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Miracle MIR-7 (B), September 1961
B-side of Someone To Call My Own
(Written by Mickey Stevenson and Rex Robertson Jr.)
One of the most obscure of all Motown’s many acts, the Equadors cut just this one single for the ill-fated Miracle label, and both sides of it are totally forgettable on an Olympic level.
The liner notes to The Complete Motown Singles: Volume 1 describe this as “street-corner doo-wop… following a tried and true formula”. I’m not so inclined to be charitable; I think this is utterly pedestrian doo-wop, to the point where it sounds like a million other Fifties doo-wop records based on the same tired chord progression. Now, if a record is going to set itself up as being very much in the mould of a great many other records in the same genre, it’s left needing to do something very special to stand out from the crowd. The Satintones’ remarkable Angel is a fine example of how to use that “plain vanilla” doo-wop structure to great effect by adding a few stylistic touches and a strong lead vocal performance; the Equadors’ You’re My Desire has none of those things going for it, and falls wholly flat.
This was the end of the mysterious Equadors’ Motown journey, although Mary Wells – then the label’s biggest star – did turn in a reasonably faithful cover of this song for her Top Ten second album, The One Who Really Loves You, in 1962, where it rubbed shoulders with her version of another failed Motown B-side, Barrett Strong’s Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right.
MOTOWN JUNKIES VERDICT
(I’ve had MY say, now it’s your turn. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment, or click the thumbs at the bottom there. Dissent is encouraged!)
You’re reading Motown Junkies, an attempt to review every Motown A- and B-side ever released. Click on the “previous” and “next” buttons below to go back and forth through the catalogue, or visit the Master Index for a full list of reviews so far.
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| The Equadors “Someone To Call My Own” |
Pete Hartfield “Love Me” |
Motown Junkies 
I think “Someone To Call My Own” is one of the VERY BEST cuts ever recorded at Motown, and “Your My Desire” is a fairly good group harmony ballad. That is FAR from non-memorable in my book. I was a big fan of Motown from 1959-1972, and worked for Motown in the 1970s. I think that “Someone To Call My Own” is one of my top 10 Motown recordings, and I have a top 1000.
I couldn’t disagree much more with your assessment.
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See, this is why I love the Internet. (And why I have comments turned on!) All the reviews here are solely my opinions, so I’m always quite happy when someone comes along with pretty much the exact opposite view. Dissent is encouraged (as is passion for a record you love!)
I can’t imagine a scenario where I’d pick this for my Top Ten, but then I live to the maxim “each to their own”. Viewers, you are STRONGLY URGED to go and listen to this record (and indeed EVERY record on the blog) and make your own minds up. If someone else comes away loving this record too, well, that’s just great.
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Simple it may be, but an excellent record in my opinion. Been looking for this for a while and I hope to find a copy soon
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Even if this was 1959 I would give this a 3. No originality whatsoever! Agree with the verdict!
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I’d give this song an “8”, and the “A” side a “10”.
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i couldnt disagree more! for me ,the perfect simplicity and restraint,especially the spare use of the line, ‘there is something I know’, is utterly beautiful. much as i love mary wells, I find her cover unconvincing and dull.
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