Ultimate Collection [Original recording remastered]

Mary Wells | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 1998)
• Original Release Date: February 10, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000001AOL
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,091 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite sixties R+B, June 5, 2003

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

Mary will be forever remembered for My guy, but there was much more to her music than that. This collection encapsulates the best of it. She was a very soulful singer, able to wring every ounce of emotion from a song.

Mary began her run of success in America with two minor pop hits, Bye bye baby (a song she wrote herself) and I dont want to take a chance. These were followed by three top ten hits  The one who really loves you, You beat me to the punch and Two lovers (a song about a man with a split personality). More hits followed, but Mary did not reach the top ten again until My guy reached the very top of the American chart in 1964. It also became a huge hit in Britain, which missed out on the earlier hits because Motown was slow to catch on there. This was followed by two American top twenty duets with Marvin Gaye  Once upon a time and Whats the matter with you baby.

After that, Mary quit Motown, tempted by a huge offer from another label, 20th century Fox. The move turned out to be an expensive failure for the new label and Marys career never recovered.

This collection contains all the Motown hits, including the minor ones, plus some B-sides and failed A-sides. It also includes some tracks that were scheduled for singles release but cancelled because of Marys departure from Motown. To complete the collection, two minor hits for 20th century Fox and one minor hit for Atco make up the last three tracks.

Nobody knows what Mary might have achieved had she stayed at Motown, but the music on this collection will live forever.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Motown Superstar was Mary Wells...keeper collection!, February 23, 2004

By 

Bradly Briggs (TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

Five stars not enough for this legendary classic soulful DIVA! Mary Wells would rate double for anyone who loves a smoldering soulful classic who has no peer. Back in Jr. High loved this awesome singer & bought every single Mary released. Each and every gem total ear candy and Mary Wells was an exotic Peggy Lee type equal to that master. Mary Wells built Motown in those crucial early years and was the first big Motown Superstar turning out one great hit after another plus Lp's loaded with great tracks! Check out later classics and weap that somehow her work after Motown didn't make it to the airwaves finishing off Superstar Mary Wells...shame to the spineless music industry for sitting back and letting this happen...listening to post-Motown output clearly it was not lack of quality Mary Wells career when into decline as she continued making great records close to the end of her life yet received no airplay. In this Anthology clearly after Motown Mary Wells talent grew and became greater as witnessed in final three selections of this Anthology and seek out 20th Century recordings as they are sublime. Mary Wells was "the" crown jewel of Motown and continued recording classics that any serious collector of great soul DIVA'S would be smart to seek out as all her great recordings are winners. Fortunate to see the great Mary Wells a number of times in concert and these special events were unforgettable. Miss you Mary Wells & RIP

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Magic!, August 11, 2005

By 

Brock R. White "atlantamusicguy" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

I have been a Mary Wells fan since the day I heard "You Lost the Sweetest Boy." Her voice is so unusual and big - every song is incredible! Moreover, this compilation has "Never Never Leave Me" which was underappreciated - great background, silky voice. The musical world lost this unique voice in 1992 - this collection keeps her talent alive.