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 ★
Category Archives: Writing credit: Holland-Dozier-Holland
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)
642. The Supremes: “I Hear A Symphony”
They push their luck with each clambering step up the ladder, and still it doesn’t break, so they decide to push it again and stretch for the next one. And they carry it off each and every time, the song climbing forever to heaven. (10)
641. Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers: “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”
Who is this for? Who is it meant to satisfy? It’s neither pop nor jazz; it’s not edgy enough to please either the musicians or their intended audience of hardened hep cats, it’s not fluffy enough to please pop-loving tweens or their parents, and it’s not got Marvin Gaye on it, which was the only thing that kept the corny song afloat the first time round. It’s not a disaster, but – as appealing as that guitar is – I can’t really imagine myself ever going back to play this again. (4)
640. Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)”
A harmless curio, something to play once for its novelty value and then go back to the original. Completely pointless, and almost defiantly inessential. (5)
