Motown Chartbusters: Volume 11

Diana Ross - Upside Down 1980

From Diana Ross's diana album which was produced by Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards comes the first of three smash hit singles, all of which were melodic disco groovers (the other two were I'm Coming Out - featured on Vol. 12 - and My Old Piano). The song is notable for that distinctive Chic guitar riff as well as a really singalong chorus. It was bound to be a huge hit. 

Teena Marie - Behind The Groove 1980

Deep cut disco here from Teena. It bears a lot of the hallmarks of late seventies/early eighties disco - groovy, staccato brass breaks, prominent, melodic backing vocals and those strange "boing boing" percussion noises and lyrics about shaking your body. Get on down....

Billy Preston & Syreeta - It Will Come In Time 1980

An upbeat number from these two which is in complete contrast to With You I'm Born Again. Billy rocks out on the piano and Syreeta shows off her vocal range. The tune is lightweight and poppy and sounds a bit dated for 1980, like something from 1974. It's fun. 

The Commodores - Still 1979

Classic late night, heartbreaking Lionel Richie piano-led balladry. This was what The Commodores delivered as singles these days, they were funkers no more. You can't argue with its sheer class, though. It was a huge hit for them, probably quite rightly too. 

Rick James - Big Time 1980

Big Time was its album’s only hit. I remember it from the time. It was a mid-pace, appealing enough light funk tale of being famous. As often on a James extended number, it featured some excellent saxophone. I really like this track, it gets into its groove and stays there, washing over you with its warm, bassy and melodic funk. 

High Energy - Make Me Yours 1980

Now this is a real rarity and very difficult to get hold of these days. It is a cover of a Bettye Swann Stax-y soul number from 1967. To be honest the original is better, but High Energy's cover is ok. 

Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious 1980

Let's Get Serious was a great disco song that needs no introduction. It was a Stevie Wonder co-write and had an irresistible chorus that everyone remembers - "let's get serious and fall in love". It cooked so hot it could almost have been brother Michael, couldn't it?

Diana Ross - It's My House 1979

A very Chic-esque number here that bears similarities to the next one from Diana/Chic, My Old Piano. That said, it came from Diana's The Boss album which was produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson and not Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Maybe that is why it is just ever so slightly different in its vibe to the others. It is not a blatant get up and dance number but it still has a groove that is so reminiscent of its era. It is quality disco but not out and out disco if you get my drift. Its vibe is a slow but insistent one, subtlety is the keyword here. The 12" extended version has some good rhythmic and brassy bits near the end. 

Billy Preston & Syreeta - With You I'm Born Again 1979

It's last dance of the evening time, have a safe journey home, see you next week. Solid gold balladry. 

Jermaine Jackson - Burnin' Hot 1980

A cookin', whistle blowin' red hot disco cut from Jermaine. If anything it grooves as hard as Let's Get Serious if not more. Its underpinning riff is very Michael-esque, isn't t? It is highly representative of early eighties Motown disco. 

Diana Ross - My Old Piano 1980

This was a quirkily appealing disco hit from Ms. Ross, which, if I'm honest, was more pop than disco. It is the least Chic-like of the three numbers on here, but it still has a strong essence of them. Its keyboard sound is a bit spacey and the whole song is more lo-fi than either Upside Down or It's My House. Love the deep bassline. Amazingly, for one who was initially sceptical about disco, Ross was coping with it admirably. The song has a killer bit of jazzy piano in it too. 

Syreeta - He's Gone 1980

This was a cover of a Chantels song from 1957 which sits somewhat incongruously on here in the midst of all the disco and smooth balladry. The slow doo-wop melody comes from another age and Syreeta's vocal is shriekingly high. Not for me, this one. It reminds me of the early Motown material from 1959-1962.

Teena Marie - I Need Your Lovin' 1980

It is a relief after the last song to hear the deep, warm bass and seductive tones on offer here. Teena was a super sexy purveyor of sensual disco numbers like this. All her stuff was good. Vocally she was really strong and could ride a groove with ease. There's a good saxophone solo on here too. Great record of its time.

The Commodores - Wonderland 1980

I said earlier that The Commodores were no longer funkers and that was largely true, but here they merged their old funk habits with their contemporary liking for a ballad to lay down a fine serving of smooth, lush soul. Can I repeat the word quality for all their songs? Unimaginative I know, but true.

Smokey Robinson - Cruisin' 1979

Talking of smooth, the king of smooth, Smokey Robinson gives us a sublime number here. The track drips with quality, unsurprisingly. A quiet storm indeed. Love it. Oh yes.

Lynda Carter - The Last Song 1981

A total one-off rarity here as "Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter belts out a ballad that sounds as if it came from a Broadway show. It's not Motown. It's not soul. It's not disco. It shouldn't really be here. Sorry Lynda.