No one can lay claim to the development of urban music like Motown can. From Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross and the Supremes to the Jackson 5, Berry Gordy and crew sifted through the finest singers, hooked them up with the slickest songwriters, and ushered them into the studio--while simultaneously bringing in a new era in music. On Motown: The Classic Years, that foresight and talent is showcased in 40 lovingly selected all-time hits from 1960 to 1972. Whether you're looking for an introduction to R&B or just a flawless mix of great songs, pick up this double disc. Not only will you find classics such as the Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, but there are also some interesting juxtapositions, such as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Gladys Knight and the Pips in succession with the same song sung (even more famously) by Gaye. Best of all are the liner notes: in a few sentences, the story behind each song is given, as well as its date of release and its peak position on the charts. Urban Music 101, indeed. --Heidi Sherman
Motown: The Classic Years,Various Artists,Utv Records,Funk,Girl Group,Motown,Pop,Pop-Soul,Pop/Rock,Psychedelic Soul,Quiet Storm,R&B,Smooth Soul,Soul,Soul/R & B Collections,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban
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Motown: The Classic Years
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ASIN: B00004WJHT Release Date: 2000-08-29 |
Tracks:
- Money (That's What I Want) - Barrett Strong
- Shop Around - The Miracles
- Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
- Do You Love Me - The Contours
- You Beat Me To The Punch - Mary Wells
- Fingertips Pt. 2 - Little Stevie Wonder
- (Love Is Like A) Heatwave - Martha & The Vandellas
- My Guy - Mary Wells
- Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes
- Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas
- How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Marvin Gaye
- My Girl - The Temptations
- Shotgun - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
- Stop! In The Name Of Love - The Supremes
- I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - Four Tops
- The Tracks Of My Tears - The Miracles
- Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
- Going To A Go-Go - The Miracles
- Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Temptations
- What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted - Jimmy Ruffin
Tracks:
- You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
- Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops
- Jimmy Mack - Martha & The Vandellas
- Your Precious Love - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
- I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight And The Pips
- I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
- My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - David Ruffin
- I Can't Get Next To You - The Temptations
- I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
- Someday We'll Be Together - Diana Ross & The Supremes
- Up The Ladder To The Roof - The Supremes
- Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today) - The Temptations
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
- It's A Shame - The Spinners
- War - Edwin Starr
- The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
- Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth
- Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations
- Neither One Of Us - Gladys Knight And The Pips
Amazon.com
No one can lay claim to the development of urban music like Motown can. From Marvin Gaye to Diana Ross and the Supremes to the Jackson 5, Berry Gordy and crew sifted through the finest singers, hooked them up with the slickest songwriters, and ushered them into the studio--while simultaneously bringing in a new era in music. On Motown: The Classic Years, that foresight and talent is showcased in 40 lovingly selected all-time hits from 1960 to 1972. Whether you're looking for an introduction to R&B or just a flawless mix of great songs, pick up this double disc. Not only will you find classics such as the Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, but there are also some interesting juxtapositions, such as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Gladys Knight and the Pips in succession with the same song sung (even more famously) by Gaye. Best of all are the liner notes: in a few sentences, the story behind each song is given, as well as its date of release and its peak position on the charts. Urban Music 101, indeed. --Heidi ShermanCustomer Reviews:
I grew up with this CD..........2006-07-26
Motown - The Sound Of Young America.......2006-06-19
This compilation, approriatley titled The Classic Years, features a wealth of Motown's landmark recordings. Motown's first release was the bluesey, Money (That's What I Want) by Barret Strong,a song that echoes the perils of ghetto life. The infectious Shop Around features a very young Smokey Robinson, giving an enthusiastic performance. Smokey Robinson would perharps be one of Motown's most gifted songwriters and was even described by Bob Dylan as "being the greatest love poet alive".
Please Mr. Postman was sung by Motown's premier female group, The Marvelettes who take the honourerd credit for delivering Motown its first U.S chart topper. The sound of young America was well underway and soon Diana Ross And The Supremes, The Four Tops, The TempTations, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves And The Vandellas etc would be registeing hits on the charts as regularly as clockwork.
Do You Love Me was sung by the fabulous, yet highly underated group, The Contours, who bought a more Rock&Roll feel to their work where as the fabulous sounds of little Stevie Wonder playing the harmonica on the masterpiece, FingerTips (Part 2), makes you appreciate the sheer genius of his work.
Martha Reeves And The Vandellas enjoyed a successful run of hits from the mid 60's to around the dawn of the 70's with titles such as the sparse, well-crafted Pop tune, HeatWave and the joyous Dancing In The Street. Their acheivements were perharps overshadowed by the enormous blockbuster success of Diana Ross And The Supremes who pumped out three no.1 hits in a row in 1964. Some of their greatest hits are here such as Where Did Our Love Go, Stop! In The Name Of Love and their touching swan song, Someday We'll Be Together but more soulful offerings such as Love Child, I'm Living In Shame, Reflections, My World Is Empty Without You and Love Is Like An Itching in My Heart, are curiously left out as these are just some of their most spectacular and exciting recordings.
Another one of Motown's more overlooked acts was the fantastic Junior Walker & The All Stars, where they bought a touch of Jazz & Blues to their mainstream R&B sound. Shotgun is sensational, featuring an effective saxophone interlude played throughout the classic whilst Motown's first solo female singer Mary Wells is featured with her only major cross-Atlantic hit, My Guy.
The Four Tops were consistently excellent throughout their time with Motown and Levi Stubb's rocketing vocals were completley astounding. Again some odd choices left out of this set such as the chilling 7 Rooms Of Gloom (one of their most compelling and exciting numbers) and the unforgetable Bernadette, but it is compensated for the inclusion of the startling Reach out I'll Be There which is nothing short of stunning. There is such passion and feeling in Levi's voice and his explosive delivery is magical.
Its interesting to hear Gladys Knight And The Pips version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine, which she certainly delivers with fire and a certain sassiness though Marvin Gaye's version remains first choice. Marvin Gaye was one of the most definitive artists at Motown (along with Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson) with his creative and highly original songwriting talents that became more indepth in the 1970's, with his songs offering social commentary and profound political statements such as on classics like What's Going On that is deservedly included on this compilation.
Two of The TempTations greatest ever recording are included here with the rip-roaring Ball Of Confusion which also saw them experimenting in new sounds and styles, exploring social and political issues whilst their are undertones of hot, pulsating funk on the classic Papa Was A Rollin' Stone.
The Jackson 5's first major hit, I Want You Back, slightly loses the traditional Motown sound sounding too much like out and out pop, whilst Edwin Starr's phenomenal classic, War is positivley timeless. The upbeat Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) by Stevie Wonder, the glorious The Tears Of A Clown, It's A Shame by The Detroit Spinners and Jimmy Mack by Martha Reeves And The Vandellas are just some of the other highlights included here.
There is strangley nothing from Diana Ross' solo career who churned out a string of hot Soul/R&B classics in the early 70's with such acclaimed titles as Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Touch Me In The Morning and Remember Me but The Supremes first track without Diana is included which was the sparse and infectious, Up The Ladder To The Roof which featured the line-up of Jean Terrell as Diana's replacement for lead singer and Mary Wilson (who remained with the group through to the bitter end) and Cindy Birdsong as backing vocalists.
Following Motowns headquarters move from Detroit to L.A. in the early seventies, the golden and distinct Motown sound ceased to exist as encapsulated on this album. Still the magic wasn't over and whilst some of the acts graually faded from view, artists like Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder continued to have blockbuster success with their singles and albums. Its the 1960's that Motown will always be remembered for. Motown stands as a landmark in the history of black music and also plays an important part in the history of Pop music in the twentieth century. Never again has there been a record label that managed to capture such an exciting and distinct sound with a series of different artists. Superb compilation, delivered by some of the most unique talents of that era!
Ian Phillips
Motown Worth It.......2005-08-31
The Best of the Best of Motown.......2003-09-06
True, it is primarily a condesation of the more comprehensive Hitsville 1959-1971 collection. But in one respect it is definitely better, and that is regarding the Supremes. The Hitsville collection inexplicably omits their signature hits Where Did Our Love Go and Stop! In the Name of Love, as well as their swan song Someday We'll Be Together, all of which are on this collection. This collection also keeps the maximum number of songs per act to five, which enables it to include great hit songs by lesser known groups such as the Undisputed Truth and the Contours.
Above all, this is the Best of the Best of Motown (16 of these songs were No. 1 Pop Hits, only one song - Money - did not make the Top 20), and that is very good indeed.
Perfect! Motown will forever stand!.......2003-06-27
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