The Complete Motown Singles Collection Vol. 1: 1959-1961

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Well, the legend began here. This is an interesting collection in terms of tracing the roots of Motown, but if you are looking for anything approaching archetypal Motown, then you won't get any of that here. Even more so than Volume Two, you will get a shed-load of rock 'n' roll-influenced material, plenty of doo-wop and lots of gospel or gospel-influenced stuff too. Why, there's even a bit of surf-rock too in Ich-I-Bon by Nick & the Jaguars. 

There are over 150 songs on six disc here and at least 20 of them have not made it on to my download from my original CD box set. The reason? They are rubbish, mainly novelties or country ballads. The rest of it - 140 songs - are worth listening to. They are brim-full of potential and the dominant artists are The Miracles, Barrett Strong, Mable John, Mary Wells, The Contours and The Satintones. Soon to be Motown royalty Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and Jimmy Ruffin make their first appearances. Big hits of the sort that most people will be familiar with, are, however, pretty thin on the ground. There are only really three - Barrett Strong's Money (That's What I Want), The Miracles' Shop Around and The Marvelettes' Please Mr. Postman. Don't let that put you off, though, listening to this on random for an hour or so is definitely time well spent. Whenever I dip into this collection I always enjoy it. Check out the final track as well - a funky, drum-powered instrumental by the Twistin' Kings called Congo (Parts 1 & 2). It's a genuine groover of a deep cut.

Of the two early Motown Complete Singles volumes, I have to say I prefer the slightly more soulful Volume Two - you can hear the development.

Anyway, my standouts here are -

Marv Johnson - Come To Me/Whisper
Barrett Strong - Let's Rock/Do The Very Best You Can
The Satintones - Going To The Hop/Motorcity
Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want/Oh I Apologise
Nick & The Jaguars - Ich-I-Bon #1/Cool And Crazy
Chico Leverett - Solid Sender/I'll Never Love Again
The Miracles - The Feeling Is So Fine/(You Can) Depend On Me
Eugene Remus - You Never Miss A Good Thing/Hold Me Tight
Barrett Strong - Yes, No, Maybe So/You Knows What To Do
Mable John - Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That/You Made A Fool Out Of Me
Mary Wells - Bye Bye Baby/ Please Forgive Me
The Miracles - Shop Around/Who's Lovin' You
Jimmy Ruffin - Don't Feel Sorry For Me/Heart
Debbie Dean - Don' Let Him Shop Around/A New Girl
The Miracles - Ain't It Baby/The Only One I Love
Barrett Strong - Money And Me/You've Got What It Takes
The Contours - Whole Lotta Woman/Come On And Be Mine
Little Iva & Her Band - When I Need You/Continental Strut
The Supremes - I Want A Guy/Never Again
Richard Wylie & His Band - Money (That's What I Want/I'll Still Be Around
The Satintones - Tomorrow And Always/A Love That Can Never Be
Gino Parks - Blibberin' Blabberin' Blues/Don't Say Bye Bye
Marvin Gaye - Witchcraft/Never Let ou Go (Sha Lu Bop)
Mary Wells - I Don't Want To Take A Chance/I'm So Sorry
Mable John - No Love/Looking For A Man
The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman/So Long Baby
Eddie Holland - Jamie/Take A Chance On Me
The Miracles - Everybody's Got To Pay Some Dues/I Can't Believe
The Gospel Stars - He Lifted Me/Behold The Saints Of God
The Marvelettes - Twistin' Postman/I Want A Guy
Mable John - Actions Speak Louder Than Words/Take Me
Singin' Sammy Ward - What Makes You Love Him/Don't Take it Away
The Temptations - Check Yourself/Your wonderful Love
The Miracles - What's So Good About Goodbye/I've been Good to You
The Twistin' Kings - Congo Parts 1 & 2

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