 Various Artists A few years back, Motown launched a series of CDs called "Motown Milestones" which went pretty well unnoticed by critics and consumers, even though it was the first time Motown had ever anthologized itself to any degree commensurate with its phenomenal achievements. The series included specific best-ofs for some of the lesser-known Motown artists (Undisputed Truth, Teena Marie), a number of "year by year" compilations which reflected Motown's output from 1964-80 (these, I believe, are now out of print, but nearly every one is excellent), and a few theme compilations like this one devoted to the label's great female groups and solo stars. The 21 tracks on this CD cover nearly twenty years (1962-80) and make a really strong argument for the "girl pop" on Motown being among the label's best material. Everyone important is represented, with most artists given just one track (so by getting a Diana Ross solo song, we avoid having to hear "Stop! In The Name of Love" one more time), making Motown's Leading Ladies a concise and very hip little sampler of feminist soul. Many of the cuts will be familiar (Mary Wells' "Two Lovers," Brenda Holloway's brilliant "Every Little Bit Hurts," Diana's single edit of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"), but the real accomplishment of the CD is unearthing forgotten or underrated classics like "He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'" by The Velvelettes and "Heaven Must Have Sent You" by The Elgins (a satisfying knockoff of "Where Did Our Love Go"). The real prizes are two contributions by Syreeta: "I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel For You" (released as Rita Wright), which is bafflingly unknown to oldies radio even though it is probably one of the five best singles Motown ever cut, and the Stevie Wonder-penned-and-produced "Harmour Love." I DEMAND a Syreeta best-of as soon as possible. If ever there were a performer more underrated I would like to hear of it. Syreeta's voice is like the best sweater you could ever wear. Not every tune is a gem: a few ("Darling Baby" by The Elgins, Carolyn Crawford's "My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down)") are decidedly lesser. But they are more than balanced out by wonderful cuts like "Love's Gone Bad" by Chris Clark and Kim Weston's rousing "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)." Most of these songs should be established classics. At least someone is trying to redress the gender imbalance plaguing rock history. By the time the disc gets around to Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way," you're left wondering how in holy hell Rare Earth are even regarded as something more than bad marketing when there were so many great women singers putting out better material than those guys could ever even fantasize about. I guess whenever a new Motown collection comes out, everyone just sort of rolls their eyes and assumes it's going to be the umpteenth repackaging of Four Tops and Marvin Gaye hits, but it's a shame these "Milestones" CD's never got their due. Motown, for once, was doing it right and giving the consumer some real value. Now they're back to the 30 minute CD reissues and Motown 40. Oh well, I'll cherish that brief period when they had the perspicacity to do collections like Motown's Leading Ladies … and may that wisdom return.
Review by Peanut Pattersen |