Released 50 years ago this week, the Temptations’ ‘Puzzle People’ is a blast of hard-edged soul, blistering funk fumes and acid-baked artiness.

‘Super Freak: The Life of Rick James’ offers a glimpse at the human being and musical legacy underneath all the coked-out madness.

This collection of early Rare Earth favorites returns us to a period when rock music prompted people to listen, learn and react.

The Band’s version of this Four Tops gem illustrates their canny ability to countrify soul music. A Motown classic is reborn.

Covering Motown classics can be awfully risky, but you can always trust the Doughboys to do things right.

Largely self-taught, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones learned most of his early craft on the bass from listening to albums from the Stax and Motown legacy. You May Also Like: Durand Jones – Durand Jones and the Indications: Deluxe Edition (2018) Rickie Lee Jones – ‘Kicks’ (2019) How Rickie LeeRead More

Otis Williams, nicknamed “Big Daddy” for his imposing presence, stands as the only surviving original member of the Motown hitmaking juggernaut known as the Temptations. You May Also Like: The Temptations – All Directions (1972): On Second Thought The Temptations’ Psychedelic Era Came into Focus on ‘Puzzle People’ Tony WilliamsRead More

An eight minute song with alien (for the time) sounds wasn’t a recipe for a major hit, but just reaching 33 on the Hot 100 in 1972 qualifies as a notable achievement for “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You).” You May Also Like: Rachel Platten – Waves (2017)Read More

In this excerpt from ‘Mary Wells: The Tumultuous Life of Motown’s First Superstar,’ we join Wells at her big-bang moment.