The 1970s are mesmerizing; we can’t deny it. But, the seventies was also a tumultuous decade. We had the Antiwar Movement, the Watergate Scandal, the fight for Women’s Rights, the Environmental Movement, memorable cars, ’70s fashion, and the most uproarious of them all… 1970s music! The 1970s was truly a decade for rock and roll, funk, and plenty of other music genres.
At the heart of ’70s music here locally in Detroit, Michigan, was none other than Hitsville U.S.A which was Motown’s first headquarter’s and recording studio. The house which was formerly a photographers’ studio was purchased by Motown founder, Berry Gordy, in 1959 and converted into a recording studio. Located at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan, it is now home to the “Motown Museum”.
Motown’s Hitsville U.S.A. historical stories centered around the music of the 1970s in Motown is so rich! Countless iconic musical artists recorded within its studio. Below is a list of songs that were recorded and/or released in the ’70s that were birthed within the walls of this historic Detroit landmark.
1. "War" by Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American singer and songwriter. He was famous for his Norman Whitfield-produced singles of the 1970s… the most notable number-one hit was “War”; a song originally recorded by The Temptations, and included on their 1970 album Psychedelic Shack.
This is a protest song about the Vietnam War, although it makes a broader statement of the need for harmony in our everyday lives.
“War” was one of the first Motown songs to make a political statement. The label had always been focused on making hit songs, but around this time Motown artists like The Temptations and Marvin Gaye started releasing songs with social commentary, many of which were written by Whitfield.
2. "Get Ready" by Rare Earth
“Get Ready” is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson. Though recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. in 1969, the song was not released until February 18, 1970.
Rare Earth’s version was used on Friends during a wedding reception scene in season 7 on the episode titled, “The One With All The Cheesecakes.” That rendition was also used in the TV show, “Chicago Hope” and the 2001 movie, “A Knight’s Tale.”
3. "Ball Of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" by The Temptations
Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” was a ’70s hit single for the group, The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy (Motown) label, also known as Hitsville U.S.A., and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong.
Lyrically, the song attacked the Vietnam War, Nixon’s government, and drug addiction, making it one of the few protest records that came from Motown.
4. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder
American musician, Stevie Wonder, wrote the soul song, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” with Motown songwriters Lee Garrett and Syreeta Wright. The song was released in June 1970 as a single on Motown’s Tamla label. It spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart!
There are no official credits for the musicians on this track, but Motown house musician (Funk Brother) Bob Babbitt, who died in 2012, claimed that he played the famous descending bassline, and Motown historians agree. Babbitt said that Eddie Willis played the electric sitar.
5. "Still Water (Love)" by Four Tops
Smokey Robinson and Frank Wilson (who also produced the track) wrote “Still Water (Love) for the Motown singing group Four Tops. The song was a 1970 hit single.
6. "Up the Ladder to the Roof" by The Supremes
“Up the Ladder to the Roof” recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label, was a 1970 hit single. It was the first Supremes single to feature the new lead singer, Jean Terrell, who replaced Diana Ross who left the group to pursue a solo career two weeks before the recording of this song in January of 1970.
Jean Terrell, who had roots in gospel music and actually possessed a much stronger and “soulful” style voice compared to Diana Ross, was asked to cut down on the number of vocal runs she was doing during the recording of the song.
7. "Psychedelic Shack" by The Temptations
“Psychedelic Shack” was produced by Norman Whitfield and performed by The Temptations. This song was a 1969 single but became a hit single in 1970. The song’s title and lyrics refer to a type of hippie nightclub popular in the late 1960s.
All five Temptations got at least a line of lead vocals on this track, including their bassman Melvin Franklin, who appropriately sings the “So low you can’t get under it” line. David Ruffin had left the group at this point, so the other members were Dennis Edwards, Paul Williams, Otis Williams, and Eddie Kendricks.
8. "That's the Way Love Is" by Marvin Gaye (Album)
“That’s the Way Love Is” is the tenth studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye. It was released on January 8, 1970, on the Tamla (Motown) label.
9. "Right On" by The Supremes (Album)
“Right On” is the nineteenth studio album by The Supremes. It was released in 1970 for the Motown label and was the group’s first album not to feature The Supremes’ former lead singer, Diana Ross.
Diana Ross’s replacement, Jean Terrell, began recording “Right On” with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong in mid-1969, while Wilson and Birdsong were still touring with Ross. The album was released on April 26, 1970.
“Right On” features two top 40 singles, “Up the Ladder to the Roof” and “Everybody’s Got the Right to Love”.
10. "What Love Has...Joined Together" by The Miracles (Album)
“What Love Has…Joined Together” is a 1970 album by R&B group The Miracles which is also known as “Smokey Robinson & The Miracles”. This album was released on April 28, 1970, on Motown Records’ Tamla label.
This was a concept album consisting solely of six extended-length love songs. “What Love Has…Joined Together” features Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, and Ronnie White on the front cover, and Claudette Robinson on the back cover.
11. "Diana Ross" by Diana Ross (Album)
Diana Ross is believed to be the debut studio album by American singer Diana Ross, as she moved into her solo music career. The album was released on June 19, 1970, by Motown Records.
The first song on the album was “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)“. The album did reach number 19 on the US Billboard 200 and ended up peaking as number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album, “Diana Ross“, would later go on to sell 500,000 copies in the United States.
In 1972, 2 years after going solo, she made her film debut as Billie Holiday in the biopic Lady Sings the Blues. She received an Oscar nomination for her performance, and the film’s soundtrack went on to be number one in the United States.
12. "New Ways but Love Stays" by The Supremes (Album)
“New Ways But Love Stays” is the second studio album of The Supremes with new lead singer, Jean Terrell. This album was built upon the foundation of the group’s first LP, “Right On”. It was produced by Frank Wilson and features The Supremes’ most successful single with Terrell, “Stoned Love“.
According to Kinney Thomas, who wrote the song, “Stoned Love”, the song has nothing to do with drugs. It’s actually about the ongoing social issues of the time, such as the Vietnam War, and the need for compassion. “Stones are forever,” said Thomas. “They don’t break or come apart. Love will be here forever.”
13. "The Magnificent 7" by The Supremes and the Four Tops (Album)
The Magnificent 7 is a collaborative album with The Supremes and the Four Tops who were both two big vocal groups at the Motown record label. The album featured their hit cover of Ike & Tina Turner’s “River Deep – Mountain High”, which reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
14. "A Pocket Full of Miracles" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (Album)
“A Pocket Full of Miracles” Smoke Robinson & The Miracles album was released in 1970 through Tamla, a Motown Records subsidiary label. This was one of three albums the group, The Miracles, released that year.
Like many other albums of The Miracles’ that were released post-1969, “A Pocket Full of Miracles” was never released in a CD format. A few years later, it was edited and re-released by the now-defunct independent label, Pickwick International, under license from Motown Records. It had a different cover and the name was changed/modified to “Pocketful”.
40 Iconic '70s Rock Albums
40 Iconic '70s Albums
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
ShareThe Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records.
Boston – First Album
ShareBoston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston. Produced by Tom Scholz and John Boylan, it was released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records.
The Eagles – Hotel California
ShareHotel California is the fifth studio album by American rock band Eagles. Released on December 8, 1976, by Asylum Records.
The Who – Who’s Next
ShareWho's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who that was released on August 14, 1971.
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
ShareRumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records.
The Cars – Candy-O
ShareCandy-O is the second studio album by the American rock band the Cars. It was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and released in 1979 on Elektra Records.
Queen – Queen II
ShareQueen II is the second studio album by the British rock band Queen. It was released on 8 March 1974 by EMI Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US.
Electric Light Orchestra – Out of the Blue
ShareOut of the Blue is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra, released in October 1977.
Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
ShareInnervisions is the sixteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder, released on August 3, 1973.
Supertramp – Breakfast In America
ShareBreakfast in America is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Supertramp, released by A&M Records on 29 March 1979.
Bad Company – Bad Company
ShareBad Company is the debut studio album by the English hard rock supergroup Bad Company. The album was released on June 26, 1974.
The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
ShareSticky Fingers is the 9th British and 11th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 23 April 1971 on their new, and own, label Rolling Stones Records.
Yes – Fragile
ShareFragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 26 November 1971 by Atlantic Records.
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
SharePhysical Graffiti is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released as a double album on 24 February 1975 by the group's new record label, Swan Song Records.
Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
ShareBorn to Run is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Street Survivors
ShareStreet Survivors is the fifth studio album by the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on October 17, 1977.
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
ShareWish You Were Here is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 12 September 1975.
Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
ShareBat Out of Hell is the 1977 debut album by American rock singer Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman.
Molly Hatchet – Flirtin’ With Disaster
ShareFlirtin' with Disaster is the second studio album by American rock band Molly Hatchet, released in 1979 by Epic Records.
Daryl Hall & John Oates – Abandoned Luncheonette
ShareAbandoned Luncheonette is the second studio album by the American pop rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, released in 1973.
Yes – Tales from Topographic Oceans
ShareTales from Topographic Oceans is the sixth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 7 December 1973 by Atlantic Records.
Elvis Costello – This Year’s Model
ShareThis Year's Model is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, originally released on 17 March 1978 in the United Kingdom through Radar Records.
Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells
ShareTubular Bells is the debut studio album by English musician Mike Oldfield, released on 11 March 1973 as the first album on Virgin Records.
10cc – Deceptive Bends
ShareDeceptive Bends is the fifth studio album by rock band 10cc, released in 1977.
David Bowie – Aladdin Sane
ShareAladdin Sane is the sixth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 13 April 1973 through RCA Records.
Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies
ShareBillion Dollar Babies is the sixth studio album by American rock band Alice Cooper, released on February 25, 1973 by Warner Bros. Records.
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
ShareIn the Court of the Crimson King is the debut studio album by English rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 by Island Records.
Lou Reed – Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal
ShareRock 'n' Roll Animal is a live album by American musician Lou Reed, released in February 1974 by RCA Records.
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
ShareMaggot Brain is the third studio album by the American funk rock band Funkadelic, released by Westbound Records in July 1971.
Fleetwood Mac – Kiln House
ShareKiln House is the fourth studio album by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 18 September 1970 by Reprise Records.
The Allman Brothers Band – At Fillmore East
ShareAt Fillmore East is the first live album by American rock band the Allman Brothers Band, the album was released in July 6, 1971, in the United States by Capricorn Records.
The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.
ShareExile on Main St. is the 10th British and 12th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on May 26, 1972 by Rolling Stones Records.
Roxy Music – Stranded
ShareStranded is the third album by English rock band Roxy Music, released in 1973 by Island Records.
Captain Beyond – Sufficiently Breathless
ShareSufficiently Breathless, the second album by Captain Beyond, was released in 1973.
The Clash – London Calling
ShareLondon Calling is the third studio album by English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records.
Bob Seger – Live Bullet
Share‘Live’ Bullet is a live album by American rock band Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, released in April 1976.
Jethro Tull – Stand Up
ShareStand Up is the second studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull, released in 1969.
Kiss – Alive!
ShareAlive! is the fourth album overall, and the first live album, by American hard rock band Kiss. It was released on September 10, 1975.
The Ramones – Ramones
ShareRamones is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Ramones, released on April 23, 1976, by Sire Records.
Joe Walsh – The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get
ShareThe Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh. The album was released in 1973.