This is one of the rarer versions of
Mary Wells music from the '80s, a generous 22-track compilation called
My Guy which is slightly misleading, not only because the song referenced here is the disco version of her 1964 number one hit released 19 years after the fact, but because there are a variety of albums out there with the words "My Guy" attached to
Mary Wells' product including a live DVD. Some of the material on this version of
My Guy was recorded for a 1983 release on Allegiance Recordsentitled I'm a Lady: The Old, New & Best of Mary Wells, re-released on the 1997 14-track
My Guy: The Best of Mary Wells on the Aim label, and also as a 15 track collection called
Dance with Me on the Orpheus imprint. A true fan needs a score card as some of the labels don't offer much help in identifying who the players are or which part of
Wells' career these studio performances were drawn from. Now to add to the confusion this compilation includes excellent material from the 1968 release on Jubilee Records,
Servin' Up Some Soul, a disc that spawned the Top 65 hit, "The Doctor," which is very, very nice as it actually emulates the Motown sound that made her famous.
Mary Wells Womack and husband
Cecil Womack do a superb job of re-creating a Memphis/Detroit blend that fits her sultry voice just perfectly. Also from those sessions is the treat of
Wells' take on two
Jerry Ross' production masterpieces --
Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" and
Jay & the Techniques' "Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin' Pie," the song
Hebb rejected because of its novelty overtones. "Sunny" was covered by
the Four Tops,
Stevie Wonder, and
Marvin Gaye at Motown and -- unlike other songs shared by artists in the
Berry Gordy stable -- these renditions of"Sunny" were not merely the voices over the same backing track, separate tracks were cut for all the cover versions of this particular tune. So now you can add another super look at the song by a Motown artist, descending horns and drums playing against a funky piano give
Wells the opportunity to get soulful with "Sunny" on this compilation CD that mixes quasi-disco with the R&B pop
Wells is known for. "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" is a good case in point in regards to the latter, with a driving '60s pop charge reminiscent of another
Jerry Ross standout, "Love Love Love." There are seven
Smokey Robinson titles (remakes of the earlier hits), some
Holland-Dozier-Holland compositions, and a cover of
Prince's "I Feel for You." Despite the haphazard mixing of productions spanning decades onto this 77-minute collection,
Wells' emotional outpouring gives "Oh Little Boy What Did You Do to Me" something so special that when the thin production on "To Feel Your Love" comes through the speakers it can be forgiven, although its little flavors of
Chic's "I Want Your Love" that permeate the backing vocals add a charming touch.
Wells is a class act who rises above the minor flaws. As all over the map as this compilation is, all that needs to be done is to add a few liner notes to make this a collector's item.