113. The Miracles: “I Can’t Believe”
This is a fuzzy, dreamy, lushly-arranged ballad-cum-lullaby; quite lovely in places, but ultimately inconsequential. (4)
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112. The Miracles: “Everybody’s Gotta Pay Some Dues”
One of the best singles of the early years of Motown (and one of the least-known!), this really should have been a bigger hit. (9)
111. Pete Hartfield: “Darling Tonight”
A song which could have gone for real fireworks but settles for the safe, dependable, unexciting option almost every single time. A disappointment. […click title to read more]
110. Pete Hartfield: “Love Me”
Yet another standard-issue midtempo doo-wop number that just doesn’t grab the attention. It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s certainly very well sung, but it’s just not interesting enough to merit further, um, interest. […click title to read more]
109. The Equadors: “You’re My Desire”
One of the most obscure of all Motown’s many acts, the Equadors cut just this one single for the ill-fated Miracle label, and both sides of it are totally forgettable on an Olympic level.
108. The Equadors: “Someone To Call My Own”
Not fantastic, and (yet again) not a hit, meaning the Miracle label was now 0-for-6. The label would be closed down by an impatient Berry Gordy within four months, while the Equadors – at least under this name – were never heard from again.
107. Rev. Columbus Mann: “Jesus Loves”
There’s enough in the last half of this record to forgive the ghastly sins of the first half and make it worthwhile. (6)
106. Rev. Columbus Mann: “They Shall Be Mine”
You can almost imagine Berry Gordy, at the end of a long recording session, discussing whether to do another take before deciding “nah, that’s good enough”. It isn’t; it’s an insufficiently prepared, rushed-sounding single.
105. Debbie Dean: “But I’m Afraid”
Compared to the A-side, this has slightly more in common with the rest of the Motown output of the time. Slightly. (6)
104. Debbie Dean: “Itsy Bity Pity Love”
Ultimately, though Debbie Dean gives it a real go, there’s just not enough happening on this record to hold the interest; it’s clean, safe and boring. (2)
103. The Contours: “Funny”
Quite possibly the worst Motown record of all time. A bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad record. […click title to read more]
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