Motown Anthology [Import]

Product Description
2 CD set. Enjoying the luxury of three albums (where many label mates did not get any) resulted in Chuck Jackson Arrives, Going Back To Chuck Jackson and the VIP released Teardrops Keep Falling On My Heart in 1970. Only the first two of these were released here in the UK and all three have gone on to become collectors items with fans all over the world fetching high prices on internet auction sites and in specialist used vinyl shops. Now for the very first time, anywhere in the world these three albums come together on one double CD set celebrating the time the soul star spent with the Gordy empire, in addition there are non album 45's and a selection of never before heard sides including his take on the Kim Weston classic, 'Helpless'. Universal. 2005.

Motown Anthology,Chuck Jackson,Universal Int'l,Northern Soul,Pop,Pop-Soul,R&B,R&B/Soul,Soul,Soul/R & B,United States of America

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Average customer rating: Top class stuff Is Temptation a sin then iam guilty. I've got sunshine on a cloudy day! Great Compilation Mono?!?!!?

Anthology-The Best of The Temptations The Temptations Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: 50th Anniversary Anthology Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology The Ultimate Collection The Ultimate Collection The Best of Marvin Gaye (Motown Anthology Series) ASIN: B000001A96 Release Date: 1995-05-23

Tracks:

1. The Way You Do The Things You Do
2. I'll Be In Trouble
3. The Girl's Alright With Me
4. Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)
5. My Girl
6. It's Growing
7. What Love Has Joined Together
8. Who's Lovin' You
9. Since I Lost My Baby
10. You've Got To Earn It
11. Nobody But You
12. My Baby
13. Don't Look Back
14. Ol' Man River (live)
15. Get Ready
16. Ain't Too Proud To Beg
17. You'll Lose A Precious Love
18. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
19. (I Know) I'm Losing You
20. All I Need
21. You're My Everything
22. (Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need
23. I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)
24. Please Return Your Love To Me
25. Lullaby Of Love
26. The Impossible Dream

Tracks:

1. Cloud Nine
2. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
3. Runaway Child, Running Wild
4. Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down
5. I Can't Get Next To You
6. Psychedelic Shack
7. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)
8. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
9. Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)
10. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
11. Masterpiece
12. Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)
13. Let Your Hair Down
14. Shakey Ground
15. A Song For You
16. Power
17. Standing On The Top-Pt. 1
18. Treat Her Like A Lady
19. Lady Soul

Amazon.com essential recording

The Temptations have long had the reputation for being able to out-sing, out-dress, and out-dance any vocal group in sight. Their earliest hits featured either the grits-and-gravy stylings of David Ruffin ("My Girl," "I Wish It Would Rain") or the gossamer falsetto of Eddie Kendricks ("The Way You Do the Things You Do," "You're My Everything"). Replacing Ruffin with Dennis Edwards, the group went to a five-lead-voices concept ("Cloud Nine," "I Can't Get Next to You," "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone") that kept them in hits for another two decades. This 46-song, 2 CD set sports every one of these classics, an incredible live! version of "Ol' Man River," the seriously funky &quo;Shakey Ground," the Rick James-assisted "Standing on the Top," and many, many magical musical moments more. Bassman Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and the unrelated Otis Williams were the other key members . Recommended reading: Temptations by Otis Williams with Patricia Romanowski (Putman, 1988) and Deliver Us from Temptation by Tony Turner with Barbara Aria (Thunder's Mouth Press, 1992). --Don Waller

Amazon.com

The Temptations have long had the reputation for being able to out-sing, out-dress, and out-dance any vocal group in sight. Their earliest hits featured either the grits-and-gravy stylings of David Ruffin ("My Girl," "I Wish It Would Rain") or the gossamer falsetto of Eddie Kendricks ("The Way You Do the Things You Do," "You're My Everything"). Replacing Ruffin with Dennis Edwards, the group went to a five-lead-voices concept ("Cloud Nine," "I Can't Get Next to You," "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone") that kept them in hits for another two decades. This 46-song, 2 CD set sports every one of these classics, an incredible live! version of "Ol' Man River," the seriously funky &quo;Shakey Ground," the Rick James-assisted "Standing on the Top," and many, many magical musical moments more. Bassman Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, and the unrelated Otis Williams were the other key members . Recommended reading: Temptations by Otis Williams with Patricia Romanowski (Putman, 1988) and Deliver Us from Temptation by Tony Turner with Barbara Aria (Thunder's Mouth Press, 1992). --Don Waller

Customer Reviews:

Top class stuff.......2007-03-04

My copy of this CD arrived damaged and so I had to order a slightly different version rather urgently from somewhere else. I'd still like to review it though.

I wanted to get this CD after hearing the song "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" being used to promote (the then upcoming) Season 4 of HBO's "The Wire". Check out these lyrics: "People moving out, people moving in (Why?)/ Because of the colour of their skin/ Run, run, run but you sure can't hide/ An eye of an eye, a tooth for a tooth/ Vote for me and I'll set you free!/ The only person talkin' about love, my brother, is the preacher/ And it seems nobody's interested in learnin' but the teacher."

The producers of that show are incredibly smart. I'm sure any fan of "The Wire" will agree that those few lines capture the current season of the show perfectly, almost as if the song was written for it. Or as if they wrote the show around the song.

Of course neither is the case; the use of the song simply came about as the result of good researching, and The Temptations probably don't need any introduction anyway. Alongside other male vocal groups like the O'Jays, The Four Tops, The Jackson 5/The Jacksons, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and even The Commodores, these dudes were the soundtrack to the 60s and 70s, and the soundtrack to my generation's youth. They don't make them like this anymore.

All the hits are here; tunes like "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", "My Girl", "Get Ready", "Just My Imagination" and "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (with Diana Ross & The Supremes) among more recent ones like "Treat Her Like A Lady". And of course, "Ball Of Confusion". Over 40 songs and not a dud to be found anywhere. They certainly don't make them like this anymore.

This is one of those CDs I put on and find difficult to stop even if I'm late for an appointment somewhere. I'm playing it in the car and I get to where I want to go and I don't want to get out, at least, not until the song I'm listening to has finished. This is top class stuff. The best Temptations collection around today.

Right on, brothers!

Is Temptation a sin then iam guilty........2006-01-26

First let me address the Mono issue which is an issue for some people.My music sytem is so sophisticated it takes Mono and split it into multichannel stereo sound.Motown used the original master tapes,the result is nothing short of breathtaking.Finally, as far as the collection is concern this is and will always be the best Anthology ever created.I will venture to recommend the Michael Jackson Anthology created by the same people with absolutely amazing sound quality.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day!.......2005-08-18

The Temptations are my favorite band of all time. Their music is just fantastic. Even though I am only 17 but I love their music. I wish I was born when they were performing classics like "My Girl" "Since I lost my Baby" and the timeless ballad "My Imagination. Too bad this CD is out of print. This is definitly one of the best greatest hits collection amazon has on sale.

Great Compilation.......2005-08-10

This is the best compilation of the Temptations music on the market today. It has almost forty of their greatest and most memorable hits. Disc has mostly there sweet love songs and ballads, while David Ruffin was apart of the group. Disc two has some of their more disco sounds and music from the 70's after Dennis joined them. I've always been a fan of the Temptations and I find listening to this cd a joy.

Mono?!?!!?.......2005-05-23

I realize that posting a review of anything less than five stars seems not only sacrilege, but will also subject me to "not helpful" ratings - anyone wandering upon this title will be predisposed to wanting to like it, but .... wow, Glenn Johnson's review here hit this nail on the head!!! Reviewing the track listing is a joy, but listening to the mono mixes, knowing that pristine stereo mixes of these Funk Brothers tracks exist, is so frustrating as to detract from this heavenly music. Hey, I love listening to Ruffin and Kendricks and the Funk Brothers, but can't give this one a higher rating due to the ridiculous mono treatment of the early material. Some material should be heard in mono (see Phil Spector's glorious 60s productions where the stereo separation robs the sound of its overall power), but each instrument and vocal here is much better experienced for the tracks that overlap on Compact Command Performances.

Average customer rating: A Quality Compilation 1st cd was great The Four Tops-50th Anniversary Anthology Van's Review Four Tops

50th Anniversary Anthology The Four Tops Manufacturer: Hip-O Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Anthology-The Best of The Temptations The Ultimate Collection The Ultimate Collection My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations The Very Best of the Spinners ASIN: B00016MSYE Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

1. Baby I Need Your Loving
2. Without The One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile)
3. Ask The Lonely
4. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
5. It's The Same Old Song
6. Something About You
7. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
8. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
9. Reach Out I'll Be There
10. Standing In The Shadows Of Love
11. Bernadette
12. I Got A Feeling
13. 7-Rooms Of Gloom
14. I'll Turn To Stone
15. You Keep Running Away
16. Walk Away Renee (Alternate Mix)
17. If I Were A Carpenter
18. Yesterday's Dreams
19. I'm In A Different World
20. What Is A Man
21. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me (Stereo Single Mix)
22. It's All In The Game
23. Still Water (Love)
24. River Deep-Mountain High (Stereo Single Edit)
25. Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)
26. In These Changing Times
27. MacArthur Park (Part II)

Tracks:

1. A Simple Game (U.K. Single Mix)
2. I Can't Quit Your Love
3. (It's The Way) Nature Planned It
4. Keeper Of The Castle
5. Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)
6. Are You Man Enough
7. Sweet Understanding Love
8. I Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind
9. One Chain Don't Make No Prison
10. Midnight Flower
11. Seven Lonely Nights
12. We All Gotta Stick Together
13. Catfish
14. H.E.L.P.
15. When She Was My Girl
16. Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over
17. I Believe In You And Me
18. Back To School Again
19. I Just Can't Walk Away
20. Mean Green Mother From Outer Space - Levi Stubbs And Chorus
21. Indestructible (7-Inch Extended Single)

Album Description

The Four Tops' musical passion captures your ear. Their overflowing joy catches your eye. Their four souls touch yours and you succumb. You smile broadly, sing along, sway your hips and arms from side to side, and you dance that "Four Tops boogaloo" forever. It's been 50 years since Renaldo (Obie) Benson, Abdul (Duke) Fakir, Lawrence Payton and Levi Stubbs first sang together at a weekend party in Detroit's North End in 1954. The party's host asked the four, each from a different group, to sing for the gathering. They liked the results and decided to make things permanent.

* 50 Years Of Hits and Counting.
* Two Career-Spanning CDs Featuring I CAN'T HELP MYSELF, REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE, BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING, WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL, AIN'T NO WOMAN and Many More.
* Newly Remastered, Great-Sounding Mixes, New Essay and Photos from the Archives!

Customer Reviews:

A Quality Compilation.......2007-03-19

Even today, the Four Tops are one of the most recognizable groups. They've certainly come a long way since they were called the Four Aims in the mid-1950s. The problem comes when you are deciding which album to buy. If you're looking for a collection with all of their hits, this is the one. I purchased this album and was pleasantly surprised to listen to the string of hits included, and even the lesser-known songs.

Many compilations exist, but I doubt you'll find one that encompasses any more without springing for a box set. The quality of the sound in this release is amazing. This should definitely be the standard for future anthologies and compilations. This collection chronicles their entire career (minus their Christmas album) and has every hit you could ask for. Do yourself a favor and buy it today. You won't regret it.

1st cd was great.......2007-03-16

The 1st cd was great to listen to. Brought back memories. The 2nd cd had songs on it that I never heard and was probably a waste. Would not recommend purchasing.

The Four Tops-50th Anniversary Anthology .......2007-03-09

I really enjoy this CD because it has so many of the earlier hits.

Van's Review.......2007-01-20

This is the music I grew up with. Motown has many legendary performers and the 4 Tops are among the best. I was pleased with most of the tracks included on these cds, but there are some tracks which don't hit the high note, regardless you can't overlook hits like Keeper Of The Castle, Still Water (Love),Standing In The Shadows Of Love,It's All In The Game, etc.
This collection deserves much listening to!

Four Tops.......2006-11-10

I love the Four Tops and it's great to have all of this good music!!

Average customer rating: could have used more original 45s THE MIRACLES..MOTOWN'S GREATEST GROUP, PERIOD !! Best overview to date This is IT! The best Smokey Robinson & the Miracles collection available. A nice overview

Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology Smokey Robinson & Miracles , and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: 50th Anniversary Anthology Anthology-The Best of The Temptations Solo Anthology The Ultimate Collection The Ultimate Collection ASIN: B00006J3KH Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

1. Get A Job
2. Bad Girl
3. Way Over There
4. (You Can) Depend On Me
5. Who's Lovin' You
6. Shop Around
7. Ain't It Baby
8. Mighty Good Lovin'
9. Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues
10. What's So Good About Goodbye
11. I'll Try Something New
12. You've Really Got A Hold On Me
13. A Love She Can Count On
14. I Can Take A Hint
15. I've Been Good To You (Live)
16. Mickey's Monkey
17. Whatever Makes You Happy
18. I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying
19. (You Can't Let The Boy Overpower) The Man In You
20. I Like It Like That
21. That's What Love Is Made Of
22. Would I Love You
23. Come On Do The Jerk
24. Baby Don't You Go
25. Ooo Baby Baby
26. The Tracks Of My Tears
27. My Girl Has Gone

Tracks:

1. Going To A Go-Go
2. Choosey Beggar
3. Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You)
4. (Come 'Round Here) I'm The One You Need
5. The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage
6. More Love
7. I Second That Emotion
8. If You Can Want
9. Yester Love
10. Special Occasion
11. Give Her Up
12. Baby, Baby Don't Cry
13. Doggone Right
14. Here I Go Again
15. Abraham, Martin And John
16. Point It Out
17. Darling Dear
18. Who's Gonna Take The Blame
19. The Tears Of A Clown
20. I Don't Blame You At All
21. Crazy About The La La La
22. Satisfaction
23. When Sundown Comes
24. We've Come Too Far To End It Now
25. I Can't Stand To See You Cry

Customer Reviews:

could have used more original 45s.......2007-02-25

the inclusion of "would i love you" on this cd is great as it was never available on an LP, except for the "In the beginning" anthology from the late 60's. the inclusion of this song was great, but whoever was doing the picking, picked the wrong one. this is not the original "would i love you", but is an alternate take. the original is much better. too bad they did not include that. the remainder of the cd is great.

THE MIRACLES..MOTOWN'S GREATEST GROUP, PERIOD !!.......2006-06-12

I dont care what others say about The Supremes,Temptations, or other Motown groups,the MIRACLES were the greatest group to ever come out of Motown.PERIOD!! Why ? for one thing,they were the FIRST MOTOWN GROUP.It was their success that paved the way for all the others. Had they not been successful, there would have been NO MOTOWN,and none of those other groups would have even found fame ,or at least not to the extent which they did.They also had Motown's first million-selling record "Shop Around".THE MIRACLES put MOTOWN on the map. During the company's critical early years- 1959-1964- they were BY FAR Motowns TOP GROUP,(despite what certain reviewers have written},with top 10 pop hits in '1961,'62,AND' 63, the STAR ATTRACTION of the legendary MOTORTOWN REVUES,and the ONLY group that was bringing any serious money into the company!! By 1964, the year that the SUPREMES, TEMPTATIONS, AND THE FOUR TOPS had their 1st hits, THE MIRACLES had released their 1ST DOUBLE ALBUM of GREATEST HITS !! Yet, while all these other Motown groups have been inducted ,AS GROUPS, into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME, The MIRACLES have been ignored.They chose to induct only Smokey.What a shame and insult to MOTOWN'S legendary First Group. The TEMPTATIONS ? great singers and dancers to be sure,but what most Temptations fans WON'T tell you is that 9 of their first 12 hits were actually written by The MIRACLES !! not just Smokey,THE WHOLE GROUP !! Don't believe it ? just look at the writing credits on the Tempts GREATEST HITS album !(How many MIRACLES songs did the TEMPTATIONS WRITE ? think about it}. THE SUPREMES ? They wouldn't have even GOTTEN on Motown if not for Smokey !!Stevie Wonder? He was discovered by Miracles member RONNIE WHITE !! THE MARVELETTES,MARVIN GAYE & MARY WELLS ?Yep, they wrote their stuff too.The MIRACLES were responsible,either directly or indirectly, for the success of just about EVERY EARLY ARTIST ON THE MOTOWN LABEL!! In fact ,of the five leading Motown groups ( Supremes, Temptations,4 tops,Miracles,J-5 }The MIRACLES were the ONLY ones that wrote their own material. Hopefully one day ,the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME will induct them ALL-SMOKEY, BOBBY,RONNIE, PETE, MARV & CLAUDETTE ,not just SMOKEY , as they did.Want to know why they deserve it? Just listen to this CD.Then, read the writing credits.It will prove that SMOKEY wasn't the ONLY serious talent in this group.

Best overview to date.......2005-09-25

This generous 52-track compilation is a pretty definitive overview of the Miracles recording career in terms of singles releases, as all the A-sides are here (with the exception of a couple of early pre-Tamla, non-Top 100 sides), as well as 11 B-sides, one of which, Would I Love You? from 1964, seems not to have been on any original album. Their early Chess single (as the Matadors), Got A Job, an answer record to the Silhouettes' Get A Job, was produced by Berry Gordy and its local success led to the eventual formation of the famous Motown label, so its inclusion here (unfortunately in mono) is highly warranted. Three of the singles are in the slightly-longer LP versions - no bad thing at all, but the inclusion of the 1963 live version of I've Been Good To You in preference to the version from I'll Try Something New that was the B-side of What's So Good About Goodbye is perhaps more questionable.
Although the first 8 tracks are in mono, the rest are in stereo and it is a delight to discover that tracks 9-24 on disc 1 appear in previously unreleased stereo mixes. To hear old classic favourites like You've Really Got A Hold On Me and Mickey's Monkey in stereophonic glory for he first time is like discovering them afresh. The separation of guitars, horns and voices adds so much to the sound picture. 
The first disc, which is over 80 minutes long, is especially strong and causes one to want to dig out the original albums. The overall descent into schmaltz and blandness on the second disc is offset by some key returns to form, notably on Abraham Martin And John, The Tears Of A Clown (US Single Remix) and I Don't Blame You At All. Sadly, by the time of We've Come Too Far To End It Now, Smokey Robinson had come too far not to end it then

This is IT! The best Smokey Robinson & the Miracles collection available........2005-09-22

On 2 cd's Motown has finally put together a recent collection/anthology that is worthy of praise and it is this one. The songs go all the way back to 1959-60 when the Miracles recorded for Chess and End Records prior to Motown. Motown hit the sonic jackpot when they took the earliest STEREO masters and pressed them that way with 20 or 24 bit remastering. Forget about that big MONO Miracles box as well as all of the Miracles previous anthologies. This collection is the real deal.

A nice overview.......2004-05-14

Smokey Robinson really had a way with words, what a gifted guy this was. Listening to his work you can really understand why people see him as a great poet. This is a long two disc Motown set of The Miracles, and it covers their early work right to the end in 1970 when Smokey went solo. I always loved that ole 60s Motown sound and its sweet listening to this set, remembering how R&B used to sound. So many classic jams on this album, and a lot of stuff you probably wont have heard before. Cuts like 'I Second That Emotion' and 'Tears Of A Clown' will always be timeless.

With so much material on here this album is worth the price, Smokey is an all time great artist, and his work shines here. He never was as important solo as his label mates Marvin and Stevie but he had a lot of talent. Essential for people who can't get enough of that old Motown stuff like Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, what a label.

Average customer rating: The one to get if you want all of the (full length) classics. Brick Houses Solid, Festering Funk... Consumate Pop/Funk Band Excellent!

Anthology The Commodores Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Essential Earth Wind & Fire Anthology The Essential Isley Brothers The Very Best of Kool & the Gang Earth Wind & Fire: Greatest Hits ASIN: B00005O6HX Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

1. Machine Gun
2. I Feel Sanctified
3. Are You Happy
4. The Bump
5. Slippery When Wet
6. This Is Your Life
7. Gimme My Mule
8. Sweet Love
9. Cebu
10. Fancy Dancer
11. High On Sunshine
12. Just To Be Close To You
13. Brick House (12in Version)
14. Zoom
15. Easy

Tracks:

1. Come Inside (Live)
2. Too Hot Ta Trot
3. Flying High
4. Say Yeah
5. Three Times A Lady
6. Sail On
7. Still
8. Old-Fashion Love
9. Heroes
10. Jesus Is Love
11. Lady (You Bring Me Up)
12. Oh No
13. Painted Picture
14. Lay Back
15. Nightshift

Customer Reviews:

The one to get if you want all of the (full length) classics........2007-02-28

There are songs included on this double CD set that I had not heard in years. They are all full length songs remastered to sound great. Get this one if you are a fan of both Lionel Ritchie and of the Commodores. It's outstanding! Cool CD jacket too!

Brick Houses.......2006-04-11

The Soul & R&B today doesn't really have a unique distinction for what made the sights and sounds of the classic Motown era. It definitely is quite a shame, because there are so many people in this generation who are more interested in Lindsay Lohan, Ashanti, and Beyonce' that haven't discovered classic soul from one of the most legendary eras. The same is sadly said for The Commodores. Throughout three decade of Funk, Soul, Pop, and R&B, Lionel Richie, Walter Orange and company have made some of the most irrestible hits ever showcased. Their unique blends of harmonies and songs have truly shaped the era of feel good music, and now it is stretched into one unique anthology.

The Commodores: Anthology is a well-recognized reflection of one of the most unique acts to have ever discovered out of the 70's. The double album deliver well in showcasing the classic Motown vibe, and reintroducing so much from classics of the past. The collection includes some great guilty pleasure delights like the classic party track Brick House, Lady (You Bring Me Up), their breakthrough smash Machine Gun, and laid back mellow ballads like Easy, Still, Just To Be Close To You, and the soulful Three Times A Lady. The album does a great job delivering everything that The Commodores had from beginning to end, while letting listeneres have a vivid imagination to Funk, Soul and Pop into one. Not bad for a group of guys from Tuskegee, Alabama.

The Commodres: Anthology is a fantastic compilation for die hard Motowns fanatics, and Commodres followers young and old. It is definitely worth the purchase. Howvever, if you are not interested into this great double disc storyteller, I definitely would suggest their '97 Ultimate Collection instead.

Album Cover: B+

Songs: B+

Price: A-

Remastering: B 1/2+

Overall: B+

Solid, Festering Funk..........2005-07-21

Mid-tempo grooves, poignant slow jams and the tasty love songs! Over the years, Motown has made some major missteps when re-issuing classic music, but this time around they actually hit the Bulleye! Even if you weren't around when these guys originally laid this material down, you can still enjoy it. If you want to catch Lionel before he became the "lovey dovey pop musical king" of the 80's, then you need to cop this double disc set of pure "Commodore" Heaven.

It is continuous enjoyment and listening pleasure...from the ever chart popular songs: Brickhouse, Lady (You Bring Me Up), Sweet Love and Night Shift to the less radio played but nonetheless spittin' fire tunes: High on Sunshine, Say Yeah, Fancy Dancer and Come Inside! Just check the harmonizning on "High On Sunshine." Phew! There is but one song missing I would have loved to have in the collection and that is the dynamite instrumental "Rapid Fire" from their "Machine Gun" album.

Nevertheless, you can not go wrong purchasing this package of pure, smoldering, TNT! I guarantee, you'll either be blowing the roof off the sucker, grooving and swaying or simply chilling depending upon what song is playing. I can guarantee you this too, when you do listen, you will not be disappointed and you'll take a trip to your past, while enjoying the present! Also, for a "live" feel of these fellas..pick up there "Commodores Live" Cd. I waited years for that gem to be re-issued and it was worth the very long wait!

Consumate Pop/Funk Band.......2004-11-14

The Commodores were the consumate Pop/Funk Dance music band that had it all... The Look, the voices, the harmonies, the horns... All of it in a tight knit, correographed musical explosion! They covered a wide range of musical styles from laid back get your groove on music to full tilt Bumpin' it into the night jams...

Excellent!.......2004-09-15

This anthology of the Commodores is everything it should be and more. I will say that Lionel Richie was at his best with the Commodores and by the same token, THEY were at their best before he left! So many great songs on here, the most complete Commodores compilation. A must for 70's r & b/soul/funk lovers!

Average customer rating: Some of the best Motown ever.... Was very please Memories If we depended on U.S. power callers......

Motown Anthology Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music R&B | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Collection Motown Anthology Motown Anthology Cellarful of Motown!, Vol. 2 Get Ready: Definitive Performances 1965-1972 [DVD] - The Temptations ASIN: B000EULS7A Release Date: 2006-05-08

Tracks:

1. Blackmail
2. Hey Lordy
3. I Am Your Man
4. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
5. All I Need
6. Fading Away
7. Soul Man
8. Harlem
9. Meeting Over Yonder
10. I Should Have Known It Was You My Love
11. Day By Day Or Never
12. I Can Feel The Pain
13. A Little Too Much
14. Oh, I've Been Blessed
15. Child Of Tears
16. Further Up The Road
17. Eleanor Rigby
18. Grandma's Hand
19. (In Other Words) Fly Me To The Moon
20. Don't Be Afraid
21. Look Before You Leap
22. It Should Have Been Me Loving Her
23. Chained
24. Serve Yourself A Cup Of Happiness
25. Does Your Mama Know About Me
26. So This Is Love
27. Just A Little Bit Closer
28. Memories
29. Malinda
30. Weekends Vacation
31. You Gave Me Someting (And Everyting's Alright)
32. It's Growing
33. One Girl
34. Try A Little Tenderness
35. Sometimes I Wonder
36. If You Love Her
37. Out In The Country
38. Two Sides To Love
39. How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone
40. My Girl Has Gone
41. Where Would I Be Without You
42. I Just Can't Carry On
43. I Need To Belong To Someone
44. Park Street Bridge
45. One Too Many Heartaches
46. Bigger You Love The Harder You Fall
47. Little Miss Sweetness

Album Description

Import only 47-track double-disc collection released through Motown/Spectrum. 2006.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Anthology of Recordings on Motown by the Man who was the "Bobby" in Bobby and the Vancouvers, with a Lineup the Included Tommy Chong (Yes, that Tommy Chong), Wes Henderson (Guitar), Robbie King (Keyboards), Ted Lewis (Drums) and Eddie Patterson (Bass). Motown's Efforts to Break the Band Never Caught Wildfire and the Group was Relegated to "The Minor League". Taylor Claims to Be the One to have Discovered the Jackson Five and was Clearly Instrumental in Getting Berry Gordy to Sign Them, Even Put them Up in his Detroit Apartment While He Prepared them for their Motown Audition (And He was Evicted after the Visit!). Taylor Himself Cut Two Albums for the Label, One with the Vancouvers and a Solo Album. This Double Disc Set Presents the Most Complete Picture of his Time in the Corner of the Spotlight.

Customer Reviews:

Some of the best Motown ever...........2007-07-12

Bobby Taylor (and The Vancouvers) performed some of the best music to ever come out of Motown, yet they are widely unknown. I highly recommend this CD set to all who like the Motown sound and groups such as The Temptations. Taylor and crew come across as perhaps a tad less professional and less polished than some other Motown groups, yet their loose sound is what makes their music so special. For example, their take on The Tempts' "It's Growing" is, in my opinion, far superior to the original. Taylor's version has a nice garage-type sound that just flows. Wonderful. The song "Fading Away" is also a splendid of example of a Motown classic that was never discovered. This set is 46 songs worth of excellence and entertainment.
The best out of all of the Motown Anthologies and Collections out of Great Britain.

Was very please.......2007-03-13

Got this for a gift,and they just love it...Very Best Condition..

Memories.......2006-11-19

They say, "good things come to those who wait" (especially if you are looking hard while you are waiting!). At first all I knew about Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers was from my three 45's, a AND b-sides. That was enough for the group to make my BOLO (be on the look out), and Most Wanted list. But I was never able to get the album or cd. Over time with the help of the internet, I became more and more informed and fan-cinated with the group. Thanks to Universal Music Operations, the first 12 songs on CD1 mirror the groups one and only Motown album. Be advised, the Amazon listing is not in order. Next we get all of the songs from Bobby's -Taylor Made Soul- Album. Hey, who was doing the backup singing on all of those songs? CD2 consists mostly of a lot of good unreleased covers by Bobby Taylor. I would have been thrilled with just the 24 selections from disc 1, so all the rest is just icing on the cake. One of my favorites is Malinda, and not just because the fingerprints of that poetic genius, Smokey Robinson, are all over the lyrics.

Now a rant: Do the people running the remnants and affiliates of Motown know anything about marketing? Clearly, Motown at its peak was overloaded with more talent than they knew what to do with. They keep repackaging the big 10 groups literally a thousand times over while dozens of other talented groups and hundreds of great songs have virtually disappeared from public consciousness. (I am not ignoring the recent efforts of the Universal Music companies). So here is a free recommendation from someone who has done his own market research with the target market. Do a series of cd's with a name like "The Lost Hits of Motown". At 20 hits a cd, you could easily fill 3 cd's with memorable top 20 songs by Shorty Long, Kim Weston, Blinky, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, The Contours, The Elgins, et al. Then there are all of the acts that, if you are not over 50 or 60 you would never realize that they once worked for Motown, like The Isley Brothers, Barbara McNair, Billy Eckstine, Meatloaf, The Spinners, not to mention that old hippy dude from That 70's Show. I think that by reintroducing some of the BEST forgotten songs of these forgotten Motown groups to people under 50, they could awaken a whole new set of buyers who would be interested in other songs by these acts. And of course people over 50 would surely snap up the cd's for themselves and for gifts.

If we depended on U.S. power callers.............2006-05-06

to get the music (especially the rarer) onto cd and access availible worldwide, we'd be "hung out to dry"! The examples of such add up like years. This stupendous release exemplifies such in crystal clear clarity. He's a story, about 10 years ago, while speaking with a high level reissue exec responsible for a number of the Motown label reissues, that made it to store shelves over the years, I asked him if the label would be reissuing onto cd Bobby Taylor's (of Bobby Taylor And The Vancouvers fame) ultra rare and expensive, one an only solo album "Taylor Made Soul", released in 1970, after he abrubtly left the group seeking solo fame, only one year after the group finally had reached a point of an album release after signing with Motown, from their far West roots? My album, which was hard enough to procure, wasn't in unplayed condition when I obtained it, so a digitally remastered cd reissue, based on the obscurity of the album, since the label had never pushed it upon release, would be great! The album cover shows him styling glasses similar to the type David Ruffin fronted at the time. David's first solo album effort after his departure from the Tempations, 1969's "My Whole World Ended", had done well enough and perhaps it was believed by the then Motown power callers that Bobby might have similar success with his solo effort? Over the years, the cd reissue of Bobby Taylor's album did not forthcome. I previously wrote a review on the out of print, sought after reissue cd of the 1969 album Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers "Does Your Mama Know About Me", which has commanded supply demand numbers for quite some time. The exec, who had an office in NYC and in the warehouse where the original Motown tapes were and are currently being stored, and to your surprise, in New Jersey (shipped to NJ from California after the label was sold the 2nd time)! He told me the company had already reissued the album on cd in 1994, "yeah, we reissued the Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers album on cd in '94". I said to him "no, I'm talking about Bobby Taylor's solo Motown album". He said, "Bobby Taylor had a solo album on Motown"? He didn't even know that Motown had released a solo lp by Bobby Taylor. Now, the English and Japanese, they know about his album and 45s, and have em'! For Motown music collectors, this cd is a "Bomb"! And once again it took the foreigners to get it to market! Bobby Taylor's solo recordings have never, prior to now, been released in a set on cd. England's Motown/Spectrum label, which reissues cds of some of the less famous Motown artists, and rarer songs on the known artists, receives the highest praises in putting this together. They went into the Motown tapes and dug out Bobby Taylor's work. What a job has been done here! The double cd contains what was the out of print Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers album, his ultra rare "Taylor Made Soul" album, and the tracks from he with the group and his solo tracks, all that did not make the two albums! WOW!!!!! From that standpoint how can we do any better? His solo uptempo 45 "Oh, I've Been Blessed" commands very strong numbers on England's Northern Soul scene, and is one of my favorites on his lp. When it comes to rarer soul, the English and Japanese are amazing! U.S. power callers have had their chance for years, didn't happen. The English knew, and got it done! 5 Stars. There are titles here that weren't released by Motown on album or 45, who needs to discuss them? Motown collectors specifically, old school music collectors in general, do I need to say... It's Buy Time?

Average customer rating: Where there is Smoke! SMOKE BREEZE! Everything He Touches 5 STARS IS NOT ENOUGH........................ Overview of Smokey as a solo artist

Solo Anthology Smokey Robinson Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music R&B | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology Anthology Greatest Hits My World: The Definitive Collection One Heartbeat ASIN: B00005O6HW Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

1. Sweet Harmony
2. Baby Come Close
3. Just My Soul Responding
4. Virgin Man
5. I Am I Am
6. Quiet Storm
7. The Agony And The Ecstasy
8. Baby That's Backatcha
9. Open
10. There Will Come A Day (I'm Gonna Happen To You)
11. Daylight And Darkness
12. Shoe Soul
13. Tracks Of My Tears (live)
14. Crusin'
15. Let Me Be The Clock
16. Heavy On Pride (Light On Love)

Tracks:

1. Being With You
2. You Are Forever
3. Tell Me Tomorrow
4. Yes It's You Lady
5. I've Made Love To You A Thousand Times
6. Blame It On Love (with Barbara Mitchell)
7. Don't Play With Another Love Song
8. Ebony Eyes (with Rick James)
9. Little Girl, Little Girl
10. I Can't Find
11. Be Kind To The Growing Mind (with The Temptations)
12. Just To See Her Again
13. One Heartbeat
14. Love Don't Give No Reason (12" Club Mix)
15. Everything You Touch
16. We've Saved The Best Got Last (with Kenny G)

Customer Reviews:

Where there is Smoke!.......2007-05-03

There is fire. Smokey is as bad now as he was 30 years ago. A must have.

SMOKE BREEZE! .......2006-08-04

Take it from a 24 yr old when I tell you that if you cruisin through a river of romance, make sure this anthology is sailing the ship. Smokey Robinson is so amazing that it got me wanting to pick up his old stuff with the Miracles.

A lot of people tend to hate on Smokey's solo work by saying that its material isn't up to par with music he did with the Miracles. What people need to understand is that after an artist has reached the pinnacle of their music, it's unrealistic to expect that artist to dish out just as many classics when they start another phase in their career. It doesn't mean that the artist still can't make good music, In the case of Smokey, he adjusted to his solo career gracefully- the proof is in this double disc set.

Disc one is obviously the strongest between the two. As he turn out sweet 70's soul with flair and occasionally rival Marvin Gaye's intimate energy on tracks like "Cruisin" and "Quiet Storm". Disc two moves toward his more Adult Contemporary/ easy listening period. While there's plenty of memorable tracks with "Being with You", "One Heartbeat", and "Just to see Her", there are times when the music can be too polished to give the songs the soulful feel it want to have (ex. "Little Girl, Little Girl" and "Eveything you Touch"). Even when he joins Kenny G on " Save the Best for Last", the studiocraft can be too immaculate to seduce some listeners.
This may not be quite as consistent as the first disc, but the standout gems are excellent in their own right.

What really make this collection essential is the range of the songs. Rather Smokey is singing about the insecurities of an inexperienced lover (Virgin Man), or letting one's ego get in the way of true love (Heavy on Pride), this album doesn't get redundant and can be crucial listening for any aspiring singer.

I done typed more than an handful about how great this album is. But don't take my word for it. Hear for yourself, and let the Smoke make love to your ears.

Everything He Touches.......2006-07-09

These days, I honestly doubt anybody is interested in the soulful artists of the past. Nevertheless, with so many people interested in acts like Beyonce', Britney Spears, and Kelly Clarkson, it is sometimes impossible to remember about acts from the past. There are so many from the Motown era that have definitely shown that the music is still showcased beautifully like Smokey Robinson. SInce he stepped away from his time with the legendary gropup, The Miracles, he has brought out an appeal that has still shown to be everlasting to all audiences. There also have been good greatest hits records that have highlighted his music well, and this is one of them.

Smokey Robinson's 2001 The Solo Anthology, is a well-reflected double-album display of his great soulful voice from the Motown era. The songs here on this collection definitely sound better than they were released years ago. There are just so many great hits and reflections shown here including songs like Tracks Of My Tears, Ebony Eyes with the late Rick James who sadly passed away last year, Just To See Her, the R&B standards Let Me Be The Clock, and Crusin' which was covered by D'Angelo and Huey Lewis and Gwenyth Paltrow from the movie Duets.

Arguably, Smokey Robinson's Solo Anthology is a great greatest hits record for die hard Motown fans of all kinds. I absolutely recommend this record a whole lot. It still proves that even after all this time, everything Smokey Robinson touches still shines a little brighter.

Album Cover: B

Songs: A-

Price: B 1/2+

Remastering: A-

Overall: B+

5 STARS IS NOT ENOUGH...............................2004-11-28

WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT THIS MAN THAT WOULD DO HIM JUSTICE. A GREATEST HITS CD PUHLEEEEEZE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT A LOT OF HIS GREATEST HITS WERE SUNG BY OTHER ARTISTS. HE WAS THE MOTOWN SOUND BUT ENOUGH OF THAT. WHEN I THINK OF SMOKEY THE ONLY WORD THAT COMES TO MIND IS S M O O T H I MEAN WHETHER IT'S OHH BABY BABY WITH THE MIRACLES OR BABY COME CLOSE SMOKEY IS JUST SMOOTH. HERES A COMPILATION OF HIS SOLO HITS (SOME OF THEM) BUY IT HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG WITH SMOKEY IT'S A SURE THING........ENJOY

Overview of Smokey as a solo artist.......2004-05-14

Smokey headed the Miracles and had a great period through the 60s, enjoying hit after hit with the Motown label. In 1970 Smokey left the group and started cutting solo albums for Motown instead. This second Smokey Anthology looks over his solo career, 1970 onwards and it makes for a nice two disc listening experience. Smokey as a solo artist never became as important as his labelmates Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye, and didn't release a string of classic albums like those guys. I guess his vision just got a little blurred because he had the talent, just not the right ideas. Even when he had the massive 'Quiet Storm' album he kinda squandered that rep he earned.

Still, he had a knack for crafting great melodies, if not albums. Disc one is a hitting set, Smokey was at his best in the 70s. The 3 killer jams from 'Quiet Storm' are included (inc. 'Baby Thats Backatcha'), and some of the slow jams here are as atmospheric as gets (check the vibe on 'Baby Come Close'!). The material here is a cool chunk of 70s soul, what a collection of grooves. Disc two covers the 80s, and its alright. Pretty cool in parts, but not all that great. 'Being With You' was a big hit, and I enjoy the cuts he did with Rick James and Kenny G. Its kind of patchy though, but overall this double album captures some of Smokeys best work and its a cool album to play late night or in a hot bath. Recommended for soul fans.

Average customer rating: Motown Treasure Trove Another Motown Winner Thanks, Universal!! The Elgins anthologhy

The Motown Anthology The Elgins Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Doo Wop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music R&B | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Take Two Workin' on a Groovy Thing: The Best of Patti Drew Motown Anthology Everybody Needs Love//Bluesy The Collection ASIN: B000OONPO0 Release Date: 2007-05-03

Tracks:

1. Darling Baby
2. In The Midnight Hour
3. Heaven Must Have Sent You
4. I Understand My Man
5. Good Lovin'
6. It's Gonna Be Hard Times
7. Put Yourself In My Place (Single Version)
8. 634-5789 (Soulville, Usa)
9. No Time For Tears
10. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
11. Stay In My Lonely Arms
12. When A Man Loves A Woman
13. It's A Man's Man's Man's World
14. For Your Precious Love
15. I Still Love You
16. That's The Night The Love Died
17. Love (Is The Answer)
18. It's Been A Long Long Time (Single Version)
19. All For Just Lovin' You
20. My 2 Arms - You = Tears (Cellarful Of Motown Version)
21. Thank You Love
22. Let's Give Love Another Chance
23. Another Hurt Like This
24. When You Are Available
25. Life Can Be Beautiful When You're In Love
26. My Love For Your Love
27. Love Where Are You Hiding
28. Request Of A Fool (Single Version) (Mono)
29. Don't You Know I Love You Baby
30. Your Baby's Back (Single Version) (Mono)
31. All I Got
32. Boo Hoo (You Got Me Cryin' Over You)
33. First Try At Love
34. Party Time
35. Until I Lost You
36. Camel Walk
37. It's Gonna Be Hard Times (Single Version) (Mono)
38. Lonely Boy
39. I Feel So Fine
40. I Want To Be With You
41. Let The Groove Roll On
42. You Say You Love Me
43. They Say You Don't Care
44. Do You Know What I'm Talkin' About
45. Put Yourself In My Place
46. Darling Baby (Mono)
47. Heaven Must Have Sent You (Single Version) (Mono)
48. Stay In My Lonely Arms (Mono)
49. I Understand My Man (Mono)
50. It's Been A Long Long Time (Mono)

Album Description

2007 two CD compilation from the Detroit-based '60s R&B group best known for their single 'Heaven Must Have Sent You'. This 50 collection delves right into the heart of their Motown repertoire and includes many great lost classics from the height of Motown including 'Darling Baby', 'Good Lovin'', 'No Time For Tears' and many more. Universal.

Album Details

2007 Digitally Remastered Anthology by the American R&B Group who Recorded for Berry Gordy's Motown Label from the Late 1950's Til their Breakup in 1967. The Group was Founded by Robert Fleming, Norbert Mcclean and Johnny Dawson who Recorded in the Groups the Sensations, the Five Emeralds, and the Downbeats. They Added Saundra Edwards and Became the Elgins in 1962. With the Label Success of the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Vandellas, Ms. Edwards was Thrust Upfront for Several Singles Recorded in the Group's Final Two Years, Including "Darling Baby" and "Heaven Must have Sent You" (Later a Hit for Bonnie Pointer), Both Contributions from the Hit House Writing Team of Holland Dozier Holland.

Customer Reviews:

Motown Treasure Trove.......2007-07-13

The story of how a singer named Saundra Mallett, who had had one Tamla single out in 1962, and a vocal group in the Isley Brothers mould called the Downbeats, who recorded for the same label, joined forces to become a hit combo called the Elgins, is well documented and illustrated on this two-disc anthology, which draws together pretty much everything they recorded, both separately and together.

The Elgins' hit 1965 single Darling Baby provided the title track of their V.I.P. album of the following year, which also included the hits Heaven Must Have Sent You, Put Yourself In My Place and Stay In My Lonely Arms. The entire album, mixed in stereo, is included in full and comprises the first twelve tracks of disc one. Saundra shines on all the lead vocals on the album, apart from 634-5789 and When A Man Loves A Woman on which Johnny Dawson sings lead. It was mostly recorded in 1966, but It's Gonna Be Hard Times dates from 1962, and was the B-side of her solo single on which she was joined by the three Vandellas and Marvin Gaye on piano. Most of the album was produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, with several original Holland-Dozier-Holland songs from when they were on a huge roll, but one of my favourites is No Time For Tears, which Norman Whitfield produced. The Marvelettes did the great original version of this but that was buried on a B-side, and Saundra here makes it her own.

The original mono singles and their B-sides are also included separately, as well as those by Saundra Mallett and the Downbeats, but the revelation here once again is the quality of the wealth of previously unreleased material. The second disc includes fifteen tracks by the Downbeats, more than enough for a pretty good album, and all but three of these are appearing for the first time (one is a superior alternative mix of a 1962 single). A couple of these may never have been intended for release as they are fairly blatant carbon copies of existing songs: Party Time bears a strong similarity to Pony Time by Chubby Checker, and Let The Groove Roll On is a secular version of Mahalia Jackson's Let The Church Roll On via Chris Kenner's I Like It Like That. Both bring out the gospel fervour of the Downbeats, though, and sound terrific.

Yvonne Vernee Allen took over as lead singer in 1968 but nothing was released from her tenure with the Elgins, until now: there are four excellent examples of her work with the Elgins on disc one, produced by James Dean and William Weatherspoon, and reflecting the Motown sound of the time.

These Motown Anthologies are pure treasure trove and this opens another largely unknown chapter.

Another Motown Winner.......2007-07-12

This set is not as good, overall, as the Motown collections by Bobby Taylor, The Velvelettes, and Kim Weston, possibly because The Elgins were not as good as some of those other entertainers or maybe because the material they were given to perform was less appealing. Evenso, this set is definitely a must-have for true Motown fans. The first disc, which is basically all Elgins tracks, is excellent. The second, comprised of earlier material by the group members before they became the Elgins and some single versions of Elgins' hits, is less entertaining. All of disc one is great. The highlight of disc two are Saundra Mallett's solos, including two wherein she was backed by The Vandellas. Like all of the British Motown compilations, the set has great liner notes and group history.

Thanks, Universal!!.......2007-06-18

For those of us who wanted the Elgins' "Darling Baby" album released on disc, it's finally here! Thanks to Universal Group in the United Kingdom (because we don't like our own music!!), I have before me a copy of their Motown Anthology. At first I thought, "Oh goodie!! A disc is finally issued by The Elgins!!" But when I saw the track listing, I was appalled as to why a second album was not issued in early 1968, at least. These two discs not only include the album and subsequent single, "It's Been a Long, Long Time", but vaulted recordings of The Downbeats and some great songs by Saundra Mallett. Both Johnny Dawson (who sounds like a cross between James Brown and Professor Charles Taylor) and Saundra had such great vocal skills that a few blues recordings emerge here. "I Still Love You", an Elgins track with Saundra deftly singing the lead, is an exquisite track worthy of Aretha and Etta. They also handle Stevie Wonder's "Thank You Love" very well while "Let's Give Love Another Chance" is so bluesy that it defies traditional Motown outright. Mallett takes on sliding vocal trails only a skilled Gospel singer would try. The hits become a distant memory as these unreleased tracks eclipse their all too familiar appearance. Johnny Dawson sings on "Another Hurt Like This", written by the late, great Shorty Long. For those who enjoy listening to Martha & the Vandellas' reading of Shorty's "You've Been on My Mind" from the "Spellbound" collection, this will be a keeper for sure. Marvin Gaye's "When You Are Available" compares to anything he ever wrote and produced for The Originals. A lilting soul number, it brings back the feel of Marvin & Tammi's classic "If This World Were Mine". The Dean-Witherspoon team is responsible for "Life Can Be Beautiful" (which could have been a smash by Jimmy Ruffin who cut his hits on their repertoire), "My Love For Your Love" and "Love Where Are You Hiding" are all irresistible pieces of soul. By this time the Elgins switched female vocalists, but the recordings kept going. No releases, however were made of these recordings. The new lead singer sounds a bit like Tammi Terrell, with a bit of Barbara McNair thrown in. Clarence Paul's "All For Just Lovin' You" sounds at first like a slowed down reworking of "Put Yourself in My Place", but its Gospel overtones uncover a more soulful recording. The Downbeats' "Request of a Fool" b/w "Your Baby's Back" single is here, but a superior alternate vocal track is heard on the latter. "Don't You Know I Love You Baby", and "I Feel So Fine" could have been great vehicles for The Contours, while "Let the Groove Roll On" is a spin-off on Mahalia Jackson's "Let the Chruch Roll On". The Downbeats are at full steam giving some backing vocals in the tradition of James Brown's Famous Flames! "All I Got" was originally recorded by Saundra Mallett, as heard here. It was tried out on Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells on their 1964 "Together" sessions, but not used for that album. Saundra gives it her typical Etta James-style vocal. "Boo-Hoo" is a Berry Gordy production close to The Supremes' "Buttered Popcorn" with the tenor man mimicking the Mar-Keys' "Last Night". Janie Bradford and Richard Wylie penned a nice blues tune in "First Try At Love". Why this wasn't given to Mable John is beyond me. Saundra does it great, a complicated time signature, but she doesn't miss a beat. How does she do it? "Party Time" is a reworking of Chubby Checker's "Pony Time". It's obvious, but they get away with it. One of The Downbeats' original tunes, it was written by Johnny Dawson. "Until I Lost You" returns to the blues, and this is where Dawson brings everything to the pulpit. These guys could have been huge at Cincinnati's King label. The recording features a brand new jazz-soul sensation, an 11 year old Stevie Wonder who played harmonica. Saundra's single, "Camel Walk" b/w "It's Gonna Be Hard Times" is here in all its wonder with Martha & the Vandellas pulling backup duties as only they can. The baby, baby, baby on "Camel Walk" is reminiscent of Dee Dee Sharpe's vocal on "Slow Twistin'", her immortal duet with Chubby Checker. Marvin Gaye fills in on piano. The B-side, however was the more popular of the two as it became part of the "Darling Baby" album, closing Side One. The Downbeats follow with more vault selections filled with hard R&B and rockers too many to mention here. If there's a bad track here, I can't find it. Perhaps the lowest point is the '65 aborted single release, "Do You Know What I'm Talking About" b/w "You Say You Love Me", first issued on "The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 5". The reason for holding back its release was because Holland-Dozier-Holland had a pair of killer tunes for Saundra with The Downbeats recording the backing vocals. Then, after the name change, Saundra & The Downbeats were history and The Elgins name took over. The set features a new stereo mix of "It's Been a Long, Long Time", but it should be pointed out that "Darling Baby" has not only been re-mixed from its earlier stereo inception, but also extended. The original album contained all B-sides from their singles under the Elgins name, a rarity in most Motown albums. Consequently, this is one of the most essential collections to come out of the Motown catalog. We owe a lot of gratitude to Universal Group for these recordings!!

The Elgins anthologhy.......2007-06-07

I must say this is one of the best cd's to be released in this series
yet. I thought the "B" artist who had only 1 or 2 hits, maby had a hand
full of things in the vaults. My God, there are nearly 40 or so great
songs here. What an awsome surprise! Berry Gordy, you were really the
busy little bee. Then the other surprise on these cd's is what they
recorded versions of. Jerry Butler's "For your precious love"
James Brown's fabulous"It's a man's world" , just to mention a few.
The stero mix of the "Darling Baby" lp is something to listen to.
I will not list my favorite cuts, all I can say is that, if you
are truley a motown fan, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Average customer rating: Fantastic Redo!! The Essential Album from a Very Legendary Family Soul Group A Jackson 5 Lover!!! Dance music for hyperactive monkeys on speed. Great stuff, but available elsewhere

Anthology The Jackson 5 Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Philly Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Teen Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Bubblegum | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Compilations | Pop | Styles | Music | Dance Pop | Easy Listening | General | Oldies | Traditional Vocalists Similar Items: The Best of Michael Jackson (Anthology Series) The Ultimate Collection Tear the Roof Off 1974-1980 Essential Jacksons The Best of One Way: Featuring Al Hudson & Alicia Myers ASIN: B00004ZEJ8 Release Date: 2000-10-24

Tracks:

1. I Want You Back
2. Who's Loving You
3. ABC
4. The Young Folks
5. The Love You Save
6. I Found That Girl
7. I'll Bet You
8. I'll Be There
9. Goin' Back To Indiana
10. Mama's Pearl
11. Darling Dear
12. Never Can Say Goodbye
13. Maybe Tomorrow
14. It's Great To Be Here
15. Sugar Daddy
16. I'm So Happy
17. Sing A Simple Song/Can You Remember (At The Hollywood Palace)
18. Doctor My Eyes
19. Little Bity Pretty One
20. Lookin' Through The Windows
21. Love Songs

Tracks:

1. Corner Of The Sky
2. Touch
3. Hallelujah Day
4. Daddy's Home (J5 Live In Japan)
5. Get It Together
6. Hum Along And Dance
7. Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)
8. It's Too Late To Change The Time
9. Dancing Machine (Original LP Version)
10. Whatever You Got, I Want
11. The Life Of The Party
12. I Am Love
13. All I Do Is Think Of You
14. Forever Came Today
15. We're Here To Entertain You

Amazon.com

In retrospect, making 11-year-old Michael Jackson into a sex symbol was maybe not such a good idea, but it made for some great records with his brothers in the first half of the '70s. Anthology is the first compilation in ages to treat the Jackson 5 as a band rather than a franchise--meaning no solo records, though Jermaine's cover of Shep and the Limelites' "Daddy's Home" gets gerrymandered in via a live-in-Japan recording--and as an album act rather than just a factory for turning The Corporation's songs (like "ABC" and "I Want You Back") into hits. It includes all their big singles, but it also plumbs the archive for noteworthy B-sides and album tracks, of which there turn out to be plenty: some ridiculous (a make-way-for-the-new-generation anthem called "The Young Folks," hollered convincingly by a prepubescent Michael), some startling (who'd have thought they covered Funkadelic?), some both (a bouncy take on Jackson Browne's "Doctor My Eyes"). The second disc is especially juicy, documenting the 1973-74 period when the Jacksons fell into the hands of producer Hal Davis and turned out some fantastic, long psychedelic-funk jams, eventually streamlining their new approach into the megahit "Dancing Machine." --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Redo!!.......2006-01-16

Before this set came out, it had been a long long time since anyone got to see a Jackson 5 Anthology collection and unlike the previous anthologies (1976 and 1986 respectively) and several Greatest Hits, this 2000 release is exclusively J5 material (neither early Michael's solo songs nor Jermaine's Daddy's Home). On this cd, we get all the J5 hits (I Want You Back, Who's Lovin' You, ABC, The Love You Save, I'll Be There, Never Can Say Goodbye, Maybe Tommorow, Get It Together, Dancin' Machine, and more) from previous Greatest Hits collections and the great B sides, unreleases, and lp tracks (I'll Bet You, Goin Back To Indiana, Its Great To Be Here, Doctor My Eyes, I'm So Happy, Hum Along & Dance, All I Do Is Think Of You, and extremely rare We Are Here To Entertain You from "MJ: The Legend Continues" documentary). If you own a copy of 1986's Anthology or 1996's badly crafted Ultimate Collection, throw them out and buy this new and improved redo!!! I'll buy it too as well since it is the best Jackson 5ive compilation.

The Essential Album from a Very Legendary Family Soul Group.......2004-04-26

These brothas were something else back in the day! Nobody ran the '70s better than the Jackson 5 (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon & Michael)! These guys are true legends. ALL the joints on both CD's are the essential jams. You will understand on this set why the brothers were considered the younger Temptations of their time and how they blaze the trail for groups from New Edition to the Boys to New Kids on the Block to N Sync to B2K. Deserving of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? YOU BET YOUR SILVER DIME THEY ARE! Long live the PRINCES OF SOUL MUSIC!

A Jackson 5 Lover!!!.......2003-08-10

Yes I have this album.I bought it for like $[...]something dollars.Listening to the album it didn't seem like it was worth $[...]dollars.I was a bit disappointed that I spent $[...]on this Jackson 5 cd.The reason why is because,disc 2 bores me...alot!I didn't enjoy it one bit.I really regreted spending $[...]something dollars on it.Now the first disc is COOL!I enjoy that one.The only song I don't like on there is "Young Folks",that song annoys me.But everything else is cool.Everytime I get one of these best of Jackson 5 compilations,I always find a new song I begin to like,that wasn't on there original albums.For example,like "Darling Dear",that's like my favorite song on the album itself.To me it wasn't worth $[...],but if you want to hear some never before released songs,and there voices change as they got mature,get it.

Dance music for hyperactive monkeys on speed........2002-11-23

I'm torn between the desire to smack this kid for his shrill voice and jangly music, and the desire to shake his hand for being a phenomenal success. I'll compromise by giving this collection 5 stars but making some wisecracks. I bought this collection because I wanted a good sampling of early '70s music, and the competing CD collection "The Ultimate Collection" was missing a few charted J5 songs like "Hallelujah Day" that I wanted from that era. Therefore, short of buying an expensive box set, this was the only collection for me. Technically you can't fault anything by the Jackson 5: it's all slick production with studio musicians handling the background instruments with extreme competence. Their songwriting team was also excellent. It's just that a kid with a shrill voice and hyperactive demeanor singing songs for adults failed to do anything for me; I liked the music but not the squealing voice. Kudos to Isaac Hayes for also recognizing fundamentally good songs, and for producing an adult version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" in 1971 whose slower pace and lower voice fit the lyrics much better, although the J5 version that year was also good, and was the first J5 song I could honestly say I liked. Ditto to Mariah Carey in 1992 for doing a superior version of "I'll Be There." Conversely, I have to admit I like this Jackson 5 version of "Doctor My Eyes" better than Jackson Browne's excessively mournful version, and the J5 version also has some nice strings and chords at the end that remind me of ABC's appealing song "15 Storey Halo." Unlike in their first few years, I no longer consider the Jackson 5 a joke. It's also interesting to hear their later music become more progressive on the 2nd CD of this collection: much longer songs, hotter guitar solos, use of synthesizers and electric sitars, and so on.

Great stuff, but available elsewhere.......2002-07-09

As with most J-5 collections, this is great stuff, but it is easily available elsewhere. Once you have the J-5 boxed set "Soulsation" and "Pre-History" (the latter consist of the rare J-5 recordings for Steeltwon Records in 1967-68), that's all you really need and everything else is just repetitive.

However, there are a couple of very rare trax on this collection. There is a live version of the J-5 singing and playing Sly Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" and the Delphonics' "Can You Remember." Both are from the J-5's 1969 debut on the "Hollywood Palace" show. Disc 2 also includes Jermaine singing "Daddy's Home" circa 1973 live in Japan. Since the J-5 usually did not record playing their own instruments live, that makes this collection interesting and worthwhile.

Average customer rating: best of marvin gaye An impeccable collection of classic Marvin Amazon has double listed the 2nd disc Superb anthology The Diary of a Motown and Soul Music Legend

The Best of Marvin Gaye (Motown Anthology Series) Marvin Gaye Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music R&B | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Anthology-The Best of The Temptations 50th Anniversary Anthology The Ultimate Collection The Anthology 1961-1977 Al Green - Greatest Hits ASIN: B000001A9C Release Date: 1996-09-03

Tracks:

1. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow
2. Hitch Hike
3. Pride And Joy
4. Can I Get A Witness
5. Try It Baby
6. What's The Matter With You Baby
7. Baby Don't You Do It
8. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
9. I'll Be Doggone
10. Ain't That Peculiar
11. One More Heartache
12. Take This Heart Of Mine
13. Little Darling (I Need You)
14. Sweeter As The Days Go By
15. It Takes Two
16. Ain't No Mountain High Enough
17. Your Unchanging Love
18. Sweet Thing
19. Your Precious Love
20. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You
21. You
22. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
23. You're All I Need To Get By
24. Chained
25. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
26. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
27. That's The Way Love Is

Tracks:

1. What's Going On
2. God Is Love
3. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
4. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
5. Sad Tomorrows
6. You're The Man - Pts. I & II
7. The World Is Rated X
8. Trouble Man
9. Let's Get It On
10. Come Get To This
11. Just To Keep You Satisfied
12. My Mistake (Was To Love You)
13. Distant Lover (Live)
14. I Want You
15. After The Dance
16. Got To Give It Up - Pt. I
17. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
18. Ego Tripping Out
19. Praise
20. Heavy Love Affair

Amazon.com essential recording

Balancing raw power with shades of vulnerability, Gaye rose to the top of Motown's roster without the benefit of a supporting vocal group. Whether singing love songs or social commentary, Gaye's voice displays an earnestness and sincerity that are a soul singer's most potent weapons. Among these 47 hits are his memorable duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, and Tammi Terrell along with Motown staples such as "Can I Get a Witness," "How Sweet It Is," "Ain't That Peculiar," and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." This 2 CD set also covers socially conscious 1970s originals such as "What's Going On," "Mercy, Mercy Me," and "Inner City Blues." Only his last hit, "Sexual Healing," is left out. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

best of marvin gaye.......2006-03-20

i had the original motown cd...the one i ordered from
amazon was a HORRIBLE sound quality. the outside of the cd
said it was done in 'germany'...the sound was hollow and
scratchy. i returned it with a minimal amt of trouble.

An impeccable collection of classic Marvin.......2005-12-13

I am not used to writing reviews but I had to for this item. This is the most comprehensive collecion of classics from Marvin Gaye, especially the second disc. He has had such an influence from Soul and R&B to Hip-Hop and continues to be a legendary force in music. If you are seriously considering purchasing a Marvin Gaye album, please go with this one. It will give you a balanced and enjoyable experience with the beauty of his music and will leave you wondering why you hadn't done it sooner. I was 18 when I "borrowed" this album from my mother and don't think she will love it as much as I have consistantly loved it for the past 5 years.

Amazon has double listed the 2nd disc.......2005-04-04

The track listing for the second disc has been repeated. There are only twenty (20) songs on the second CD, not forty (40).

BTW, great album. This is the best 'best of' collection/ compilation/ anthology of Marvin Gaye's work, outside of the box set.

Superb anthology .......2004-11-28

Marvin Gaye was a great singer who lived from 1939-1984. He had a tremendous vocal ability that allowed him to sing sweet soul music, politically-aware commentaries, hard funk, disco-ish stuff and eco-friendly classics all with equal conviction. As a boy in 1985 I remember TWO tribute songs to him that charted in the US Top 10 - a measure of the esteem in which he and his music was held. As one of the original Motown artists, he helped to define the golden era of mid-60's pop music, and trumped even this with his great album What's Going On in 1971.

This superb anthology from the Motown vaults is packed with great songs, and I have been a big fan of this record since discovering it in 2001. I cannot recommend this more highly to those Amazon shoppers who may yet be unaware of this great vocalist.

By the way, these Motown Anthology 2CD sets are not to be missed. Try out The Supremes and The Temptations also in this series.

5 stars!!

The Diary of a Motown and Soul Music Legend.......2004-05-18

Now I know that some of you are disappointed that Marv's last hit (at least on the pop charts), "Sexual Healing", is not in this fabulous collection of classic hits but let's face it, it chronicles his time as a MOTOWN artist. So of course they weren't going to include an out-of-label hit even if the hit was viable to that star's career. Same thing they did with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson's anthologies.

Anyway, this 2-CD (or 2-tape) collection of 67 songs, 40-some known hit singles and some album cuts, b-sides and rarities is the PERFECT album for a true artist like Marvin Gaye was. Many cats can only wish that they can have the hit catalogue that this brotha from the Chocolate City had! I mean, he was not only just a popular singer who recorded some of the 20th century's greatest songs and albums known to mankind, but he was also a great writer, producer, arranger, mixer, musician and instrumentalist not to mention he already had a career as a lead singer of two R&B groups in the late-'50s before signing with Motown in 1961 to be a jazz singer (his original intention of rebelling against what people were telling him how he should be).

And then you can't forget his LEGENDARY and AMAZING duets with classic R&B female legends like Mary Wells (the first female superstar of Motown), Kimberly Weston, the wonderful and memorable Tammi Terrell and last but not least the Motown Queen, Diana Ross. So not only has his career spread four decades but in the middle of it, he was able to be in a couple of groups, be a legendary duet partner and he even played in a couple of movies or three.

But anyway back to the anthology set of Marvin! The man's hit career spreads into three or four or even five different periods at a time:

Suave Gentleman (1962-67)
Soul Loverman (1967-70)
Patriotic Ghetto Warrior (1971-1972)
Romantic and Erotic Ladies' Man (1973-1977)
Confessional Ghetto Preacher (1978-1981)

The first CD (full of 20 solo hits and 7 wonderful duets) may be the most interesting of the anthology set. It shows Marvin at first reaching his inner Sam Cooke in the early portion of his career going from "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" to "Baby Don't U Do It" and then finding his own voice slowly from "How Sweet It Is" and then finally finding his vocal POWER in songs like "You" (check out the HIGH note near the middle of the song!) and "Grapevine". And then there's the memorable duets with Tammi Terrell that are the essence of true soul. Marvin & Tammi should both be inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just for the five songs listed on the album.

But then again, the second CD of the anthology set can be the most complex! I mean, this is when Marvin Gaye took FULL ARTISTIC CONTROL and gave us the legendary albums WHAT'S GOING ON, TROUBLE MAN, LET'S GET IT ON, MARVIN GAYE LIVE, I WANT YOU, HERE, MY DEAR, and IN OUR LIFETIME (which was Marvin's first entry into the '80s). You would fall in love with the different production of "What's Going On", without so much of the people talking and just the music, it also shows more of Marvin's vocal backings in its beautiful pitch. "God Is Love", even with its short time, is classic MOTOWN with a gospel-soul feel to it. You had a feeling R. Kelly was listening closely to this album while making Step In The Name of Love. "Sad Tomorrows" with its different feel of a bluesy and classical feel and with that soul is different from the album version (Flying High) from What's Going On and it's also breathtaking that you have to play it over and over. "The World Is Rated X" and "You're The Man" is the brotha's finest work as a political preacher as he sung about the social ills of the world and the political administration. And of course songs from the wonderful "Let's Get It On" album is produced brilliantly here. "Just to Keep U Satisfied" is classic doo-wop!

Then you get into the live recording of "Distant Lover" even while edited (for album purposes) and well it's still a masterpiece. "I Want You" and "After the Dance" are classics and of course "Got to Give It Up" is a blue-light in the basement party anthem that is still hot even after all these years. Finally Marvin's later work with "Here, My Dear" and "In Our Lifetime" are produced and helps brings a climatic ending to the entire 2-CD set.

From "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" in 1962 where he was in love with a girl but somehow stubborn to his or his woman's feelings to when he was looking for love in 1981's funky "Heavy Love Affair", it's particularly the Diary of Marvin Gaye. Nobody in soul music was like this cat and there will be nobody like him again no matter what you say! Marvin Gaye is forever the Original King of R&B! (TAKE THAT, WHITNEY, HA-HA!)

Average customer rating: Great Anthology Classic, just like the Tops themselves Classic Material from A Classy Group excellent dancing & singing music in classic motown style Serviceable, but not for the completist

Anthology The Four Tops Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Anthology-The Best of The Temptations The Rock N' Roll Era: 1961 [Time Life] Frat Rock! The Best of Marvin Gaye (Motown Anthology Series) Tommy Roe - Greatest Hits [MCA] ASIN: B000001ABE Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Baby I Need Your Loving
2. Without The One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile)
3. Sad Souvenirs
4. Ask The Lonely
5. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
6. Helpless
7. It's The Same Old Song
8. Something About You
9. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
10. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
11. Then
12. Reach Out, I'll Be There
13. Standing In The Shadows Of Love
14. I Got A Feeling
15. Bernadette
16. 7-Rooms Of Gloom
17. I'll Turn To Stone
18. MacArthur Park
19. Climb Ev'ry Mountain(Live)
20. Everybody's Talking
21. For Once In My Life
22. A Place In The Sun
23. Reflections

Tracks:

1. You Keep Running Away
2. Walk Away Renee
3. If I Were A Carpenter
4. Yesterday's Dreams
5. I'm In A Different World
6. Can't Seem To Get You Out Of My Mind
7. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me
8. It's All In The Game
9. Still Water (Love)
10. River Deep-Mountain High
11. Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)
12. In These Changing Times
13. You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart
14. I Can't Quit Your Love
15. (It's The Way) Nature Planned It
16. Medley: Hey Man/We Got To Get You A Woman
17. I Just Can't Walk Away
18. Don't Tell Me That It's Over

Amazon.com

On soul symphonies like "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There," Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs applied his rough singing to some of the finest soul ever created. Anthology features 39 riveting Motown cuts, 18 of them hits, though none can compare to their masterpiece among masterpieces, "Bernadette." Stubbs begins each verse trying to reason with the woman who's leaving him, but by verse's end he's inevitably blabbering, demanding more than anyone could ever deliver. He yells out her name again and again, and when the music suddenly stops, you'll swear you hear the echo of her steps walking away. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews:

Great Anthology.......2004-12-29

The Four Tops are legends and listening to this clearly shows it. The songs drive hard: pleading, begging, concession--all done well. Even songs that were covers (Walk Away Renee) sound very good. "Walk Away Renee" in particular makes the Left Banke version sound like a weak whine. "Bernadette" epitomizes the passionate and emotionally exhausting narrative Levi Stubbs presents. Songs like "I'm in a Different World" while not major hits still sound pretty good!

Classic, just like the Tops themselves.......2000-04-06

A wonderful anthology. The Four Tops probably still have the record (pardon the pun) for longevity. Well after we no longer knew the name of the then-current lead singer of the Temptations or who was with the Supremes, the Four Tops were into their fourth decade TOGETHER.

They have been great for so long. Their harmonies are wonderful, with the ever-present Levi Stubbs way way out in front. They sang with power and with passion, and were a must for those basement parties back in the day.

Their hits are just about all here, from "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" , and "Ask The Lonely", "Reach Out" "Seven Rooms of Gloom" and "Bernadette". Also some more obscure (comparatively speaking) such as "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (my personal favorite) and "Its All In The Game". Happily, they are the original recordings (like all of the Mowtown Anthology collection).

For the most part, if it got much play in the '60's or '70's by the Four Tops, it is here. THE place to find the songs you remember and love.

Classic Material from A Classy Group.......2000-03-25

This is a Must Have the Songs are Classic.Reach Out(I'll Be There)is a song that is TImeless.Levi Stubbs&Crew are Fantastic Thru Out this two-disc set.There voices are Very Soulful&Powerful.not only One OF The Greatest Acts On Motown but also Music In General.ALways A Class Act.

excellent dancing & singing music in classic motown style.......1999-04-05

excellent dancing & singing music in classic motown style

Serviceable, but not for the completist.......1998-07-21

The Four Tops. The name itself conjures images of dancing go-go girls and the plaintive cries of four men in sharp suits reduced to begging and pleading before love passes by. This compilation reproduces the best of the Tops very nicely, from the soft soul of "Baby I Need Your Loving" to the forceful love anthem "Reach Out I'll Be There".

The focus is always on the front man, and the Tops had (and have) a dynamic one in Levi Stubbs. The power and range of his voice does not show as strongly through the early tracks, when producers forced him into that cookie-cutter tenor key owned by so many in the Motown stable, which was just a shade too high for Stubbs to be completely comfortable. Check out the range he shows on "Bernadette" and "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" and you'll feel the earth moving as Levi's power surges forth.

Now if we can just get Motown to give them the set they deserve; one along the lines of the E! mperors of Soul set their contemporaries, the Temptations, were given....

Christian Music:

1. Motown Greatest Hits [Import]
2. My Book of Love
3. Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities
4. Psychedelic Shack/All Directions [Original recording remastered] [Import]
5. Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic
6. Rewind [Enhanced]
7. Shanice
8. Since I Fell for You
9. So Blu
10. So Many Ways

Christian Music

christian music

Christian Music

Three Window Coupe

Sonatas by Brahms and Prokofiev

Spit the Blues Out [Explicit Lyrics]

Rick Hertless

Stand!

The Shape of Life [Enhanced] [Soundtrack]

Sound of Carnival [CD-single] [Import]

The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988

Sound of Dead Goats [Explicit Lyrics]

Rust Never Sleeps

Synchronicity

Ranchi-Cumbiando

The Mind [Explicit Lyrics]

Strange Fruit: 1937-1939

Fodder on My Wings