Motown has produced some of the biggest names and most iconic songs of the last 70 years. Here are some reasons why you should definitely include some soul and Motown songs when deciding on the music you’ll play throughout your big day.
- Most of them are about love – In fact, almost all of the Motown songs are! You’re spoilt for choice if you’re looking for a first dance, a song to walk down the aisle to or a sweet song to play while you cut the cake.
- You can create almost any vibe – If you want slow and romantic, upbeat and fun, or classy and sophisticated, there are plenty of soulful wedding songs to choose from. It’s easy to throw in some slow dances for your guests, or pick up the pace with some upbeat tracks that are perfectly in keeping with the romantic vibe of your day!
- Your band or DJ will be able to play them – These songs have stood the test of time, with some of them being just as popular today as they were 70 years ago. The songs are simple and sweet, making them easy for bands to learn and any good DJ will have a whole array of soul and Motown tracks available to play.
- They suit everyone – Soul and Motown tracks are well-loved and appreciated by young and old alike. They are are sure-fire way of keeping your dance floor full!
To help you decide which tracks are for you, we’ve compiled a mammoth list of over 300 soul and Motown wedding songs to choose from. It includes tracks from the Motown record label, along with classic soul and even some disco too. There’s songs from the 60s, all the way up to the modern day.
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Gimme Gimme Gimme – Abba
December, 1963 – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
(I’m A) Roadrunner – Jr. Walker & The All Stars
(There Is) No Greater Love – Amy Winehouse
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson
Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
24K Magic – Bruno Mars
54-46 Was My Number – Toots and The Maytals
ABC – Jackson 5
Actions Speak Louder Than Words – Mable John
Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden and Whitehead
Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
Ain’t Nobody – Chaka Khan
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
All Night Long – Lionel Ritchie
Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
Are You My Woman (Tell Me So) – The Chi-Lites
Pick Up The Pieces – Average White Band
Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – Baccara
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Bad Luck
As – George Michael & Mary J. Blige
Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Baby – Barry White
At Last – Etta James
Baby I Need Your Loving – Four Tops
Tragedy – Bee Gees
Baby Love – The Supremes
Back Stabbers – The O’Jays
Be My Baby – The Ronettes
Just The Two Of Us – Bill Withers
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy – The Tams
Beggin’ – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Bernadette – Four Tops
The Best Of My Love – The Emotions
Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me – Gladys Knight & The Pips
Piano Man – Billy Joel
Big Girls Don’t Cry – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Blame It On The Boogie – The Jacksons
Boy From New York City – The Manhattan Transfer
Heart Of Glass – Blondie
Brandy – Looking Glass
Breakout – Swing Out Sister
Sunny – Boney M.
Brick House – Commodores
Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations
California Soul – Marlena Shaw
Can I Get A Witness – Marvin Gaye
Can You Feel It – The Jacksons
Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean
Celebration – Kool & The Gang
Chain Gang – Sam Cooke
Good Times – Chic
I Want Your Love – Chic
Chain Reaction – Diana Ross
Chains of Fool – Aretha Franklin
Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores
Chapel Of Love – The Dixie Cups
Three Times A Lady – Commodores
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Middle Of The Road
Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
Cissy Strut – The Meters
Clean Up Woman – Betty Wright
Relight My Fire – Dan Hartman
Cloud Nine – The Temptations
Come On Over To My Place – The Drifters
Comin’ Home Baby – Mel Tormé
Cool Jerk – The Capitols
Let’s Hear It For The Boy – Deneice Williams
Could It Be I’m Falling In Love – The Spinners
Cross The Track (We Better Go Back) – Maceo and The Macks
I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
Cruisin’ – Smokey Robinson
Cuddly Toy – Roachford
Dancing In The Street – David Bowie, Mick Jagger
Dancing On the Ceiling – Lionel Ritchie
Do I Do – Stevie Wonder
Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
Do You Believe In Magic? – The Lovin’ Spoonful
Do You Love Me – The Contours
Don’t You Just Know It? – Huey “Piano” Smith
Getaway – Earth, Wind & Fire
Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
Don’t Leave Me This Way – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
Easy – The Commodores
Endless Love – Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross
War – Edwin Starr
Everlasting Love – Love Affair
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – Wilson Pickett
Everyday People – Sly and The Family Stone
Express Yourself – Charles Wright
Fame – Irene Cara
Feel The Need In Me – The Detroit Emeralds
Feeling Good – Nina Simone
Fingertips – Little Stevie Wonder
Flashdance (What A Feeling) – Irene Cara
Footsteps in the Dark – The Isley Brothers
For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder
Loco In Acapulco – Four Tops
For The Love Of You Pts. 1 & 2 – The Isley Brothers
Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
For What It’s Worth – The Staple Singers
Forget You – Cee Lo Green
Friendship Train – Gladys Knight and The Pips
Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car – Billy Ocean
Get Ready – The Temptations
Get Up Offa That Thing – James Brown
Gimme Shelter – Merry Clayton
Give It Up – KC & The Sunshine Band
Give Me Just A Little More Time – Chairmen Of The Board
Giving Myself – Jennifer Hudson
Midnight Train To Georgia – Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gonna Giver Her All The Love I’ve Got – Marvin Gaye
Got To Give It Up – Marvin Gaye
Green Onions – Booker T. & The M.G.’s
Dr. Beat – Gloria Estefan
Guess I’ll Always Love You – The Isley Brothers
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Hallelujah, I Love Her So – Ray Charles
Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder
Hard To Handle – Otis Redding
Harlem Shuffle – Bob and Earl
Have You Seen Her – The Chi-Lites
He Was Really Sayin’ Something – The Velvelettes
Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
Rock The Boat – Hues Corporation
Heatwave – Martha & The Vandellas
Heaven Must Have Sent You – The Elgins
Last Night A DJ Saved My Life – Indeep
Here and Now – Luther Vandross
Hitch Hike – Marvin Gaye
Hold Me – Stevie Wonder
Hold On, I’m Comin – Sam & Dave
I Get The Sweetest Feeling – Jackie Wilson
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – Marvin Gaye
How Will I Know – Whitey Houston
I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
I Can’t Get Next To You – The Temptations
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – Four Tops
I Feel For You – Chaka Khan
I Found A Love – Wilson Pickett
I Found You – Alabama Shakes
I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
I Have Nothing – Whitney Houston
Mr Big Stuff – Jean Knight
I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
I Love Every Little Thing About You – Stevie Wonder
I Say a Little Prayer For You – Aretha Franklin
I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
I Want My Crown – Eric Gales feat. Joe Bonmassa
I Was Made To Love Her – Stevie Wonder
Get Down Tonight – KC & The Sunshine Band
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
That’s The Way I Like It – KC & The Sunshine Band
Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
Lean On Me – Bill Withers
I Wish – Stevie Wonder
I’ll Always Love You – The Spinners
I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers
Stuck On You – Lionel Ritchie
Funky Town – Lipps Inc.
I’m In Love – Aretha Franklin
I’m In The Mood For Dancing – The Nolans
I’m Kissing You – Des’ree
I’m So Excited – The Pointer Sisters
I’ll Be There – Jackson 5
If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
In The Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
It Takes Two – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
It’s A Shame – The Spinners
It’s The Same Old Song – Four Tops
It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers
Jezahel – Shirley Bassey
Jimmy Mack – Martha Reeves And The Vandellas
Jump (For My Love) – The Pointer Sisters
Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Thelma Houston
Just My Imagination – The Temptations
Keep On Truckin’ – Eddie Hendricks
Knocks Me Off My Feet – Stevie Wonder
Land Of 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett
Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
Let’s Go Round Again – Average White Band
Liar Liar – The Castaways
T.S.O.P – MFSB
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
Living For The City – Stevie Wonder
Living In America – James Brown
Long Train Running – The Doobie Brothers
Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes
Love Come Down – Evelyn “Champagne” King
Love The One You’re With – The Isley Brothers
Love, Need and Want You – Patti LaBelle
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp
Master Blaster – Stevie Wonder
Me & Mrs Jones – Billy Paul
Money (That’s What I Want) – Barrett Strong
Mustang Sally – The Commitments
My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
My Destiny – Lionel Ritchie
My Girl – The Temptations
My Guy – Mary Wells
Take Your Time (Do It Right) – S.O.S. Band
Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin
Needle In A Haystack – The Velvelettes
Never Can Say Goodbye – Gloria Gaynor
Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
Fly, Robin, Fly – Silver Convention
Get Up and Boogie That’s Right – Silver Convention
Lost In Music – Sister Sledge
Nothing Can Change This Love – Sam Cooke
Nowhere To Run – Martha & The Vandellas
Number One In Your Heart – The Monitors
Oh! What A Love I Have Found – Gladys Knight & The Pips
One Fine Day – The Chiffons
Ooh Baby Baby – The Miracles
Overjoyed – Stevie Wonder
Papa Was A Rolling Stone – The Temptations
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag – James Brown
Perfect Day – Lou Reed
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes
Put A Little Love In Your Heart – Al Green
Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Ribbon In The Sky – Stevie Wonder
River Deep – Mountain High – Ike & Tina Turner
Saturday Night At The Movies – The Drifters
Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters
Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
Shake And Fingerpop – Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) – The Jacksons
She Is My Lady – Donny Hathaway
She Works Hard For The Money – Donna Summer
She’s Got a Way – Billy Joel
Sherry – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Shop Around – The Miracles
Shout – The Isley Brothers
Signed, Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Sylvester
Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
Skate – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
So Amazing – Luther Vandross
So High – John Legend
Somebody Else’s Guy – Jocelyn Brown
Something’s Got A Hold On Me – Etta James
Son Of A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
Soul Girl – Jeanne and The Darlings
Soul Man – Sam & Dave
Standing In the Shadows Of Love – Four Tops
Stoned Love – The Supremes
Stop! In The Name Of Love – Diana Ross & The Supremes
Street Life – Randy Crawford
Summer Breeze – The Isley Brothers
Super Freak – Rick James
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Sweet Soul Music – Arthur Conley
Teardrops – Womack & Womack
Tell Her About It – Billy Joel
That’s How Strong My Love Is – Otis Redding
That’s Life – James Brown
The Best – Tina Turner
The Boss – James Brown
The First Time Every I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
The Love You Save – Jackson 5
The Makings of You – Curtis Mayfield
The Night – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
The Rubberband Man – The Spinners
The Snake – Al Wilson
The Tears Of A Clown – The Miracles
The Tracks Of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
The Way You Do The Things You Do – The Temptations
Theme From Shaft – Isaac Hayes
Think – Aretha Franklin
This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) – The Isley Brothers
This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
Tired Of Being Alone – Al Green
To Be Loved – Jackie Wilson
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby – Marvin Gaye
Too Many Fish In The Sea – The Marvelettes
Twenty Five Miles – Edwin Starr
Twistin’ The Night Away – Sam Cooke
Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters
Uptight – Stevie Wonder
Uptown Girl – Billy Joel
Use Me – Bill Withers
Walk Like A Man – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Wanna Be Startin’ Something – Michael Jackson
We Can Work It Out – Stevie Wonder
What A Man – Salt-N-Pepa feat. En Vogue
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted – Jimmy Ruffin
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
When The Going Gets Tough – Billy Ocean
When You Tell Me You Love Me – Diana Ross
Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes
Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thema Houston
Xanadu – Olivia Newton John
You And I – Stevie Wonder
You Are (My Destiny) – Lionel Ritchie
In The Navy – Village People
YMCA – Village People
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
You Keep Me Hangin’ On – The Supremes
You To Me Are Everything – The Real Thing
You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
You’re All I Need to Get By – Aretha Franklin
You’re The First, The Last, My Everything – Barry White
You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me – The Miracles
Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton
How Do I Book A Band?
If you want to make your wedding day even more special, hiring a live soul and Motown wedding band will add that extra sparkle to your day! Browse through incredible selection of bands available and fill in the quick and easy enquiry form on your chosen band’s profile. We’ll get back to you ASAP with a free, all-inclusive quote. Alternatively give our friendly advisers a bell on 0800 53 000 35 if you’d like to chat through your options!
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