693. The Four Tops: “Just As Long As You Need Me”
It’s not as brave as the A-side, or as startling, and – hand on heart – it isn’t quite as good as a record, either; but it’s still lovely, and it still works. (7)
Category Archives: Writing credit: Holland-Dozier-Holland
692. The Four Tops: “Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over)”
The Four Tops are wonderful, and right now, like the rest of their labelmates, songwriters, producers, musicians, and – heck – probably the people at the pressing plants, they can do no wrong. (9)
689. The Isley Brothers: “There’s No Love Left”
Just another really solid Motown cut. By now, Motown could afford to be blasé about such things. (7)
688. The Isley Brothers: “This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)”
It should be better known, but then that would still be true if this had sold six million copies; it’s a great, great record. ★ 10 ★
684. The Elgins: “Darling Baby”
Even though this is maybe a slower burn than Put Yourself In My Place, it ultimately gives a brighter light; the work that’s gone into this is staggering, and the results get better with every listen. (8)
683. The Elgins: “Put Yourself In My Place”
What we have here is a calling card for a fine new group, in many ways the first “new” Motown signing of the mid-to-late Sixties, the first Motown group born as a “Motown” group. It sounds great, and it’s also a really good record, even if there’s better to come. (7)
679. The Supremes: “My World Is Empty Without You”
The music is designed and deployed to devastating effect, the vocal is as good as anything we’ve heard from Diana so far, the whole package is quite startling: this is the saddest-sounding outrageous pop stomper I’ve ever heard, and it’s a masterpiece. (10)
675. Tony Martin: “Ask Any Man”
Just about Tony Martin’s best single for Motown. Which really isn’t saying very much. (2)
649. The Four Tops: “Darling, I Hum Our Song”
A fine effort in its own right, and the vocals are lovely, but everyone involved had already moved on, and HDH were right to finally let it go. (6)
648. The Four Tops: “Something About You”
It’s pretty good, I guess, and yet I’ve never warmed to it, never thrilled to it, never breathlessly gone straight back to the beginning to play it again. (6)
643. The Supremes: “Who Could Ever Doubt My Love”
The fact that so much about it is slightly off-centre, the fact that it practically advertises up front that it’s not perfect? Well, that’s just about enough to make me think it really might be. Crafty blighters. (10)
