The Definitive Collection

by Mary Wells

Overview

Mary Wells' greatest success came with Motown Records, climaxing in her enduring 1964 hit "My Guy," and for most, the story ends there. Wells left Motown after "My Guy" and signed with 20th Century, which by all accounts was a disaster, and she left 20th Century in 1965 for Atlantic subsidiary Atco Records, where she remained until 1967. She released four singles for Atco -- the first of which, "Dear Lover," did fairly well -- and one LP before parting company with the label. But the fact remains that Wells, who was Motown's first big star, will forever be linked with the Detroit label. This set, which features the best sides Wells did for Motown, including, of course, "My Guy," as well as other Top 40 hits like Wells' own "Bye Bye Baby" (Wells wrote it when she was only 17 and had her first hit with it in 1961) and the Smokey Robinson-penned (and produced) "You Beat Me to the Punch" and "The One Who Really Loves You," sets the stage pretty well. Blessed with a singing voice that could somehow be sweet and sincere even as it was sexy and sassy (and sometimes all of that at once), Wells, in a fair and equitable world, really should have been able to sustain her career at the top of the charts longer than she did. Life (and the music business) goes where it goes, though, and this anthology really does have her best stuff. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	09/23/2008
Label:	Motown / Universal Music
UPC:	0602517773356
Rank:	6933

Tracks

1. My Guy
2. You Beat Me To The Punch
3. Two Lovers
4. Your Old Stand By
5. What's Easy For Two Is Hard For One
6. Operator
7. Laughing Boy
8. Once Upon A Time
9. I Don't Want To Take A Chance
10. The One Who Really Loves You
11. You Lost The Sweetest Boy
12. Old Love ( Let's Try Again)
13. Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right
14. What Love Has Joined Together
15. Oh Little Boy ( What Did You Do To Me)
16. What's The Matter With You Baby
17. Whisper You Love Me Boy
18. Bye Bye Bye

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mary Wells   Primary Artist
Marvin Gaye   Primary Artist,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

William "Mickey" Stevenson   Composer,Producer
Barry Korkin   Editorial Assistant
David Ritz   Liner Notes
Smokey Robinson   Composer,Producer
Chuck Stewart   Cover Photo
David Redfern   Tray Photo
Beth Stempel   Production Coordination
Andre Williams III   Producer
Rebecca Meek   Package Design
Ryan Null   Photo Coordination
Connie Choi   Product Manager
Joao Daltro de Almeida   Photo Research
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer,Producer
Lamont Dozier   Composer,Producer
Clarence Paul   Composer,Producer
Barney Ales   Composer
Eddie Holland   Composer
Janie Bradford   Composer
Robert Rogers   Composer
Marvin Gaye   Duet
Mary Wells   Composer
Brian Holland   Composer,Producer
Harry Weinger   Compilation Producer