Diana Ross & the Supremes
Let the Sunshine In (Motown/Universal/Elemental)
By 1969, the Supremes were on their 16th studio album, and they'd been working under the moniker Diana Ross & the Supremes for a year or so. Musically, everything about Let the Sunshine In suggests that they were deep into their hippie phase.
"Originally scheduled as No Matter What Sign You Are, the album title was changed to Let the Sunshine In, capitalizing on the No.1 song in the U.S. at that moment for The 5th Dimension," the press release states. :The album features Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, while original Supreme Florence Ballard appears on 'Let the Music Play.'"
The cover of Hair medley "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" is sweet enough, as are the versions of Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and Sly Stone's "Everyday People."
Their voices are typically gorgeous on the likes of "I'm Livin' in Shame" and "Will This Be the Day," because the Supremes really could do no wrong.
"This limited edition includes the original front and back cover artwork and is pressed on 140-gram virgin vinyl," they say.
The Temptations
Puzzle People (Motown/Universal/Elemental)
Puzzle People is another album from the glorious very-late '60s/early '70s period for the Temptations, and indeed for Motown. Many of the bands are artists had taken off their matching suits, and they weren't playing nice anymore. Marvin Gaye was asking "what's going on," with good reason.
This was the Temptations' 11th studio album, and they look super-fuckin'-fly on the sleeve. The outfits are incredible, and the guys are sure-as-shit not smiling.
"The Temptations and their producer Norman Whitfield had experimented so successfully with psychedelic soul on their previous album Cloud Nine that they continued that path with the group's eleventh LP, Puzzle People, in 1969," the press release states.
Musically, it's typically brilliant. The cover of the Beatles' "Hey Jude" might actually be the weakest tune on the record, because the likes of "I Can't Get Next to You" and "You Don't Love Me Anymore" are so beautiful.
The guys make sure they get their messages across of songs such as "Don't Let the Joneses Get You Down," "Message From a Black Man," and "Slave."
This was a time when big statements were necessary. Musicians don't have to stay silent.
The Four Tops
Changing Times (Motown/Universal/Elemental)
Similarly to the Temptations' Puzzle People, the Four Tops' Changing Times was released a year later in 1970 and it sees the vocal group in contemplative mood.
The sleeve has them stood very seriously over an old white man, who appears to be thinking very seriously about his life choices.
"This LP contains superb performances by Levi Stubbs and the rest on the wonderful title track 'In These Changing Times'," the press release state. "They go psychedelic with 'Something's Tearing at the Edges of Time,' keeping that level of consistency throughout the duration of the album. While it's true that Motown unfortunately wasn't dominating the pop world by the time this album was released, The Four Tops were still in great shape, as evidenced by Changing Times." This edition includes the original front and back cover artwork and is pressed on 140-gram virgin vinyl."
That title track is amazing, and the version of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" feels incredibly poignant. The love songs are all present and correct too, namely "Right Before My Eyes" and "I Almost Had Her (But She Got Away)."
Late '60s and early '70s Motown really is phenomenal.
