The Complete Motown Singles

Vol. 11B: 1971 (Hip-O Select)

Despite messieurs David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks having outgrown the Temptations and Smokey Robinson readying his exit from the Miracles; regardless of the Supremes going through the motions post-Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Holland-Dozier-Holland; and notwithstanding Martha & the Vandellas down to their last three Motown singles and the Four Tops reduced to covering “MacArthur Park,” Detroit’s soul brand wasn’t about to concede July-December 1971 to the fact that L.A. was quickly becoming its base of operations. Although November’s Vol. 11A betrayed a noticeable limp, 11B recovers with a 5-CD bumper crop of B-sides, one-offs, and songs that haven’t seen the light of playback since they were pressed on a 7-inch splat of petroleum product. The first grouping boasts Bobby Darin’s affecting cover of Dylan’s “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.” New Orleans powerhouse Jack Hammer (né Earl Burroughs) doing his best Edwin Starr-style “War” cry on interracial shout-out “Colour Combination” and equally potent flip side “Swim” constitute his only Motown output. Finally, 11A‘s surprise stars Stoney & Meatloaf here debut on CD a cover of the Tempts’ “The Way You Do the Things You Do.” Filler includes Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler),” Stevie Wonder’s “If You Really Love Me,” and Jr. Walker’s raw vocals on “Way Back Home.” So long, Detroit. ***

This article appears in February 6 • 2009.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.