Mary Wells Albums (7)
'Early Classics'
Release Date 1/1/1996
Tracks 18
Label Spectrum Music
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What The Critics Say
Mary Wells will forever be known as a Motown artist, but after she left the label in 1964 she cut some very good singles for 20th Century and Atco. Her only album for Atco, The Two Sides of Mary Wells, was cut in 1966 and does indeed feature two sides of Mary Wells. Side one is covers of soul and rock hits of the day (plus the single "Dear Lover"); side two is made up of jazz standards and show tunes. On side one producer Carl Davis doesn't stray far from the Motown sound Wells was associated with; her cover of Deon Jackson's "Love Makes the World Go Round" and the Supremes' "My World Is Empty Without You Babe" hew the closest to that label's punchy and compressed style, but "Good Lovin'" and "Satisfaction" aren't far off. Only her raw take on "In the Midnight Hour" and the lovely ballad "Dear Lover," which is a very New York-sounding slice of sophisticated soul powered by Wells' best vocal on the album, stray very far. Fair enough, everyone involved had to know that the only hope Wells had of selling records was to capture some "My Guy" magic in a bottle, and the best way to catch it was to follow the formula. The standards side is semi-interesting; Wells can sing the songs chosen well enough, but ultimately the tunes are too slickly produced and she's no Carmen McRae or Dinah Washington. Not even Nancy Wilson. Better to let her stick to the sweet soul and leave the standards to the pros. The failure of this record to be satisfying falls directly on the head of whoever had the idea for Wells to sing standards. Better to track down Ichiban's Dear Lover: The Atco Sessions, which has all the soul sides from The Two Sides of Mary Wells, plus all four of her Atco singles and a couple of unreleased tracks, to boot. ~Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
'Mary Wells Sings My Guy'
Release Date 1/1/1964
Tracks 12
Label Motown
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What The Critics Say
On this album, Smokey Robinson demonstrated his ability to craft and hone great material for female acts, something he would later repeat with The Marvelettes. Besides the title track, which became Motown's first Top Ten and #1 pop hit, there were other strong tunes, such as "He's the One I Love" and "At Last," that weren't hits but certainly should have been. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A fine, but unfortunately deleted, album featuring Mary Wells in concert during her peak years. She was a shouting, triumphant vocalist in the early '60s, one whose delivery and manner were alternately seductive, defiant, and vulnerable. Motown should get this back into print immediately. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
'The One Who Really Loves You'
Release Date 1/1/1962
Tracks 10
Label Motown
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What The Critics Say
Fairly solid effort, with most of the songs penned by Motown mainstays like Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, and Mickey Stevenson. Includes the Top 10 hits "The One Who Really Loves You" and "You Beat Me To The Punch," as well as one of the few Wells originals she recorded while at Motown, "Drifting Love." But considering that seven of the ten songs appear on Looking Back, only Wells collectors need to pick this up. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
'Bye, Bye Baby, I Don't Want to Take a Chance'
Release Date 1/1/1961
Tracks 10
Label Motown
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What The Critics Say
Raw, early Motown soul features a gruffer Wells wailing the blues. ~ Rick A. Bueche, All Music Guide
