588. The Supremes: “The Only Time I’m Happy”
I like it more than I probably should. I like it more than Back In My Arms Again, anyway; it’s this one I’ve come away whistling. (8)
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567. The Four Tops: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)”
I don’t know if a record can ever be “magnificently adequate”, which sounds like a veiled criticism even though that’s both exactly how I feel, and not at all what I mean. So instead, I’ll put it more positively: everything about this is just right. (8)
564. The Supremes: “Whisper You Love Me Boy”
Here, Diana Ross sounds nothing like Mary Wells, and yet somehow she makes it work, exactly like Mary Wells. (8)
563. The Supremes: “Back In My Arms Again”
The theme of Motown in 1965 was reinvention, and what this one shows is that even an act with five Number Ones would have to involve themselves in that process a little bit. In the meantime, this is just about as excellent as treading water can be. Take that any way you like. (7)
551. Marvin Gaye: “You’ve Been A Long Time Coming”
Never in a million years is this a single, and a greater contrast to the A-side you’d be hard-pushed to find, but it’s effortlessly beautiful all the same. (7)
547. The Supremes: “I’m In Love Again”
The group’s best B-side since Never Again all those years ago, this is excellent, and it’s no surprise Motown made sure it found a place in history closing out a splendid album. (8)
546. The Supremes: “Stop! In The Name Of Love”
Heartbreaking for us, listening to it all unfold, as uncomfortably as hearing the neighbours having a shouting match and turning up the TV to drown them out. Except you’d never turn up the TV to drown this out, because it sounds absolutely sensational. (10)
544. Martha & the Vandellas: “Nowhere To Run”
The feeling of hearing a Vandellas record and realising that once again, they’re the best group in the world. I’ve missed that feeling. Damn, this is a good record. (10)
532. The Four Tops: “Where Did You Go”
It’s just lacking that final spark, that something extra which would take the song into the realms of greatness, rather than it being pleasing but ultimately inconsequential. Of course, I suppose when something’s this pleasing, it hardly matters. (6)
523. Choker Campbell’s Big Band: “Come See About Me”
Choker carries his task out with professional dedication, and the result is probably the best darned big band cover of Come See About Me we could have hoped for. Assuming your hopes were as low as mine. (5)
501. Marvin Gaye: “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”
It’s not terrible, and unlike the last Four Tops single, I can see how this could be someone’s favourite Marvin Gaye song. But, honestly, this feels like an artefact from some other, cheesier version of the Motown story, and I can’t open up and love it. (5)
Motown Junkies 