427. Marvin Gaye: “Try It Baby”
One of the most interesting and intriguing back-stories of any Motown record ends up with a solid, stolid, forgettable little footnote in Marvin Gaye’s career. (4)
Category Archives: Writing credit: Berry Gordy
425. Bobby Breen: “You’re Just Like You”
Absolutely nothing to do with Motown at all, but one still has to applaud the sheer effort that went into getting all of the details of this pastiche so spot-on. (5)
403. Liz Lands: “Keep Me”
If we were to disregard May What he Lived For Live, then this would easily be the best record Liz Lands ever cut at Motown. As things stand, well, there are certainly much worse farewells in pop history. (7)
402. Liz Lands: “Midnight Johnny”
The band deserved better, and it’s thanks to their sterling efforts that this is still essential listening for Motown fanatics even with Liz’ ill-judged hollering all over it. (5)
381. Bobby Breen: “How Can We Tell Him”
There are a few nice chord changes amid the MOR gloop, and Bobby is at least trying, so it’s not getting a 1 – but it’s still a pretty poor start, all told. (2)
376. The Temptations: “Just Let Me Know”
The phrase “hidden gem” is overused, not least by me, but it certainly applies here. (7)
364. Liz Lands: “May What He Lived For Live”
The tone is resolute and inspirational, both for and about we who must survive rather than those taken from us. Keep calm and carry on. (9)
320. The Marvelettes: “My Daddy Knows Best”
The Marvelettes’ weakest single to date, this should really have been left on the album where it belonged. 4
318. The Temptations: “Farewell My Love”
This record represents the end of the Temptations’ first phase, though they didn’t know it at the time. When America next heard from the Temptations, everything would have changed. (5)
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)
313. The Supremes: “(The Man With The) Rock And Roll Banjo Band”
This is a complete embarrassment, and were it not for the existence of the truly wretched (He’s) Seventeen, this would be the worst record the Supremes ever made. Listen to it once out of morbid curiosity, and then wipe it from your mind as best you can. (1)
Motown Junkies 