The Ultimate Collection [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Mary Wells

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 (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,456 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Motown's "girl with the golden voice" actually spent only four of her 22 career years as a chart maker for the Detroit diskery, but Mary Wells was truly the Motor City machine's first bona fide solo female star. "Bye Bye Baby," the first track on this fine 25-cut compilation, was written by a teenage Wells for then-superstar Jackie Wilson; while she managed to get it to Berry Gordy Jr., the author of many of Wilson's earliest hits, she didn't know that it would give her the first of 10 consecutive hits of her own. This collection provides a comprehensive overview of Wells's Motown years and is an essential purchase. Here are the obvious classics: the perennial "My Guy," written and produced by Smokey Robinson; the equally timeless "You Beat Me to the Punch"; the unforgettable "Two Lovers"; and the marvelous "One Who Really Loves You." But then there are some other wonderful inclusions, such as "I'll Be Available" and "When I'm Gone," two scheduled but never-issued singles; the equally obscure "Whisper You Love Me Boy" (redone by vanilla Motown diva Chris Clark); the hidden gem "Goodbye and Good Luck"; and some great B-sides. Duets with Marvin Gaye ("What's the Matter with You Baby" and "Once upon a Time") and three post-Motown hits ("Use Your Head," "Never, Never Leave Me," and "Dear Lover") make this a must for those wanting a comprehensive package of the singer's early years. --David Nathan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 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 (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MOTOWN'S FIRST LEGENDARY SUPERSTAR-MARY WELLS, February 23, 2004

By	Bradly Briggs (TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Five stars is not enough for this legendary classic soulful DIVA!!! Mary Wells would rate double that for anyone who loves a smoldering soulful classic who has no peer!!! When I was in Jr. High I loved this awesome singer and bought every single that Mary released. Each and every one was total ear candy and Mary Wells was like a black Peggy Lee and equal to that master!!! Mary Wells built Motown in the crucial early years and was Motown's first Superstar!!! Listen to all these classics and weap that somehow her work after Motown didn't make it to the airwaves and finished off Superstar Mary Wells. It was not for lack of quailty that Mary Wells career when into decline as she continued to make great records close to the end of her life. In this Anthology you will see how after Motown Mary's talent grew and became greater as this is witnessed in the final three selections of this Anthology-listen and you will see!!! Do not miss this sultry soulful legend!!! She 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 they are all winners!!! I was fortunate to see Mary Wells a number of times in concert and these were always special events that were unforgettable. We miss you Mary!

9 of 9 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 (REAL NAME)

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.