Four Tops, Marvin Gaye - The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 5

Pretty close to the mountaintop

Well, if you're reading this, you're likely already a soul aficionado. You probably own a good dozen Motown records, but you're looking to dig deeper. If you want to hit the vein right when the label was really hitting its' stride, 1965 is a great place to start. If you pick up this set you'll end up with:

- The equivalent of a Brenda Holloway album
- Some kooky instrumentals from Earl Van Dyke and the Soul Brothers
- much of the best Four Tops singles ("Ask The Lonely", "I Can't Help Myself", "It's The Same Old Song"....)
- 8 kickass instrumentals from Jr. Walker and The Allstars
- An amazing Kim Weston track, "A Thrill A Moment"
- "Nowhere To Run" by Martha & The Vandellas - one of the best Vietnam-era tracks, ever
- Marvin Gaye, just as he was finding his footing ("Ain't That Peculiar
, "I'll Be Doggone")
- The same deal with Stevie Wonder ("Uptight", "High Heel Sneakers")
- The equivalent of an entire Supremes album chock full of great tracks ("Stop! In The Name of Love" is only the beginning here...)
- Some formative Temptations tunes
- Some sort of out-of-place crooning by a 51-year-old Billy Eckstine (not bad, just a little strange for this set)

I think that the 1966 set is a little more rockin', but this set is rock-solid, and if you wanted to know what the car radio sounded like in 1965, this is the set to check out. January 1, 2008

7 1/2 Hours

1965. Motown at the top of the musical mountain. 167 songs on 6 discs. You've heard about these phenomenal sets , take the plunge. If you appreciate what Motown did , you won't be disappointed. You will have every single from a premier year-1965. Just be prepared to be smitten and spellbound ! November 7, 2007

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