Significant Achievements in the Detroit Sound Pt.1

The studio album that contains
all three number one hits

Did you know that The Supremes became the first female recording act in Billboard Magazine history to have three number one singles from the same studio album. The album was entitled “Where Did Our Love Go.” The singles that went to number one were “Where Did Our Love Go”, week-ending 22^nd August 1964 (1 week) on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, week-ending 31^st August 1964 (1 week) on the Canadian RPM Pop Singles Chart and week-ending 22^nd August 1964 (2 weeks) on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart. This was followed by “Baby Love” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 31^st October 1964 (4 weeks), Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 14^th November 1964 (2 weeks) and Cash Box R&B Singles Chart in 1964. The third release from the album entitled “Come See About Me” came later in the year by reaching the number one position on several single charts, such as the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 26^th December 1964 (1week), the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, week-ending 19^th December 1964 (2 non-consecutive weeks) and the Canadian RPM Pop Singles Chart week-ending (1 week).

The Supremes were indeed the first black female recording act from America to have more than one hit single placed at number one on overseas singles chart listings in both Canada and the UK. The song ”Baby Love” managed to top the UK Official Pop Singles Chart, week-ending 19^th November 1964 (2 weeks).

The Four Tops first Trans-Atlantic hit

In addition to the success that Motown Records had with The Supremes, the label was also responsible for the first male vocal recording act to have a number one on both sides of the Atlantic. The Four Tops with “Reach Out I’ll Be There” went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart week-ending 15^th October 1966 (2 weeks), on the Cash Box Pop Singles Chart week-ending 15^th October 1966 (1 week), on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles Chart week-ending 29^th October 1966 (2 weeks) and finally number one on the UK Official Pop Singles Chart week-ending 29^th October 1966 (3 weeks). The track was the second Motown hit single to reach the number one position in the UK after The Supremes with “Baby Love.”

Motown Records managed to have two of their top selling recording acts during the 1960s dominate the number one position on the UK Official Pop Albums Chart for almost the entire month of February 1968. “Four Tops Greatest Hits” was at the top week-ending 10^th February 1968 (1 week) and was followed by The Supremes compilation album “Diana Ross and The Supremes Greatest Hits” week-ending 17^th February 1968 (3 weeks).

All the singles, studio albums and compilation albums listed featured the backing of the legendary Funk Brothers, the Motown Horn section, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra strings section and backing vocals from The Andantes.

                                             


                                           ©Signaturesoundsonline2013-2015