Gold

RELEASE
March 07, 2006
LABEL
Motown
GENRES
Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Girl Groups, Pop-Soul, Motown

Album Review

Martha Reeves certainly has come a long way since her days as an A&R assistant at Motown, crafting hit after hit and helping mold the powerhouse Motown sound of the '60s. But what's surprising is that there's really not that many greatest-hits compilations that are both thorough and readily available to discover just how deep the Reeves & the Vandellas catalog truly is. Thankfully, Gold corrects that and then some. Under the steady hand of Motown superhero and Universal executive Harry Weinger, the Motown catalog, which has been long weathered over time, is starting to shine impeccably, and this two-disc, 42-song offering is concrete proof. Gold works its way through their career in chronological fashion, but wastes no time in offering the best of the bunch with "Heatwave" as the third track. All of the other biggest hits are here and then some, and kudos for the inclusion of "There He Is (At My Door)," the B-side to their most well-known single, "Dancing in the Street," as well as the Frank Wilson-penned "It's Easy to Fall in Love (With a Guy Like You)," originally found on the excellent Cellarful of Motown! anthology. The second disc wanes on the Motown stompers a bit, but there's plenty of soulful delights to appease even the most stringent of connoisseurs. Also a pleasant surprise is the inclusion of later '70s material recorded post-Motown at Arista and MCA, including Martha's solo works as well as her cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night." Overall, it's a great starting point for the casual listener and probably the most reasonable and thorough anthology on the market and most likely one of the best compilations for the Vandellas that will ever be assembled.
Rob Theakston, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. I'll Have to Let Him Go
  2. Come and Get These Memories
  3. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
  4. A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday)
  5. Quicksand
  6. Darling, I Hum Our Song
  7. Live Wire
  8. In My Lonely Room
  9. Dancing in the Street
  10. There He Is (At My Door)
  11. Wild One
  12. Nowhere to Run
  13. Motoring
  14. You've Been in Love Too Long
  15. Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)
  16. My Baby Loves Me
  17. What Am I Going to Do Without Your Love
  18. I'm Ready for Love
  19. Third Finger, Left Hand
  20. It's Easy to Fall in Love (With a Guy Like You)
  21. Jimmy Mack
  22. Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone
  23. One Way Out
  24. Honey Chile
  25. Show Me the Way
  26. I Promise to Wait My Love
  27. Forget Me Not
  28. I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playin'
  29. Sweet Darlin'
  30. We've Got) Honey Love
  31. Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)
  32. I Should Be Proud
  33. Love, Guess Who
  34. I Gotta Let You Go
  35. Bless You
  36. In and Out of My Life
  37. Tear It on Down
  38. Willie D
  39. Power of Love
  40. Wild Night
  41. Love Blind
  42. Free Again