Sophisticated Soul
Encyclopedia
Sophisticated Soul is the eighth LP issued by Motown girl-group The Marvelettes
. It is the first album to feature Anne Bogan who replaced Gladys Horton
in 1967, although Horton's voice is featured on one of the tracks. Like many Motown albums produced in the late 1960s, Sophisticated Soul featured backing from The Andantes
, Motown's premiere backing group, on certain tracks, others feature Bogan and Katherine Anderson
.
had left the Motown label in 1967, the studio artists had turned to in-house producers such as the team of Ashford & Simpson
as well as Frank Wilson
. This album was considered to promote a new style for The Marvelettes with Wanda Young
fronting the group, and moving them to a style closer to that of fellow Motwn girl-group The Supremes
.. The material consists of singles "My Baby Must Be a Magician
" featuring Melvin Franklin
of The Temptations
, Ashford & Simpson's "Destination:Anywhere", "You're the One", and "Here I Am Baby". Also on the record is "I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can", which was a modest hit featuring Anne Bogan on lead vocals, and "What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One", the B-side to "Destination: Anywhere", which charted but proved to be unsuccessful
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Tamla label. Motown's first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the company's first #1 Pop hit, "Please Mr...
. It is the first album to feature Anne Bogan who replaced Gladys Horton
Gladys Horton
Gladys Catherine Horton was an American R&B and pop singer, famous for being the founder and lead singer of the popular Motown all-female vocal group The Marvelettes.-Biography:...
in 1967, although Horton's voice is featured on one of the tracks. Like many Motown albums produced in the late 1960s, Sophisticated Soul featured backing from The Andantes
The Andantes
The Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
, Motown's premiere backing group, on certain tracks, others feature Bogan and Katherine Anderson
Katherine Anderson
Katherine Anderson Schaffner is an American singer, famed for her tenure in the Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes...
.
Overview
Since Holland-Dozier-HollandHolland-Dozier-Holland
Holland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music...
had left the Motown label in 1967, the studio artists had turned to in-house producers such as the team of Ashford & Simpson
Ashford & Simpson
Nickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
as well as Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson (musician)
Frank Wilson is an African American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records.-Biography:He was born to James Wilson and Samantha Gibbs...
. This album was considered to promote a new style for The Marvelettes with Wanda Young
Wanda Young
Wanda Young is an American singer, famous for being the member and later lead singer of the popular Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes.-Biography:Wanda was born in 1943 and raised in the western Detroit suburb of Inkster, Michigan...
fronting the group, and moving them to a style closer to that of fellow Motwn girl-group The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
.. The material consists of singles "My Baby Must Be a Magician
My Baby Must Be a Magician
"My Baby Must Be a Magician" is the title of a 1967 single release by the Marvelettes which was written and produced by Smokey Robinson.Original Marvelette Wanda Rogers was the lead vocalist on the track; the background vocals were provided by the Andantes rather than official Marvelettes Ann Bogan...
" featuring Melvin Franklin
Melvin Franklin
David Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
of The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Ashford & Simpson's "Destination:Anywhere", "You're the One", and "Here I Am Baby". Also on the record is "I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can", which was a modest hit featuring Anne Bogan on lead vocals, and "What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One", the B-side to "Destination: Anywhere", which charted but proved to be unsuccessful
Track listing
All songs written and produced by William "Smokey" Robinson unless noted otherwise.Side 1
- "My Baby Must Be a MagicianMy Baby Must Be a Magician"My Baby Must Be a Magician" is the title of a 1967 single release by the Marvelettes which was written and produced by Smokey Robinson.Original Marvelette Wanda Rogers was the lead vocalist on the track; the background vocals were provided by the Andantes rather than official Marvelettes Ann Bogan...
" - "Destination: Anywhere" (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson)
- "I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can" (Frank WilsonFrank Wilson (musician)Frank Wilson is an African American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records.-Biography:He was born to James Wilson and Samantha Gibbs...
, Lena Manns) - "Here I Am Baby"
- "You're the One for Me Bobby"
- "Reachin for Something I Can't Have" (James Dean, Cato Weatherspoon, William Weatherspoon)
Side 2
- "Your Love Can Save Me" (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson)
- You're the One"
- "Don't Make Hurting Me a Habit" (James Jay Barnes, James Dean, William Weatherspoon)
- "What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One"
- "The Stranger" (Ivy Jo HunterIvy Jo HunterIvy Jo Hunter, born George Ivy Hunter and sometimes credited as Ivy Hunter, is a former R&B songwriter, record producer and singer, most associated with his work for the Motown label in the 1960s....
) - "Someway, Somehow" (Richard Morris, Sylvia MoySylvia MoySylvia Moy is a songwriter and record producer, formerly associated with the Motown Records group. The first woman at the Detroit-based music label to write and produce for Motown acts, she is probably best known for her songs written for Stevie Wonder....
)
Personnel
- Wanda YoungWanda YoungWanda Young is an American singer, famous for being the member and later lead singer of the popular Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes.-Biography:Wanda was born in 1943 and raised in the western Detroit suburb of Inkster, Michigan...
- Lead vocals, backing vocals on "I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can" - Katherine AndersonKatherine AndersonKatherine Anderson Schaffner is an American singer, famed for her tenure in the Motown all-female singing group The Marvelettes...
- Backing vocals - Anne Bogan - Backing vocals, lead vocals on "I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can"
- Gladys HortonGladys HortonGladys Catherine Horton was an American R&B and pop singer, famous for being the founder and lead singer of the popular Motown all-female vocal group The Marvelettes.-Biography:...
- Backing vocals on "You're the One" - Melvin FranklinMelvin FranklinDavid Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
- Intro on "My Baby Must Be a Magician" - The AndantesThe AndantesThe Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
- Backing vcoals - Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
- Producer - Ashford & SimpsonAshford & SimpsonNickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
- Producers - The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
- Instrumentation
Singles history
- "You're the One" (#48 U.S. Pop) (#20 U.S. R&B)
- "My Baby Must Be a MagicianMy Baby Must Be a Magician"My Baby Must Be a Magician" is the title of a 1967 single release by the Marvelettes which was written and produced by Smokey Robinson.Original Marvelette Wanda Rogers was the lead vocalist on the track; the background vocals were provided by the Andantes rather than official Marvelettes Ann Bogan...
" (#17 U.S Pop; #8 U.S. R&B) - "Here I Am Baby" (#44 U.S. Pop) (#14 U.S. R&B)
- "Destination: Anywhere" (#63 U.S. Pop) (#23 U.S. R&B)
- "What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One" (B-side of "Destination: Anywhere") (#114 U.S. Pop)
- "I'm Gonna Hold On as Long as I Can" (#76 U.S. Pop)