The Greatest Hits of Classic R&B

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

▶CD 1
▼CD 2
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1What's Going On
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (on 1971-05-06)
instruments:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (on 1971-05-06) and The Funk Brothers (on 1971-05-06)
percussion [box drum], piano and lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06)
background vocals:
Lem Barney (on 1971-05-06), Mel Farr (on 1971-05-06) and Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte (on 1971-05-06)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1971-05-06)
part of:
Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 4), Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 4) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 6)
recording of:
What’s Going On (on 1971-05-06)
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd., Stone Agate Music Corp., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Marvin Gaye4.253:52
2I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1965)
strings:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (in 1965)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1965), Marlene Barrow (in 1965), Renaldo Benson (in 1965), Louvain Demps (in 1965), Abdul "Duke" Fakir (in 1965), Jackie Hicks (in 1965) and Lawrence Payton (in 1965)
lead vocals:
Levi Stubbs (in 1965)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1965)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 30), Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 415) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 483)
recording of:
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) (in 1965)
lyricist:
Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter) and Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland‐Dozier‐Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Stone Agate Music Division
The Four Tops3.52:45
3Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, Part 1
producer:
James Brown (“The Godfather of Soul”)
alto saxophone and organ:
Nat Jones (in 1965-02)
baritone saxophone and tenor trombone:
Maceo Parker (in 1965-02)
bass:
Bernard Odum (in 1965-02) and Sam Thomas (US rockabilly artist) (in 1965-02)
guitar:
Jimmy Nolen (in 1965-02)
membranophone:
Melvin Parker (in 1965-02)
tenor saxophone:
Al Brisco Clark (in 1965-02), St. Clair Pinckney (in 1965-02) and Eldee Williams (in 1965-02)
trombone:
Wilmer Milton (in 1965-02) and Levi Rasbury (in 1965-02)
trumpet:
Joe Dupars (in 1965-02) and Ron Tooley (in 1965-02)
lead vocals:
James Brown (“The Godfather of Soul”) (in 1965-02)
performer:
The James Brown Band
recorded at:
Arthur Smith Studios in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States (in 1965-02)
part of:
The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 34) and Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 72)
partial recording of:
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (in 1965-02)
lyricist and composer:
James Brown (“The Godfather of Soul”)
recording of:
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
lyricist and composer:
James Brown (“The Godfather of Soul”)
James Brown3.652:08
4I Can't Get Next To You
producer:
Norman Whitfield
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
lead vocals:
Dennis Edwards (US soul & R'n'B singer) (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03), Eddie Kendricks (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03) and Paul Williams (member of The Temptations) (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
vocals:
Melvin Franklin (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03) and Otis Williams (US baritone singer, member of The Temptations & The Distants) (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1969)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
recording of:
I Can’t Get Next to You (from 1969-06-23 until 1969-07-03)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations2.652:53
5Stop! In the Name of Love
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
background vocals:
The Andantes (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11), Florence Ballard (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11) and Mary Wilson (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1965)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1965 (recordings) (number: 13) and The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 254)
recording of:
Stop! In the Name of Love (from 1965-01-05 until 1965-01-11)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland‐Dozier‐Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Stone Agate Music Division, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Supremes4.152:53
6My Guy
bass:
James Jamerson (in 1964)
drums (drum set):
Benny Benjamin (US drummer) (in 1964)
guitar:
Robert White (US funk/soul guitarist) (in 1964) and Eddie Willis (in 1964)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1964)
organ:
Earl Van Dyke (in 1964)
piano:
Johnny Griffith (in 1964)
trombone:
George Bohanon (in 1964) and Paul Riser (in 1964)
trumpet:
Russell Conway (trumpet player) (in 1964) and Herbert Williams (trumpet player) (in 1964)
vibraphone:
Dave Hamilton (US guitar/vibraphone player) (in 1964)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1964), Marlene Barrow (in 1964), Louvain Demps (in 1964) and Jackie Hicks (in 1964)
lead vocals:
Mary Wells (Motown singer) (in 1964)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1964)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1964)
recording of:
My Guy (in 1964)
lyricist and composer:
Smokey Robinson
publisher:
Jobette Music (UK) Ltd.
Mary Wells4.22:52
7I Second That Emotion
guitar:
Marvin Tarplin (on 1967-09-21)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (on 1967-09-21)
background vocals:
Warren “Pete” Moore (on 1967-09-21), Claudette Robinson (on 1967-09-21), Bobby Rogers (on 1967-09-21) and Ronald White (soul singer, founding member of The Miracles) (on 1967-09-21)
lead vocals:
Smokey Robinson (on 1967-09-21)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1967-09-21)
recording of:
I Second That Emotion (on 1967-09-21)
writer:
Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Smokey Robinson
publisher:
Jobete Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobete Music Ltd and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles42:48
8Who's Making Love
producer:
Donald Davis (American record producer) and Al Jackson, Jr. (Booker T & The MGs drummer)
bass:
Donald “Duck” Dunn (US bass guitarist, session musician, record producer & songwriter) (in 1968)
guitar:
Steve Cropper (in 1968)
membranophone:
Al Jackson, Jr. (Booker T & The MGs drummer) (in 1968)
organ and background vocals:
Booker T. Jones (in 1968)
piano:
Isaac Hayes (in 1968) and Allen Jones (producer/songwriter/musician/engineer) (in 1968)
lead vocals:
Johnnie Taylor (in 1968)
recording of:
Who’s Making Love? (in 1968)
writer:
Homer Banks, Bettye Crutcher, Don Davis (American record producer) and Raymond Jackson (songwriter, guitarist and producer)
Johnnie Taylor2:48
9You Keep Me Hangin' On
producer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
background vocals:
Florence Ballard (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01) and Mary Wilson (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
lead vocals:
Diana Ross (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
recording of:
You Keep Me Hangin’ On (from 1966-06-30 until 1966-08-01)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland‐Dozier‐Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
Stone Agate Music Division, EMI Music Publishing Japan C.F. division (until 2021-06-30), Jobete Music Co., Inc. (in 1986) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (sub‐publisher for foreign (non‐Japanese) works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
The Supremes33:12
10Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1971-03)
mellotron, piano and lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
solo tenor saxophone:
Wild Bill Moore (jazz and R&B saxophonist) (in 1971-03)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1971-03) and Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
conductor:
David Van dePitte (in 1971-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1971-03)
recording of:
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (in 1971-03)
lyricist and composer:
Marvin Gaye
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present)
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing (S.E. Asia) Ltd., Taiwan
Marvin Gaye4.73:15
11Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
producer:
Norman Whitfield
lead vocals:
Eddie Kendricks (from 1970-01-24 until 1970-12-03)
vocals:
The Temptations (Motown soul vocal group) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971), Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971) and Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Golden World in Detroit, Michigan, United States (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
part of:
Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 389)
recording of:
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (from 1970-11-24 until 1970-12-03)
lyricist:
Barrett Strong
composer:
Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobete Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
The Temptations53:48
12Fingertips (Part 2)
producer:
Berry Gordy
bass:
James Jamerson (on 1962-06-01) and Larry Moses (bass player) (on 1962-06-01)
bongos, harmonica and lead vocals:
Stevie Wonder (on 1962-06-01)
drums (drum set):
Marvin Gaye (on 1962-06-01)
arranger:
Clarence Paul
recorded at:
Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1962-06-01)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1963 (number: 13)
live partial recording of:
Fingertips (on 1962-06-01)
writer:
Henry Cosby and Clarence Paul
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc. and Stone Agate Music
Stevie Wonder53:12
13(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Part 1
bass:
Bootsy Collins (US funk musician & songwriter) (on 1970-04-25)
guitar:
Catfish Collins (on 1970-04-25)
membranophone:
John Starks (on 1970-04-25)
organ and background vocals:
Bobby Byrd (founder of the Famous Flames, James Brown's vocal group) (on 1970-04-25)
piano and lead vocals:
James Brown (“The Godfather of Soul”) (on 1970-04-25)
tenor saxophone:
Robert McCollough (on 1970-04-25)
trumpet:
Clayton Gunnells (on 1970-04-25) and Darryl Hassan Jamison (on 1970-04-25)
recorded at:
Starday Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (on 1970-04-25)
partial recording of:
Get Up I Feel Like Being Like a Sex Machine (on 1970-04-25)
writer:
James Brown (“The Godfather of Soul”), Bobby Byrd (founder of the Famous Flames, James Brown's vocal group) and Ron Lenhoff
publisher:
Dynatone Publishing Co. and Intersong Music Ltd.
James Brown42:50
▶CD 3

Credits

Release

distributed by:Compass Productions (budget compilations)
copyrighted (©) by:Compass Productions (budget compilations) (in 2008)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:Universal Music Enterprises (not for release label use; catalog/reissue division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 2008)