The Marvelettes
Probably the most pop-oriented of Motown's major female acts, the Marvelettes didn't project as strong an identity as the Supremes, Mary Wells, or Martha Reeves, but recorded quite a few hits, including Motown's first number one single, "Please Mr. Postman" (1961). "Postman," as well as other chirpy early-'60s hits like "Playboy," "Twistin' Postman," and "Beechwood 4-5789," were the label's purest girl group efforts. Featuring two strong lead singers, Gladys Horton and Wanda Young, the Marvelettes went through five different lineups, but maintained a high standard on their recordings. After a few years, they moved from girl group sounds to uptempo and midtempo numbers that were more characteristic of Motown's production line. They received no small help from Smokey Robinson, who produced and wrote many of their singles; Holland-Dozier-Holland, Berry Gordy, Mickey Stevenson, Marvin Gaye, and Ashford-Simpson also got involved with the songwriting and production at various points. After the mid-'60s Wanda Young assumed most of the lead vocal duties; Gladys Horton departed from the group in the late '60s. While the Marvelettes didn't cut as many monster smashes as most of their Motown peers after the early '60s, they did periodically surface with classic hits like "Too Many Fish in the Sea," "Don't Mess with Bill," and "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game." There were also plenty of fine minor hits and misses, like 1965's "I'll Keep Holding On," which is just as memorable as the well-known Motown chart-toppers of the era. The group quietly disbanded in the early '70s after several years without a major hit. Wanda Young died on December 16, 2021 at the age of 78. Co-founder Katherine Anderson died on September 20, 2023; she was 79.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Deliver: The Singles 1961-1971
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 1 Jan 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Definitive Collection
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Please Mr. Postman
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 12 Dec 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Marvelous Marvelettes
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 1 Jan 1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Forever: The Complete Motown Albums, Volume 1
Soul - Released by Hip-O Select on 23 Jun 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Forever More: The Complete Motown Albums Vol. 2
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 1 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sophisticated Soul
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 1 Jan 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Return Of The Marvelettes
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 1 Jan 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Please Mr. Postman
Soul - Released by Fidelity Masters on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Please Mr. Postman
Soul - Released by G Point Entertainment System on 5 May 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Marvelletes, All the Love I Got
Soul - Released by Firefly Entertainment on 1 Oct 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Marvelettes Recorded Live On Stage (Live At Apollo Theater/1962)
Soul - Released by UNI - MOTOWN on 1 Jan 1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Please Mr. Postman (2018 Digitally Remastered)
Soul - Released by AVID Pop on 6 Apr 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Masquerade (60'S Rhythm n Blues Hits)
The Marvelettes, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder
Soul - Released by Beach View Records on 29 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -