Motown have already done a similar album saluting the music of Sinatra and it was only a matter of time before the songwriting talents of Bacharach/David would be put into the spotlight. The amount of hit songs that the duo have written reads like a whose who of the music industry with the likes of Dionne Warwick and the Walker Brothers enjoying major chart successes in the early to mid sixties just to name two.

This eighteen track collection of songs from some of Motown’s biggest names takes us on a trip down memory lane and gives us cover versions of some of the greatest pop songs ever written. Gladys Knight & the Pips opens up the proceedings with ‘The Look Of Love’ a nice ballad rendition of this popular song made famous by the late Dusty Springfield, and one that saw a UK single release too.

Whilst the undisputed queen of soul Ms Aretha Franklin reached the top of the charts in 1968 with ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ it was Motown diva Martha Reeves who recorded the Motown version on one of her albums and this racy uptempo number is as good as the original if I may dare to say. Great orchestration and vocal delivery – you’ll love it!

There is nothing new in the music industry about releasing cover versions of hit songs. It happens today and it happened in the sixties too, with some of the versions sounding better than the originals. Ex Motown front man Eddie Kendrick’s presents his rendition of Chuck Jackson’s ‘Any Day Now’ and the much under-promoted Marvelettes take on Dionne Warwick’s hit song ‘Message To Michael’ to good effect.

In 1968 the multi talented Stevie Wonder decided to record an album of harmonica instrumentals under the name of Rednow Eivets (Stevie Wonder spelt backwards) which spanned a US only 45 on Gordy with ‘Alfie/More Than A Dream’, of which his rendition of Cilla Black’s hit single opened up a whole new audience base for his multi talented skills. From that same album comes ‘A House Is Not A Home’ which had been covered by Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross amongst others.

The unusual ‘What The World Needs Now’ by the unknown Tom Clay (issued as a UK single in 1971) is a cover of the Jackie de Shannon song from three years earlier interspersed with snippets from the great freedom march speeches and funeral excerpts from the Kennedy clan – unusual to say the least.

One of my all-time favourite songs from the 5th Dimension ‘One Less Bell To Answer’ gets a look in from Gladys Knight & the Pips as she delivers this great song much in the same style as the original, and equally appealing is the Dusty Springfield song from Smokey & the Miracles with ‘I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself’ of which I have to say that he does with justice.

Other cover versions include songs by the Four Tops, Diana Ross, Jimmy Ruffin, and Motown have even resurrected Stephanie Mills’ 1976 UK single ‘This Empty Place’ which has been missing from compilation for far too long now.

All in all this is a great package that should not be overlooked. Great songs, great artists, presented in a way that does them ALL justice. A CD that if promoted correctly will win over a lot of new fans. Ideal for radio.

Rating 8/10

Released July 2002