Now That's What I Call Motown!

by Now Motown / Various

Overview

One part of a nearly nauseating parade of products celebrating the 50th anniversary of Motown (ranging from $42 T-shirts to the Motown headquarters-shaped ten-disc box of number one singles), this volume of the Now series is one of many decent single-disc introductions to the label. From Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)" (a number two R&B single) to Rick James' "Super Freak" (a number three R&B single), the set covers just over 20 years of hits, though well over two-thirds of the selections date from the '60s, prior to Berry Gordy's relocation from Detroit to Los Angeles. Surprisingly, only three of the songs here were written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, but you cannot make a valid case against any inclusion, especially if the disc is being approached as an introduction. Had Motown been the source of these hits and no others, it would still be one of the most important and cherished sources of popular music. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	01/13/2009
Label:	Motown
UPC:	0602517945395

Tracks

1. Money (That's What I Want)  - Janie Bradford  - Berry Jr. Gordy  - Barrett Strong
2. Please Mr. Postman  - Robert Bateman  - Georgia Dobbins  - William Garrett  - Freddie Gorman  - Brian Holland  -  Marvelettes
3. Shop Around  - Berry Jr. Gordy  -  Miracles  - Smokey Robinson
4. Do You Love Me  -  Contours  - Berry Jr. Gordy
5. Dancing in the Street  - Marvin Gaye  - Ivy Jo Hunter  -  Martha & the Vandellas  - William "Mickey" Stevenson
6. My Guy  - Smokey Robinson  - Mary Wells
7. My Girl  - Smokey Robinson  -  Temptations  - Ronald White
8. Stop! In the Name of Love  - Lamont Dozier  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland  -  Supremes
9. Shotgun  - Autry II DeWalt  -  Walker
10. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)  - Lamont Dozier  -  Four Tops  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland
11. You Keep Me Hangin' On  - Lamont Dozier  - Brian Holland  - Eddie Holland  -  Supremes
12. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing  - Nickolas Ashford  - Marvin Gaye  - Valerie Simpson  - Tammi Terrell
13. I Heard It Through the Grapevine  - Marvin Gaye  - Barrett Strong  - Norman Whitfield
14. I Can't Get Next to You  - Barrett Strong  -  Temptations  - Norman Whitfield
15. I Want You Back  - Berry Jr. Gordy  -  Jackson 5  - Alphonso Mizell  - Freddie Perren  - Deke Richards
16. Signed, Sealed, Delievered I'm Yours  - Lee Garrett  - Lula Mae Hardaway  - Stevie Wonder  - Syreeta Wright
17. War  - Edwin Starr  - Barrett Strong  - Norman Whitfield
18. The Tears of a Clown  - Henry Cosby  - Smokey Robinson  -  Robinson  - Stevie Wonder
19. What's Going On  - Renaldo Benson  - Al Cleveland  - Marvin Gaye
20. Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)  -  Knight  - Jim Weatherly
21. Let's Get It On  - Marvin Gaye  - Ed Townsend
22. Love Machine, Pt. 1  - Billy Griffin  - William Griffin  -  Miracles  - Warren "Pete" Moore
23. Brickhouse  -  Commodores  - William King  - Ronald LaPread  - Thomas McClary  - Walter Orange  - Lionel Richie  - Milan Williams
24. Upside Down  - Bernard Edwards  - Nile Rodgers  - Diana Ross
25. Super Freak  - Rick James  - Alonzo Miller

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tammi Terrell   Primary Artist
Billy Griffin   Primary Artist
The Miracles   Primary Artist
The Temptations   Primary Artist
Diana Ross   Primary Artist
Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist
Gladys Knight & the Pips   Primary Artist
Martha & the Vandellas   Primary Artist
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles   Primary Artist
Edwin Starr   Primary Artist
The Four Tops   Primary Artist
The Jackson 5   Primary Artist
Barrett Strong   Primary Artist
The Contours   Primary Artist
Junior Walker & the All-Stars   Primary Artist
Marvin Gaye   Primary Artist
Rick James   Primary Artist
The Marvelettes   Primary Artist
Mary Wells   Primary Artist
Commodores   Primary Artist
The Supremes   Primary Artist
Rene Hall   Conductor
Bernard Edwards   Conductor
Nile Rodgers   Conductor

Technical Credits

Walter Orange   Composer
Deke Richards   Composer
Smokey Robinson   Composer
Alonzo Miller   Composer
Eddie Holland   Composer
Janie Bradford   Composer
Edward Townsend   Composer
Freddie Gorman   Composer
Lee Garrett   Composer
Renaldo Benson   Composer
Milan Williams   Composer
Al Cleveland   Composer
Brian Holland   Composer
Georgia Dobbins   Composer
William Garrett   Composer
Thomas McClary   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Henry Cosby   Composer
William Griffin   Composer
William "Mickey" Stevenson   Composer
William Robinson   Composer
Nickolas Ashford   Composer
Norman Whitfield   Composer
William King   Composer
Dennis Lussier   Composer
Walter Lee Orange   Composer
Autry Dewalt   Composer
William King, Jr.   Composer
Warren Moore   Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Bernard Edwards   Composer
Autry DeWalt II   Composer
Ivy Jo Hunter   Composer
Lamont Dozier   Composer
Barrett Strong   Composer
Alphonso Mizell   Composer
Ed Townsend   Composer
Robert Bateman   Composer
Ronald White   Composer
Lionel Richie   Composer
Ronald LaPread   Composer
Valerie Simpson   Composer
Warren "Pete" Moore   Composer
Marvin Gaye   Composer
Lula Mae Hardaway   Composer
Jim Weatherly   Composer
Rick James   Composer
Nile Rodgers   Composer
Syreeta Wright   Composer
Freddie Perren   Composer