Motown 40 Forever [IMPORT]

Various Artists - R&B/Soul - Motown

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 1998)
• Original Release Date: February 17, 1998
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram UK
• ASIN: B000001AO8
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,189 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #13 in

  Music > R&B > Compilations > Motown

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Despite the confident title of this 40th-anniversary collection, several of its selections were beginning to age badly even at the time of its 1998 release. Sure, comparing the hits of Rockwell, Shanice, and Today--not to mention a Puff Daddy remix of the Jackson 5's eternal "I Want You Back"--to chestnuts from Motown's golden era may be unfair, but the company's late-'90s keepers promote that less-than-flattering test by including the former here. At the same time, most of the true classics heard on Forever have been endlessly anthologized and played on oldies radio. Those who own absolutely none of the great music Motown unleashed from the '60s to the early '80s might find this double-CD overview instructive. Most everyone else will find their ears drawn to more listenable CDs. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good overview that concentrates too much on the label's la, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

If you're looking for a general overview of Motown's glory days, you are better off with the 1994 boxed set Hitsville U.S.A. than you are with this. Sure it costs more but it's almost all wheat and no chaff.

It's not that the material on this set is bad. You can't go wrong with "What Becomes of the Brokenheated", "War", "My Girl" and on and on. But the collection focuses too much on the label's post 1971 stuff; almost half the collection. There's nothing wrong with "SuperFreak" or the vastly underrated "Somebody's Watching Me" but the vision of Motown is communicated better by the 60's tracks. An act like Boys II Men, recorded after Berry Gordy sold the label, has really nothing to do with the original Motown artists except the actual label on the record.

The modern songs can be easily obtained on a variety of compilations, so they don't make this an essential buy. So, save up and buy the boxed set and give the 60's Motown the in depth attention it deserves.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Motown Trail From Music Leader To Follower on "Forever", July 29, 2000

By	Anthony G Pizza "trivialtony" (FL) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"The Motown Sound" evolved from a product to a corporate symbol to representing a history and lifestyle, as much so in its own way as the Playboy bunny or Disney's Mickey Mouse. Motown Records celebrated its 40th birthday much as did the baby-boomer generation that built and reveres it; with half-shares dignity and defiance, welcoming the reverence of accomplishment while denying the effects of age.

"Motown 40 Forever" charts the label transition from trailblazer to follower. The music, even to the most devoted fan, becomes more faceless as you listen. "It's what's in the groves that count" was a Motown slogan, never more obvious than moving from the historic Four Tops, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Supremes and Stevie Wonder hits to producer-driven one-shots on Disc Two.

The album has its misfires. Diana Ross' "When You Say That You Love Me" is a bombastic, worthless ballad; rapper/producer/icon Puff Daddy (praised as a cultural successor to Berry Gordy in the liner notes) mixes the Jackson Five's "I Want You Back" into an awkward rap/jazz/whatever medley. Nonetheless, the essential music on "Motown 40 Forever" is the 60s-into-70s singles that are its legacy. Those that are here are essential, but are found in better company on other collections.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Their Greatest Songs But Still Not Enough, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

Hitsville USA is a far better compilation than this