Album Reviews

Here’s one you don’t often see in the bins. Mary Wells auditioned for Berry Gordy when she was 16 and not long afterward had a monster, world-wide hit with “My Guy” back in 1964. It hit #5 in England and The Beatles asked her to tour with them.

Not a bad start for the smoky voiced teenager. In those days just like today, singles ruled the teen world but Berry Gordy was determined to reach a more adult audience and so almost from the beginning of his empire he produced full length LPs and in stereo to boot.

While most albums then contained the hit single and a lot of throwaway filler, Gordy produced many albums packed with great songs. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of them.

Though it contains “My Guy”— a song that is as pleasing and hum-able today as it was in 1964, and though the five others are pretty good Smoky Robinson and Holland, Dozier, Holland pop confections, with one by William “Mickey” Stevenson, side two consists of “Motown-ified” standards like “It Had to Be You,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and “My Baby Just Cares For Me.” The final song on side one is a HDH tune with the unfortunate title (and chorus) of “He Holds His Own”— not that as a teenager back then I couldn't relate to the double entendre!

Interestingly, the previous album in Motown’s catalog (S 616) was Mary Wells Greatest Hits, which also includes “My Guy” along with the the greats “Two Lovers” and “You Beat Me to the Punch” plus some really great Smoky tunes like “What Love Has Joined Together.”

That album would make for a more solid reissue than this, though if you love Mary’s voice, anything she sings is more than tolerable. And if you're a Motown collector you'll probably buy this because finding an original isn't easy.

The sound is early Motown stereo, probably recorded on a three track recorder. Though Motown got a custom made eight track recorder in 1964, it was probably too late for this release judging by the basic, but competent sound.