The 12 Greatest Motown Songs Ever (And the One Berry Gordy Tried to Bury Twice)

The 12 Greatest Motown Songs Ever (And the One Berry Gordy Tried to Bury Twice) In 1959, a $2,000 loan turned a house on Detroit's West Grand Boulevard into Motown — the greatest hit-making machine America has ever seen. From The Marvelettes' accidental breakthrough to Stevie Wonder giving away a song that became one of the biggest hits of his career, these are the stories behind Motown's 12 greatest songs. Discover how a teenage Mary Wells walked away from Motown at the peak of her fame, how an 11-year-old Michael Jackson nailed one of the most demanding vocal takes ever recorded, and why Berry Gordy rejected the label's biggest-selling single of all time — not once, but twice — before finally letting the world hear it. Count down with us from #12 to #1 and find out which song almost never made it out of the vault.