I did a little Mother's Day shopping over the weekend...

I had no idea, and decided to give the gift of music. Music that she would like: Obscure J Geils or Springsteen would be same as a new bowling ball already engraved with my initials. She loves Aretha Franklin and most Motown, something we have very little of. So.....

I chose Aretha's "Amazing Grace" and the "Motown Box". Anyone familiar with these?

I understand "Amazing Grace" is some of her best work. I did preview the tracks and they were, well, amazing. I chose the earlier release, in which some of the tracks are "cleaned up" and much of the preaching was removed. The later release is untouched, purists seemed to prefer the sound.

I looked at both the Motown "Hitsville" collection and remixed "Motown Box" Again, purists seemed to prefer the original mono recordings on "Hitsville" versus the stereo remixes of the "Box". I checked out the samples, the remixes sounded great to me: Not particularly how they originally sounded, but "better"- maybe even the way they were wished to sound at the time????

What do you think? Both of us are only casual Motown fans looking for some new music.

Aretha is great, she is the embodiment of Motown! I have couple of her LPs and they are all wonderful. I think your mom will be very pleased.

Good going!

otis redding?

betty davis? (the betty married to miles, not the betty davis eyes one)

one or more of the Eccentric Soul comps?

sam cooke?

that stuff isn't motown, just suggestions.

Aretha is great, she is the embodiment of Motown! I have couple of her LPs and they are all wonderful. I think your mom will be very pleased.

Good going!
Wasn't Diana Ross the embodiment of 'Motown Soul'?

I always thought Aretha was the embodiment of Atlantic. Was she on Motown as well?

Wasn't Diana Ross the embodiment of 'Motown Soul'?

I always thought Aretha was the embodiment of Atlantic. Was she on Motown as well?

You're probably right. But to me she just has that soul.

I'd go with Aretha Live At The Filmore
Young Gifted and Black
or I'm biased any Diana Ross album!

The "Amazing Grace" collection is important to many because it marked Ms Franklin's return to gospel music, etc. Did you settle on the Rhino reissue expanded 2-CD set? Anyway, I'm sure it's as amazing as anything else in Aretha's oeuvre.

As for the persons(s) most deserving of the embodiment of Motown sobriquet, a short list of contenders might include...

Berry Gordy
Marvin Gaye
The Supremes
Stevie Wonder
The Four Tops
James Jamerson
Smokey Robinson
...and several more, I'm sure.

As for the persons(s) most deserving of the embodiment of Motown sobriquet, a short list of contenders might include...

Berry Gordy
Marvin Gaye
The Supremes
Stevie Wonder
The Four Tops
James Jamerson
Smokey Robinson
...and several more, I'm sure.
A very fine list! I totally agree with every one included.
But you left off,
Holland-Dozier-Holland.
And 'The Funk Brothers'.

...add the Temptations, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas...