Ultimate Motown Rarities Collection, Vol. 1

Editorial Reviews
Vibe
What makes this worthwhile is hearing the classics reinterpreted. Like when Gladys Knight & the Pips tear into "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me." When Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations had the hit, the female vocals were pleading and desperate. In Gladys's hands, the title is a veiled threat--not a request.

Ultimate Motown Rarities Collection, Vol. 1,Various Artists,Motown / Pgd,Disco,Funk,Motown,Pop,Pop-Soul,Pop/Rock,Psychedelic Soul,Quiet Storm,R&B,Smooth Soul,Soul,Soul/R & B Collections,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

Tracks:

You've Really Got A Hold On Me - The Jackson Five
I Want You Back - David Ruffin
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Isley Brothers
Everybody Needs Love - The Velvelettes
My Girl - Marvin Gaye
If This World Were Mine - Fantastic Four
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Stop! In The Name Of Love - Kim Weston
In My Lovely Room - Diana Ross & The Supremes
Come See About Me - The Originals
The Girl's Alright With Me - The Spinners
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Jimmy Ruffin
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted - The Contours
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
I Hear A Symphony - Stevie Wonder
The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - Blinky
Truly Yours - The Temptations
The Way You Do The Things You Do - The Underdogs
Can I Get A Witness - Diana Ross & The Supremes
Forever - Martha & The Vandellas
My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down) - The Temptations

Customer Reviews:

Motown Magic!!.......2005-01-29

This is an album of Motown classics being interpreted by other artists from the label and in some cases outdoing the more popular versions. The album comes storming right out of the gate with a raucous, uptempo version of Smokey's "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" by The Jackson 5, which is an outtake from their debut album. Next up is one of the many highlights of the album, David Ruffin tearing up The Jackson's "I Want You Back" and actually topping the original with his gravelly, emotional voice. This was recorded for his unreleased 1971 album. Marvin Gaye does a sweet, jazzy version of The Temps immortal "My Girl" and the sadly obscure Fantastic Four do a beautiful version of "If This World Were Mine". This is like an alternate Motown universe where Smokey and The Miracles do "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", Stevie Wonder does "I Hear a Symphony" and Jimmy Ruffin sings "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby". Another major treat is The Temptations doing The Spinners "Truly Yours" and The Spinners doing The Temps "The Girl's Alright With Me". All of the versions of these classics are distinctive. These are no soundalikes of the originals, everything sounds fresh and new. This album came out in 1998 and was called Volume 1. It's been seven years, come on Motown, release Volume 2. The Motown magic must never end!

This is TIGHT!.......2004-01-13

Too bad Berry Gordy was aiming for a strictly pop sound while letting the songs on this CD languish in the vault. I can only hope they decide to release more of these hits from the vault. Now that BG has sold the Jobete catalog maybe we'll hear more of these gems.

Very Soulful.......2000-04-06

This is a Must Have Right away.Only Motown Artists could Cover each other and Make it Sound even More Incredible.It's Like a Dream having So-Many Great Talents on One Label.the music is timeless as The Artists themselves.there will never be another Motown.

Don't Stop - in the Name of Love.......1999-08-20

Please keep this music coming! Hearing a new early-Motown album, like this one, is a tremendous joy. Every track on this CD is fantastic. These versions of familiar tunes are fresh and exciting. Gladys Knight, Smokey, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Originals et al., are all in their prime. What a rare treat to hear Binky, the Velvelettes, the Fantastic Four, and The Underdogs. Love it, love it, love it! I only hope volumes 2, 3, 4 and 5 are already in the planning stages.

The most important Motown release in over two decades.......1999-05-26

This CD is an absolute MUST for anyone interested in Motown or in Deep Soul - yes, that's right, Deep Soul. The reason much of this stuff was never released when it was new was that it didn't fit the contemporary Motown chart groove, and Berry Gordy probrably figured it would scare the white teenagers who made him rich. But anyone who thinks Motown was just sugar-coated fluff should listen to Kim Weston's ASTONISHING version of the Supremes' "Stop in the Name of Love" - slow, senusal and heart-breaking, and it was recorded several years before Margie Joseph did a more histrionic treatment of the same song. Kim must have gotten sick hearing Margie's version, knowing her take on it was stuck in the Motown vaults. In fact, the "lesser" Motown artists distinguish themselves on this collection: the Originals' version of "Come See About Me" is superb, while the Fantastic 4 live up to their name on their reading of Marvin and Tammi's "If This World Were Mine." The much-neglected Blinky adds a manic edge to the Marvelettes' "Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" and David Ruffin turns "I Want You back" into something way beyond Michael Jackson's pre-pubescent cries. Of course, the top-line groups are also represented, with the Tempts sounding terrific on the Spinners' "Truly Yours." Overall, this CD is magnificent - so good that I bought two copies! But the best thing of all is that it says in fine print on the cover "volume one." Roll on volume two - and keep it Deep, Motown, please!

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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