Search - Marvelettes :: Definitive Collection

Only half "definitive"

Donald F. King | Cleveland Hgts., OH USA | 10/07/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Marvelettes are, arguably, Motown's most underserved artists. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on original albums of theirs, especially late-vintage Marvelettes (The Marvelettes '67, Sophisticated Soul, In Full Bloom, The Return...) you will hear wonderful, soulful vocals and some great songs and arrangements. This was more their "Smokey Robinson period", when he payed great attention to Wanda Rogers and her "country soul" voice, and it is gentle, soulful, and somewhat less polished (in a positive sense) music for Motown at this time.



I was excited to see this release, wondering if this more sophisticated period in their career was represented. What I've discovered is that none of their periods is particularly well featured, and their later period is almost non-existent.



Hip-O Select was rumored to be working on a box set of the Marvelettes, that would've included their first albums in their entirety (including their hard-to-find Sing album, as well as Greatest Hits). I was all excited, because I was hoping that then they might release a Volume II of the project, including all those late-era albums. But it seems as though all of these projects are a no-go, and all we have left is this skimpy assortment. They (and of course, we) deserve much better."

The Marvelettes Never Fail to Captivate -- And They're Worth

J. A. Gordon | 09/29/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Marvelettes can do no wrong - unlike this entry in Motown's "Definitive Collection" series. The Marvelettes (led by the incomparable Gladys Horton and Wanda Young Rogers) were consistent hit-makers for a decade and why they have been accorded only a one-disc "Definitive Collection" tribute is beyond this listener. Surprising omissions include "Locking Up My Heart," "You're the One," "When You're Young and in Love" and "Destination: Anywhere." "Strange I Know" is here in its shorter, "Greatest Hits" version. The rest of what's included is fine, however - all excellent renderings from the original masters (everything but "He's a Good Guy" is reproduced in stereo). For those who are longtime aficionados of this wonderful group, the only thing new this collection will bring you is a stereo version of the infectious "Too Strong to Be Strung Along." This alone made this new Marvelettes CD a worthwhile purchase for me. Most hopefully, the future will hold for us a more comprehensive and deserving Marvelettes tribute, equaling - if not surpassing - their outstanding (all-mono) two-disc 1993 tribute, "The Marvelettes Deliver: The Singles.""

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Kevin M. Harvey | 01/19/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a simple one: The Marvelettes have a far better single disc collection than the more famous Supremes, second, perhaps, to only the Ronettes. Buy it."