539. Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers: “All For You”
It’s alright, but the organ is annoying, and it mainly serves as a reminder of Motown’s foolishness in not issuing one of the vocal versions instead. (5)
Category Archives: Writing credit: Ivy Jo Hunter
531. The Four Tops: “Ask The Lonely”
If I still don’t entirely trust that massive, sweeping chorus, it’s a record that’s nonetheless been creeping up and up and up in my estimation, to the point where I thought I’d better finish writing this before the song barged its way any further up the scale. (8)
509. The Contours: “Can You Jerk Like Me”
I’ve given it many, many listens and I still don’t know what to make of it, or where it fits into the Contours’ story. Your mileage may vary. Mine certainly does. (5)
506. Martha & the Vandellas: “Dancing Slow”
Even for fans who prefer Martha in this lower-key mode, the mix still wasn’t right; there wouldn’t be another midtempo Vandellas A-side for over a year, by which time they’d really mastered the art. For now, this pretty little scribble would have to do. (5)
505. Martha & the Vandellas: “Wild One”
A kind of half step in a new direction, while driving twenty miles down the same road as before. Sure, it’s inescapably very similar to (and rather less good than) Dancing In The Street. That can’t stop it being fun. (7)
504. Kim Weston: “Go Ahead And Laugh”
Fine work, and if it’s too slow-paced and melodramatic for radio, it’s still probably the best thing Kim Weston had yet recorded for Motown. That she even had room to improve at all is a credit to her, rather than a mark against this record. (8)
492. The Headliners: “You’re Bad News”
None of the individual elements of this (the song, the vocals, the band) is completely awful, just mediocre, but somehow when they’re all put together they amount to less than the sum of their parts. I’m not often physically worn out by trying to listen to a record turned up loud, but this one managed it, and I don’t particularly want to hear it again. Sorry, lads. (2)
487. The Spinners: “Sweet Thing”
There are so many great moments here that it’s pointless even trying to list them all; it’s just a pity they’ve all been shoehorned into a somewhat ropey little song. And Bobbie Smith I could listen to all day long. For now, knowing there’s so much better to come from these guys around the corner, this will just about do. (5)
464. Sammy Ward: “You’ve Got To Change”
Even if it’s out of whack with the rest of his career, it’s a quirky, entertaining finish; meanwhile, there’s no doubt he could be proud of pretty much everything else he’d made. Here’s to you, Singin’ Sammy Ward. (6)
449. Martha & the Vandellas: “Dancing In The Street”
Brilliant (if not in the way that’s generally accepted), but it isn’t the record Martha and the Vandellas deserve to be remembered for. That doesn’t stop it from being a classic, of course. (8)
Motown Junkies 