Marv Johnson "You Got What It Takes" The Marv Johnson Story 1958-1961

Everybody has to start somewhere, and when Berry Gordy started a record label, one of his early signings was Marv Johnson. The single, Come to me, took off so quickly that the new label couldn't cope, so it was leased to United Artists, who signed Marv to a contract. That single reached the American top 30, and was followed by others including Move two mountains (top 20), I Love The Way You Love (top 10) and You Got What It Takes, which not only made the top 10 in the USA but also in the UK......Marv seemed all set for a long run of success but it didn't happen. United Artists eventually let him go and he finally signed for Motown, by then well established. He had two UK hits in 1969 including I'll pick a rose for my Rose, which made the top 10, but otherwise made little impact.
So these early recordings represent the best that Marv Johnson achieved, although there were other recordings for United Artists in 1963 and maybe 1964 too, before that label dropped him.
This double CD contains a gospel album, two other albums of studio recordings, the first of which mixes oldies from the Great American Songbook with some Berry recordings, plus other tracks released on singles.
Marv Johnson should have been one of Motown's big stars, but because a quirk of circumstances caused him to be signed to another label, Motown developed without him. He was unlucky not to be a big star, and it seems that he is still largely uncredited for his unwitting role in getting Motown up and running. Listen to this fantastic collection and ponder what might have been. (Peter Durwald Harris, The Guardian)trax disc 1:

01 September In The Rain 02 You Got What It Takes 03 Summertime 04 S' Wonderful 05 I Can't Get Started 06 Come To Me 07 Let Me Love You 08 Almost Like Being In Love 09 Love Is Here To Stay 10 I'm Coming Home 11 When I Fall In Love 12 Don't Leave Me 13 Baby Baby 14 This Heart Of Mine Will Surely Sing 15 I Love The Way You Love 16 River Of Tears 17 Clap Your Hands 18 Ain't Gonna Be That Way 19 When You've Lost Your Love 20 I Need You 21 Easier Said (Than Done) 22 What A Need 23 All The Love I've Got

trax disc 2:

01 My Baby-O 02 Once Upon a Time 03 Whisper 04 (You've Got to) Move Two Mountains 05 Happy Days 06 Merry Go Round 07 Tell Me That You Love Me 08 How Can We Tell Him 09 I've Got a Notion 10 Show Me 11 Oh Mary 12 Johnny One Step 13 Easier Said than Done 14 Let Every Living Creature Praise the Lord 15 Swing Low Sweet Chariot 16 How Long Has It Been Since You Prayed 17 He's Got the Whole World in His Hands 18 I Believe 19 Ride the Chariot 20 He Gave Me You 21 You Better Mind 22 When I've Done the Best I Can 23 I'm Going to Work until the Day Is Done 24 If I Can Help Somebody 25 Everytime I Feel the Spirit

…served by Gyro1966...