While conventional wisdom holds that the Motown hit machine had essentially run out of gas by the middle of the '80s, this 16-track collection reveals that at least in 1985 the label was still capable of delivering its share of memorable records. Granted, "Part-Time Lover" is far from the best single Stevie Wonder ever cut, and the Mary Jane Girls' "In My House" is unlikely to erase the memory of classic girl groups like the Supremes or Martha & the Vandellas, but taken on their own terms, these are songs which deserve to ...
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While conventional wisdom holds that the Motown hit machine had essentially run out of gas by the middle of the '80s, this 16-track collection reveals that at least in 1985 the label was still capable of delivering its share of memorable records. Granted, "Part-Time Lover" is far from the best single Stevie Wonder ever cut, and the Mary Jane Girls' "In My House" is unlikely to erase the memory of classic girl groups like the Supremes or Martha & the Vandellas, but taken on their own terms, these are songs which deserve to bear the proud Motown imprint, in particular the Commodores' "Nightshift," an affecting tribute to the memories of Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson. (The "I had a dream, I had an awesome dream" passage from Lionel Richie's "Say You, Say Me" is still one of the most ridiculous lyrics ever written, however.) ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
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