An album that definitely lives up to its title – but which also offers a lot more than you might expect – way more than just a few cash-in dancefloor tunes! True, the whole thing's pretty lively – and titles include the group's seminal version of "Dancing In The Street" – still the only version you'll really ever need, despite years and years of countless covers that always fall short of the mark. But the set's also got a wonderful range that really displays the lead power of Martha Reeves – hewn tightly to the supporting Vandellas backups – and filled with a rich sense of feeling on titles that include the classic "Nowhere To Run", plus other Motown goodies like "Hitch Hike", "Mickey's Monkey", and "The Jerk". LP, Vinyl record album

A real breakout album for Edwin Starr – and the kind of full-on set that really helped give his music a bold new focus! Starr had already scored nicely on some playful tracks from the Motor City scene of the late 60s – but here, he emerges as a singer with a lot more depth than before – not only on the righteous tunes, like the classic title track – but also on some of the warmer ones too, which showcase a new adult style of singing we might not have expected a few years before! Unlike other Motown efforts of this level, there doesn't seem to be any core arranger and producer – which means that Edwin himself did an even greater job of pulling the whole thing together – a great run of tracks that includes the classic "War (What Is It Good For)", a killer version of "California Soul", one of the best Motown-penned tracks from the time – and the tracks "Time", "I Just Wanted To Cry", "All Around The World", "At Last I Found A Love", "I Can't Replace My Old Love", and "She Should Have Been Home". LP, Vinyl record album

The Temptations going in all directions – and all of them pretty darn groovy too! The set's still heavy on the solid, righteous sound of Norman Whitfield – who gives some of the best cuts that psychedelic soul imprint he really perfected with the group – a quality that has a lot more funk than other Motown acts were getting at the time – yet still lets the harmonies soar! A few other numbers showcase a more mature ballad style – different than the sweet soul of their roots, and definitely with an adult vibe we really love. Titles include heavy funk on "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On", and their great cover of Isaac Hayes "Do Your Thing" – some mellow mature covers like "Love Woke Me Up This Morning" and "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" – plus the long version of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", and the tracks "Mother Nature" and "Run Charlie Run". LP, Vinyl record album

The Temptations sing the work of Smokey Robinson – and they've even got Smokey along to help them out on production! Given the high Robinson quotient on the set – both on production and songwriting – you'd almost expect this one to be a copycat of The Miracles' music at the time. Yet The Temps really manage to bring plenty of their own greatness to play on the material – deepening some of the songs with wonderful harmonies, and creating a sound that's often a bit less sweet and a bit more soulful than Smokey's approach with his own group. Titles include "It's Growing", "Who's Loving You", "What's So Good About Goodbye", "Depend On Me", "Way Over There", and "What Love Has Joined Together". LP, Vinyl record album

They're not lying with the title – as this heavy set collects plenty of gems from Motown Records – some of the earliest Berry Gordy productions that set the tone for the label, through later tracks that still have the Motown flag flying strongly into the 80s! There's 33 tracks on the double-length set – and titles include "Money" by Barrett Strong, "Come To Me" by Marv Johnson, "The Way You Do The Things You Do" by The Temptations, "How Sweet It Is" by Marvin Gaye, "Please Mr Postman" by The Marvelettes, "Do You Love Me" by The Contours, "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, "War" by Edwin Starr, "Same Old Song" by The Four Tops, "Uptight" by Stevie Wonder, "Get Ready" by Rare Earth, "It's A Shame" by The Spinners, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston, "Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, "Super Freak" by Rick James, "It Will Come In Time" by Billy Preston & Syreeta, "Let's Get Serious" by Jermaine Jackson, "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards with Siedah Garrett, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes, "Shotgun" by Jr Walker & The All Stars, "My Guy" by Mary Wells, and "This Old Heart Of Mine" by The Isley Brothers. LP, Vinyl record album