Customer Reviews

Brenda Holloway - Greatest Hits & Rare Classics [Karussell]

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the beautiful brenda holloway(born in atascadero,california) is more than just a beautiful singer.she is also a very talented musician.at the age of seven she studied violin and also played flute,cello,piano and also a very talented exceptional songwriter.she was also the first motown artist 2 record in los angeles,california.when she was at motown,she was also very outspoken towards motown's record company politics.i also have her 1964 album "every little bit hurts"/however,motown needs 2 do the right thing and re-release her classic 1967 album that featured her 1967 classic 'you've made me so very happy'that she had co-written with berry gordy,frank wilson,and her younger sister patrice holloway.it is a crime that motown has not released this classic 1967 album on cd.may the powers that be release it on cd.however,motown did release some more previously unreleased brenda holloway material on the double cd entitled "a cellarful of motown!"(2002).the 5 previously unreleased songs are:'all your love'/'how can i'/'my world is crumbling'/'who you gonna run to'/'trapped in a love affair'....'trapped in a love affair'with it's fast hypnotic groove is without a doubt an instant smash along with the very beautiful 'my world is crumbling'/and also inside of motown's vaults is her unreleased version of stevie wonder's 1966 classic 'all i do'(which was originally recorded on the beautiful tammi terrell then was recorded by wonder 14 years later on his classic 1980 album "hotter than july")...also included on "a cellarful of motown"is the appearance of brenda's younger sister patrice holloway,with the beautifully upbeat 'the touch of venus'/she sounds very similar 2 her older sister but the only difference is that brenda's voice is slightly deeper.brenda holloway is without question a legend that is underrated.this sweet, beautiful seductive singer has style,charisma,sophistication,grace,and elegance.they just don't have singers like this anymore.the very beautiful song 'you've made me so very happy'along with the very pretty ethereal 1965 classic'how many times did you mean it'alongside with her other motown classics makes my heart melt.her warm beautiful sincerity in her voice takes my heart in her arms.on 'you've made me so very happy'i hate 2 hear the song end because it is so beautiful....

One of Motown's very greatest singers (although as she was based in Los Angeles and refused to play the record company game, somewhat undervalued), and a classically-trained violinist, Brenda Holloway made some of the most memorable singles on a label famous for its memorable singles.

All of the 9 singles released during her Motown lifetime turn up here (with 6 of their B-sides), including her two best known songs, Every Little Bit Hurts, on which she also plays cello, and You've Made Me So Very Happy, which she co-wrote along with her younger sister singer Patrice, Berry Gordy and Frank Wilson. Both of these are of course sublime and essential to any Motown collection.

The other 3 tracks are made up from Brenda Holloway's album Every Little Bit Hurts, from 1964, and include her soulful version of Unchained Melody. Who knows, perhaps it was hearing this that inspired Phil Spector to revive the song the following year?

Although this collections omit some excellent material, it does score over the earlier The Very Best Of Brenda Holloway by using stereo mixes for 6 of the tracks, though sadly this does not include Every Little Bit Hurts for which an excellent stereo master exists. Some of the mastering is slightly muddy on other tracks. Hurt A Little Every Day is by far the most disgraceful, sounding as if it was mastered from a well-worn stereo acetate, and without any explanation or disclaimer in the notes. 

Some of the tracks were produced in Detroit by Smokey Robinson and include versions of the Miracles' Who's Lovin' You and I've Been Good To You. There was an attempt to mould her as the new Mary Wells so versions of her 1962 B-side Operator and When I'm Gone (which Mary Wells had recorded but which Motown did not release until 1966) were made at this time. She does a great job on them but was unhappy with the direction she was being obliged to take and returned to Los Angeles before the sessions were complete.

An expanded retrospective using new mixes from best quality stereo masters and including unreleased material is badly needed, and a 2CD set seems to be in the pipeline, but until then this needs to be on your Motown shelf

The previous review by Laurence Upton refers to a then forthcoming 2cd set and hoped for better sound quality. Unfortunately the 2005 double cd Brenda Holloway: The Motown Anthology on the Universal Music label doesn't deliver.
This Karussell CD sounds like cutting edge hifi in comparison and the emotion conveyed in her voice gives me goosebumps.

Just a few examples: Every Little Bit Hurts on the Universal double is in stereo but with so much sonic information lost the emotion is lost.

James Jamerson's (?) infectious bass guitar on Starting the Hurt All Over Again is almost inaudible on Universal's, the whole thing again sounds flat whereas with the mastering on this Karussell CD I can't help but dance.

Hurt A Little Everyday though poor in sound still gives me tingles - the version on the Universal doesn't, due to the much worse sound.
(Because the Universal set has a really nice collection of 48 songs I bought it despite the rotten sound - I play it while driving).

So, if you want to be thrilled by Brenda's vocals and the wonderful musicians backing her, I think this will deliver.

Brenda Holloway exudes slow burning passion, and makes it sound as if every song is about her own broken heart. This collection is excellent, containing all my favorites with only the forgivable omission of "Trapped In A Love Affair". It's a shame Brenda Holloway was not better marketed by Motown, as she had one of the best voices on their roster of performers.

Brenda Holloway is a true example of classic soul. She was the first West Coast artist on Motown. She was also one of the most under-rated artists on the label. With hits like "Every Little Bit Hurts" and "When I'm Gone", you wonder why she had only one Tamla/Motown album. Not only is she gifted with singing,but she can also play instruments as well as she can write songs This CD is a must-have for all those who also love classic Motown. My all-time favorite is a tune which she and Mr. Berry Gordy collaborted on writing the composition "You've Made Me So Very Happy". This song should have gone to #1 on the charts. The song would eventually be re-made by Blood, Sweat & Tears. Brenda Holloway is pure soul.

FOR ANYONE WHO DANCED FROM THE SIXTIES THROUGHOUT THE 80'S , THIS CD IS WORTH THE MONEY ALONE FOR "JUST LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE " EASILY ONE OF THE BEST DANCE SONGS "EVER".......

Brenda co-wrote one classic song - You've made me so very happy, a huge American hit and minor British hit for Blood sweat and tears. Brenda's own brilliant version of that song is here, along with her original versions of several other great songs.

Brenda's biggest American hit was Every little bit hurts, a song that has been covered many times (but never improved upon), including by the Spencer Davis group, who had a minor British hit with it. Other American hits to be found here include I'll always love you, When I'm gone, Operator and I'll be available. Other A-sides included here are Hurt a little every day, Cry on my shoulder and the outstanding closing track, Together till the end of time.

This British compilation is a repackaging of an earlier American compilation with the same title and track listing. It is a fine collection of music by a lady who ought to be famous but isn't.

This CD is so soulful. It's a blast from the past for anyone who loved Motown-style girl singers during the 60's and 70's. I had never heard of her before I previewed her on Amazon, so glad I bought it. It's one of my all time favorites.

I was familiar with some of Brenda Holloway's hits before I was familiar with the artist.

Teena Marie did a cover of "Every Little Bit Hurts" and of course the group Blood, Sweat and Tears had a huge hit with their remake of "You've Made Me So Very Happy," so I decided to buy the CD BRENDA HOLLOWAY: GREATEST HITS & RARE CLASSICS; especially after I heard that the Beatles loved Holloway so much that they used her as their opening act at the Shea Stadium concert.

And I'm glad I did. Holloway has such a soulful and raspy singing voice that's so charming and sincere, you forget any imperfections it might have.

Although Holloway was on the Motown label, I understand that there was a struggle over creative direction between Holloway and Berry Gordy, Jr. (founder of Motown)--Holloway being a Los Angeles, CA, native and into the then burgeoning LA rock scene--and so most of the songs have a touch of Motown.

I loved it and agree with other reviewers that Brenda Holloway was short-changed as an artist and would've been a very prominent star, given the right representation.

This CD contains the two above songs as well as a cover version of "Unchained Melody" that Holloway makes her own. There's a good mix of ballads and uptempo songs and has that classic sound of the 60s.

Recommended for 60s music fans, Northern Soul Fans, and of course, Motown fans.

I've been wanting the song, Every Little Bit Hurts, for some time. I kept forgetting that Brenda Holloway sang the song. Now, I have her album with the song and many others, and I'm in "hog heaven". Thanks a bunch!!!