Track Listing

1. Please Mister Postman
2. Playboy
3. So Long Baby
4. Beechwood 4-5789
5. Someday Someway
6. Strange I Know
7. Too Strong To Be Strung Along
8. Twistin' Postman
9. Locking Up My Heart
10. Forever
11. My Daddy Knows Best
12. As Long As I Know He's Mine
13. He's A Good Guy (Yes He Is)
14. You're My Remedy
15. Too Many Fish In The Sea
16. I'll Keep Holding On
17. Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead
18. Don't Mess With Bill
19. You're The One
20. My Baby Must Be A Magician
21. Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
22. Destination Anywhere
23. Here I Am Baby
24. When You're Young & In Love
25. That's How Heartaches Are Made

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #118152 in Music
• Released on: 2000-09-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording remastered, Import

Customer Reviews

Motown's first successful girl group
Before the Supremes or Martha and the Vandellas had any success, the Marvelettes were having big hits in America on a regular basis. The Supremes, who at that time had Florence Ballard as lead singer, didn't chart, while the Vandellas hadn't started then.

With two brilliant lead singers, Gladys Horton (particularly good at the powerhouse songs) and Wanda Young (softer, more seductive), they could do any R+B song with class and style.

After the Vandellas appeared on the scene, and the Supremes made Diana Ross their lead singer, the Marvelettes were markedly less successful despite continuing to make great records, although they did stage a mini-revival on the charts in 1967.

The standout tracks are Please Mr Postman (Motown's first American number one hit by anybody, later covered by the Beatles and the Carpenters, who had their biggest British hit with the song), Beechwood 4-5789 (also covered by the Carpenters) and When you're young and in love (one of those 1967 hits, and their only British hit). Britain was slow to catch Motown fever, missing out on their early hits, despite that Beatles cover.

I believe the Marvelettes are the most under-appreciated of all Motown's stars, but their music is as good as any of the others (who I also enjoy). If you like Motown's other stars, you will surely enjoy this collection.

Classic Motown
Before DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES became the biggest female act on Motown in 1964, there were The Marvelettes who put Motown on the map by securing the labels first NO.1 hit with the classic, PLEASE MR.POSTMAN which has been re-recorded by several artists and groups most notably being THE BEATLES and THE CARPENTERS.

GLADYS HORTON was the lead vocalalist on most of their recordings including on the sprinkling of hits they enjoyed eratically through the 60's such as PLAYBOY, BEACHWOOD - 45789. From 1967 onwards WANDA RODGERS took over on lead vocals and the group enjoyed further hits with THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME and the divine WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE. All of these classic recordings can be found on this definitive compilation which represents all of their greatest hits, a few album cuts and other obscurities. Not all of the tracks are brilliant but the vast majority of the album is very good and well worth a listen! The Marvelettes were sadly one of Motowns most overlooked acts. Excellent compilation of a highly underated soul act that deserved far greater recognition.