In the longstanding campaign of Motown reissues, very few stones were left unturned. These two long out of print albums, 1970's Natural Resources and 1972's Black Magic, feature Martha & the Vandellas nearing the end of their tenure on the Gordy imprint. By this time, Berry Gordy was so obsessed with making his prized diva, Diana Ross, into a superstar on the screen (and later the stage) that he neglected many of the first- and second-tier artists who helped to develop Motown into the powerhouse it was during the '60s. The proof is more than evident here; while there are some interesting moments (like the social statements of "I Should Be Proud" and "Take a Look Around"), they are stuck in the mire of easily forgettable exercises such as the cover of "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and the Corporation's "I Want You Back" (also covered by David Ruffin around this time).
Martha & the Vandellas
Natural Resources/Black Magic
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