70s Motown Albums You Need To Know: Overlooked Soul Classics Rediscovered
Motown Records released numerous sophisticated albums throughout the 1970s that have been overshadowed by the label's reputation for singles and by a handful of canonical works like Marvin Gaye's *What's Going On*. Across releases by The Temptations, Valerie Simpson, the Commodores, Eddie Kendricks, Jackson 5, and others, the label produced mature, inventive soul and funk albums that rivaled the artistic ambition of rock's progressive and singer-songwriter movements, yet have largely escaped critical reassessment. The piece surveys these overlooked records track by track, demonstrating that Motown's album legacy extends far beyond its most celebrated titles and deserves serious recovery.