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
-
It's Gonna Take a Whole Lot of Doing
Soul - Released by Vinyl Diamonds on 1 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Strange I Know (Billboard Hot 100 - No 49)
Soul - Released by Music Manager on 13 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Detroit's Darlings, 1961 - 1962
Soul - Released by Jasmine Records on 12 Jul 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Riding Tunes
Soul - Released by Bertilo o Solemio on 30 Apr 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Marvelettes - Vintage Sounds
Soul - Released by Retro Music Box on 30 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Letters from the Marvelettes, Vol. 2
Soul - Released by Supreme Media on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Recorded Live on Stage (Original Album)
Soul - Released by Ace of Noise on 11 Aug 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
You Don't Want Me No More
Soul - Released by A Sense of Rhythm on 1 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Singing Girl
Soul - Released by The Singing Girl on 5 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R&B Legends, Vol. 5: The Marvelettes
Soul - Released by Top Tracks on 9 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Locking up My Heart
Soul - Released by Redwood Records on 7 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Under The Christmas Tree
Soul - Released by The Christmas Tree on 7 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We're Listening to the Marvelettes
Soul - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Country Marvels
Country - Released by Excess Music on 20 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)
Soul - Released by Vinyl Diamonds on 1 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo