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This two-CD, 43-track box set is the most comprehensive retrospective of Motown's biggest female star before Diana Ross. Although her first hit, "Bye Bye Baby," presented Wells as a blues belter, she quickly settled into a sly and sassy groove. Subsequent hits like "You Beat Me to the Punch," "Two Lovers," and "My Guy" (all included here) made the most of her shy, seductive voice by teaming her with some great songs and production by Smokey Robinson. Although many of these tunes were relegated to B-sides, album tracks, or even the can (11 were previously unreleased), the material -- written by Motown stalwarts like Berry Gordy, Holland-Dozier-Holland, and Mickey Stevenson when Smokey was unavailable -- is not far below the hits in quality. This is as much a testimony to Motown's overflow of prolific talent as Wells', but doesn't detract from the consistency of this set, which includes her duets with Marvin Gaye (as well as a previously unreleased duet with Smokey Robinson). Includes a comprehensive essay in the photo-packed booklet, although the mysterious absence of the excellent "Was It Worth It" is a notable loss.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Berry Gordy Jr., Producer - Mary Wells, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Berry Gordy Jr., Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Marv Johnson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Berry Gordy Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Berry Gordy, Producer
℗ 2012 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Berry Gordy Jr., Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - William Mickey Stevenson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mary Wells, MainArtist - Berry Gordy, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Stanley "Mike" Ossman, ComposerLyricist - J Oden, ComposerLyricist - A. Abrams, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Berry Gordy, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mary Wells, MainArtist - William Mickey Stevenson, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1961 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Love-Tones, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Berry Gordy Jr., Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1993 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Janie Bradford, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Rebecca Nichols, ComposerLyricist - Stanley Ossman, ComposerLyricist - Brian Bert, Producer
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., Producer - Ronald White, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Love-Tones, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Berry Gordy Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Henry Cosby, ComposerLyricist - Marvin Gaye, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - William "Mickey" Stevenson, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mary Wells, MainArtist - William Mickey Stevenson, ComposerLyricist - Mickey Stevenson, Producer - Rex Robertson, Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Berry Gordy Jr., ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Berry Gordy, Producer
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Belford Hendricks, ComposerLyricist - William Stevenson, Producer - CLYDE OTIS, ComposerLyricist - Brook Benton, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1962 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Robert Rogers, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
William Robinson, Jr., Producer - SMOKEY ROBINSON, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - William Mickey Stevenson, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Janie Bradford, ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronald White, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 2012 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Mary Wells, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The Supremes, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Riser, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - George Bohanon, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Hamilton, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie Willis, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl Van Dyke, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Robert White, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Conway, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny Griffith, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - James Jamerson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Benny Benjamin, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Herbert Williams, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1964 UMG Recordings, Inc.
SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - William "Mickey" Stevenson, Producer
℗ 1964 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Ivy Joe Hunter, ComposerLyricist - William Mickey Stevenson, ComposerLyricist - William "Mickey" Stevenson, Producer
℗ 1964 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Stevenson, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Bob Hamilton, Producer - Mike Valvano, ComposerLyricist - Robert Hamilton, ComposerLyricist - Betty Leshman, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Marvin Gaye, MainArtist - Clarence Paul, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Dave Hamilton, ComposerLyricist - William Mickey Stevenson, ComposerLyricist - Barney Ales, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1964 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist - William "Mickey" Stevenson, Producer
℗ 1964 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1963 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Marvin Gaye, MainArtist - Clarence Paul, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - William Mickey Stevenson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Barney Ales, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1964 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1964 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mary Wells, MainArtist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ronald White, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mary Wells, MainArtist - Robert Hamilton, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - SMOKEY ROBINSON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Edward Holland Jr., ComposerLyricist - Mary Wells, MainArtist - Lamont Dozier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Sammy Cahn, Author - Gene DePaul, Composer - Mary Wells, MainArtist - William "Mickey" Stevenson, Producer
℗ 2012 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mary Wells, MainArtist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Norman Whitfield, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1966 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
This two-CD, 43-track box set is the most comprehensive retrospective of Motown's biggest female star before Diana Ross. Although her first hit, "Bye Bye Baby," presented Wells as a blues belter, she quickly settled into a sly and sassy groove. Subsequent hits like "You Beat Me to the Punch," "Two Lovers," and "My Guy" (all included here) made the most of her shy, seductive voice by teaming her with some great songs and production by Smokey Robinson. Although many of these tunes were relegated to B-sides, album tracks, or even the can (11 were previously unreleased), the material -- written by Motown stalwarts like Berry Gordy, Holland-Dozier-Holland, and Mickey Stevenson when Smokey was unavailable -- is not far below the hits in quality. This is as much a testimony to Motown's overflow of prolific talent as Wells', but doesn't detract from the consistency of this set, which includes her duets with Marvin Gaye (as well as a previously unreleased duet with Smokey Robinson). Includes a comprehensive essay in the photo-packed booklet, although the mysterious absence of the excellent "Was It Worth It" is a notable loss.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 43 track(s)
- Total length: 01:52:07
- Main artists: Mary Wells
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UNI - MOTOWN
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 1993 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1993 Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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