Various
Big
Hits & Hard To Find Classics Volume 4
Volume 4 of this popular series had originally been scheduled for release during the autumn of 1987 but somehow never got issued even though RCA had released the first three volumes during summer of that year on both CD and vinyl. Whether the scheduled volume 4 had the same track listing as this CD is not known but fifteen years on it’s here at last.
Universal Music are now responsible for the marketing of the Motown label in the UK and have re-issued the first three volumes in this series during last year which no doubt re-kindled interest in those rare and hard to find classics of Motown. Connoisseurs will already be aware that the inclusion of Barbara Randolph’s 1967 dancer ‘I Got A Feeling’ on this CD had originally appeared on Vol 1 back in ‘87’ and that ‘Jamie’ by Motown songwriter Eddie Holland had first appeared on Vol 2, showing that last years re-issues were not totally track for track of the original issues.
Volume 4 presents a mixed bag of songs that have all seen the light of day as 45’s (as A & B sides) both here and in the US. Instantly recognisable are the big songs from veteran Marv Johnson with his massive tune from 1969 ‘I Miss You’ and it’s great to see the Monitors included with their ‘Crying In The Night’ from their album ‘Greetings’. What this CD does include is a couple of the really obscure, yet rare, singles issued in the UK from The Lewis Sisters with ‘You Need Me’ as well as The Hit Pack with ‘Never Say No To Your Baby’ which commands a lot of money of the collectors market for UK issues.
The Temptations are not represented on this CD but one of their hit songs is, as ‘It’s Growing’ by Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers which is a more upbeat version of this classic song, and veteran soultster Chuck Jackson delivers a brilliant version of ‘I Like Everything About You’ (I wonder how many unreleased songs by this guy exist in the Motown vaults?) No Motown album would be complete without an appearance from Marvin Gaye and his rendition of ‘Sweeter As The Days Go By’ is by far the best even though it only managed to find itself issued as a flip side.
The Fantastic Four have always been a great act and had originally recorded for Ric-Tic before being transferred to Motown when Berry Gordy had bought the company in the mid sixties and their mid-tempo album track ‘Can’t Stop Looking For My Baby’ is a worthy and welcomed inclusion.
Terry
Johnson, The Marvelettes, Barbara McNair, and The Elgins make up the rest
of this CD of songs amongst others, although I was disappointed with the
Sam Remo Strings track ‘Hungry For Love’ when you consider that their instrumental
version of ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ has more kick to it. Out of the four
volumes currently in circulation this comes in a second best behind volumes
1 & 3. An essential addition to any Motown collection even though there
are no songs from Martha Reeves/Temptations/Edwin Starr/Four Tops etc.
Maybe there will be something on Volume 5?
Rating
7/10
The fourth album in this highly successful series features many well known classics including Eddie Holland - Jamie, Marv Johnson - I Miss You Baby and Barbara Randolph - I Got A Feeling. But also features many rarities and sought after tracks including Terry Johnson - Suzie, Lewis Sisters - You Need Me and Hit Pack - Never Say No To Your Baby.
With a tracklisting representing more of the hard to find classics than the big hits, this is sure to be a big hit with all Motown fans and collectors alike!
Tracklisting
1.Whatcha'
Gonna Do - Terry Johnson
2.Jamie
- Eddie Holland
3.A
Little Big For Sandy - Paul Petersen
4.Cheatin'
Is Telling On You - Lollipops
5.Crying
In The Night - Monitors
6.I
Miss You Baby - Marv Johnson
7.Cos
You Know Me - Rick Robin And Him
8.I
Got A Feeling - Barbara Randolph
9.Suzie
- Terry Johnson
10.You
Need Me - Lewis Sisters
11.Can't
Stop Looking For My Baby - Fantastic 4
12.Sweeter
As The Days Go By - Marvin Gaye
13.Now
Is The Time For Love - Marvelettes
14.It's
Been A Long Long Time - The Elgins
15.It's
Growing - Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers
16.Steal
Away Tonight - Barbara McNair
17.Hungry
For Love - San Remo Strings
18.I
Like Everything About You - Chuck Jackson
19.Never
Say No To Your Baby - Hit Pack
20.Day
By Day Or Never - Chris Clark
Cat. No. 544 7072