Customer Reviews

Motown Legends: Martha Reeves & the Vandellas

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It's really a crying shame that this compilation is not being sold new anymore, but for all thos considering buying it used, let me just tell you that it is a great compilation. I actually purchased mine used at "Newbury Comics". (Truth be told, I snatched it as soon as I saw it so that nobody else would even get a chance to see it!) The tracklisting opens up with their #1 R&B hit, "Jimmy Mack" and goes on to "In & Out Of My Life", before getting to the arousing "(Love Is Like A) Heatwave". The other featured songs, are "Tears On My Pillow", "I Love The Man", "In My Lonely Room", "To Think You Would Hurt Me", "I Should Be Proud", a cover of Smokey Robinson & The Miracle's "Mickey's Monkey", "I Promise To Wait My Love", and "Easily Persuaded". All in all this is a great compilation, because it's not just another re-release of all their greatest hits. What's more, it's a variety of different songs from a variety of different times. (e.g. "(Love Is Like A) Heatwave"(1963), "Jimmy Mack"(1967), "I Should Be Proud"(1970), "In & Out Of My Life" (1971). That's the good thing about these Motown Legends compilations, they provide you with the variety of greatest hits, non-charters, and album fillers. To all those who don't mind purchsing things used on Amazon, I ask you to go ahead with the long wait for a used delivery. In this case, it's worth it.

This CD opens with JIMMY MACK, but it is an alternate take, and not the same version at all that was the hit in 1966. It's a totally different earlier version, which is a big mistake on the part of the people who compile some of the Motown collections. This non-hit version of JIMMY MACK was also used on the 1980's re-issue of the vinyl WATCHOUT! album, and also COMPACT COMMAND PERFORMANCES. Someone pulled the wrong master, and the mistake has been repeated several times on Martha & The Vandellas releases. The version of LOVE IS LIKE A HEAT WAVE is the original version on here , but on some Motown CD's, there is also a different mix with a longer saxophone solo, and shorter ending. It just illustrates how many different takes, mixes, as well as unreleased songs that exist in the Motown valuts. This is a nice collection otherwise, with songs from their first albums in the early 60's to 1970-1971.

Martha and the Vandellas, as they were known from inception until about 1967, becomming Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (post 1967), were one of the greatest girl groups in the 60's. This group had one of the tightest harmonies and a lead singer who possessed a strong, brassy, yet melodic voice. The Vandellas did more than just "ooh" and "ahh", and with Martha's sultry vibrato, the combination was lethal! Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were vocally superior to the Supremes which is evident in this 1993 Motown compilation.

The play list includes the single releases "Jimmy Mack", "(Love Is Like A) Heatwave", "In My Lonely Room" ,"I Should Be Proud" ,"I Promise To Wait My Love", "In and Out of My Life", along with 4 other songs: "Tears on My Pillow", "I Love the Man', "Mickey's Monkey, and "Easily Persudaded", released on albums only.

"In and Out of My Life" was released by Gordy records in 1971 with the B-side song "Love Makes It All Worthwhile."
"Tears on My Pillow" was released by Gordy records on the 1963 album "Come Get These Memories."
"I Love The Man" was released by Gordy records on the 1969 album "Sugar and Spice."
"Mickey's Monkey was released by Gordy records on the 1969 album "Dance Party."
"Easily Persuaded" was released by Gordy records on the 1970 album "Natural Resources", which was also an excellent album, demonstrating the groups staying power post 60's.

This is a must have for those who have been fans throughout the years and for the novice!