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Motown: The Musical is the original Broadway cast album for the hit musical based on the story of the legendary Motown Records, co-starring Brandon Victor Dixon and Valisia Lekae as Berry Gordy and Diana Ross. Learn more |
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Boyz II Men are certainly well equipped to polish gems from the storied label's vault with their vocal range and penchant for harmonizing" -- USA Today
"Boyz II Men, possibly the only vocal group today that can expertly handle a Motown retrospective." -- Ebony Magazine
"The album has the duel task of reinventing classics for old fans and introducing them to new ones and succeeds mightily; embodying the music's spirit but adding an undeniable Boyz II Men twist" -- The Boston Herald
"The set does not attempt to re-invent the wheel. Rather, it seems ready and willing to just shine a light on the staples of the 60's, 70's and beyond for those who came too late to appreciate the originals." -- Philadelphia Daily News
"Toss one of the greatest R&B vocal groups of the last 20 years into the pot with some of the best Motown songs ever written, Add Randy Jackson as producer, and you get one of the most listenable records of the year." -- New York Post
"Boyz II Men, possibly the only vocal group today that can expertly handle a Motown retrospective." -- Ebony Magazine
"The album has the duel task of reinventing classics for old fans and introducing them to new ones and succeeds mightily; embodying the music's spirit but adding an undeniable Boyz II Men twist" -- The Boston Herald
"The set does not attempt to re-invent the wheel. Rather, it seems ready and willing to just shine a light on the staples of the 60's, 70's and beyond for those who came too late to appreciate the originals." -- Philadelphia Daily News
"Toss one of the greatest R&B vocal groups of the last 20 years into the pot with some of the best Motown songs ever written, Add Randy Jackson as producer, and you get one of the most listenable records of the year." -- New York Post
Product Description
2007 release, a tribute to the classic sounds of Motown from Boyz II Men, hailed by the world as the most commercially successful R&B group of all time. Down through the decades, the stars and songs of Motown Records have been the subject of countless tributes and cover versions but few have displayed the level of vocal artistry and the faithfulness to the sound and spirit of the originals that Boyz II Men capture on this album.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's disgusting and disheartening that a great group like Boyz II Men even has to MAKE a tribute album or that their last full-length album was released exclusively online and in Japan.
Worse yet is the seemingly rampant idea that the Boyz should stop recording because they "just don't sound the same" without Bass (Mike McCary).
Unforgivable is the statement by one idiotic reviewer (who, incidentally, can't even spell or use proper grammar) that this sounds like something a "soccer mom" would make and that it was cheesy because of Randy Jackson's involvement.
The fact of the matter is that people went out and made Ja Rule's remake/sampling of Stevie Wonder's "Do I do" (featuring Case-CASE!!!) a multi-platinum hit. No one complained about a classless rapper "tainting" an old song.
No one pointed out that Lauryn Hill's vocals on "Killing me Softly" were, well, SOFT and nowhere NEAR the original version.
I mean, really...PHARRELL comes out and gets FEATURED as a GUEST VOCALIST on rap songs...and people just laugh it off.
J. Lo, Britney Spears, Mya, Ciara...the list goes on and on of artists who are WHOLLY unworthy to even think about sampling great artists.
And let's not even THINK about forgetting good 'ole Mary J. Blige, who jacked a whole album worth of classic soul songs to PUT HERSELF ON THE MAP.
And with that, I begin my short argument.
First of all, Boyz II Men is--hands down--the greatest male vocal group of the past 17 years of R&B. It's not even close. ONE--JUST ONE--of their albums--II--sold more records and won more awards that Jagged Edge's and 112's ENTIRE CATALOGS PUT TOGETHER...
Second, before the Boyz even endeavored to make this and Throwback, they had already come out with FOUR studio albums, a Spanish album, a platinum Christmas album (that remains the best Christmas album of this generation), and a remix album. This doesn't include chart-topping or near hits that did NOT appear on their albums like "End of the Road", "One Sweet Day" with Mariah Carey, and "I Will Get There" (Prince of Egypt).
The Boyz didn't NEED to ESTABLISH themselves with this record. They merely RE-INTRODUCED some hits from Motown WHILE RE-INTRODUCING THEMSELVES.
Who else could sing "War" like the Boyz did here? Who else could do an acappella version of "End of the Road" featuring the incomparable singer (more comparable song-WRITER, lol), Brian McKnight? With whom else would Patti LaBelle perform "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" by Ashford and Simpson?
112? Not together.
Dru Hill? Too many personality issues...not together or on hiatus...
Jagged Edge? PLEASE. They sing WELL together, but there is NO HARMONY.
Who else IS there???
I realize that attrition is not the strongest argument, so how about this one...The album is actually a 4 1/2 star album.
The production is SUPPOSED TO SOUND DATED because the SONGS are from the 60's and 70's.
I'll admit that the only song I wasn't feeling was "Reach Out". The Boyz' voices don't fit that song. I also think that the Ribbon in the Sky acappella version was beautiful, but loses the individuality of the original and may upset some fans.
However...
"War" (what is-a good for, absolutely nothing) may make some newer listeners think about "Rush Hour"...but that song is SOOOOOOOO appropriate for the times.
"Got to be There" was a very beautiful song.
"Ain't nothing like the real thing--very soulful (actually this whole album has a lot more soul than we are used to from the Boyz and THAT IS GOOD.)
"Easy" was just magnificent--it's a tie between that one and "War" for the best song on the album.
"End of the Road"--yes, it's different without Mike, but he was never the centerpiece of the group...the other members sang all of the leads and his presence, while missed, is not fatal.
"All My Love"--wow...just WOW.
No, the album isn't perfect, but neither was "II"--which is considered the group's best.
It's more in line with "Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya", which was considered a very good album.
Pick it up and listen to it all the way through...This album made me think of my childhood (I'm 31) growing up with Mom (RIP) and Dad listening to these classics...what will it remind you of??
4 1/2 stars...Very good album--WAYYYYYYYYY better than any other male vocalists out there.
P.S. Please do not be so spoiled by the relative greatness of Boyz II Men's airtight vocals that you can't appreciate living (and still young--mid-thirties) legends. People do that with Take 6.
John Stephens may call himself a legend, but the Boyz don't have to--Let's stand up and give them the ovation they deserve--as LIVING LEGENDS.
Salih Alexander, Esquire
Worse yet is the seemingly rampant idea that the Boyz should stop recording because they "just don't sound the same" without Bass (Mike McCary).
Unforgivable is the statement by one idiotic reviewer (who, incidentally, can't even spell or use proper grammar) that this sounds like something a "soccer mom" would make and that it was cheesy because of Randy Jackson's involvement.
The fact of the matter is that people went out and made Ja Rule's remake/sampling of Stevie Wonder's "Do I do" (featuring Case-CASE!!!) a multi-platinum hit. No one complained about a classless rapper "tainting" an old song.
No one pointed out that Lauryn Hill's vocals on "Killing me Softly" were, well, SOFT and nowhere NEAR the original version.
I mean, really...PHARRELL comes out and gets FEATURED as a GUEST VOCALIST on rap songs...and people just laugh it off.
J. Lo, Britney Spears, Mya, Ciara...the list goes on and on of artists who are WHOLLY unworthy to even think about sampling great artists.
And let's not even THINK about forgetting good 'ole Mary J. Blige, who jacked a whole album worth of classic soul songs to PUT HERSELF ON THE MAP.
And with that, I begin my short argument.
First of all, Boyz II Men is--hands down--the greatest male vocal group of the past 17 years of R&B. It's not even close. ONE--JUST ONE--of their albums--II--sold more records and won more awards that Jagged Edge's and 112's ENTIRE CATALOGS PUT TOGETHER...
Second, before the Boyz even endeavored to make this and Throwback, they had already come out with FOUR studio albums, a Spanish album, a platinum Christmas album (that remains the best Christmas album of this generation), and a remix album. This doesn't include chart-topping or near hits that did NOT appear on their albums like "End of the Road", "One Sweet Day" with Mariah Carey, and "I Will Get There" (Prince of Egypt).
The Boyz didn't NEED to ESTABLISH themselves with this record. They merely RE-INTRODUCED some hits from Motown WHILE RE-INTRODUCING THEMSELVES.
Who else could sing "War" like the Boyz did here? Who else could do an acappella version of "End of the Road" featuring the incomparable singer (more comparable song-WRITER, lol), Brian McKnight? With whom else would Patti LaBelle perform "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" by Ashford and Simpson?
112? Not together.
Dru Hill? Too many personality issues...not together or on hiatus...
Jagged Edge? PLEASE. They sing WELL together, but there is NO HARMONY.
Who else IS there???
I realize that attrition is not the strongest argument, so how about this one...The album is actually a 4 1/2 star album.
The production is SUPPOSED TO SOUND DATED because the SONGS are from the 60's and 70's.
I'll admit that the only song I wasn't feeling was "Reach Out". The Boyz' voices don't fit that song. I also think that the Ribbon in the Sky acappella version was beautiful, but loses the individuality of the original and may upset some fans.
However...
"War" (what is-a good for, absolutely nothing) may make some newer listeners think about "Rush Hour"...but that song is SOOOOOOOO appropriate for the times.
"Got to be There" was a very beautiful song.
"Ain't nothing like the real thing--very soulful (actually this whole album has a lot more soul than we are used to from the Boyz and THAT IS GOOD.)
"Easy" was just magnificent--it's a tie between that one and "War" for the best song on the album.
"End of the Road"--yes, it's different without Mike, but he was never the centerpiece of the group...the other members sang all of the leads and his presence, while missed, is not fatal.
"All My Love"--wow...just WOW.
No, the album isn't perfect, but neither was "II"--which is considered the group's best.
It's more in line with "Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya", which was considered a very good album.
Pick it up and listen to it all the way through...This album made me think of my childhood (I'm 31) growing up with Mom (RIP) and Dad listening to these classics...what will it remind you of??
4 1/2 stars...Very good album--WAYYYYYYYYY better than any other male vocalists out there.
P.S. Please do not be so spoiled by the relative greatness of Boyz II Men's airtight vocals that you can't appreciate living (and still young--mid-thirties) legends. People do that with Take 6.
John Stephens may call himself a legend, but the Boyz don't have to--Let's stand up and give them the ovation they deserve--as LIVING LEGENDS.
Salih Alexander, Esquire
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boyz II Men is without a doubt the greatest R&B group of this generation
November 20, 2007
By C. Jones
Format:Audio CD
Their vocals are beyond amazing, and if you've ever heard them sing live, a capella (like I had the pleasure of doing not so long ago), then you can't deny their talent. They are true vocalists, and something the music industry is SORELY lacking. This album is wonderful, and listening to the old classics in their familiar voices was a pleasant treat. I hope I have the next 20+ years to enjoy their beautiful harmonies and soul stirring songs!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By J. Davis
Format:Audio CD
I saw Boyz live last night in concert and let me tell you, they are still as good as ever! They sang a few songs from this new cd and the audience was blown away. They even did old school dance moves to them. My hubby and I bought the cd right away! This is a much recommended cd to any true Boyz II Men fan!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
interesting cd
received cd quicker than i expected. also the rating for this used cd was right on. something a little different for b2m.
Published 5 months ago by robert lalonde
5.0 out of 5 stars
loved this
really enjoy this cd. the selection, especially the motowns, is great, and each song has full orchestra as well as the incomparable sound of the "boyz"!!
Published 12 months ago by aamanda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excelente trabajo de Boyz II Men!!!!
Este cd magnífico de este maravilloso trío vocal es realmente excelente. Dotados de un extraordinario talento vocal y sobre todo de un ensamble único, este... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Manuel Carranza C
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet singing, but the originals still reign supreme
Typically tight, fine singing by the Boyz, and of course these are some of the best pop songs ever written. Read more
Published 18 months ago by K. Swanson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never cease to fail!
Talent regarding these guys just cannot be denied. They are an example in simplified and complicated harmony. I love the fact that they have always worked TOGETHER!
Published 20 months ago by mb_tech_net
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boyz II Men - 20 years in the business
Hey, this is Billboard Magazine's most successful music group of the 1990s! Damn, I grew up with Boyz II Men. Read more
Published on April 16, 2011 by M. Ottersboeck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Motown Music
Boyz II Men won a couple of Grammy's for this C.D. and they deserved it. This is a great album and they do an amazing acapella rendition of their own "End Of The Road. Read more
Published on February 26, 2010 by Thomas Feistel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Music
This is a good CD, not as good as Throwbacks but still good. Produce as described and timely shipping.
Published on May 18, 2009 by Paula G. Lilly
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of old MoTown
It was great hearing those old great Motown hits by a group of guys that wasn't around when music was soulful, and doing justice to these old songs. Great CD
Published on May 3, 2009 by Bob Soulman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good Album, and Even Better Than Expected!!
I would like to start by saying that I saw this album in the store for many months, but decided not to purchase it, because I've heard these Motown songs for years, and I am not... Read more
Published on April 7, 2009 by S. Dorsey
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