Making A Motown Sound Album For Someone New To It.

[Garrett]

Before I found out what the Motown sound was I use to lump all records in 2 categories, one I liked and ones I did not like but even not knowing what the Motown sound was I always thought Reach Out Ill Be There by Four Tops had a distinctive sound.
If you where compiling a 16 tracks to form an album to give someone a flavour of the Motown sound which would you choose, and not nessesery your favorites

I more or less put a cut off date of round when there Charbustes 8 came out as I think the started moving operations out of Detroit and seemed to loose there distinctive sound.
Anyway here is a selection I may choose:

I Heard it Through the Grapevine: Marvin Gaye
Reach Out Ill Be There :Four Tops
Dancing in the Street: Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Take Me Arms and Love Me: Gladys Knight and the Pips
My Girl: The Temptations
My Guy: Mary Wells
Superstition: Stevie Wonder
It Takes Two: Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston
Your All I Need To Get By: Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted: Jimmy Ruffin
Agent Double O Soul: Edwin Starr
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You): Isley Brothers
Tears Off a Clown: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Walk In The Night: Jr Walker and the All Stars
Detroit Spinners: It’s a Shame
Im Gonna Make You Love Me: Diana Ross and the Supremes with The Temptations

[signs]

Not a big Motown fan ,but R Dean Taylors "Theres A Gost In My House" is a top track....1967 i think (trivia ...i think he was the only white guy signed to the Motown lable , could be wrong though )

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by signs

Not a big Motown fan ,but R Dean Taylors "Theres A Gost In My House" is a top track....1967 i think (trivia ...i think he was the only white guy signed to the Motown lable , could be wrong though )

I dont know about signed but I think Bruce Willis had a record on there lable. Also on the female side I have a album by Chris Clarke and I also think Kiki Dee reroderd on the lable.

[cheeseywang]

I would have to find room for:

Where did our love go - Diana Ross and the Supremes
25 miles - Edwin Starr
Get ready - The Temptations

Superstition is my alltime favourite Stevie Wonder track, but I don't think it's representative of the classic Motown sound. Something earlier like For Once in my Life or My Cherie Amour would be better - unless you were deliberately trying to show how he moved on in the 70s when he discovered synthesisers.

All IMHO of course...

[Shidojin]

Well now you've started me off. I'm a long time Motown fan and I do happen to have a Top 20 or so to hand!
1. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) by Frank Wilson
2. Just A Little Misunderstanding" by The Contours
3. Lonely Boy by Brenda Holloway
4. My Smile Is Just A Frown (Turned Upside Down) by Caroline Crawford
5. I'll Always Love You by the Spinners
6. These Things Will Keep Me Loving You by The Velvelettes
7. It's A Shame by The Spinners
8. Six by Six by Earl Van Dyke
9. Lonely Room by Martha Reeves
10. Walk Away From Love by David Ruffin
11. I Guess I'll Always Love You by The Isley Brothers
12. There's A Ghost In My House by R Dean Taylor
13. Just A'int Enough Love by Eddie Holland
14. Crying In The Night by The Monitors
15. I've Got A Feeling by Barbara Randolph
16. Can't Stop Looking For My Baby by The Fantastic Four
17. Hungry For Love by the San Remo Strings
18. I Don't Know Why I Love You by Stevie Wonder
19. He Who Picks A Rose by Jimmy Ruffin
20. I Wish It Would Rain by The Temptations
21. Where Did You Go by the Four Tops
22. My LOve Is Your Love by The Isley Brothers
23. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

If you are a fan check out the Standing In The Shadows DVD which is the story of the Funk Brothers who played on most of the Motown backing tracks. James Jamerson was probably the best bass player of his time.

derek

Diana Ross &The supremes 20 greatest hits

Temptations Greatest Hits

Dad has this 1970's Temptation greatest hits record and what i love about it being played is i love the way the s's hiss are or very bright on the vocal and the Tambourines so crisp and clear and biting and the top end of the mix is generally very bright. Marvelous...

[joffy1780]

I would find room for Signed,Sealed,Delivered by Stevie Wonder and Blue ( only kidding,but the original is awesome)
I also love Ain't That Peculiar by Marvin Gaye,as well as the Marvin ones you already have.

[jc0v]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Various-Arti.../dp/B000J10FUA


this is an awesome album and could give you some ideas.
cheers
j

[Shidojin]

For the not so well known ones but they're so catchy you'll think you already know them , get these.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Norther...e=UTF8&s=music


derek