Stevie Wonder: Send Me Some Lovin’
From I Was Made To Love Her (Motown, 1967)
The Marvelettes: Here I Am Baby
From Sophisticated Soul (Motown, 1968). Also on The Ultimate Collection.
Brenda Holloway: How Can I
From Cellarful of Motown (Motown)
I’m in another one of those “swamped by work” times but here’s a trio of Motown tracks that have been keeping my spirits groovin’ along of late.
The Stevie is one of the gazillion album cuts that he has that help you realize: dude was limitless in his talents in the ’60s through ’70s. Any given album would have all kinds of great songs that never made it to single (and those that did, usually became hits). Check out that ridiculously funky backing track the Funk Brothers lay down here.
Likewise, the Marvelettes song is one of their funkier outings; a smoky, mid-tempo stepper that shows off some of the group’s multi-harmony magic.
Vocally though, it’s hard to beat this incredible Brenda Holloway song that comes from the unreleased vaults of Motown. Absolutely stunning arrangement and performance from Holloway (and those back-up singers put the icing on).
chatter