Customer Reviews

Love Makes the World Go Round: Motown Collection

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The CD reissue of this long forgotten rarity of an album recorded during Kiki's brief late 60s signing with Motown is certainly cause for celebration. Apart from Chris Clark, Kiki was probably the only white female singer to have found herself on Motown's roster of artistes during the label's halcyon years. The result of her entire Motown sessions - including leftovers in the can - are included in this compilation.

Technically, Kiki had arguably a better voice than fellow Britgirls Cilla, Sandie and Lulu. She had a naturally strong and attractive raspy edge to her voice that should have been labeled "soulful" but wasn't, for it lacked "sympatico", an innate quality that's gifted, not learned. Dusty had heaps of it. Kiki wasn't so lucky, as a result of which success eluded her when the others were making it big in the 60s.

Kiki's Motown sessions sound as fresh today as it did in 1970. The original album contained at least three masterful and sublime performances that make this a lost classic, namely "Love Makes The World Go Round", "Johnny Raven" and "Jimmy". The album is worth owning for these three recordings alone. The first of these should have been an instant hit but sadly wasn't. The second easily tops the Supremes' 70s cover on their "Touch" album. The last of these is simply immaculate and from the sleevenotes, it looks like Kiki feels the same way. There're other good stuff like "Day Will Come Between Sunday and Monday", "Love Is A Warm Kind Of Sorrow", "Oh Be My Love", and a slowed down version of Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life". Others like "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" and "I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You" are blander and don't compare, respectively with Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell's and Dusty Springfield's (from "Dusty Definitely") more familiar versions.

Besides, Motown made some poor choices too. Kiki was ill advised to cover the Dusty #1, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me". This dismal attempt at an alternative chorus arrangement to the Dusty original only succeeds in being awkward and inept. Likewise, Kiki sleepwalks through a perfunctory rendition of Smokey and the Miracles' "I Second That Emotion" that makes you wonder why they even bothered. The four previously unreleased bonus tracks (Tracks 15-18) are uneven including two similarly uninspired performances ("Walk On By" and "Put A Little Love In Your Heart") which are more like try out sessions and finally abandoned for good reason. Good to have for completists but that's about it.

Kiki's Motown session is more than a quaint slice of late 60s recording history. A little uneven perhaps - but hey, since when did Motown artistes make great albums before the Marvin Gaye "What's Going On " era ? - but there's magic in at least three of these performances and more good stuff, so that's good enough reason to go out and buy yourself a copy. Listen and enjoy !

Kiki Dee was really on her game when she came to the US to record these Motown nuggets. At the time, very few white performers had recorded for Motown Records, so it's great to hear these tracks all on 1 disc. I'm happy to say that I'm really enjoying getting reacquainted with Ms. Dee. Check out the CD 'Perfect timing', also.