In the mid Sixties Tamla Motown's unique blend of soul was a staple diet in UK mod clubs. As sharp as a bespoke three button mohair suit, as cool as a pair of Italian loafers pirouetting perfectly on polished parquet, Motown's smooth, hugely danceable R&B remains as much a favourite with today's modernists as it did back in 1965.
Hence these two 20-track volumes of classic Tamla tracks - some rare, others more well known, all ruddy marvellous. And all potential hits too although the label -churning out quality tracks at the same rate as the car industry of its native Detroit churned out Chevys- must have shot itself in the foot by giving the public far too much choice.
More familiar tracks on 'Volume 1' are Barrett Strong's 'Money (That's What I Want)'; The Marvelettes' 'Too Many Fish In The Sea', The Velvelettes' two tracks 'Needle In A Haystack' and 'He Was Really Saying Something' (the latter as covered by Bananarama) and The Miracles' 'Going To A Go-Go'.
Lesser known but no less fantastic are '6x6', a brass and Hammond soaked instrumental courtesy of Motown house musician Earl Van Dyke, the sublime vocal on Marvin Gaye's laidback and moody 'One More Heartache', The Monitors' euphoric, tinkling piano groove 'Number One In Your Heart' and the comic philosophy of The Contours' 'First I Look At The Purse' - "I don't care if she waddles like a duck and talks with a lisp, I think i'm in good luck if her Dollars are crisp." Hardly a new man anthem but still really rather good, as is Brenda Holloway's piano-led heartfelt ballad 'Every Little Bit Hurts' - later covered by The Small Faces.
'Volume 2' meanwhile features The Four Tops' evergreen 'I Can't Help Myself', Martha Reeves & The Vandellas' '(Love Is Like A Heatwave)' and The Miracles' 'I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying' - all well known ditties to the well-manicured ears of the discerning mod.
Heard a little less often perhaps are Earl Van Dyke's finger-popping instrumental 'Soul Stomp', The Marvelettes' 'I'll Keep On Holding On' -later covered by British mod outfit The Action- the upbeat party vibe of Shorty Long's 'Function At The Junction', the Phil Spectorish epic balladry of Barbara McNair's 'You're Gonna Love My Baby' and Chris Clark's sweetly soulful, quirksome, twangy and percussive 'From Head To Toe'.
All forty tracks offered over these two collection are faultless classics and must haves for anyone who rides a Lambretta/Vespa and has a tendency to sprinkle either chalk or talcum powder on the dancefloor before they begin to shake, shimmy, do the jerk or the mash potato. You know who you are...
