Motown Anthology

This collection of songs is fabulous for the content hence my rating 3.5 out of 5 stars. However, an amazing compilation alone isn't enough for a higher rating. Let me explain: I, like so many others, bought this product because of the staggering amount of amazing songs it boasts. I play piano and I wanted to learn how the Motown greats did what they did. Unfortunately, the problem with this collection is that for some reason many of the songs are written in different keys from their original recorded productions. Usually this practice is not a problem because publishers will often change keys to make songs "easier" to play in more familiar keys, or to enable more people to sing along in an easier key. However, I don't understand why Hal Leonard changed so many of these songs from their original "easy" keys to other ones (such as changing songs originally written/recorded in C -- the "easiest" key with no sharps/flats to others). I realized transposition was going on when I went to play some of these songs and certain parts just didn't quite sound right. So, I painstakingly went through each song and figured out the correct key (whether by referencing Google or by ear). One obvious instance is with the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" -- the original key is C major, yet it's written in G major. I mean, why Hal? Needless to say, I'm a little annoyed Hal Leonard went in such a direction, since the company is usually one of the best when it comes to offering sheet music with correct notation/original keys/etc. I'm definitely keeping my copy for reference with the caveat of knowing I may have to change things on the fly or rely on playing some parts by ear. It's still a great songbook to own as a piano player/musician. I just wanted to discuss the elephant in the room other reviewers seemed to be missing. The songs are great, I 100% agree, but I believe the people purchasing this book should know what they are getting and if it's worth it. My answer? Yes, only if you want all these amazing songs in one place while possibly sacrificing some of their "correctness" (again, depending on the song) and whether or not that bugs you as a player.

Following an 8 page article on the history of Motown by Mark Etzkorn are the words and music to the following 68 songs: ABC Ain't No Mountain High Enough Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing Ain't To Proud To Beg Baby I Need Your Lovin' Baby Love Ben Bernadette Dancing In The Street Easy For Once In My Life Going To A Go-Go Got To Be There Heatwave How Sweet It Is I Can't Get Next To You I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) I Hear A Symphony I Heard It Through The Grapevine I Second That Emotion I Want You Back I'll Be There If I Were Your Woman It's The Same Old Song Just My Imagination Let's Get It On Lookin' Through The Windows Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart The Love You Save Maybe Tomorrow Mercy, Mercy Me Money More Love My Girl My Guy My World Is Empty Without You Never Can Say Goodbye Nowhere To Run Ooo Baby Baby Papa Was A Rolling Stone A Place In The Sun Reach Out And Touch Sail On Shake Me, Wake Me Shop Around Smiling Faces Sometimes Somebody's Watching Me Someday We'll Be Together Standing In The Shadows Of Love Still Stop! In The Name Of Love Take A Look Around Three Times A Lady Time Will Reveal Touch Me In The Morning The Tracks Of My Tears War Way Over There The Way You Do The Things You Do What's Going On Where Did Our Love Go You Can't Hurry Love You Keep Me Hangin' On You're All I Need To Get By You've Made Me So Very Happy You've Really Got A Hold On Me

I'm a singer who's taking lessons and I'm glad there's a songbook for these beautiful songs. I may have to adjust the key of some of the songs to make them sound the way the motown singers sang them.

For The Musician or Fan of some of the Greatest Recorded songs in the history of Music as we know it this is a must.this is a Book that Matters when Words & Music Mattered as well.

This book is great if your a musician like myself.It has all my favorites and it's great to have the words to some of the best songs recorded ever.I loved it and recommend it to any mucian looking for Motown material.