Name: Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville, USA by Boyz Ii Men
Brand: Boyz II Men
SKU: 060251752992
Price: 9.9 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 3 (98 reviews)

ALBUM

Three years after the all-covers Throwback -- a release that included some pleasantly surprising choices for new looks, like One Way's "Cutie Pie" and Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do for Love" -- Boyz II Men reappear with yet another covers affair. As indicated by the title, the trio changes its focus to Motown for a set that ranges thematically and chronologically from the Temptations' "Just My Imagination" to Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" to the Commodores' "Easy" -- and, as something of a sly acknowledgment that they were once on Motown themselves, they close out the set with an a cappella version of "End of the Road" (featuring Brian McKnight). Their backing is mostly all-star caliber, including the Dap-Kings Horns, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, percussionist Luis Conte, and string arranger Larry Gold. The material tends to work best when they sound relatively relaxed, as opposed to when it is obvious that they are trying very hard to honor the originals while being over-demonstrative with their obviously gifted voices. It's not that the disc won't please fans, because it likely will, despite Boyz II Men's continued shortage of new songs; but it's nearly impossible at this point to add anything to the likes of "It's the Same Old Song," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," or "Money (That's What I Want)" -- no matter how well they are handled.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo

1. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

by Boyz Ii Men

Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta; Performer
Guitar: Michael Thompson; Performer
Keyboard: Matt Rollings; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Michael Thompson
Larry Gold
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Vinnie Colaiuta
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Piano: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Composer: Barrett Strong
Norman Whitfield; Composer
Strings Arrangement: Larry Gold; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Barrett Strong
Norman Whitfield; Other

2. It's The Same Old Song/Reach Out I'll Be There

by Boyz Ii Men

Baritone Saxophone: Ian Hendrickson-smith; Performer
Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta; Performer
Guitar: Tim Pierce; Performer
Hammond B3 Organ: Matt Rollings; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Tim Pierce
Larry Gold
Aaron Johnson
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Vinnie Colaiuta
Neal Sugarman
Ian Hendrickson-smith
Dave Guy
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Piano: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Neal Sugarman; Performer
Trombone: Aaron Johnson; Performer
Trumpet: Dave Guy; Performer
Strings Arrangement: Larry Gold; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production

3. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

by Boyz Ii Men

Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Electric Guitar: Tim Pierce
Michael Thompson; Performer
Keyboard: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Tim Pierce
Michael Thompson
Larry Gold
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Piano: Matt Rollings; Performer
Composer: Marvin Gaye; Composer
Strings Arrangement: Larry Gold; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Marvin Gaye; Other

4. The Tracks Of My Tears

by Boyz Ii Men

Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta; Performer
Guitar: Tim Pierce
Michael Thompson; Performer
Keyboard: Matt Rollings
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Tim Pierce
Michael Thompson
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Vinnie Colaiuta
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Composer: Marvin Tarplin
Smokey Robinson
Warren Moore; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Marvin Tarplin
Warren Moore
Smokey Robinson; Other

5. Money (That's What I Want)

by Boyz Ii Men

Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta; Performer
Guitar: Tim Pierce; Performer
Keyboard: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Tim Pierce
Luis Conte
Vinnie Colaiuta
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Composer: Berry Gordy
Janie Bradford; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Berry Gordy Jr.
Janie Bradford; Other

6. Easy

by Boyz Ii Men

Baritone Saxophone: Ian Hendrickson-smith; Performer
Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: James Gamble; Performer
Guitar: Michael Thompson
Rob Bacon; Performer
Keyboard: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Performer: Michael Thompson
Larry Gold
Aaron Johnson
Neal Sugarman
Ian Hendrickson-smith
Dave Guy
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch
Rob Bacon
James Gamble; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Neal Sugarman; Performer
Trombone: Aaron Johnson; Performer
Trumpet: Dave Guy; Performer
Composer: Lionel Richie; Composer
Strings Arrangement: Larry Gold; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lionel Richie; Other

7. I Was Made To Love Her

by Boyz Ii Men

Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: James Gamble; Performer
Electric Sitar: Michael Thompson; Performer
Guitar: Rob Bacon; Performer
Keyboard: Matt Rollings
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Michael Thompson
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch
Rob Bacon
James Gamble; Performer
Composer: Henry Cosby
Lula Mae Hardaway
Stevie Wonder
Sylvia Moy; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Henry Cosby
Sylvia Moy
Lula Mae Hardaway
Stevie Wonder; Other

8. All This Love

by Boyz Ii Men

Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Acoustic Guitar: Ramon Stagnaro; Performer
Baritone Saxophone: Ian Hendrickson-smith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: James Gamble; Performer
Guitar: Michael Thompson
Rob Bacon; Performer
Keyboard: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Michael Thompson
Larry Gold
Aaron Johnson
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Ramon Stagnaro
Neal Sugarman
Ian Hendrickson-smith
Dave Guy
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch
Rob Bacon
James Gamble; Performer
Piano: Matt Rollings; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Neal Sugarman; Performer
Trombone: Aaron Johnson; Performer
Trumpet: Dave Guy; Performer
Composer Lyricist: Eldra Debarge; Other
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer: Eldra Debarge; Composer
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Strings Arrangement: Larry Gold; Composer

9. Ribbon In The Sky

by Boyz Ii Men

Performer: Boyz Ii Men; Performer
Composer: Stevie Wonder; Composer
Vocal Arrangement: Boyz Ii Men; Composer
Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Boyz Ii Men; Production
Recording: Eric Rennaker; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski
Eric Rennaker; Production
Composer Lyricist: Stevie Wonder; Other

10. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

by Boyz Ii Men

Baritone Saxophone: Ian Hendrickson-smith; Performer
Bass Guitar: Randy Jackson; Performer
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta; Performer
Guitar: Tim Pierce
Michael Thompson; Performer
Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men
Patti Labelle; Main Performer
Keyboard: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Tim Pierce
Randy Jackson
Michael Thompson
Larry Gold
Aaron Johnson
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Vinnie Colaiuta
Neal Sugarman
Ian Hendrickson-smith
Dave Guy
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Piano: Matt Rollings; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Neal Sugarman; Performer
Trombone: Aaron Johnson; Performer
Trumpet: Dave Guy; Performer
Composer: Nickolas Ashford
Valerie Simpson; Composer
Strings Arrangement: Larry Gold; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Nickolas Ashford
Valerie Simpson; Other

11. Got To Be There

by Boyz Ii Men

Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta; Performer
Guitar: Michael Thompson
Rob Bacon; Performer
Keyboard: Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Michael Thompson
Larry Gold
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Vinnie Colaiuta
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch
Rob Bacon; Performer
Piano: Matt Rollings; Performer
Composer: Elliot Willensky; Composer
Strings Arrangement: Larry Gold; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Elliot Willensky; Other

12. War

by Boyz Ii Men

Baritone Saxophone: Ian Hendrickson-smith; Performer
Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Cornelius Mims; Performer
Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta; Performer
Guitar: Tim Pierce; Performer
Keyboard: Matt Rollings
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Percussion: Luis Conte; Performer
Performer: Tim Pierce
Aaron Johnson
Matt Rollings
Luis Conte
Vinnie Colaiuta
Neal Sugarman
Ian Hendrickson-smith
Dave Guy
Cornelius Mims
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Tenor Saxophone: Neal Sugarman; Performer
Trombone: Aaron Johnson; Performer
Trumpet: Dave Guy; Performer
Composer: Barrett Strong
Norman Whitfield; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski; Production
Composer Lyricist: Barrett Strong
Norman Whitfield; Other

13. End Of The Road

by Boyz Ii Men

Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Composer: Antonio "l.a." Reid
Babyface
Daryl Simmons; Composer
Mixing: Mick Guzauski; Production
Performer: Brian Mcknight; Performer
Producer: Brian Mcknight; Production
Recording: Chris Wood; Production
Studio Personnel: Mick Guzauski
Chris Wood; Production
Additional Vocals: Brian Mcknight; Other
Composer Lyricist: Daryl Simmons
Antonio "l.a." Reid
Kenny "babyface" Edmonds; Other

14. There'll Never Be

by Boyz Ii Men

Primary Artist: Boyz Ii Men; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: Randy Jackson; Performer
Drums: James Gamble; Performer
Guitar: Michael Thompson
Rob Bacon; Performer
Keyboard: Matt Rollings
Kenneth Crouch; Performer
Performer: Randy Jackson
Michael Thompson
Matt Rollings
Kenneth Crouch
Rob Bacon
James Gamble; Performer
Composer: Bobby Debarge; Composer
Producer: Randy Jackson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Bobby Debarge; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

14 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

54 minutes and 33 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 640x640 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

All tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

11/14 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

R&B, Soul

Label

Decca Crossover

Music Distribution Service

Unknown

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 2006

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

60251752992

Shopping cart

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Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville, USA

1. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)