** This is just a short biographical summary – for the full story, check out this artist’s reviews! **
The first act to have a Number One single for Motown, the Marvelettes were one of the label’s big-ticket acts throughout the Sixties.
A group of callow suburban high-school girls who’d come to Motown via a talent show, they were perhaps unlucky in that they peaked at the start; Please Mr Postman, which sold a million copies and rocketed the unknown group to the top of the charts, was a hard act to follow. Nonetheless, the group gradually developed their sound, Motown pairing them with producer Smokey Robinson, resulting in a series of wonderful, underrated albums and a smooth, “sophisticated soul” sound towards the end of the Sixties a long way from the shrill schoolgirl harmonies of their debut.
The group eventually disbanded in 1969, although final lead singer Wanda Young Rogers’ solo recordings in 1970-72 were labelled as Marvelettes records for marketing purposes.
Review Archive: The MARVELETTES (1961-65)
We have 28 reviews for the Marvelettes currently available here on Motown Junkies – see our archive for more details, or click a link below:
- Please Mr Postman
- So Long Baby
- Twistin’ Postman
- I Want A Guy
- Playboy
- All The Love I’ve Got
- Beechwood 4-5789
- Someday, Someway
- Strange I Know
- Too Strong To Be Strung Along
- Locking Up My Heart
- Forever
- My Daddy Knows Best
- Tie A String Around Your Finger
- As Long As I know He’s Mine
- He Won’t Be True (Little Girl Blue)
- He’s A Good Guy (Yes He Is)
- Goddess Of Love
- You’re My Remedy
- A Little Bit Of Sympathy, A Little Bit Of Love
- Too Many Fish In The Sea
- A Need For Love
- I’ll Keep Holding On
- No Time For Tears
- Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead
- Your Cheating Ways
- Don’t Mess With Bill
- Anything You Wanna Do
Dan Nooger said:
Just reported that Wanda Roger’s has passed away
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Ray said:
RIP Katherine Anderson Schaffner (January 16, 1944-September 19, 2023). RIP and thank you for the music.
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