Every so often I get into a Motown Mood. This 3-CD set from 2008 was perfect for presenting a wide range of Motown songs. Motown’s biggest groups are represented: The Temptations, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, and more.
In addition to the great music on these three CDs, Motown Classics: Collector’s Edition includes a booklet that provides additional information on each of the songs. For example, here’s what the booklet presents on “My Girl”:
The Temptations: My Girl (#1 1965) Largely hailed as the most successful and best known R&B act of all time, The Temptations have had an illustrious career both on the charts and on tour for a period of more than 45 years. Beginning with their first hit in 1964, “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” the group has charted more than 50 Billboard singles and earned more than 17 gold and platinum hits. “My Girl” became The Temptations first #1 hit, topping both the pop and R&B charts when it hit the airwaves in 1965.
I do not have the superlative ears of someone like Art Scott, but these songs sound better than they do on older CDs I own. I can only speculate that this set has been tweaked and remastered to enhance the sound. If you’re a Motown fan, Motown Classics: Collector’s Edition would be a delightful New Year’s present…to yourself! Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: A
TRACK LIST:
| 1-1 | The Temptations– | My Girl |
| 1-2 | Diana Ross & The Supremes*– | Stop! In The Name Of Love |
| 1-3 | Smokey Robinson &The Miracles*– | Shop Around |
| 1-4 | The Four Tops*– | I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) |
| 1-5 | The Marvelettes– | Please Mr. Postman |
| 1-6 | Mary Wells– | My Guy |
| 1-7 | Marvin Gaye– | How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) |
| 1-8 | Stevie Wonder– | My Cherie Amour |
| 1-9 | Martha & The Vandellas*– | Heat Wave |
| 1-10 | Smokey Robinson– | Being With You |
| 2-1 | Four Tops– | Baby I Need Your Loving |
| 2-2 | Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell– | You’re All I Need To Get By |
| 2-3 | The Temptations– | The Way You Do The Things You Do |
| 2-4 | Diana Ross & The Supremes*– | Come See About Me |
| 2-5 | Junior Walker & The All Stars– | Shotgun |
| 2-6 | Martha & The Vandellas*– | Dancing In The Streets |
| 2-7 | Edwin Starr– | War |
| 2-8 | Smokey Robinson & The Miracles*– | Tears Of A Clown |
| 2-9 | Michael Jackson– | Got To Be There |
| 2-10 | Gladys Knight & The Pips*– | I Heard It Through The Grapevine |
| 3-1 | Marvin Gaye– | Let’s Get It On |
| 3-2 | The Miracles– | I Second That Emotion |
| 3-3 | The Four Tops*– | Reach Out I’ll Be There |
| 3-4 | The Jackson 5– | I Want You Back |
| 3-5 | Diana Ross & The Supremes*– | Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone |
| 3-6 | The Temptations– | Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) |
| 3-7 | Junior Walker & The All Stars– | What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) |
| 3-8 | Stevie Wonder– | Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) |
| 3-9 | The Commodores*– | Three Times A Lady |
| 3-10 | Diana Ross & The Supremes*– | You Keep Me Hanging On |
So much good stuff…I could listen to this all day long. My two absolute favorites are “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and “What Does It Take?”, but I wouldn’t turn to another channel if any of these songs came on the radio (with the possible exception of “Three Times A Lady” 😩).
Deb, MOTOWN CLASSICS: COLLECTOR’S EDITION is my go-to Motown CD set. I have other Motown compilations, but this one is better than them all…and sounds better!
I was never a big fan of Motown while it was happening. Thankfully i have matured over the years. I love them all.
Jerry, Motown music just lifts me up! There’s a lot of joy–and heartbreak–in these songs!
I’d add some more of the later Temps, Tops, and Supremes (yes, even the underrated post-Diana era with Jean Terrell), but otherwise it looks like a fine selection.
Fred, good choices for additional Motown songs!
Love it. There’s only 2 I didn’t recognize by the title: Got to be there by Michael Jackson and being with you by Smokey Robinson. Motown ruled the airwaves.
Maggie, if you go to YouTube you’ll be able to listen to “Got To Be There” and “Being With You”–and I suspect you’ll recognize those songs when you hear them.
As you know I have the 4 volume Motown set that starts in 1959 with “Money” and has all the hits of the ’60s and ’70s, and I listen to it often.
Favorites?
Too many, starting with “My Girl” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Smokey Robinson wrote not only for the Miracles but all the Mary Wells songs, including the #1 “My Guy,” plus “My Girl” and other Temptations hits.
Jackie’s favorite is Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes Of the Broken Hearted.” “You Really Got a Hold On Me” is another favorite, plus the Marvin and Tammi duets.
Only recently did I learn the story of Motown lyricist Rodger Penzabene. He wrote three great songs for The Temptations- “You’re My Everything,” “I Wish It Would Rain,” and finally the prophetic “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You).” He discovered that his wife was cheating on him, and after writing the last two songs, he shot himself in the head on December 31, 1967.
He was 22.
I Wish It Would Rain lyrics:
“Sundhine, blue skies, please go away
My girl has found another and gone away
With her went my future, my life is filled with gloom
So day after day I stay locked up in my room.”
A week after it’s release, he killed himself.
Jeff, I did not know the story of Rodger Penzabene. Very sad. What a great talent gone because of a broken heart!
Where’s Mary Wells? If I had to pick one favorite from these splendid tracks, I’d choose Heat Wave!
Bob, I’m a big fan of “Heat Wave”! But we’re looking at a Cold Wave this weekend with only single digit temperatures and windchills around -20!
It just hit 80 and humid in South Florida!
Jeff, we woke up to 10 degrees and light snow. Tonight we’re going to hit ZERO.
Finally a point of agreement.
Particularly on an anthology with the Commodores track. “Heat Wave” is Felt in a way the most Motown is just a little too cool to display, even early on…also notable, the lack of the early Stevie Wonder, which often had the same passion…and, hey, What Key?