released through Motown Records in the label’s golden era of the 1960s.

“Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes

In August 1961, The Marvelettes penned the first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Motown Records. The song reached No. 1 in December 1961. Additionally, it hit No. 1 on the R&B chart, selling over a million copies. It became the foundation and format of further Motown hits. The group was innovative at the time, becoming one of the first successful girl groups. Gladys Horton sang lead vocals on the song, and a young Marvin Gaye played drums on the recording. Famously, “Please Mr. Postman” was covered by The Beatles as early as December 1961, shortly after the song hit No. 1. In 1975, the song hit No. 1 again with a cover by The Carpenters.

“My Girl” by The Temptations

One of the most successful Motown groups, The Temptations, earned their first chart topping in 1965. “My Girl” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 6, 1965. They were the first male group to earn a No. 1 for the label. The track was written by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White. It was the first to feature David Ruffin on lead vocals. “My Girl” also topped the R&B chart for six weeks. Ultimately, The Temptations penned four No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 and fourteen on the R&B chart. The group released a total of 53 Hot 100 hits.

“Stop! In The Name Of Love” by The Supremes

The Supremes earned their fourth No. 1 hit with “Stop! In The Name Of Love.” The song held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 27 to April 3, 1965. They were the first American group to achieve the feat of four No. 1 hits. The Supremes were made up of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard. They formed as The Primettes, the sister act to The Primes, who later became The Temptations. In 1967, the group was renamed Diana Ross & The Supremes. The group achieved five consecutive No. 1 hits in the 1960s, with a total of 12 chart-topping singles. They are considered the most successful girl group of all time.

“I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” by The Four Tops

Released on April 23, 1965, this track by The Four Tops is one of the most well-known hits from Motown in the 1960s. “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” topped the R&B chart for nine weeks and was labeled the best R&B single of the year by Billboard. Additionally, it was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in June 1965. It competed for the top spot on the Hot 100 with “Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones.