Surely it has to be every producer or remixer’s dream to get their hands on the master reels locked away in the vaults at Motown. A sound unto itself, Motown spawned some of the most enduring hits of the last 40 years featuring iconic artists such as the Jackson 5, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
Z-Trip’s remix of "I Want You Back" opens the album and treats the original with the respect it deserves. Kicking off with the famous guitar lick--the subtleties of which are lost in the original wall of sound--it features vocal outtakes and an infectious drum loop that sounds super-sweet when pitched against the instruments recorded over 30 years previously. There are no tasteless mixes here even though it would’ve been easy to stick a domineering breakbeat in; but the good people of Motown chose their collaborators wisely. King Britt’s version of Edwin Starr’s "War" could easily lend itself to a tribal house rhythm yet restraint was shown and the result even more brooding and intense than the original mix.
As with the original Verve Remixed compilation, when there’s such a vast catalogue of quality material to choose from it’d be tricky to make anything sound bad and Motown remixed is no different. Highlights are tricky to choose as it’s all fantastic, it just depends whether you prefer listening to Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder or whoever else. There’s nothing here to enrage die-hard fans: even if you like the originals better, these mixes are a joy.

1. I Want You Back - Jackson 5 (Z-TRIP Remix)
2. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips (The Randy Watson Experience Sympathy For The Grapes Mix)
3. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye (Da Producers MPG Groove Mix)
4. Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks (DJ Spinna Remix)
5. War - Edwin Starr (King Britt Mix)
6. Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma Solefull Mix)
7. Stoned Love - The Supremes (A Tom Moulton Mix)
8. Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder (DJ Smash Essential Funk Remix)
9. I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth (Mocean Worker Remix)
10. Smilling Faces Sometimes - Undisputed Truth (Futureshock Entertainment Main Ingredient Mix)
11. Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips (Kenny Dope Mix)
12. My World Is Empty Without You - Diana Ross & The Supremes (Tranzition Remix)
13. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) - The Tempations (Easy Mo Bee Remix)
14. Quiet Storm - Smokey Robinson (Groove Boutique Remix Feat. Roy Ayers)

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