VA – The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 12A: 1972 (2013)

Two songs into The Complete Motown Singles, vol. 12A: 1972, the Four Tops sing “L.A. (My Town),” an ode to the city that became Motown’s new hometown in 1972. By the middle of the year, all Detroit operations closed and Motown now belonged to Los Angeles, and this five-disc box set chronicles the first six months of 1972, the time when Motown was in transition. Certainly, the 113 tracks here — the uneven number of songs derives from the number of alternate mixes and promo versions — showcase a label in the throes of change, its ’60s superstars struggling to keep up with the times as the new groups never quite made waves. At this point in time, Motown’s heavy hitters were Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson 5, and these three are responsible for…

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…the instantly recognizable songs here: Marvin’s “You’re the Man,” Stevie’s “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You),” and Michael Jackson’s “Rockin’ Robin.” The lack of big hits surely would’ve been concerning to Motown in 1972, but this paucity of pop hits makes The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 12A a fascinating listen, as there are covers of familiar songs (the Undisputed Truth’s original version of “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” Edwin Starr’s cover of “Ball of Confusion”), an early single from the Commodores, Bobby Darin covering Randy Newman, attempts at both bubblegum and Latin-tinged funk rock in the vein of War, plus a bunch of stuff that would’ve seemed comfortable on Invictus, the label founded by former Motown hitmakers Holland-Dozier-Holland. All these contradictory styles, when combined with an increasingly slick production polish, makes this particular Motown box feel very much of its time; it evokes an era of polyester knits, long sideburns, fuzz guitars, show biz strings, and productions larger than the songs themselves. Much of the fun of this box is enjoying certain portions for their feel, while digging deep in others to find the handful of gems scattered throughout. There may be no question that the glory days of Motown were over, but hearing the label struggle to find footing in a new decade in a new town makes The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 12A: 1972 nearly as compelling a listen as the boxes that showcased the label’s best years.

Disc 1

1. A Simple Game – Four Tops
2. L.A. (My Town) – Four Tops
3. Our Favorite Melody – Jimmy Ruffin
4. You Gave Me Love – Jimmy Ruffin
5. A Breath Taking Guy – The Marvelettes
6. You’re the One for Me Bobby – The Marvelettes
7. I’m Someone Who Cares – The Originals
8. Once I Have You (I Will Never Let Go) – The Originals
9. I’m Someone Who Cares (Promo Stereo Version) – The Originals
10. Out in the Night – Blue Scepter
11. Gypsy Eyes – Blue Scepter
12. Out in the Night (Promo Stereo Version) – Blue Scepter
13. What It Is? – The Undisputed Truth
14. California Soul – The Undisputed Truth
15. Feel Like Givin’ Up – Posse
16. Take Somebody Like You – Posse
17. Take a Look Around – The Temptations
18. Smooth Sailing (From Now On) – The Temptations
19. Take a Look Around (Promo Stereo Version) – The Temptations
20. I Want to Be Humble – The Devastating Affair
21. My Place – The Devastating Affair
22. I Want to Be Humble (Promo Stereo Version) – The Devastating Affair
23. Rockin’ Robin – Michael Jackson
24. Love is Here and Now You’re Gone – Michael Jackson

Disc 2

1. Can You Give Me Love with a Guarantee – Gladys Knight & The Pips
2. If You Gonna Leave (Just Leave) – Gladys Knight & The Pips
3. Can You Give Me Love with a Guarantee (Promo Stereo Version) – Gladys Knight & The Pips
4. Love Isn’t Here (Like It Used to Be) – Frankie Valli
5. Poor Fool – Frankie Valli
6. Love Isn’t Here (Like It Used to Be) (Second Pressing) – Frankie Valli
7. Poor Fool (Second Pressing) – Frankie Valli
8. Walk in the Night - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
9. I Don’t Want to Do Wrong – Jr. Walker & The All Stars
10. Take Me Clear from Here – Edwin Starr
11. Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today) – Edwin Starr
12. I’m Gonna Get You (Part II) – G.C. Cameron
13. I’m Gonna Get You (Part I) – G.C. Cameron
14. Help Me Make It Through the Night – Gladys Knight & The Pips
15. Mr. Fix-It Man – The Sisters Love
16. You’ve Got to Make the Choice – The Sisters Love
17. Taos New Mexico – R. Dean Taylor
18. Shadow – R. Dean Taylor
19. The Zoo (The Human Zoo) – The Commodores
20. I’m Looking for Love – The Commodores

Disc 3

1. What’d I Say – Rare Earth
2. Nice to Be with You  - Rare Earth
3. What’d I Say (Promo Stereo Version) – Rare Earth
4. Let Me Run Into Your Lonely Heart – Eddie Kendricks
5. Eddie’s Love – Eddie Kendricks
6. Eddie’s Love (Promo Version) – Eddie Kendricks
7. Me and Bobby McGee – Thelma Houston
8. No One’s Gonna Be a Fool Forever – Thelma Houston
9. What It Is, What It Is – G.C. Cameron
10. You Are That Special One – G.C. Cameron
11. Little Bitty Pretty One – The Jackson 5
12. If I Have to Move a Mountain – The Jackson 5
13. Automatically Sunshine – The Supremes
14. Precious Little Things – The Supremes
15. It’s the Same Old Love – The Courtship
16. Last Row, First Balcony – The Courtship
17. It’s the Same Old Love (Promo Stereo Version) – The Courtship
18. Nihaa Shil Hozho (I Am Happy About You) – Xit
19. End? – Xit
20. Nihaa Shil Hozho (I Am Happy About You) (Promo Stereo Version) – Xit
21. I Can’t Quit Your Love – Four Tops
22. Happy (is a Bumpy Road) – Four Tops
23. I Can Make It Alone – Vincent DiMirco
24. Come Clean – Vincent DiMirco

Disc 4

1. Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) – Stevie Wonder
2. I Love Every Little Thing About You – Stevie Wonder
3. It’s Too Much for Man to Take Too Long – Eric & The Vikings
4. Time Don’t Wait – Eric & The Vikings
5. It’s Too Much for Man to Take Too Long (Promo Stereo Version) – Eric & The Vikings
6. Long Way from Home – Howl the Good
7. Why Do You Cry – Howl the Good
8. Long Way from Home (Promo Stereo Version) – Howl the Good
9. You’re the Man (Part 1) – Marvin Gaye
10. You’re the Man (Part 2) – Marvin Gaye
11. I Wanna Be Where You Are – Michael Jackson
12. We’ve Got a Good Thing Going – Michael Jackson
13. We’ve Come Too Far to End It Now – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
14. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – The Undisputed Truth
15. Friendship Train – The Undisputed Truth
16. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone (Promo Stereo Version) – The Undisputed Truth
17. Get Me Some Help – Chris Holland & T-Bone
18. If Time Could Stand Still – Chris Holland & T-Bone
19. Get Me Some Help (Promo Stereo Version) – Chris Holland & T-Bone
20. Tear It On Down – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
21. I Want You Back - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
22. Label Me Love – Different Shades of Brown
23. Life’s a Ball (While It Lasts) – Different Shades of Brown

Disc 5

1. Mother Nature – The Temptations
2. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On – The Temptations
3. Mother Nature (Promo Stereo Version) – The Temptations
4. Sail Away – Bobby Darin
5. Hard Headed Woman – Bobby Darin
6. I Can’t Give Back the Love I Feel for You – Suzee Ikeda
7. Mind, Body and Soul – Suzee Ikeda
8. A Little More Trust – David Ruffin
9. A Day in the Life, of a Working Man – David Ruffin
10. A Little More Trust (Promo Stereo Version) – David Ruffin
11. Money (That’s What I Want) – Blinky
12. For Your Precious Love – Blinky
13. Groove Than – Jr. Walker & The All Stars
14. Me and My Family – Jr. Walker & The All Stars
15. Lookin’ Through the Windows – The Jackson 5
16. Love Song – The Jackson 5
17. Somebody Up There – The Blackberries
18. But I Love You More – The Blackberries
19. To Know You is to Love You – Syreeta
20. Happiness – Syreeta
21. Somebody Oughta’ Turn Your Head Around – Crystal Mansion
22. Earth People – Crystal Mansion