Hands up if you think the greatest Motown single is "I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You" by Rita Wright!

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Just want to make sure I'm not alone.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

That song is fucking GREAT. I had it linked as one of my mp3s of the week on my blog about a month ago.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

If I'd heard that record I might agree with you, but until then it's 'You're all I need to get by'. Or 'Nowhere to run'. Or 'I heard it through the grapevine'. I'm not sure which.

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

An mp3 of it.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

No, wait. This should work.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a stormer, but nothing IMO can compete with "Do I Love You" by Frank Wilson or "Still Waters" by the Four Tops.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 15 January 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Want You Back" and "The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game" still top it, sorry.

― M Matos (M Matos), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

In my world the Marvelettes rules!
Just listen to "Destination: Anywhere" (produced by Ashford/Simpson).

― Bubba, Wednesday, 15 January 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

What I love most of all about the Rita Wright song is that part where it modulates and she hits the wrong note! Also I like the West Side Story-ish dissonant horns at the beginning.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh boy, does this have the nicest bass line in the chorus (and the way it interacts with the horns!). I wonder if that's James Jamerson or Carol Kaye or--who else might it be? Also, is that a key change toward the end or does she just jump an octave? The bum note makes the song.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

P.S. Jody, thanks for posting the MP3 so I can listen to this at work!

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

No, it's a key change.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, I should learn to trust my ears.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 15 January 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

six months pass...

Jody is so OTM.

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

(as a general rule)

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i like her record as "Syreeta" Wright, the one called _Stevie Wonder presents_
i did one of them Pitchfork Repeat articles about her "Spinnin' and SPinnin'" single, which is just transcenedent.

― abeta (abeta), Wednesday, 30 July 2003 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Has anyone seen that new film about Motown? Seeing the trailer just made me realise that the best Motown single is Jimmy Ruffin's 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?' after all.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 31 July 2003 23:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I find it kind of...lachrymose.

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 31 July 2003 23:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Jody can you repost that MP3 somehow?

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 31 July 2003 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely all the best Motown record want to make you dance and cry at once?

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 31 July 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Smokey sez "I Gotta Dance to Keep from Crying"

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 31 July 2003 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

...

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Thursday, 16 September 2004 01:23 (twenty-one years ago)

i still swoon.

― stockholm cindy, montessori emo superstar (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 16 September 2004 01:42 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm getting this RIGHT NOW.

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 16 September 2004 01:46 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

Definitely Jamerson.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Saturday, 9 February 2008 05:39 (seventeen years ago)

Much as I love this single, have trouble getting into Syreeta/Stevie Wonder Presents, except for "She's Leaving Home."

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Saturday, 9 February 2008 21:07 (seventeen years ago)

That would be "Reach Out I'll Be There", so no hands up from me.

― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 9 February 2008 21:37 (seventeen years ago)

Actually, Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta Wright is a lot better than the first one. Buzzy Feiten may have revolutionized guitar tuning, and Gordon Edwards may have been able to snap his fingers along the radio going into the Holland Tunnel and still be in time when he exited the tunnel and the signal kicked back in, but I don't care for their playing on that album.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 10 February 2008 01:27 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

That would be "Reach Out I'll Be There", so no hands up from me.

well, that might be #2.

― amateurist, Tuesday, 4 August 2009 10:55 (sixteen years ago)

Hands up from me, this is not only my fave Motown track, but also my fave soul song ever... I get automatic goosebumps whenever I hear it.

― J4mi3 H4rl3y (Snowballing), Tuesday, 4 August 2009 11:08 (sixteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cYMZLE9i0E

^ love film-the-record youtubes

this is good but it is not 'baby, baby don't cry'

― thomp, Tuesday, 4 August 2009 12:50 (sixteen years ago)

the sound quality on that youtube is atrocious.

― amateurist, Tuesday, 4 August 2009 13:28 (sixteen years ago)

The sound quality makes it sound like Roxy Music's "Bitter-Sweet."

― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 4 August 2009 13:31 (sixteen years ago)

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