Various Artists - Tamla Special No. 1 (Music CD)

This album marks Motown's first collection of different artists. Nine songs makes for a slim set, but it's an item for collectors because of three scarce recordings. The sole 45 featuring Singin' Sammy Ward and Sherri Taylor, "Oh Lover"/"That's Why I Love You So Much" is certainly rare enough. Motown never released any other sides by Taylor; while Ward had more releases, none were hits, and he's unknown to casual music fans. The other rare bird is the flip of Barrett Strong's "Money," "Oh I Apologize"; though "Money" charted for Barrett, Motown never released an album by him. "Apologized" is a bluesy, begging ballad written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy that suited Strong's rough tenor. The other tracks aren't hard to find and have been stuck on innumerable compilations. ~ Andrew Hamilton