Motown Chartbusters: Volume 12

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Smokey Robinson - Being With You 1981

An enormous, easy-listening, smooth soul hit here to start the collection. Smokey had become the master of this sort of thing by this time. The old Motown legend was now delivering several lush soul hits like this and Cruisin' as well as delving into disco-funk with Big Time. This was a huge number one in the UK. 

The Commodores - Lady (You Bring Me Up) 1981

Talking of master balladeers, The Commodores had begun to be known for such material with Three Times A Lady, Easy, Sail On and Still but on this one they took to the disco floor with an upbeat slice of early eighties dance-pop. It is very typical of its era - catchy, brassy and effortlessly rhythmic. 

Michael Jackson - We're Almost There 1975

This vibrant oldie from 1975 had some sweeping disco strings on it that were so very 1975 in their Hustle-inspired sound. Like One Day In Your Life (see later on in this collection) this was released to cash in on Jackson's second wave of popularity that the Off The Wall album had generated. The almost-adult Jackson circa 1975 does a good job on this with a strong vocal performance. Good track - a bit of a deep cut gem.

Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - Endless Love 1981

Two Motown big hitters get together for an end-of-the-evening last dance number similar to Billy Preston and Syreeta's With You I'm Born Again in that respect. It is a classic smoochy ballad, nothing more, nothing less. The pair's voices complement each other perfectly 

Rick James - Give It To Me Baby 1981

Give It To Me Baby is an energetic, pulsating number, full of clavinet, rhythmic keyboards, full-on brassy breaks and funky guitar. It is a typical piece of early eighties disco-ish funk. Rick James was the real deal at the time, one of the best pop-funkers around.

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out 1980

Beloved of newly-declared homosexuals the world over, Diana made herself a "gay icon" with this song. Understandable I suppose. It was another Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards production in the same Chic-esque vein as Upside Down and My Old Piano. It is incredibly catchy and impossible not to sing along to. 

Jermaine Jackson - You Like Me Don't You 1981

An attractive, slow smoocher from Jermaine here in contrast to the two livelier numbers that preceded this one in this series (Let's Get Serious and Burnin' Hot). It is a quality track in the Smokey Robinson smooth soul style. 

Teena Marie - It Must Be Magic 1981

Rick James's squeeze delivered on the disco floor again with this vivacious number that had lots of her boyfriend's influence on it. It had some of those strange squeaky backing vocals that Funkadelic used a lot. As I said on the review for Vol. 11, Teena had a strong voice that suited this material admirably.

The Commodores - Oh No 1981

Back to ballads for Lionel and the boys now. Sumptuous? Of course it is. Do I need to answer that? The Commodores oozed quality from every pore. Lionel's vocal is peerless. It is a bit of a lesser-known Commodores single.

Michael Jackson - One Day In Your Life 1975

The huge hit ballad One Day In Your Life from 1975 retrospectively released six years later in 1981. At the time of recording Jackson was growing up and his musical output was reflecting that. This re-release was intended to take advantage of the popularity of the Off The Wall album and Jackson mania mark two. It duly did exactly that. 

Diana Ross - Tenderness 1980

A lively disco-ish song that got somewhat overshadowed by the supreme Chic-disco-pop of Upside Down, I'm Coming Out and My Old Piano on its Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards-produced diana album. A bit unfortunate, that, as it's not a bad one. A bit formulaic, maybe, but still enjoyable. It has a killer bassline. 

Smokey Robinson - Tell Me Tomorrow 1982

Smokey went a bit upbeat on this one, combining his intrinsic soulful instincts with  an easy-going smooth disco-ey beat. It just sort of washes over you, but in a nice way. You can immediately detect its quality. I love that jazzy piano break mid-song too. Nice one.

José Feliciano - I Wanna Be Where You Are 1981

One of those occasional Motown rarities here, from an artist not previously associated with the label. It is a fetching, soft soul number, though, with a catchy chorus, one that I have known for ages without ever knowing who it was who sang it!

Syreeta - I Must Be In Love 1981

A nice, warm ballad from Syreeta here. I prefer here on songs like this which I feel suit her voice far better than the more upbeat numbers do. There's a great saxophone solo in it as well, something I always love. One of Syreeta's best. 

The Commodores - Why You Wanna Try Me 1982

The Commodores were rooted in funk from way back to 1974 and they return to it here, giving us a solid, muscular, heavily Rick James-influenced funker. It is a powerful, dare I say, phat number. Love those funky keyboard interjections.

Jermaine Jackson - Paradise In Your Eyes - 1981

The sound of waves lapping gently on the shore introduce another lush ballad from Jermaine. All very pleasant but not really big hit single material. Nice, but sort of going through the motions. Very album track-ish, for me, anyway. In a good way, though.

Rick James - Super Freak 1981

Now we get the iconic floor-filler Super Freak, with its instantly recognisable instrumental hook line that, of course, was successfully sampled by MC Hammer on U Can’t Touch This. James’ original song is an ebullient, pounding funker with more of those light-hearted lyrics that he specialised in. It is a marvellous piece of vibrant, singalong funk and was deservedly a huge hit. Check out that saxophone at the end too. 

Diana Ross - It's My Turn 1980

We say goodbye to this wonderful series of albums, perhaps appropriately, with a moving, emotional ballad from someone who has been such a huge presence throughout the series, appearing on every album. It goes without saying that Diana Ross delivers on this show-style number. It's been a fine ride, hasn't it?

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