Released 1991 Writer(s) Larry John McNally | ||
Length 4:00 (album version)4:17 (single remix)4:45 (power mix) | ||
"The Motown Song" is a song performed by Rod Stewart and featuring The Temptations. The song is from Stewart's 1991 album Vagabond Heart. The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 21, 1991. It also peaked at #3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It was written by Larry John McNally and was originally recorded by McNally for the soundtrack to the film Quicksilver in 1986.
Contents
The writer Larry John McNally recorded a new version 2015 for the compilation "I. C. Independent Celebration, Vol. 1" for the German label "Birdstone Records".
Music video
The music video with Rod Stewart was produced by Animation City, an animation company in London, England, directed by Derek Hayes. It followed the success of the Madonna video "Dear Jessie", and Elton John's "Club at the End of the Street", by the same company.
It paid tribute to Motown (featuring animated versions of The Temptations, The Supremes and former Motown artist Michael Jackson) and featured other headline-making stars of the time, including animated versions of rapper Vanilla Ice, and singers Sinéad O'Connor, Madonna and Elton John; along with both a live action and an animated Rod Stewart with his animated dog.