250. Marvin Gaye: “Hello There Angel”
Delicate and charming, whilst at the same time being sappy and unspectacular; it does at least sound like Marvin Gaye, the Marvin Gaye we know and love, and that’s worth something. (5)
Category Archives: Writing credit: Mickey Stevenson
249. Marvin Gaye: “Hitch Hike”
Fun enough on its own merits, and it certainly did its job – there’s plenty to enjoy here. I’d just be surprised if this was anyone’s favourite Marvin Gaye record. (6)
224. Martha & The Vandellas: “My Baby Won’t Come Back”
Not terrible by any means, but not particularly good either, especially when compared to what was just around the corner for the group. (4)
223. Martha & The Vandellas: “I’ll Have To Let Him Go”
The entire world had been put on notice that Motown had found another great group, almost out of nowhere; next stop, the charts. (6)
216. Eddie Holland: “It’s Not Too Late”
The tune is quite pretty, but all told this is a repetitive, thin, flimsy bit of late-Fifties uptempo doo-wop, a throwback the sort of material Eddie Holland was already leaving behind at the time of this single’s release. (3)
215. Eddie Holland: “If It’s Love (It’s Alright)”
Basically a reworking of Jamie, twice as fast and much more likeable, with 50% more Jackie Wilson. (7)
214. The Miracles: “If Your Mother Only Knew”
Too good to be thrown away as either an album track or a B-side, quite frankly, as it might have made one of the better early Miracles singles – but its presence on this reissue at least lets me talk about it at length. Hurrah for commercial pressures! (7)
211. Marvin Gaye: “It Hurt Me Too”
In front of it all, there’s Marvin Gaye, electric, mesmerising, a star in the making. America had seen his future, just as Motown had done a year before, and it wasn’t knocking out MOR pap like “Mr Sandman”. (7)
210. Marvin Gaye: “Stubborn Kind Of Fellow”
This is one of the most important of all Motown records, not just because it’s so much fun, or because audiences have had so much fun with it, but because it marks the start of Marvin Gaye’s career proper. (8)
202. The Marvelettes: “Beechwood 4-5789”
The whole thing just works, and it’s fun, and young, and summery, and I love it. (7)
196. Gino Parks: “Fire”
Just about the loudest and angriest record Motown had released in its first four years of existence. It’s certainly not blues, but it’s no pop record either; it’s almost defiantly uncommercial. (5)
Motown Junkies 