(“The purple one”)
**This is a discography for Gordy Records – other Motown labels are listed here. If you’re looking for a full list of every Motown single, try the Master Index instead!**
One of the “big three” Motown labels, along with Tamla and Motown, Gordy Records was founded in March 1962, essentially a successor to the unloved and short-lived Miracle Records label. Supposedly, the “Gordy” name was a hasty choice, Berry Gordy Jr having picked it at the last minute to stop his ex-wife Thelma starting up her own label under that name. (She had to settle for the less catchy “Thelma Records” instead).
Like Tamla, Gordy Records concentrated mainly on R&B, although its later releases would be flavoured with a heavier funk and later disco influence. Its labels were always a deep, rich purple colour, and its slogan was the grammatically-confused “It’s what’s in the grooves that count”. (Which makes little sense, unless they were suggesting “gordy” as a word for the stuff that got stuck in the grooves of your best records, or something. Anyway.)
Gordy Records’ initial roster was mostly made up of new acts; only the Temptations and the Valadiers made the trip over from Miracle, with the Contours arriving from Motown. The first release on Gordy Records, in March 1962, was the excellent (You’re My) Dream Come True by the Temptations; the group remained signed to Gordy throughout their Sixties and early Seventies heyday, and remain the label’s best-known artist, although Gordy was also home to a few other major stars including Martha & the Vandellas and Edwin Starr.
The Gordy label kept on going strong throughout the Seventies and early Eighties, sustained by a steady stream of singles from the Temptations as well as new acts like Rick James and DeBarge. Gordy was one of only two remaining Motown subsidiaries when it closed its doors at the start of 1987 and merged with Motown Records; the last Gordy single release was Someone by, fittingly, the Temptations, featuring two of the same line-up who had cut the very first Gordy release 25 years previously.
Here’s a list of the Gordy Records singles that have been covered on Motown Junkies so far.
GORDY RECORDS: 45 DISCOGRAPHY (1962-66)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: (You’re My) Dream Come True (10) / Isn’t She Pretty (6) (Gordy G 7001, March 1962)
- LEE & THE LEOPARDS: Come Into My Palace (2) / Trying To Make It (2) (Gordy G 7002, April 1962)
- THE VALADIERS: Because I Love Her (4) / While I’m Away (6) (Gordy G 7003, May 1962)
- THE CONTOURS: Do You Love Me (8) / Move Mr Man (4) (Gordy G 7005, June 1962)
- HATTIE LITTLES: Back In My Arms (6) / Is It True (What They Say About You) (6) (Gordy G 7004, unreleased)
- MIKE & THE MODIFIERS: I Found Myself A Brand New Baby (5) / It’s Too Bad (3) (Gordy G 7006, July 1962)
- HATTIE LITTLES: Your Love Is Wonderful (7) / Here You Come (8) (Gordy G 7007, September 1962)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: I’ll Have To Let Him Go (7) / My Baby Won’t Come Back (4) (Gordy G 7011, September 1962)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: Paradise (4) / Slow Down Heart (7) (Gordy G 7010, October 1962)
- BOB KAYLI: Hold On Pearl (1) / Toodle Loo (1) (Gordy G 7008, November 1962)
- THE CONTOURS: Shake Sherrie (3) / You Better Get In Line (3) (Gordy G 7012, November 1962)
- LaBRENDA BEN & THE BELJEANS: Camel Walk (5) / The Chaperone (6) (Gordy G 7009, December 1962)
- THE VALADIERS: I Found A Girl (2) / You’ll Be Sorry Someday (4) (Gordy G 7013, January 1963)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Come And Get These Memories (10) / Jealous Lover (4) (Gordy G 7014, February 1963)
- THE CONTOURS: Don’t Let Her Be Your Baby (2) / It Must Be Love (8) (Gordy G 7016, March 1963)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: I Want A Love I Can See (6) / The Further You Look, The Less You See (7) (Gordy G 7015, March 1963)
- BUNNY PAUL: I’m Hooked (2) / We’re Only Young Once (4)(Gordy G 7017, May 1963)
- THE STYLERS: Going Steady Anniversary (1) / Pushing Up Daisies (2) (Gordy G 7018, May 1963)
- THE CONTOURS: Pa (I Need A Car) (5) / You Get Ugly (1) (Gordy G 7019, June 1963)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: Farewell My Love (5) / May I Have This Dance (4) (Gordy G 7020, June 1963)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Heat Wave (10) / A Love Like Yours (Don’t Come Knocking Everyday) (7) (Gordy G 7022, July 1963)
- LaBRENDA BEN: Just Be Yourself (6) / I Can’t Help It, I Gotta Dance (6) (Gordy G 7021, August 1963)
- THE DARNELLS: Too Hurt To Cry, Too Much In Love To Say Goodbye (7) / Come On Home (3) (Gordy G 7024, October 1963)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Quicksand (7) / Darling, I Hum Our Song (5) (Gordy G 7025, November 1963)
- LIZ LANDS: May What He Lived For Live (9) / He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands (1) (Gordy G 7026, December 1963)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Live Wire (8) / Old Love (Let’s Try It Again) (6) (Gordy G 7027, January 1964)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: The Way You Do The Things You Do (8) / Just Let Me Know (7) (Gordy G 7028, January 1964)
- THE CONTOURS: Can You Do It (7) / I’ll Stand By You (6) (Gordy G 7029, February 1964)
- LIZ LANDS: Midnight Johnny (5) / Keep Me (7) (Gordy G 7030, March 1964)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: In My Lonely Room (7) / A Tear For The Girl (6) (Gordy G 7031, March 1964)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: I’ll Be In Trouble (6) / The Girl’s Alright With Me (7) (Gordy G 7032, April 1964)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Dancing In The Street (8) / There He Is (At My Door) (6) (Gordy G 7033, July 1964)
- TOMMY GOOD: Baby I Miss You (7) / Leaving Here (6) (Gordy G 7034, July 1964)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) (9) / Baby Baby I Need You (2) (Gordy G 7035, August 1964)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Wild One (7) / Dancing Slow (5) (Gordy G 7036, November 1964)
- THE CONTOURS: Can You Jerk Like Me (5) / That Day When She Needed Me (7) (Gordy G 7037, November 1964)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: My Girl (10) / (Talking ’Bout) Nobody But My Baby (5) (Gordy G 7038, December 1964)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: Nowhere To Run (10) / Motoring (5) (Gordy G 7039, February 1965)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: It’s Growing (8) / What Love Has Joined Together (5) (Gordy G 7040, March 1965)
- KIM WESTON: A Thrill A Moment (5) / I’ll Never See My Love Again (6) (Gordy G 7041, April 1965)
- MARV JOHNSON: Why Do You Want To Let Me Go (3) / I’m Not A Plaything (8) (Gordy G 7042, May 1965)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: Since I Lost My Baby (9) / You’ve Got To Earn It (5) (Gordy G 7043, June 1965)
- THE CONTOURS: First I Look At The Purse (7) / Searching For A Girl (4) (Gordy G 7044, June 1965)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: You’ve Been In Love Too Long (8)/ Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) (8) (Gordy G 7045, July 1965)
- KIM WESTON: Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) (9) / Don’t Compare Me With Her (6) (Gordy G 7046, September 1965)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: My Baby (5) / Don’t Look Back (8) (Gordy G 7047, September 1965)
- MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: My Baby Loves Me (9) / Never Leave Your Baby’s Side (9) (Gordy G 7048, January 1966)
- THE TEMPTATIONS: Get Ready ★ 10 ★ / Fading Away (Gordy G 7049, February 1966)
(Click a song title to read a full review of that side. NB: The coloured numbers after each title indicate the highly subjective mark out of ten I gave that song on the day I happened to write about it. They weren’t intended to be taken too seriously.)
bernie yaffe said:
Does anyone have a listing of special singles issued on Gordy with the prefix G then number 71,72 etc rather than the usual four digit 7001 etc. My usual bible is the Motown Factbook Heatwave series but none are listed in here. any help would be appreciated.
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Dennis Pangilinan said:
I got all this “GORDY RECORD LABELS” and also “MOTOWN RECORD LABELS” and I just wanna know if this are collectible items and what would be the price range. All if them is in perfect conditions and with the sleeves. Anyone? Thanks
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thomas chavis said:
In reference to the slogan on the Gordy label ” It’s what’s in the grooves that count,” that slogan was in referring to the music on the records, not Berry Gordy Jr. The slogan makes sense to me; many others would agree with me.
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thomaschavis said:
In reference to the slogan on the Gordy label, “It’s what’s in the grooves that count,” they (Motown) were referring to the music on the records. Not Berry Gordy Jr. The slogan makes sense to me; many others would agree as well.
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