VA - The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 11A: 1971 (2008 )

Berry Gordy moved Motown from Detroit to Los Angeles at the end of 1968 but, like an earthquake, not all of the aftershocks were felt after the initial shift. It took a while for all the dust to settle, for Motown to start feeling like it belonged to Hollywood instead of the Motor City, for the label to get to the point where the showbiz began to eclipse the soul, and that year was 1971. That year, Gordy slowly started to recede from the day-to-day operations of the label, choosing to pursue interests in film and television, but Motown hardly shut down in his absence: they churned out more 45s than ever, releasing so many singles in the course of a single year that when it came time for Hip-O Select to cover 1971 in their comprehensive The Complete Motown Singles series, they had to split the year into two multi-disc box sets. This, Vol. 11A, covers the first six months of 1971, six months that had enough activity for a year -- a full six discs of material, to be precise. The entirety of Motown's 1970 singles output fit onto a six-disc set for Vol. 10, so it stands to reason that 1971 either was an embarrassment of riches or found the label stretching itself a little thin.

The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 11A: 1971 proves the latter to be true, containing moments of blinding genius surrounded by cinematic schmaltz and funky filler. Genius is none too strong a word for the best music Motown produced in the first half of 1971, especially the album that defined the year for the label and much of pop music in general, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. This was the first Motown LP to be an artist-driven concept album, a seismic shift within the label that is just as palpable when it's sampled here by its two hit singles, "What's Going On" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," as they sit respectively next to R. Dean Taylor's AM pop and Hearts of Stone's bubblegum soul, two pieces of agreeable fluff that have more to do with the label at large than Marvin's two masterworks. Gaye was hardly the only artist working at a peak during these six months: Stevie Wonder began to enter his mature phase, rearranging the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out," which was backed with the extraordinary "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"; Smokey Robinson had the great "I Don't Blame You at All"; the Jackson 5 had "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Mama's Pearl"; Gladys Knight & the Pips had the slow-burner "I Don't Want to Do Wrong"; the Temptations hit a high watermark with "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" while David Ruffin had a few great singles that didn't quite take off; Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate" was the peak of Motown's hippie rock; and the Undisputed Truth's "Smiling Faces Sometimes" proved that it wasn't just Motown's legacy acts that were turning out great music.

Nevertheless, it's those Marvin Gaye singles that point out the gap between what Motown's artists were capable of achieving and the product that the label was cranking out. Blinded by the stars of Tinsel Town, the label signed up Sammy Davis, Jr. to cut a single of show tunes, granted Bobby Darin the permission to indulge in his soulman fantasies, and had Bill Cosby mug with Diana Ross on Randy Newman's "Love Story" for Ross' TV variety show -- and this splashy, schmaltzy sound isn't just heard here, but throughout the lesser-known sides. Often, these justly neglected 45s don't sound like singles buried in the back of some dusty record store but rather incidental soundtrack music for a forgotten television show. There are naturally exceptions to the rule -- the great Chuck Jackson gamely struggles with the novelty "Pet Names," Eddie Kendricks' melodramatic "This Used to Be the Home of Johnnie Mae" has some symphonic force, Stoney & Meatloaf's "What You See Is What You Get" is a terrific hippie blues-rock number, and Arthur Adams' scrapped slow blues "Uncle Tom" has a terrific flip, the insistent dance number "Morning Train" -- but for the most part the lesser-known singles here are cornball cultural artifacts, interesting for collectors and soul fanatics, but they pale too easily next to the unadulterated brilliance of the best music here.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Jackson 5 - Mama's Pearl (Album Version) (3:12)
1.02 - Jackson 5 - Darling Dear (Album Version) (2:37)
1.03 - Joe Hinton - Let's All Save The Children (Single Version) (3:45)
1.04 - Joe Hinton - You Are Blue (Single Version) (2:31)
1.05 - Brass Monkey - Sweet Water (Single Version) (2:51)
1.06 - Brass Monkey - You Keep Me Hangin' On (Single Version) (3:46)
1.07 - Chuck Jackson - Pet Names (Single Version) (2:53)
1.08 - Chuck Jackson - Is There Anything Love Can't Do (Album Version) (3:05)
1.09 - The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (Single Version / Mono) (3:54)
1.10 - The Temptations - You Make Your Own Heaven And Hell Right Here On Earth (Album Version) (2:48)
1.11 - R. Dean Taylor - Ain't It A Sad Thing (2:28)
1.12 - R. Dean Taylor - Back Street (3:33)
1.13 - Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Single Version / Stereo) (3:54)
1.14 - Marvin Gaye - God Is Love (Single Version) (2:51)
1.15 - The Undisputed Truth - Save My Love For A Rainy Day (Album Version) (3:54)
1.16 - The Undisputed Truth - Since I've Lost You (Album Version) (3:22)
1.17 - Ken Christie & The Sunday People - Don't Pay Me No Mind (Single Version) (2:40)
1.18 - Ken Christie & The Sunday People - Listen To Your Soul (Single Version) (4:10)
1.19 - David Ruffin - Each Day Is A Lifetime (Single Version) (3:13)
1.20 - David Ruffin - Don't Stop Lovin' Me (Single Version) (2:51)
1.21 - Kiki Dee - Love Makes The World Go Round (Single Version) (2:46)
1.22 - Kiki Dee - Jimmy (Album Version) (3:21)
1.23 - Kiki Dee - Love Makes The World Go Round (Alternate Mix) (2:48)
2.24 - Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out (Single Version - Mono) (2:54)
2.25 - Stevie Wonder - Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer (Single Version - Mono) (2:53)
2.26 - The Miracles - I Don't Blame You At All (Single Version (Mono)) (3:07)
2.27 - The Miracles - That Girl (Single Version) (2:59)
2.28 - Eddie Kendricks - This Used To Be The Home Of Johnnie Mae (Single Version) (5:57)
2.29 - Eddie Kendricks - It's So Hard For Me To Say Good-Bye (Album Version) (3:09)
2.30 - Eddie Kendricks - This Used To Be The Home Of Johnnie Mae (Short Promo Version) (3:53)
2.31 - Sammy Davis, Jr. - In My Own Lifetime (Single Version) (2:35)
2.32 - Sammy Davis, Jr. - I'll Begin Again (Album Version) (2:31)
2.33 - Sammy Davis, Jr. - In My Own Lifetime (Stereo Promo Version) (2:36)
2.34 - Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Goodbye (Single Version) (3:02)
2.35 - Jackson 5 - She's Good (Album Version) (3:01)
2.36 - R. Dean Taylor - Gotta See Jane (Second Pressing) (3:06)
2.37 - R. Dean Taylor - Gotta See Jane (Stereo Promo Version) (3:06)
2.38 - Gordon Staples - Strung Out (Single Version) (2:44)
2.39 - Gordon Staples - Sounds Of The Zodiac (Single Version) (2:32)
2.40 - Gordon Staples - Strung Out (Stereo Promo Version) (3:16)
2.41 - Gordon Staples - Strung Out (Long Promo Version) (2:58)
2.42 - Edwin Starr - Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On (Single Version/Mono) (3:08)
2.43 - Edwin Starr - Cloud Nine (Album Version) (3:22)
2.44 - Various Interprets - When My Love Hand Comes Down (2:50)
2.45 - Various Interprets - Steppin' On A Dream (Single Version) (2:27)
2.46 - Letta - I Won't Weep No More (Single Version) (2:44)
2.47 - Letta - You Touched Me (Single Version) (3:42)
2.48 - Stevie Wonder - Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer (Stereo Promo Version) (2:53)
3.49 - Diana Ross - Reach Out I'll Be There (Single Version) (4:05)
3.50 - Diana Ross - (They Long To Be) Close To You (Single Version) (3:47)
3.51 - Diana Ross - Reach Out I'll Be There (Long Stereo Promo Version) (5:03)
3.52 - Diana Ross - Reach Out I'll Be There (Short Stereo Promo Version) (4:02)
3.53 - P.J. - (I've Given You) The Best Years Of My Life (Single Version) (2:24)
3.54 - P.J. - It Takes A Man To Teach A Woman How To Love (Single Version) (2:36)
3.55 - Various Interprets - What You See Is What You Get (2:20)
3.56 - Various Interprets - Lady Be Mine (Single Version) (3:18)
3.57 - Various Interprets - What You See Is What You Get (Stereo Promo Version) (2:21)
3.58 - The Supremes - Nathan Jones (3:03)
3.59 - The Supremes - Happy (Is A Bumpy Road) (3:07)
3.60 - The Supremes - Nathan Jones (Stereo Promo Version) (3:01)
3.61 - Bobby Darin - Melodie (Single Version) (2:49)
3.62 - Bobby Darin - Someday We'll Be Together (Single Version) (2:57)
3.63 - Impact Of Brass - Never Can Say Goodbye (Single Version) (2:43)
3.64 - Impact Of Brass - So Far, So Good (Single Version) (3:36)
3.65 - Impact Of Brass - Never Can Say Goodbye (Stereo Promo Version) (2:48)
3.66 - King Floyd - Heartaches (Single Version) (2:39)
3.67 - King Floyd - Together We Can Do Anything (Single Version) (2:23)
3.68 - Diana Ross - Feelin' Alright (Single Version) (2:16)
3.69 - Diana Ross - Love Story (Single Version) (3:16)
3.70 - Gladys Knight & The Pips - I Don't Want To Do Wrong (Single Version) (3:21)
3.71 - Gladys Knight & The Pips - Is There A Place (In This Heart For Me) (3:31)
3.72 - Gladys Knight & The Pips - I Don't Want To Do Wrong (Stereo Promo Version) (3:30)
4.73 - Various Interprets - You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart (Single Version) (2:49)
4.74 - Various Interprets - I'm Glad About It (Album Version) (3:17)
4.75 - Various Interprets - You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart (Stereo Promo Version) (2:29)
4.76 - The Undisputed Truth - Smiling Faces Sometimes (Album Version) (3:19)
4.77 - The Undisputed Truth - You Got The Love I Need (Album Version) (3:02)
4.78 - Ivy Jo Hunter - I'd Still Love You (Single Version) (3:20)
4.79 - Ivy Jo Hunter - I Can Feel The Pain (Single Version) (2:44)
4.80 - Ivy Jo Hunter - I'd Still Love You (Stereo Promo Version) (3:18)
4.81 - Four Tops - In These Changing Times (3:24)
4.82 - Four Tops - Right Before My Eyes (Single Version (Mono)) (3:07)
4.83 - Diana Ross - Reach Out I'll Be There (Mono Promo Version) (4:01)
4.84 - The Crusaders - Pass The Plate (2:43)
4.85 - The Crusaders - Greasy Spoon (Single Version) (2:49)
4.86 - The Crusaders - Pass The Plate (Stereo Promo Version) (2:44)
4.87 - Hugh Masekela & the Union Of South Africa - Dyambo (De-Yambo) Weary Day Is Over (Single Version) (2:41)
4.88 - Hugh Masekela & the Union Of South Africa - Shebeen (Single Version) (4:03)
4.89 - Hugh Masekela & the Union Of South Africa - Dyambo (De-Yambo) Weary Day Is Over (Stereo Promo Version) (2:52)
4.90 - Arthur Adams - Uncle Tom (Single Version) (3:57)
4.91 - Arthur Adams - Mornin' Train (Single Version) (2:46)
4.92 - The Stylists - What Is Love (Single Version) (3:30)
4.93 - The Stylists - Where Did The Children Go (Single Version) (3:36)
4.94 - The Miracles - Crazy About The La La La (Single Version (Mono)) (2:53)
4.95 - The Miracles - Oh Baby Baby I Love You (Single Version) (2:35)
4.96 - The Miracles - Crazy About The La La La (Stereo Promo Version) (2:57)
5.97 - Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Single Version) (2:30)
5.98 - Marvin Gaye - Sad Tomorrows (Single Version) (2:23)
5.99 - Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Stereo Promo Version) (2:29)
5.100 - Hearts Of Stone - If I Could Give You The World (Album Version) (3:04)
5.101 - Hearts Of Stone - You Gotta Sacrifice (We Gotta Sacrifice) (Single Version) (2:45)
5.102 - Hearts Of Stone - If I Could Give You The World (Stereo Promo Version) (3:04)
5.103 - Ken Christie & The Sunday People - The Reverend John B. Daniels (Single Version) (2:40)
5.104 - Ken Christie & The Sunday People - Jesus Is The Key (Single Version) (2:51)
5.105 - Ken Christie & The Sunday People - The Reverend John B. Daniels (Stereo Promo Version) (3:01)
5.106 - R. Dean Taylor - Candy Apple Red (3:36)
5.107 - R. Dean Taylor - Woman Alive (2:35)
5.108 - R. Dean Taylor - Candy Apple Red (Stereo Promo Version) (3:34)
5.109 - Rare Earth - I Just Want To Celebrate (Single Version) (2:52)
5.110 - Rare Earth - The Seed (Album Version) (3:27)
5.111 - Rare Earth - I Just Want To Celebrate (Stereo Promo Version) (2:54)
5.112 - Jackson 5 - Maybe Tomorrow (Promo Single Version) (4:33)
5.113 - Jackson 5 - I Will Find A Way (3:00)
5.114 - Jackson 5 - Maybe Tomorrow (Stereo Promo Version) (4:32)
5.115 - Tom Clay - What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin And John (Single Version) (6:19)
5.116 - Tom Clay - The Victors (Single Version) (4:34)
5.117 - Tom Clay - What The World Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin And John (Short Promo Version) (5:25)
5.118 - The Temptations - It's Summer (Single Version) (2:52)
5.119 - The Temptations - I'm The Exception To The Rule (Album Version) (3:25)