Artist: Various Artists Rating: Release Date: August 29, 2000Type: Collection (various artists)Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Review Motown: The Classic Years collects two discs' worth of highlights from the label's heyday in the '60s and '70s, including 23 number one hits.
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles ' "Tears of a Clown,"
the Temptations ' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go?,"
Edwin Starr 's "War," and
Marvin Gaye 's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" are among the
Motown standards included on this collection, along with songs from Gladys Knight & the Pips,
Stevie Wonder , Jr. Walker & the All-Stars,
Mary Wells ,
the Four Tops , and
the Spinners . The Classic Years' double-disc size allows it to collect more hits than a single-disc compilation would, yet it's more easily manageable than a multi-disc box set would be for casual fans. Overall, this collection doesn't offer anything rare or unique for
Motown diehards, but for listeners who just want a solid collection of some of pop music's finest moments, it's just the ticket. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
Tracks
CD 1
Money (That's What I Want)
Berry Gordy, Jr. , Janie Bradford Barrett Strong (2:39)
Shop Around
Smokey Robinson , Berry Gordy, Jr. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (2:50)
Please Mr. Postman (Lyrics) Brian Holland , Georgia Dobbins , William Garrett , Robert Bateman , Freddie Gorman The Marvelettes (2:31)
Do You Love Me (Lyrics) Berry Gordy, Jr. The Contours (2:55)
You Beat Me to the Punch (Lyrics) Smokey Robinson , Ronald White Mary Wells , The Love-Tones (2:46)
Fingertips, Pt. 2 [Live]
Henry Cosby , Clarence Paul Stevie Wonder (3:12)
(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
Lamont Dozier , Eddie Holland , Brian Holland Martha & the Vandellas (2:45)
My Guy (Lyrics) Smokey Robinson Mary Wells (2:54)
Where Did Our Love Go (Lyrics) Lamont Dozier , Eddie Holland , Brian Holland The Supremes (2:31)
Dancing in the Street
Marvin Gaye , Ivy Hunter , William "Mickey" Stevenson Martha & the Vandellas (2:40)
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
Lamont Dozier , Brian Holland Marvin Gaye (3:01)
My Girl (Lyrics) Smokey Robinson , Ronald White The Temptations (2:58)
Shotgun
Autry DeWalt II Junior Walker & the All-Stars (3:06)
Stop! In the Name of Love (Lyrics) Lamont Dozier , Eddie Holland , Brian Holland The Supremes (2:55)
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
Lamont Dozier , Eddie Holland , Brian Holland The Four Tops (2:46)
The Tracks of My Tears (Lyrics) Smokey Robinson , Warren "Pete" Moore , Marvin Tarplin The Miracles (2:57)
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Henry Cosby , Stevie Wonder , Sylvia Moy Stevie Wonder (2:55)
Going to a Go-Go (Lyrics) Smokey Robinson , Warren "Pete" Moore , Marvin Tarplin , Robert Rogers The Miracles (2:48)
Ain't Too Proud to Beg (Lyrics) Eddie Holland , Norman Whitfield The Temptations (2:34)
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (Lyrics) Paul Riser , William Weatherspoon , James Dean Jimmy Ruffin (2:59)
CD 2
You Can't Hurry Love (Lyrics) Lamont Dozier , Eddie Holland , Brian Holland The Supremes (2:47)
Reach Out (I'll Be There)
Lamont Dozier , Eddie Holland , Brian Holland The Four Tops (3:02)
Jimmy Mack
Lamont Dozier , Eddie Holland , Brian Holland Martha & the Vandellas (2:55)
Your Precious Love (Lyrics) Nickolas Ashford , Valerie Simpson Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (3:05)
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield Gladys Knight & the Pips (2:48)
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Lyrics) Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield Marvin Gaye (3:16)
My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)
Johnny Bristol , Harvey Fuqua , Jimmy Roach , Pam Sawyer David Ruffin (3:30)
I Can't Get Next to You (Lyrics) Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield The Temptations (2:54)
I Want You Back (Lyrics) Berry Gordy, Jr. , Alphonso Mizell , Freddie Perren , Deke Richards The Jackson 5 (3:01)
Someday We'll Be Together
Johnny Bristol , Harvey Fuqua , Jackey Beavers Diana Ross & the Supremes (3:34)
Up the Ladder to the Roof (Lyrics) Frank Wilson , Vincent DiMirco The Supremes (3:14)
Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield The Temptations (4:07)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Lee Garrett , Stevie Wonder , Syreeta Wright , Lula Mae Hardaway Stevie Wonder (2:41)
It's a Shame
Lee Garrett , Stevie Wonder , Syreeta Wright The Spinners (3:10)
War (Lyrics) Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield Edwin Starr (3:22)
Tears of a Clown
Smokey Robinson , Henry Cosby , Stevie Wonder Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (3:02)
What's Going On (Lyrics) Marvin Gaye , Renaldo Benson , Al Cleveland Marvin Gaye (3:54)
Smiling Faces Sometimes (Lyrics) Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield The Undisputed Truth (3:18)
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (Lyrics) Barrett Strong , Norman Whitfield The Temptations (7:00)
Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)
Jim Weatherly Gladys Knight & the Pips (4:20)
Credits The Contours (Performer), The Four Tops (Performer) , Marvin Gaye (Producer) , The Jackson 5 (Performer) , The Marvelettes (Performer) , David Ruffin (Performer) , Jimmy Ruffin (Performer) , The Spinners (Performer) , Edwin Starr (Performer) , The Supremes (Performer) , The Temptations (Performer) , The Undisputed Truth (Performer) , Junior Walker (Performer) , Mary Wells (Performer) , Barrett Strong (Performer) , Martha & the Vandellas (Performer) , The Miracles (Performer) , Wade Marcus (Arranger) , Artie Butler (Arranger) , Henry Cosby (Producer) , Lamont Dozier (Producer) , Harvey Fuqua (Producer) , Brian Holland (Producer) , Lawrence Horn (Producer) , Jerry Long (Orchestration) , The Love-Tones (Performer) , Michael Omartian (Arranger) , Clarence Paul (Arranger) , Clarence Paul (Conductor) , Joe Porter (Producer) , Paul Riser (String Arrangements) , William "Mickey" Stevenson (Producer) , David Van De Pitte (Arranger) , William Weatherspoon (Producer) , Harry Weinger (Producer) , Harry Weinger (Compilation) , Harry Weinger (Annotation) , Norman Whitfield (Producer) , Stevie Wonder (Harmonica) , Stevie Wonder (Bongos) , Diana Ross & the Supremes (Performer) , Gladys Knight & the Pips (Performer) , Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (Performer) , Suha Gur (Mastering) , Ronald White (Producer) , Mathieu Bitton (Design) , John Bristol (Producer) , BrianBert (Producer) , Adam Starr (Project Coordinator) , Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (Performer)
