3 from motown

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choose only one!


one more heartache - marvin gaye



(i know) i'm losing you - the temptations



the love i saw in you was just a mirage - smokey robinson and the miracles

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Three interesting artists from Motown to posit.

Here are my views on all three, which kinda make up the reason for my vote.

Gaye was probably the most talented individual artist, besides Stevie Wonder, that Motown had. Sometimes, for me, he's almost too talented and his songs go over my head and heart - they don't connect with me as much as some, although his talent is certainly evident.

The Temps had the advantage of the most earthy arrangements, in my opinion, and had Ruffin and Kendricks at their disposal. They seem to have the best songs - both grounded and spiritual. The opening guitar riff is great, like many of their songs, and this is the winner for me.

Smokey is the most cloying and pop of Motown artists for me. His voice is a shimmering thing of beauty, but almost too ephemeral sometimes. He did pure pop and sentimentality the best, and got away with it mostly. This one crosses the line a bit too much for me.

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i voted smokey because of his ephemeral'ism.

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The levels seem a bit off on the Marvin one - the guitar especially too loud for his vocals. Not immediately outstanding. (A few good photos in the vid - if you're into great Motown photos get Adam White & Barney Ales' Motown: The Sound of Young America).

Ooh, the Temptation one's good. The sound's good, the rhythm's good, the vocals are smooth but it feels like a song that needs finishing.

No mistaking Smokey but I thought the song was Hey Mr Tambourine man for a second.



I'm voting Marvin; it's complete, individual enough but more importantly, it's Marvin.

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Jan 21, 2019 18:40:06 GMT @msthang said:

No mistaking Smokey but I thought the song was Hey Mr Tambourine man for a second.

hadn't noticed that, but you're right!

5 votes and 3 comments. a disappointing turn-out for such 3 great songs. i hope this gets remedied before today is out.

[dipstick]

Smokey and Marvin Tarplin wrote/cowrote the Marvin Gaye track and the Miracles track. That makes me feel slightly guilty about voting for the Temptations here.

The Temptations track has a power behind it that the other two lack and today I'm liking it better.

[toomanyhatz]

I voted Marvin, but mostly because it's the one I've heard the least, plus there's bonus Marv Tarplin on it.

God, he was great! I know for sure he's on at least two of these, but more prominent on OMH.

[nolamike]

I went with The Temptations here, with Smokey a very close second. For what it's worth, they're also probably my two favorite Motown artists.

[Reactionary Rage]

The exquisite melancholy of Smokey is nearly always enough to win most battles and it is again here.