None of the songs on Motown: The Musical sound as good as the original songs. Here’s the track list:
1 Battle of the Stars: Papa Was a Rolling Stone (Prologue) / I Can’t Help (4:15)
2 Hey Joe (Black Like Me) (2:02)
3 Get Ready / Dancing in the Street (3:24)
4 The Motortown Revue: Please Mr. Postman / You’ve Really Got a Hold on M (4:22)
5 Where Did Our Love Go? / Stop! In the Name of Love (2:00)
6 My Girl (2:46)
7 You’re All I Need to Get By (3:07)
8 War / What’s Going On (4:05)
9 I Heard It Through the Grapevine (2:12)
10 I Want You Back / ABC / The Love You Save (2:28)
11 Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand) (3:42)
12 Happy Birthday / Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours (2:55)
13 Can I Close the Door (On Love) (3:49)
14 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (2:47)
GRADE: C
Instead of wasting your money (like I did) on this lame soundtrack, the better move would be to buy Motown: The Musical Originals – 14 Classic Songs That Inspired The Broadway Show!. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one who realized the soundtrack to the musical was vastly inferior to the original songs. Here’s the tack list for Mowtown: The Musical Originals:
Disc 1:
1. Get Ready (Album Version (Stereo)) The Temptations 2:39
2. Dancing In The Street Martha & The Vandellas 2:39
3. Money (That’s What I Want) (Stereo Version) Barrett Strong 2:38
4. Shop Around (Stereo Version) The Miracles 2:51
5. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow (Album Version (Stereo)) Marvin Gaye 2:48
6. Fingertips, Part 2 (Second Pressing) Stevie Wonder 3:12
7. Please Mr. Postman (Single Version) The Marvelettes 2:31
8. Two Lovers (1966 Version) Mary Wells 2:47
9. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me (1966 Version) The Miracles 2:53
10. Do You Love Me (1966 Version) The Contours 2:54
11. My Guy (Single Version) Mary Wells 2:52
12. Where Did Our Love Go (Stereo) The Supremes 2:33
13. Stop! In The Name Of Love (Stereo Version) The Supremes 2:54
14. Baby I Need Your Loving (1966 Version) The Four Tops 2:46
15. Shotgun (Extended Stereo Mix 2005) Jr. Walker And The All Stars 3:20
16. Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone (Alt. Version) The Supremes 2:48
17. I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Album Version (Stereo)) Marvin Gaye 3:15
18. War (Single Version) Edwin Starr 3:22
19. What’s Going On (Album Version) Marvin Gaye 3:54
20. Ball Of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today) (Stereo Version) The Temptations 4:05
Disc 2:
1. Love Child (Album Version (Stereo)) Diana Ross & The Supremes 2:56
2. Cloud Nine (Album Version (Stereo)) The Temptations 3:29
3. For Once In My Life (Album Version) Stevie Wonder 2:50
4. Who’s Lovin’ You (Album Version) The Miracles 3:05
5. I Want You Back (Single Version) Jackson 5 3:01
6. I’ll Be There (Album Version) Jackson 5 3:58
7. Up The Ladder To The Roof (Single Version) The Supremes 3:13
8. My Girl (Album Version (Stereo)) The Temptations 3:00
9. You’re All I Need To Get By (Album Version) Marvin Gaye 2:50
10. I Hear A Symphony (Album Version) The Supremes 2:40
11. My World Is Empty Without You (Stereo) The Supremes 2:34
12. Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand) (Single Version) Diana Ross 3:05
13. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Album Version) Marvin Gaye 3:15
14. Cruisin’ (Album Edit) Smokey Robinson 4:27
15. Brick House (Album Version) Commodores 3:30
16. I’m Coming Out (Album Version) Diana Ross 5:21
17. All Night Long (All Night) (Album Version) Lionel Richie 6:24
18. Super Freak (Album Version) Rick James 3:26
19. Remember Me (Alternate Vocal And Mix) Diana Ross 3:42
20. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Single Version (Long)) 3:33
GRADE: A
Why don’t they sound as good?
Patti, there’s no Diana Ross or Marvin Gaye singing on MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL. And there’s no Funk Brothers backing up the singers.
I have to agree with you, George. Why buy a pale imitation when the real thing is available? (In addition, Jackie hates medleys that don’t do the entire songs.)
I’d highly recommend Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971, a 4 CD collection of the original versions with over 100 songs by the real artists.
Jeff, I have HITSVILLE USA and you’re right about its excellence!
Jeff and I must have the Vulcan mind meld going on this week as I was about to comment that if you don’t have the 4-CD set of Hitsville USA, it’s well worth purchasing. A great overview of the Motown era from the beginning to the early seventies.
Also, I think the italics have been turned on again.
Deb, I fixed the WordPress gremlins again. They love italics! Yes, you and Jeff are on the same page with Elmore Leonard and Hitsville. Great minds think alike!
Why did you give it an A?
I’m playing the Hitsville USA set now.
Patti, I gave MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL a “C” and MOTOWN: THE ORIGINALS an “A.” The songs from the musical are bland and sanitized.
Jeff, I’ll have to dig out my HITSVILLE CD and play some of those great soul songs, too!
I had every one of them on 45 singles, also on Motown collections and I have the Hitsville collection. Several years ago I made my own 2 CD set of favorite songs from back when, named it “Mostly Motown”. It starts with “Lollypop” and “Splish Spash” but runs through most of the great Motown hits by the Drifters, Temptations, Four Tops and so on, and has “The Letter” and “Heard it Through the Grapevine and lots more, such as “Since I Don’t Have You” by the Skyliners. I still play those CDs often, it seems like summer music.
Rick, you’re right about Motown music being perfect for Summer. I also play THE BEST OF THE BEACH BOYS, too!