Probably the most pop-oriented of Motown's major female acts, the Marvelettes didn't project as strong an identity as the Supremes, Mary Wells, or Martha Reeves, but recorded quite a few hits, including Motown's first number one single, "Please Mr. Postman" (1961). "Postman," as well as other chirpy early '60s hits like "Playboy," " Twistin ' Postman," and " Beechwood 4-5789," were the label's purest girl group efforts.

The Marvelettes occupy an esteemed place in the history of American popular music as the group that caused Motown, and most notably Berry Gordy to change the label's focus from single bluesy soul artists, to a smooth orchestrated harmonic sound that transcended the prior racial limits of rhythm and blues.

With their first record, Please Mr. Postman hitting the top spot on the charts and selling three million records in a crossover market, Motown was to concentrate on The Marvelettes , The Supremes, The Tempatations , The Four Tops and Martha & The Vandelles and create a new group pop soul sound that totally dominated the music charts until the advent of The Beatles four years later.