Motown 50: Yesterday.Today.Forever

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles in 1965

Can you say bad things about legendary Detroit label Motown? Erhm, you can, but it will require some soul searching. Founded in 1959 by Berry Gordy it might be not as cool as Stax, but with a roster that includes Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops and the giant Marvin Gaye this label churned out hits by the dozens form the mid-sixties until the early seventies before slowly going into decline with forgettable thrown together duets and the solo crap made by Lionel Richie.

With its 50th anniversary coming up on January 12, current owner Universal releases a 3CD collection that is pretty good, but since the internet community had a vote in putting it together there are eleven (11!) Diana Ross tracks, and only one by The Isley Brothers. Frank Wilson, the man who gave Berry Gordy a shot as a songwriter, gets only one too. The big names are all there, with just a few of the lesser known acts as The Contours and The Elgins sneaking in through the cracks. The included booklet is a joke. No history, no background, no nothing.

Start with the second disc and let it play for the first seven songs. That's the Motown sound at its peak.

Motown 50 Yesterday.Today.Forever is released on Universal.

Disc 1: Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street The Supremes - Baby Love Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) The Velvelettes - Needle in a Haystack The Temptations - Get Ready The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love The Elgins - Heaven Must Have Sent You Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Nowhere to Run Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Jimmy Mack The Isley Brothers - This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tears of A Clown Jackson 5 - ABC Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston - It Takes Two Mary Wells - My Guy The Contours - Do You Love Me Frank Wilson - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) R. Dean Taylor - There's A Ghost In My House The Supremes - Stop! In The Name of Love Jr. Walker and The All Stars - Shotgun Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) Jackson 5 - I Want You Back Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye - You Are Everything Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Disc 2: Stevie Wonder - Superstition The Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone Marvin Gaye - What's Going On Commodores - Brick House Edwin Starr - War The Temptations - My Girl Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tracks of my Tears Lionel Richie and Diana Ross - Endless Love Commodores - Easy Diana Ross & The Supremes - Reflections Four Tops - Reach Out I'll Be There Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes of The Brokenhearted Michael Jackson - Got To Be There Smokey Robinson - Being With You Diana Ross - I'm Still Waiting Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke The Miracles - Love Machine Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night) Diana Ross - Love Hangover Disc 3: Stevie Wonder - Masterblaster Commodores - Nightshift Diana Ross - Upside Down Rick James - Super Freak The Temptations - Treat Her Like A Lady Lionel Richie - My Destiny Stevie Wonder - Light My Fire Four Tops - Everybody's Talking Rare Earth - Get Ready Kim Weston and Marvin Gaye - Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) Martha Reeves and The Vandellas - I Say A Little Prayer Smokey Robinson and The Miracles - Wichita Lineman Thelma Houston - Jumpin' Jack Flash The Temptations - The First Time Ever I saw Your Face The Supremes - Come Together David Ruffin - Put A Little Love In Your Heart Michael Jackson - You've Got A Friend

» en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoTown