CD-Charts Position 61
Average Rating:

.

Natural Wonder

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Stevie Wonder

Release Date February 02, 1998
Ordinarily, i wouldn't do a review of this item. But i was very surprised to see it had been given two separate five-star ratings. Time to get the overall average down, in my opinion.

Check out the track listing on this live album, and you're going think that it's something out of this world. It's simply jam-packed with loads of mega wonders. However, this is a live album from an artist who is well past his peak. Upon listening to it, i was drawn to the inescapable conclusion that this was a sort of "Stevie Wonder for the cabaret circuit".

Prudence, therefore, before hitting the order button. (My profoundest apologies to his Stevie-ness.)

CD-Charts Position 62
Average Rating:

.

Diana

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Diana Ross

Release Date August 04, 2003
Diana Ross had not had a big UK hit since 'Love Hangover' in 1976 when this album was recorded. I love it, because it's the album that introduced me to the music of Diana Ross and in time many other Motown legends.
This is not a typical Diana Ross album as there are no traditional ballads. Instead we get a succession of cool grooves from Chic's Edwards and Rogers with Diana's sumptious vocals over the top. Apart from the obvious charms of 'Upside Down' and 'I'm Coming Out' the outstanding tracks are 'Now That You're Gone' and 'Tenderness' (a minor hit in 1981).
This album is equally loved and loathed by Ross fans but whatever your opinion it shows Diana as a serious album artist rather than a singer of hit singles. The deluxe version ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 63
Average Rating:

.

Psychedelic Shack & All Directions

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: The Temptations

Release Date October 23, 2000
The Temptations had moved their sound from typical Motown fare, usually written and produced by Smokey Robinson, to a Funk based sound with Norman Whitfield in the producers chair. Starting with the Cloud Nine album, and continuing with Puzzle People (also available as a twoferone), they had mined the seam opened up by Sly Stone on Dance to the Music.

Where David Ruffin had been perfect for those Smokey tunes, Dennis Edwards, his replacement, superbly fronted the new Funk sound. On "Psychedelic Shack" there was a nod to the past, "It's Summer", although other than this the Tempts allow writer Barrett Strong and producer Norman Whitfield to move them well away from their past successes. "Take a Stroll..." features a spacey Eddie Kendricks/Paul Williams ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 64
Average Rating:

.

Fill Your Head: The Studio Albums 1969-1974

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Rare Earth

Release Date September 09, 2008
Disc 1 (77:45 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 6 are the debut album "Get Ready" issued August 1969 on Rare Earth RS-507
(Tracks 7 to 15 are BONUS single versions from the various 5 studio albums)
Track 7 is "Generation (Light Up The Sky)" which is the A side of Rare Earth 5010 issued November 1969 - also on the O.S.T. to the film "Generation"
Track 8 is "Get Ready" the 7" single edit issued April 1970 on Rare Earth 5012
(the single edit is 2:50 minutes long, while the full album version takes up all of Side 2 at 21:35 minutes)
Track 9 is "(I Know) I'm Losing You" - the 7" single edit issued July 1970 on Rare Earth 5017 (the single edit is 3:42 minutes long, while the full "Ecology" album version is 10:52 minutes)
Track 10 is "When Joanie ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 65
Average Rating:

.

Spellbound: Lost & Found

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Martha Reeves

Release Date July 16, 2008
Motown's valuable Lost And Found series has been handed over to Hip-O-Select, who have expanded the format to double-CD sets, in this case featuring the ten-year tenure with the Gordy label of the fabulous Martha and the Vandellas (latterly Martha Reeves and the Vandellas). An unfortunate side-effect of this for UK customers is that the releases are somewhat harder to find, especially since Hip-O-Select seem not to export directly to here, and often pricey. They are, however, well worth tracking down.

The Motown vaults have been heavily plundered in recent years and it is now too well known that the quality of the hitherto unreleased material is unbelievably high to warrant expounding yet again. I would like to think there is another world at the edge of infinity ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 66
Average Rating:

.

Motown Chartbusters Volume 6

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Various Artists

Release Date November 10, 1997
This one was released at the end of 1971, and just missed the No 1 album slot.

It opens with 'I'm Still Waiting' from Diana Ross, a British No 1. When I hear it start, I can still feel my sun-burned back from that August. This was the start of Diana Ross becoming more popular here than in her native US. When they released it there, it stalled at #63 pop and #40 R&B. She also has another big hit on here 'Remember Me'. Her old group The Supremes were still doing well in the UK. Their exciting three part harmony lead on 'Nathan Jones' made our top 5, and I'm sorry , but to my ears it knocks spots off Bananarama's weedy cover. The girls also teamed up with The Four Tops for a fun but worthy verson of 'River Deep Mountain High'.

The Four Tops hit No 3 in their ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 67
Average Rating:

.

Everything Is Everything

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Diana Ross

Release Date June 30, 2008
Motown writer and producer Deke Richards who played a major role in the Supremes "Love Child" single and album was as he put it, "given the keys to the Rolls Royce of Motown." Along with Hal Davis and Berry Gordy, they masterminded Diana Ross' second solo album originally released in 1970, and only now available in North America in an expanded compact disc format. Worth the wait? You bet!
In the liner notes, Richards recalled Gordy wanting "something different out on Diana yesterday" and although "Everything Is Everything" is somewhat heavy with cover tunes, Ross finds nooks and crannies in familiar songs to weave her magic.
Diana Ross was in her vocal prime at the time of this recording and standout tracks include the Anna Gaye and Marvin Gaye composition "Baby It's Love" featuring ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 68
Average Rating:

.

Best Of Smokey Robinson

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Release Date March 18, 1996
Motown writer and producer Deke Richards who played a major role in the Supremes "Love Child" single and album was as he put it, "given the keys to the Rolls Royce of Motown." Along with Hal Davis and Berry Gordy, they masterminded Diana Ross' second solo album originally released in 1970, and only now available in North America in an expanded compact disc format. Worth the wait? You bet!
In the liner notes, Richards recalled Gordy wanting "something different out on Diana yesterday" and although "Everything Is Everything" is somewhat heavy with cover tunes, Ross finds nooks and crannies in familiar songs to weave her magic.
Diana Ross was in her vocal prime at the time of this recording and standout tracks include the Anna Gaye and Marvin Gaye composition "Baby It's Love" featuring ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 69
Average Rating:

.

Stevie Wonder's Greatest Hits Volume 2

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Stevie Wonder

Release Date October 12, 1998
Another collection of Stevie Wonder's earler songs which never fail to impress. Although the tracklist is somewhat short, this album contains a few of the many Stevie Wonder classics, including the beautiful 'My Cherie Amour' and the uplifting 'For Once In My Life', a version which is yet to be bettered by those who choose to cover it. This CD is short enough for any occasion where you need a quick blast of Stevie Wonder magic to brighten up the day - turn it on, crank up that volume and listen to one of the most amazing voices ever to have been laid down on vinyl!!!

CD-Charts Position 70
Average Rating:

.

Bridget Jones's Diary 2

CD-Charts > Music > Motown
by: Ost.

Release Date March 11, 2002
I was glad to see they'd added the original "Someone Like You" and also "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" because, to me, those songs ARE Bridget Jones. The thing I wish they'd put on here (even though it doesn't feature in the film) is "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel, to fit in with Darcy loving Bridget "Just as she is". That said, the songs on this CD are fantastic and generally fit in with the theme of the film, so fans of the film, or fans of MUSIC should pretty much love it.