Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Spellbound: Motown Lost & Found (1962-1972) (2004)

Martha Reeves began her affiliation with Motown behind the scenes as an Artist and Repertoire assistant. As legend has it, some background vocalists were needed immediately and Reeves -- a local amateur herself -- used the opportunity to display not only her formidable talents, but those of her bandmates in the Del-Phis. This double-disc anthology presents a chronological overview of those formerly hidden nuggets with nearly four dozen previously unearthed songs spanning Reeves' and company's entire decade-long studio career. Interestingly, because of the combo's rather sudden kick-start, their earliest selections had been written for other established acts, such as the Supremes' ("Time Changes Things") and Stevie Wonder ("Someday, Someway"). The Vandellas' were supplied the best that Motown had to offer, and while all the artists shared the inimitable instrumental support of the Funk Brothers, more discerning and judicious was the matching of writers and producers to the talent. Perhaps Reeves' background in A&R helped her garner the attention of Holland-Dozier-Holland, whose magic touch can be heard on "All That Glitters Isn't Gold" and "If You Don't Want My Love," while the masterful William "Smokey" Robinson gets credit for providing the thoroughly groovy "That's How Bad" and the dark ballad "You Neglect Me." The team of Mickey Stevenson and Ivory Joe Hunter had a hand with the outstanding "Missing Lover," "I Got It Bad," [note: why weren't these crossover pop smashes?!] "I Can't Understand It," "Keep Stepping (Never Look Back)" and "You've Been on My Mind." Of similar value are "I'm So Glad You Belong to Me" -- which was a significant side for Edwin Starr and Blinky -- and another Holland-Dozier-Holland entry titled "Since You've Been Gone" that was also done to great effect by the Four Tops. Further essentials are the stereo mix of "Earthquake," as well as "Talking 'Bout Love" and "Let Me Fall in Love With You" -- a pair of early-'70s Stevie Wonder compositions, the latter co-penned by the one and only Syreeta. The collection's oversized 28-page liner booklet is packed with photos and discographical session information for true Motown-o-philes.

Tracklist:

1.01 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Time Changes Things (2:24)
1.02 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Someday Someway (3:05)
1.03 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I Can't Take It (2:33)
1.04 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - All That Glitters Isn't Gold (2:21)
1.05 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Coney Island (2:45)
1.06 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Spellbound (2:52)
1.07 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Too Far Gone To Save Myself (2:31)
1.08 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Missing Lover (2:32)
1.09 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - It's Your Wedding Day (2:32)
1.10 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I Got It Bad (2:24)
1.11 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Too Much Pressure On My Heart (2:57)
1.12 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - That's How Bad (2:59)
1.13 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I Can't Understand It (3:09)
1.14 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Keep Stepping (Never Look Back) (2:27)
1.15 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - You Neglect Me (3:01)
1.16 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - You've Been On My Mind (2:45)
1.17 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I Can't Help It (I Love You) (2:52)
1.18 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Save Some Room In Your Heart (2:46)
1.19 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Hold On I'm Coming (2:18)
1.20 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - If You Don't Want My Love (2:39)
1.21 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Since You've Been Gone (2:22)
1.22 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Love Where Are You Hiding (3:08)
1.23 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - For Once In My Life (3:03)
1.24 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Back-To-School Promo (0:22)
2.25 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Looking In The Mirror (2:51)
2.26 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - A Little Bit Of Heaven (On A Little Patch Of Earth) (2:35)
2.27 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Candy Man (3:11)
2.28 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I'm Glad You Belong To Me (3:18)
2.29 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - It Must Be Him (3:13)
2.30 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Oh, I've Been Blessed (2:52)
2.31 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I Can't Erase The Way I Feel (2:49)
2.32 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I've Got To See You (2:49)
2.33 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Since You've Been Gone (Sweet, Sweet Baby) (2:14)
2.34 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Operation Teamwork (2:35)
2.35 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Take It Off (3:17)
2.36 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Full Speed Ahead (2:03)
2.37 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - I'll Take A Raincheck (If Love Invites Me) (2:35)
2.38 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Is There A Place (In His Heart For Me) (3:21)
2.39 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - In A World Of My Own (2:08)
2.40 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Standing Ovation (3:59)
2.41 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Earthquake (2:57)
2.42 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Build Your Love On A Strong Foundation (2:47)
2.43 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Where Was I (When Love Came By) (3:01)
2.44 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - There's Love In This World (3:17)
2.45 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Let Me Fall In Love With You (2:36)
2.46 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Talking 'Bout Love (2:35)
2.47 - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - Ain't My Stuff Good Enough (2:41)