THE MARVELETTES/SOPHISTICATED SOUL STML 11090 (-69) UK

One of many great sixties Motown albums. Years after the 1961 breakthrough with "Please Mr. Postman" the group was struggling in the backwater of the label's successful girl bands The Supremes and Martha & The Vandellas. Getting less promotion and assets there was also less chance for development and adaption to the market. But from the 1967 "Pink Album" the label made a collective attempt to give the girls a more mature style fitting the smoother tastes of the period, then handeled by Smokey Robinson and a number of co-producers. This follow-up has about the same studio staff and continues the softer approach. Some cuts reminds of contemporary Supremes while others have a jazzier style. However in spite of the album title it's not fully sophisticated and that's what makes it good. While the arrangements follows the Motown formula the vocals are more natural and connective, giving a contrast I find very appealing and almost sexy. Some of the songs became Northern Soul picks, but the album's overall sales wasn't great - US issue (Tamla TS 286) reached #41 on the R&B list, but nothing on Billboard and it didn't chart at all in UK. Favorite track - "My Baby Must Be A Magician". Also as UK mono (TML 11090). First press had label as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (TÖMÖ*)(FÄV*)