"The Women Of Motown" "Mary Wells What's Easy For Two Is So Hard For One" "Motown Greatest Hits"

"If you've seen the Showtime special, Hitsville: The Making Of Motown, you only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg. For certain, it would have required a multiple-episode special to showcase most if not all of the talent that passed through Motown's Detroit studios; and that would be just the 60's... Time to dig a bit deeper into the groups and hits that made (and continue to make) Motown so famous. Motown's first big hitmaker, Mary Wells. With its gentle swing beat and a great pop/soulful organ line by Earl Van Dyke, this Smokey Robinson production, if you listen closely, sounds like the lead-in to "My Guy." The elements are all there, just a bit more funk than pop perhaps. Notice these same musical parts would also play well behind later Smokey Robinson-produced gems for the Marvelettes on releases like "Don't Mess With BIll" and "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game." Mary Wells, a gorgeous performer with a voice many tried to emulate. She could give you spine-chilling blues and R&B performances or, on a dime, slip into that vocal styling of purring, seductive softness. Deceptive in how easy it sounded, she excelled in singing strictly with the melody lines while still making it sound very soulful and intriguing. Note: the trio of ladies featured in photos and backing Mary Wells is of course, The Andantes. In addition the the Funk Brothers, The Andantes' vocals were one of Motown's other incredible secret weapons essential to that incredible Motown Sound. Together, Mary and The Andantes formed such a dynamite union." related: "mary wells my guy" "motown greatest hits"