Spellbound

Martha Reeves & the Vandellas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 13, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Hip-O Select
• ASIN: B000BPJJKQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,967 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Spellbound re-introduces the 'MOTOWN: LOST & FOND' series, which previously featured single disc sets by The Temptations, The Miracles, Four Tops and Marvin Gaye. Now, the series will feature new 2-CD sets, starting with the best of the 'lost' recordings from Martha's Motown tenure. It includes Ms. Reeves and the original backing Vandellas, Annette Sterling and Rosalind Ashford, as well Martha's subsequent Vandellas, Betty Kelly (of the original Velvelettes), her sister Lois Reeves and the late Sandra Tilley. The Andantes are also in the mix, most prominently on the soaring cover of "For Once In My Life." Producers represented in the package include Smokey Robinson ("Spellbound," "That's How Bad," "You Neglect Me"), Mickey Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter ("I Got It Bad"), The CorporationTM ("Ain't My Stuff Good Enough"), Richard Morris ("A Little Bit Of Heaven," "Candy Man" and "I'm Glad You Belong To Me," same as the song by Edwin Starr and Blinky), Henry Cosby ("Where Was I (When Love Came By))," Shorty Long ("You've Been On My Mind," "I'll Take A Raincheck"), and Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier (cover of the Tops' "Since You've Been Gone" and the original version of their "If You Don't Want My Love"); they team with Contour Billy Gordon for "All That Glitters Isn't Gold." Johnny Bristol, as fans know, cut "Earthquake." For the savvy collectors who already have its original mono version, you will be blown away by the new stereo mix. Oh, right, and that kid Stevie Wonder, who wrote and produced for Martha "Let Me Fall In Love With You" and "Talking About Love." The accompanying booklet showcases beautiful photos of the group from the Motown Records Archives, plus detailed track-by-track recording dates, and an essay by Martha Reeves' biographer Mark Bego. Click on his liner notes for more of the story.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo Hip O Select!, October 18, 2005

By 

rollo (usa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Spellbound (Audio CD)

I cannot say enough about Hip O Select, the on line cd retail outfit that is putting out goo gobs of Motown and other music of the past. This little collection of never before released material by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas is a prime example of the care and fortitude that a first rate music compilation production should posess. Excellent 24 bit stereo remastering complete with somewhat detailed liner notes to go along with the outstanding musical performances. Too bad that they only press about 5000 at a time. I guess they are assuming that the public would never buy a million of these anyway. I am sure that real soul afficionados and Motown fans will appreciate these recordings. Go Hip O!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm Spellbound!!, January 28, 2008

By 

Garby Gable "Jazz Enthusiast" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spellbound (Audio CD)

This 2-CD package is defintely for the true Martha Reeves and The Vandellas fans!!! It is packed with a lot of lost tunes, many of which were covered by other artists or were not given the "o.k." for Martha and The Vandellas to record by the Gordy hit team at Motown.

Martha sings her heart out and the harmony is strong and convincing. I always thought this group was superior to The Supremes (not taking anything away from Diana), but simply stated, Martha had a stronger and much more credible voice than Diana!

Some of the fun songs include: "I Can't Take It," "Coney Island", "Spellbound," "It's Your Wedding Day," "Back To School Promo," "CandyMan," "Operation Teamwork." Not a bad song on the album!
I have seen Martha and the Vandellas several times in New York City and had the pleasure of meeting her on several occasions. She is warm, friendly and really appreciates her fans.

Take a trip down memory lane and rediscover some of the hidden gems.This is a must have for any fan of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Hits That Got Away"~Bravo Martha Reeves & Co.!, September 14, 2010

By 

Bradly Briggs (TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spellbound (Audio CD)

Motown in no short supply of "Diva's" in the great musical sixties yet a number of them haven't received deserved acclaim and top of the heap Martha Reeves possesses a most extraordinary voice fulled with passion, pathos & fiery intensity making this magnificent "Lost & Found" collection more like "Essential Unsung Collection: Martha Reeves and the Vandellas" or "Anthology: Martha Reeves & the Vandellas" as we have no filler here...opening songs have early Motown Doo Wap charm but in no time Martha unleashes that great passion filled voice in "Coney Island" and up, up and away from then on...the lady can sing anything & background singers nicely frame her stunning & spellbinding vocals!~
"Spellbound" hook filled sound is classic Motown and amazing material this great took forty years to release making one wonder who dropped the ball keeping Martha Reeves & the Vandellas from a much deserved career of wider scope with all additional hit singles that would have happened...soulful passion abounds with "Too Far Gone To Save Myself" sounding like another Top Ten Hit and this pattern continues thoughout Disc One closing with a stellar performance of "For Once In My Life"...another title for this tremendous collection could be "Hitbound: Martha Reeves & the Vandellas" and what were they thinking keeping all these great sessions in the can?
"Looking In The Mirror" contains a passion filled great Martha Reeves performance opening Disc Two in grand soulful fashion & this gorgeous gem has that Martha Reeves & the Vandellas hit sound as does the engrossing "A Little Bit Of Heaven (On A Little Patch Of Earth)". Imagine writers and producers of these remarkable sessions must have been spaced out and disappointed with their great accomplishments left in the can for decades...more hit sounds with "Candy Man" a wildly soulful gem sounding Top Ten without a doubt as does the stirring "I'm Glad You Belong To Me". Martha Reeves does "It Must Be Him" rivalling hit version with her passionate vocal and memorable performance and not surprising this amazing singer went on to great solo lp's in the seventies like "Martha Reeves" an extraordinary masterwork produced by Richard Perry still sounding great to this day and the magnificent "For The Rest Of My Life" another "Lost & Found" classic gem filled with incredible performances in need of remastered released on Compact Disc.
"I Can't Erase The Way I Feel" another steamroller Motown Classic filled with unique tempo changes and stunning Reeves performance would have be another chart-topping Motown Classic. One great breathtaking song after another as songs like "I've Got To See You" & a stirring Aretha cooking cover "Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)" take it over the top. High energy make the exhuberant "Operation Teamwork" a winner while "Take It Off" is a soulful anthem with that classic opening bass line & "Full Speed Ahead" a wildly riveting high-octane cooker...soulful & magnificent Motown Classic gems sounding like blockbuster #1 hits!
"(If Love Invites Me)I'll Take A Raincheck" is a Motown Masterpiece sounding like another huge hit...arrangement and superb vocal have all elements of classic Motown at its finest...by now listening to all these extraordinary spellbinding songs reality & fantasy are blurred and this sublime collection is a must have for any lover of great singers and classic Motown from a Golden Era that sadly will never happen again.
Sophisicated "In A World Of My Own" has a unique pop sound while a fine definitive "Standing Ovation" intoxicating prompting use of repeat mode...hold on for a great musical ride as "Earthquake" shakes and quakes and would have raced to the top of the charts...sounding like a late sixties chart-topper, "Build Your Love On A Strong Foundation" has that urgent sound which translated in to a big hit as does the engrossing "Where Was I (When Love Came By)" featuring a soul-deep fabulous Martha vocal filled with yearning for love but regret for loss that few can convey in some three minutes. "There's Love In This World" is mesmerizing with a gospel-edged performance from Ms. Reeves that can give one chills and make the hair on your arm stand on edge...
"Let Me Fall In Love With You" & "Talking 'Bout Love" are Stevie Wonder gems sounding like sure-fire hits yet remained unreleased to now...shocking and Stevie was surely disappointed as these great tracks have "hit sound" written all over them!
Closing with a delicious funky jam that will make anyone jump up and dance, "Ain't My Stuff Good Enough" could be a huge hit today if released as a single...nothing on the radio today comes close!
Bravo to all of the amazing composers, incredibly talented musicians who clearly give their all, magnificent & legendary arrangers, wondrous background singers and the Legendary Martha Reeves who possesses one of the greatest voices from her generation and beyond...all involved can be very proud of this magical musical masterwork full of classic gems translates in to a peerless collection of spectacular performances to be savored and enjoyed over and over!