Customer Reviews

The Definitive Collection

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As the story goes Martha Reeves went to work at Motown as a secretary sometime around 1962 for the paltry sum of $35.00 per week. As Martha recalls "As part of my job I had to audition other artists, schedule musicians, maintain studio logs and be 'girl-friday' to all the writers and producers. If I clapped or sang background on sessions that was an additional $5.00 each." Like so many other artists who came to work at Motown in the early days, Martha Reeves just wanted to get her foot in the door. You see in her spare time she was the lead singer of a local Detroit group known as the Del-Fi's. Her ultimate goal was to get an audition and get a recording contract for her group. Soon the Del-Fi's were hired to sing background on several of Marvin Gaye's early records. Berry Gordy quickly realized that these girls were something special. The group changed its name to Martha and the Vandellas and within just a few months the group was riding high on the Billboard Hot 100 with their debut single "Come And Get These Memories". It was the beginning of a fabulous run for this extremely talented and highly energetic group.

"Martha Reeves and the Vandellas: The Definitive Collection" offers 18 of the girls biggest hits and best recordings. To me the pulsating sounds of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were the personification of Motown's moniker "The Sound of Young America". Enjoy once again all of their big hits including classics like "Heat Wave", "Dancing In The Street" and of course "Nowhere To Run" from the early spring of '65. These are tunes that even lots of younger people would be familiar with. But there are so many other fabulous songs in this collection. Those who group up in the 60's would certainly recall tunes like "Jimmy Mack", "Quicksand" and "I'm Ready For Love" all of which were Top Ten hits. One of my favorite songs in this collection was a tune originally issued as the "B" side of a single. Motown really blew it on this one because "Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)" is a terrific ballad that would have been a huge hit with the proper promotion. Finally, might I recommend a tune that I had never heard before. "Third Finger, Left Hand" appeared on one of their albums. For me it was one of those rare tunes that I loved the very first time I heard it. Now I can't get the darn song out of my head.

"Martha Reeves and the Vandellas: The Definitive Collection" comes with a neat 12 page booklet that offers a brief history of the group as well as some nice photos. After hearing this collection a few times I have come to the surprising conclusion that this group was even more talented than The Supremes. See if you agree. And while I have your attention you might wonder like I did just what the heck a Vandella is. I had not clue. According to dictionary.com the term "vandella" is defined as "one of several types of ghost-walking or dream-invading demons/vampires." So now you know! Very highly recommended!!

When It comes to the Motown Complilations there are the recent Definitive Collections and the Ultimate Collections from the 90's. Having downloaded both complilations for various artists (both for Martha & The Vandellas/Supremes) I can say the Definitive Collection sounds much much much better. I Understand the Ultimate Collections offer more tracks but I think (IN DOWNLOADED VERIONS)they sound awful (Bass is very high and distorted).
I happen to own the Marvelettes Ultimate Collection on CD. It does not sound awful, although it doesn't sound quite as good as the Definitive Collection. This leads me to believe that the MP3 Download versions of the Ultimate Collections are messed up. Basically, if downloading, I recommend The Definitive Collections and if buying on CD I would say it depends on what you are looking for. Superior sound quality: Definitive; extra tracks with slightly inferior audio: Ultimate.

This compilation is excellent for the price. You get 18 songs, perfect for this act. Two other compilations offer 11 and 42 songs, but I feel 18 is just perfect for this act, at this price. It covers all of the hits. The one fault in this set is the version for Heat Wave, it is not the single hit version, but a longer version, which is not as good.

While Berry Gordy and pal Diana Ross tried to slick up Motown for an, um, different audience, groups like the Vandellas and the Marvellettes (and let's not forget Mary Wells) kept the true Motown sound going. Gordy obviously preferred the glitz of "Baby Love" but it was "Dancing in the Street" that became the anthem. That, and most of the other great recordings by Martha et al, are represented here, sounding the best they ever have. Highly recommended.

All the great hits are here with no bummers and sounding pristine clear versus several other earlier greatest hits compilations so it look this may well indeed deserve the "definitive collection" title!

Martha and the Vandellas were always more representative of the rhythm and blues roots of the Motown label given how they started backing other artistes. As their hits show they have an urgency and good time feel that most other female groups at Motown could not emulate plus this has in turn helped make them timeless as the recent UK voting of "Dancing in the street" as the all time best Motown record in Mojo magazine over all other competition shows.

While they suffered at the hands of the Diana Ross machinations with Berry Gordy to have the choice of HDH songs in overcoming the "no hits Supremes" reputation (the Vandellas undeserved removal as top billing female group on the first Motown UK tour being one well documented consequence) and the hits inevitably declined in the later '60s, Martha Reeves to this day remains a very strong live performer. Having seen her several times with members of the original Vandellas they remain true to the spirit of all these great hit recordings and for me will always be the boss girl group of the '60s.

Martha Reeves gave the most energy to the Motown Era. Most all of her songs were hits and it's great to put this CD in the car and go wherever you have to go. It gets you there fast and wanting more. Plus: she's not done yet.

Poorly mixed very thin .. just bad .. Motown was famous for strong Bass lines and a hard thumping backbeat.. this CD sounds like Pat Boone if you get my drift

why user put reviews about the band quality etc... or info about it... for that use wikipedia etc... I WANT REVIEWS ABOUT SOUND QUAILITY OF THE ALBUM, EDITION... THE CHOOSEN OF THE SONGS... MISS SONGS? ARE MONO OR STEREO. ETC... for know about the band of things like that use wikipedia or other things... Is so stupid put reviews about if the band is good or not...