The Motown sound isn't particularly core to my music library, but the influence is strong and, dang it, I like the Funk Brothers. This compilation, one of those freebies glued on to British music magazines, is substantially different from the "classic years" Motown compilation I also have in my library. Generally this one covers a later period for the label, with most of the tracks being recorded after 1965, while the other one barely scratches the 1970's. Needless to say this collection is not nearly as essential, but if you getting bored of the classic era, this offers a nice alternative. Most are comfortably in the "Motown" sound, although there are a couple outliers (Dazz Band, Teena Marie). Overall, the songs have a little more edgy of feel, as was the way with a lot of the music of the period.
It's sad to think that for a label billed as the "World's Greatest" it has experienced such a wretched ending. Unfortunately, as with many labels big and small, it has been relegated to a subsidiary entity handed off among behemoths like PolyGram, Universal, and Capitol. These days outside of indie rock label identity is fairly meaningless.
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