Motown Anthology

RELEASE
November 01, 2005
LABEL
Universal International

Album Review

Everything from Chuck Jackson's three Motown albums is included on this two-CD compilation, along with 12 rare cuts covering his non-LP single "Pet Names," a couple tracks that didn't surface until after 2000 on Motown rarity anthologies, and nine songs that were released here for the first time. While it's good to have this rare material so thoroughly and conveniently collected into one place, it's neither among Jackson's best work nor among the better off the beaten track Motown sides. The Jackson-Motown combination should have worked better than it did, but for whatever reason, his 1967-1971 recordings for the label didn't click. In fact, to be blunt, this is some of the blander Motown material of the era, and Jackson's vocals are a little too brusque and overwrought to suit the songs. It's true that many of the songs were penned by top Motown writers like Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Ivy Joe Hunter, but you get the feeling that the composers (and label) were holding back their best stuff for other performers. It bears a competent and representative late-'60s Motown sound; it's just mediocre by the label's (and, to a lesser degree, performer's) own high standards. At least the dozen rare cuts are not obvious rejects, though Smokey Robinson's "Pet Names" is an awkward "get hip with the psychedelic funk times" effort ("I got a love so I don't need smoke, coke or speed").
Richie Unterberger, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. (You Can't Let the Boy Overpower) The Man in You
  2. Your Wonderful Love
  3. Lonely Lonely Man Am I
  4. Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone
  5. I Can't Go on Sharing Your Love
  6. Forgive My Jealousy
  7. To See the Sun Again
  8. What Am I Gonna Do Without You
  9. I Like Everything About You
  10. We'll Find a Way
  11. Where You Gonna Run to Now
  12. Girls Girls Girls
  13. Are You Lonely for Me Baby
  14. Honey Come Back
  15. Can You Feel It, Babe
  16. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
  17. Cry Like a Baby
  18. You Keep Running Away
  19. Can I Change My Mind
  20. I'd Still Love You
  21. The Chokin' Kind
  22. The Day My World Stood Still
  23. No More Water in the Well
  24. Rosalind
  25. Let Somebody Love Me
  26. I Can't Let My Heaven Walk Away
  27. Is There Anything Love Can't Do
  28. The Thrill Is Gone
  29. Baby I'll Get It
  30. Rainy Night in Georgia
  31. Just a Little Love (Before My Life Is Gone)
  32. I'll Fight It ('Til I Win Your Love)
  33. There's a Rainbow in Your Heart
  34. Two Feet from Happiness
  35. That's Me Lovin' You
  36. Have You Heard About the Fool
  37. Pet Names
  38. Who You Gonna Run To [#]
  39. It Must Be Love Baby
  40. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
  41. Nothing Can Ever Come Between Us [#]
  42. Fan the Flame [#]
  43. Thanks But No Thanks [#]
  44. At Last I Found a True Love [#]
  45. Without Your Love [#]
  46. Here Comes the Morning [#]
  47. Helpless [#]
  48. Pinpoint It Down [#]