MOTOWN 40 FOREVER [2-CD Set]

22 Replies

This 2-CD set celebrates Motown’s 40th Anniversary in 1998. There’s a mix of 40 “hits” from mostly the heyday of Motown’s success. A few songs from the later years of Motown are included, but you’ll notice a sharp fall-off in quality.

In the 1960s, many of these songs were part of the soundtrack of my Life. I was a huge fan of Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and the Supremes.

Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: A-

Tracklist:

1-1The Marvelettes–Please Mr. Postman
Producer – Brianbert
Written-By – Brian Holland, Freddie Gorman, Georgia Dobbins, Robert Bateman, William Garrett		2:27
1-2Smokey Robinson & The Miracles*–Shop Around
Producer – Berry Gordy
Written-By – Berry Gordy, William “Smokey” Robinson		2:46
1-3Martha Reeves & The Vandellas–(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
Producer – Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier
*Written-By – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Edward Holland		2:43
1-4Mary Wells–My Guy
Producer – Smokey Robinson
Written-By – William “Smokey” Robinson		2:53
1-5Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell–Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing
Producer – Ashford & Simpson
Written-By – Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson		2:15
1-6Four Tops–I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
Producer – Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier
*Written-By – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Edward Holland, Jr.		2:43
1-7The Originals–Baby I’m For Real
Arranged By – Paul Riser
Producer – Marvin Gaye, Richard Morris (2)
Written-By – Anna Gaye*, Marvin Gaye		3:18
1-8Jimmy Ruffin–What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted
Producer – William “Mickey” Stevenson*, William Weatherspoon
Written-By – William Weatherspoon, James Dean*, Paul Riser		2:59
1-9Eddie Kendricks–Keep On Truckin’
Producer – Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston
Written-By – Anita Poree, Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston		3:32
1-10Jackson 5*–ABC
Producer, Arranged By – Berry Gordy, Deke Richards, Alphonso Mizell*, Freddie Perren
Written-By – Berry Gordy, Deke Richards, Alphonso Mizell*, Freddie Perren		2:57
1-11Diana Ross & The Supremes*–Stop! In The Name Of Love
Producer – Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier
*Written-By – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Edward Holland, Jr.*		2:53
1-12Stevie Wonder–My Cherie Amour
Producer – Henry Cosby
Written-By – Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy		2:53
1-13Gladys Knight & The Pips*–Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)
Producer – Joe Porter
Written-By – Jim Weatherly		4:22
1-14The Temptations–Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
Directed By [Orchestration Direction] – Jerry Long
Producer – Norman Whitfield
Written-By – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield		3:47
1-15Marvin Gaye–What’s Going On
Arranged By – David Van DePitte
Producer – Marvin Gaye
Written-By – Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson		3:42
1-16Diana Ross & The Supremes*–Someday We’ll Be Together
Producer – Johnny Bristol
Written-By – Harvey Fuqua, Jackey Beavers, Johnny Bristol		3:27
1-17The Temptations–Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone
Arranged By, Conductor – Paul Riser
Producer – Norman Whitfield
Written-By – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield		6:58
1-18Jackson 5*–I’ll Be There
Arranged By – Bob West
Producer – Hal Davis
Written-By – Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch		3:58
1-19Smokey Robinson & The Miracles*–Tears Of A Clown
Producer – Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson
Written-By – Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder		3:00
1-20Diana Ross–When You Tell Me That You Love MeProducer – Peter AsherWritten-By – Albert Hammond, John BettisProducer – Peter AsherWritten-By – Albert Hammond, John Bettis4:12
1-21Martha Reeves & The Vandellas–Dancing In The Street
Producer – William “Mickey” Stevenson
*Written-By – Ivy Hunter*, Marvin Gaye, William “Mickey” Stevenson		2:39
2-1Rick James–Superfreak
Producer, Arranged By – Rick James
Written-By – Alanzo Miller*, Rick James		3:24
2-2Dazz Band–Let It Whip
Arranged By – Dazz*, Reggie Andrews
Producer – Reggie Andrews
Written-By – Ndugu Chancler*, Reggie Andrews		4:06
2-3Johnny Gill–Rub You The Right Way
Producer – Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Written-By – James Harris III, Terry Lewis		4:14
2-4Jermaine Jackson–Let’s Get Serious
Arranged By – Stevie Wonder
Producer – Jermaine Jackson, Stevie Wonder
Written-By – Lee Garrett, Stevie Wonder		3:33
2-5Teena Marie & Rick James–Fire & Desire
Producer, Arranged By – Rick James
Written-By – Rick James		5:46
2-6Rockwell–Somebody’s Watching Me
Producer, Arranged By – Curtis Anthony Nolen, Rockwell
Written-By – Rockwell		3:55
2-7The Temptations–My Girl
Producer – Smokey Robinson
Written-By – William “Smokey” Robinson		2:43
2-8Edwin Starr–War
Producer – Norman Whitfield
Written-By – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield		3:22
2-9Diana Ross–I’m Coming Out
Producer – Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Written-By – Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers		3:54
2-10Lionel Richie–All Night Long (All Night)
Producer – James Anthony Carmichael, Lionel Richie
Written-By – Lionel Richie		4:15
2-11DeBarge–All This Love
Producer – Eldra DeBarge*, Iris Gordy
Written-By – Eldra DeBarge		4:09
2-12The Commodores*–Three Times A Lady
Producer – The Commodores*, James Anthony Carmichael
Written-By – Lionel Richie		3:38
2-13Shanice–I Love Your Smile
Producer, Arranged By – Narada Michael Walden
Written-By – Jarvis Baker, Narada Michael Walden, Shanice Wilson, Sylvester Jackson		4:23
2-14Boyz II Men–I’ll Make Love To You
Producer – Babyface
Written-By – Babyface		3:58
2-15Stevie Wonder–Superstition
Producer – Stevie Wonder
Written-By – Stevie Wonder		4:01
2-16Marvin Gaye–Let’s Get It On
Producer – Ed Townsend, Marvin Gaye
Written-By – Ed Townsend, Marvin Gaye		4:01
2-17Today–Him Or Me
Producer – Gene Griffin, Teddy Riley
Remix – Timmy Regisford
Written-By – Gene Griffin, Larry McCain, Larry Singletary, Lee Drakeford, Wesley Adams		4:20
2-18Dennis Edwards Featuring Siedah Garrett–Don’t Look Any Further
Arranged By – Dennis Lambert, Paul M. Jackson
*Co-producer [Associate Producer] – Paul M. Jackson, Jr.*
Producer – Dennis Lambert
Written-By – Dennis Lambert, Duane Hitchings, Franne Golde		4:04
2-19Jackson 5* Featuring Black Rob–I Want You Back ’984:20

22 thoughts on “MOTOWN 40 FOREVER [2-CD Set]”

  1. wolf

    I remember all of the songs on the first CD – and I like them.
    Not sure about the second CD. The Temptations of course but even the Marvin Gaye song doesn’t bring back memories though he was a favourite of mine.
    I’ve written about it before – I was so happy to have Radio Luxemburg (English program) and of course AFN.

    Reply ↓
  3. Steve Oerkfitz

    I like most of the songs here. There are a few exceptions. I have always disliked My Cherie Amour and Three Times a Lady. I could also do without Boys II Men, Shanice, Jermaine Jackson, Lionel Ritchie and Debarge. Never heard of Today. Could have used more early Motown.

    Reply ↓
  4. Deb

    Although I like many of the songs on this set, some of the choices seem odd—if you’re going to choose a Diana Ross (without the Supremes, who aren’t here at all), why choose something written by Albert Hammond and produced by Peter Asher when Motown had all those great songs created by their in-house writers & producers? Overall, this set has the feel of those “themed” CDs that are based less on theme and more on what songs were legally available. So, in the spirit of Jean-Luc Godard, who once observed that the best way to criticize a bad film was to make a better one, may I suggest a much better Motown collection: the 4-CD set, HITSVILLE USA, which includes ALL the great Motown records and artists from the late-1950s through the mid-1970s. Strongly recommended and worth every penny!

    Reply ↓
  5. Jeff Meyerson

    Like you said, a lot of great stuff there…and a sharp drop-off to the more modern stuff. One song (‘ve always disliked (thought not as much as I dislike her version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”) is Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out.”

    Highlights and favorites:
    “Please Mr. Postman” was the first Motown #1 song.
    “My Guy” and “My Girl” (one of my all-time favorites) were both #1 and written by Smokey Robinson
    “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” is one of Jackie’s favorite songs ever.
    With all of Diana Ross’s hit songs, where did they come up with “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”? I never heard of it.
    “Heat Wave” is my favorite Martha & the Vandellas song.
    I still have a soft spot for “Superfreak” by Rick James..
    I can’t think of “War” (What is it good for?) without thinking of Seinfeld.

    But where is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (either version) or “Reach Out I’ll Be There”?

    Reply ↓
    2. george Post author

      Jeff, I have a Motown compilation with both versions of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”–Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye’s hits. I have a soft spot for Rick James, too. He was from Buffalo and managed to screw up a promising career with drugs.

      Reply ↓
  6. wolf

    Maybe the decline of Motown is connected to the crazy antics and business practices of its founder and owner Berry Gordy?
    Btw he’s still alive at 91 years!

    Reply ↓
    1. george Post author

      Wolf, Berry Gordy committed many business mistakes (and personal ones like having affairs with his artists), but I suspect the “Motown Sound” fell out of fashion and despite attempts to rekindle his early success, Gordy finally gave up and sold Motown to MCA in 1988.

      Reply ↓
  7. Todd Mason

    It’s notable the best work on disc 2 is from the mature artists (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye) whom Gordy had the good sense to let them do what they wanted, not that he had much choice if he wanted to keep them on the label. While I’m surprised there’s so much commentary on how little on disc 2 is recognizable, so much as probably forgotten–as catchy as Gordy’s son’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” is, it’s dispensable, too…as were all the Commodores songs involving and solo work of Lionel Richie was (and Richie work isn’t even catchy so much as annoying…the Commodores’ post-Richie hit “The Night Shift” is notable for being better than any Richie song they did). Investing so much in Diana Ross to the expense of Martha and the Vandellas, the other Supremes, and all was always a mistake. Success spoiled Gordy.

    Reply ↓
    1. george Post author

      Todd, you’ve got that right! Berry Gordy made plenty of Bad Decisions in the 1970s that led him to sell Motown in the 1980s. Like many people, Gordy thought his success would continue despite all the signs that musical tastes were changing.

      Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *