317. Mable John: “Say You’ll Never Let Me Go”
The song itself is pretty thin, but it at least gives Mable an opportunity to be herself. (6)
Category Archives: Mable John
316. Mable John: “Who Wouldn’t Love A Man Like That” (version 2)
Something of a sad note upon which for a legend to depart the scene, even if the record itself isn’t the train wreck it might have been. (4)
129. Mable John: “Take Me”
Mable John is absolutely in her zone here, giving probably the greatest performance of her Motown career. (7)
128. Mable John: “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”
The third single for Mable John, Motown’s first solo female vocalist, and probably overall the weakest of the bunch. (5)
89. Mable John: “Looking For A Man”
A bad match of vocalist and material leads to a record that, while fun, ends up being less than the sum of its parts. (5)
88. Mable John: “No Love”
A defiant, earthy, bluesy doo-wop number, done at a pace so slow it’s almost stationary, this follows in the footsteps of Who Wouldn’t Love A Man Like That in being enjoyable but not especially memorable. The song doesn’t really go anywhere, and instead acts solely as a vehicle for Mable to show off her formidable pipes. (6)
35. Mable John: “You Made A Fool Out Of Me”
A bluesy pop ballad with doo-wop tempo, Mable John turns in a similarly startling lead vocal performance as she did on the A-side, but the song isn’t as strong. (4)
34. Mable John: “Who Wouldn’t Love A Man Like That”
Mable John, an early confidante of Berry Gordy (from back when he was struggling to get songwriting work) and who provides the touching opening essay for the first volume in the Complete Motown Singles box set series, was the first Motown female solo act, beating out the better-known Mary Wells by a matter of weeks, and this engaging bluesy strut was her first professional recording as well as her début single. (6)
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