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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Please Mr. Postman (1961)
Pop - Released by JB Production on 16 jul. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Easter Dance
Soul - Released by Archive & Catapulte on 8 apr. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smash Hits Of 62'
Soul - Released by Milestones Records on 14 feb. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Hey Baby / Mashed Potato Time (All Tracks Remastered)
Soul - Released by Hit Singles Records on 27 sep. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sleepless Times
Soul - Released by Sleepless Times 2020 on 11 aug. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Come Here Again With My Best Music
Soul - Released by mbw music capital on 26 jun. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of Rhythm & Blues: Motor Town Soul, Vol. 8
The Marvelettes, Twistin' Kings
Soul - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 15 mrt. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beechwood 45789 / Playboy (All Tracks Remastered)
Soul - Released by Hit Singles Records on 1 sep. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Holy Christmas Voices
Soul - Released by HCVVV Voices timeless on 8 dec. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Diamonds Club
Soul - Released by fsp analog media on 29 mei 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Soul Collection (Original Recordings), Vol. 18
Soul - Released by Nova 017 Ltd on 4 jan. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Twistin' Postman / I Want a Guy (All Tracks Remastered)
Soul - Released by Hit Singles Records on 15 jan. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Please Mr Postman
Soul - Released by SINETONE AMR on 5 jun. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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