Two songs into
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 12A: 1972
,
the Four Tops
sing "L.A. (My Town)," an ode to the city that became
Motown
's new hometown in 1972. By the middle of the year, all Detroit operations closed and
now belonged to Los Angeles, and this five-disc box set chronicles the first six months of 1972, the time when
was in transition. Certainly, the 113 tracks here -- the uneven number of songs derives from the number of alternate mixes and promo versions -- showcase a label in the throes of change, its '60s superstars struggling to keep up with the times as the new groups never quite made waves. At this point in time,
's heavy hitters were
Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder
, and
the Jackson 5
, and these three are responsible for the instantly recognizable songs here:
Marvin
's "You're the Man,"
Stevie
's "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)," and
Michael Jackson
's "Rockin' Robin." The lack of big hits surely would've been concerning to
in 1972, but this paucity of pop hits makes
The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 12A
a fascinating listen, as there are covers of familiar songs (
the Undisputed Truth
's original version of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone,"
Edwin Starr
's cover of "Ball of Confusion"), an early single from
the Commodores
Bobby Darin
covering
Randy Newman
, attempts at both bubblegum and Latin-tinged funk rock in the vein of
War
, plus a bunch of stuff that would've seemed comfortable on
Invictus
, the label founded by former
hitmakers
Holland-Dozier-Holland
. All these contradictory styles, when combined with an increasingly slick production polish, makes this particular
box feel very much of its time; it evokes an era of polyester knits, long sideburns, fuzz guitars, show biz strings, and productions larger than the songs themselves. Much of the fun of this box is enjoying certain portions for their feel, while digging deep in others to find the handful of gems scattered throughout. There may be no question that the glory days of
were over, but hearing the label struggle to find footing in a new decade in a new town makes
nearly as compelling a listen as the boxes that showcased the label's best years. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine