Back to Motown sounds

Motown is once more back in the news for two important reasons. One is because of the death of Michael Jackson who would never have been the King of Pop if Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. stuck to his decision not to sign up other singing boys to the label because he already had singing and writing prodigy Stevie Wonder. The other is because this year marks Motown’s 50th anniversary. Gordy formed Motown in his home in Detroit, Michigan in 1959 and forever changed the sound of soul music.

Thanks to Gordy discoveries like The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Miracles, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie, The Jackson 5, The Commodores, Lionel Richie and many others, soul ceased to be exclusively black and became the sound of young America. It was also Motown, which kept American pop music alive amidst the onslaught of the British Invasion in the early ‘60s. The Beatles were all over the place but so were The Supremes, the most successful girl group in the history of pop music.

The songs popularized by the stars of Motown remain big sellers to this day, either in their original versions or as covers by new artists. Mariah Carey’s I’ll Be There was originally by MJ and I am sure that many moviegoers remember how Edwin Starr’s War was put to effective use in the Jackie Chan and Chris Rock starrer, Rush Hour. For me, the gold standard for Motown covers are Motown 1 and Motown 2 by Michael McDonald. The sound of the bluesy, country rock baritone of the Doobie Brothers lead singer certainly lent new dimensions to the old favorites. Then a few weeks ago, there came Motown Hitsville USA by Boyz II Men.

I initially thought why do Motown when Boyz II Men already sound like the Motown artists of old. On the other hand, who better than these boys, who might never have become big stars if there had never been a Motown. Besides, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman started their recording careers for Motown. So if McDonald had every right to pay tribute to Motown, more so Boyz II Men. And I have to admit they did a very good job.

Among those included in the album are Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) by The Temptations; a medley of It’s The Same Old Song/ Reach Out I’ll Be There by The Four Tops; Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) and Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing featuring Patti Labelle by Marvin Gaye; Tracks Of My Tears by Smoky Robinson and The Miracles; Money (That’s What I Want), one of the first Motown hits by Barret Strong; Easy by The Commodores; Ribbon In The Sky, a Stevie Wonder classic performed a cappella; War by Starr; and The End Of The Road originally recorded for Motown by Boyz II Men themselves, performed here featuring Brian McKnight who also produced the track. The CD is a keeper with excellent performances but the best of the lot is Got To Be There by The Jackson 5. The cut literally takes your breath away.

Speaking of the Jacksons, now also available is a gorgeous three-CD package titled Michael Jackson The Motown Years. This features the departed King of Pop’s early recordings both solo and with the Jackson 5. The spotlight, nowadays, is commonly focused on Michael’s hits post Off The Wall as a solo artist. Fans though who really want to get into his music and find out how it evolved should also give a listen to his formative years with Motown.

Pretty much everything is included in this collection. ABC, Never Can Say Goodbye, I Want You Back, Dancing Machine, One Day In Your Life, Got To Be There, I’ll Be There, Ready Or Not (Here I Come), Mama’s Pearl, La La Means I Love You, Rockin’ Robin, Ben, Forever Came Today, Goin’ Back To Indiana, Music And Me, I Wanna Be Where You Are and even a Christmas cut, Santa Claus is Coming To Town. You might think too bad it is not Give Love On Christmas Day, but this song is more than enough reason for you to get the classic Jackson 5 Christmas Album which should be in the stores within the next few weeks.