Various Artists - Motown: The Classic Years

Motown: The Classic Years collects two discs' worth of highlights from the label's heyday in the '60s and '70s, including 23 number one hits. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "Tears of a Clown," the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go?," Edwin Starr's "War," and Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" are among the Motown standards included on this collection, along with songs from Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, Mary Wells, the Four Tops, and the Spinners. The Classic Years' double-disc size allows it to collect more hits than a single-disc compilation would, yet it's more easily manageable than a multi-disc box set would be for casual fans. Overall, this collection doesn't offer anything rare or unique for Motown diehards, but for listeners who just want a solid collection of some of pop music's finest moments, it's just the ticket. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Starr Project Coordinator Artie Butler Arranger Barrett Strong Performer Brian Holland Producer BrianBert Producer Clarence Paul Arranger, Conductor David Ruffin Performer David Van De Pitte Arranger Diana Ross & the Supremes Performer Edwin Starr Performer Gladys Knight & the Pips Performer Harry Weinger Annotation, Producer, Compilation Harvey Fuqua Producer Henry Cosby Producer Jerry Long Orchestration Jimmy Ruffin Performer Joe Porter Producer John Bristol Producer Junior Walker Performer Lamont Dozier Producer Lawrence Horn Producer Martha & the Vandellas Performer Marvin Gaye Producer Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Performer Mary Wells Performer Mathieu Bitton Design Michael Omartian Arranger Norman J. Whitfield Producer Paul Riser String Arrangements Ronald White Producer Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Performer Stevie Wonder Bongos, Harmonica Suha Gur Mastering The Contours Performer The Four Tops Performer The Jackson 5 Performer The Love-Tones Performer The Marvelettes Performer The Miracles Performer The Spinners Performer The Supremes Performer The Temptations Performer The Undisputed Truth Performer Wade Marcus Arranger William "Mickey" Stevenson Producer William Weatherspoon Producer