Motown is notorious for recycling their catalog as endless hit collections, but The Ultimate Collection is one of the finest series of greatest-hits CDs they have ever assembled. Each disc contains all of the major hits from an artist, plus important B-sides, album tracks, and minor hits. The Marvelettes’ entry in the series is no exception to the rule, boasting all their Top Ten pop and R&B hits, not only from their early-’60s heyday but also their late-’60s comeback: “Please Mr. Postman,” “Playboy,” “Beechwood 4-5789,” “Someday, Someway,” “Strange I Know,” “Don’t Mess With Bill,” “My Baby Must Be a Magician,” “The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game,” “When You’re Young and in Love.” The disc also features a number of smaller hits and B-sides, resulting in a total of 25 tracks. For anyone who wants a definitive hits collection but is hesitant to invest in the double-disc Deliver, The Ultimate Collection is an ideal choice. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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