Martha Reeves - The MCA Studio Recordings

Martha Reeves | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hip-O Select
• ASIN: B000BQSLDG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,940 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

After an amazing run fronting the Vandellas at Motown, with 23 pop charting singles including such classics as "Heat Wave," "Dancing In The Streets," and "Jimmy Mack," Ms. Reeves parted company with both the Vandellas and her former label, Motown. Signing to MCA after a lawsuit to extract her from her previous contract, her 1974 solo debut was highly anticipated. Producer Richard Perry was signed on to oversee the project; it was hoped that he could bring the magic he had formerly employed on behalf of Barbra Streisand and Carly Simon. The album, entitled simply Martha Reeves, was certainly a stylistic departure, as Reeves turned to such unexpected songwriters as Hoyt Axton, Van Morrison, and Jimmy Cliff for material. In retrospect, her covers of "Wild Night" and "Many Rivers To Cross" were perhaps a little ahead of the curve, in terms of her audience. Certainly Perry's production style was markedly different than any of the masters who inhabited Motown's Snakepit. In any event, the record wasn't the commercial success either Ms. Reeves or the record company had hoped for or expected, and it turned out to be the only one she would record for MCA. That said, the album holds up remarkably, given thirty years' distance. She's in terrific voice throughout, and Perry's production is comparatively restrained. The opening of "Many Rivers To Cross," for instance, is simply Ms. Reeves' vocal over an organ with piano accompaniment. Just gorgeous. This version of Martha Reeves also includes three previously-unavailable bonus tracks, including a lovely reading of Ruby & The Romantics' "Our Day Will Come." It was remastered in 2005 from the original master tapes by Gavin Lurssen at The Mastering Lab. This overlooked gem is a natural for all Motown and Vandellas fans.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Wonderful- I GIVE U LIST OF THE SONGS, December 18, 2009

By 

M. Lane "littleprince1977" (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Martha Reeves - The MCA Studio Recordings (Audio CD)

I still own the vinyl of this one since 1976 because last time I had looked...it was not on CD.

I was not aware of all the history etc. mentioned by the prior reviewers...I just know what I liked to listen to in 1976. Because of its up-tempo beat and the heart and soul put into the sound...I would listen to it while getting ready to go out clubbing in SF. I am so surprised it took until 2006 to release this on CD.

From "Wild Nights" to "Many Rivers to Cross"... this is a fantastic album. I wish Amazon had the song list so you could listen to clips.

It has great energy to all the songs--slow or fast..a great mix. Buy it and you won't be disappointed. (I don't get a penny if you buy it)

AMAZON WILL/HAS NOT given the song list.

12/29/09:The above was initially written before I received the CD and then I edited this review so as to include the song list. This a GREAT ALBUM! CD or LP Vinyl. Thirty-three years later...this album enervates me, gives me energy to move...It may be my memories. I THINK NOT. It is an incredible album that was NOT given its correct accolades during its first release on vinyl.

THE SONG LIST OF THIS ALBUM:

1. Wild Night

2. You've Got Me for Company

3. Facsimile

4. Ain't that peculiar

5. Dixie Highway

6. Power of Love

7. My Man (You Changed My Tune)

8. Sweet Misery

9. I've Got To Use My Imagination

10. Storm in my Soul

11. Many Rivers to Cross

12. Our Day will Come

13. I Sure DO Love you

14. Stand by Me

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, December 15, 2007

By 

Miawil (Miami) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Martha Reeves - The MCA Studio Recordings (Audio CD)

This album is just superb...I've been listening to it over and over again and it has been a long time since I've bought a CD I can say that about. Martha Reeves was more than just a pop singer or vocalist...she was and is a real artist who never recieved all she was due in the music industry.

I also join with the previous reviewer in disagreeing with the linear notes when they state the sound on this album was distanced from the Martha Reeves of Motown genre...this is the same Martha, only much better and showing the full range of her talents. On Motown albums Miss Reeves gives the effect of giving her all to second-rate material; here at last she shines in a production that truly meets her talents. The linear notes also say the album was not a success because music fans were not accustomed to hearing her in such a polished production; I say the album failed because of bad promotion and the fact that Martha had been off the top of the charts for about seven years by 1974. Music fans had moved on and were unwilling to give her a second chance. This is unfortunate; because true artists like Miss Reeves were consistently shedded by the music industry, it has now denigrated to the point where we have the likes of Brittany Spears and Jennifer Lopez posing as icons of American Music while really great music becomes something to be scavenged for. If like me you believe all the great music that ever will be made already has been made...even if you are not already a Martha Reeves fan...then this is the CD for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get This CD while you can!, March 3, 2011

By 

CANARY LOVER (LOS ANGLES CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martha Reeves - The MCA Studio Recordings (Audio CD)

This is a perfect album, one of Richard Perry's true masterpieces and a lot of fans have been waiting for the cd issue of it for a looong time! Martha's solo debut was one of the gems of the early 70s pre-disco era and should have been a monster hit. I do know that every queen and fag hag in Des Moines owned it. Berry Gordy admired it so much he later teamed Mr Perry up w/ Ross, which resulted in her best non-Bille/Ashford and Simpson album ever. Martha blows like a soulful horn on every track. She even rocks out on a couple songs("Storm in My Soul"). This set contains simply the best cover of "Many Rivers to Cross" among quite a few, by greats like Linda Ronstadt, Nilsson, Lorraine Ellsion and plenty more. If Martha hadn't been the victim of too many drugs and men (or way too many Mickeys if you've read her version) during this era, I think she would have reached big star status as a solo. Her version of "I've Really Got To Use My Imagination" , while quite different and more bluesy, is easily the equal of Glady's Knight's excellent, but later, hit recording. The song selection and musicians are all great. Ringo, Carole King, Billy Preston and Merry Clayton, Joe Sample etc were all on board in the studio. GET IT NOW!