Various Different World - Holland-Dozier-Holland Songbook (CD)

(ACE Records) 24 tracks, incl. booklet

The lyrics and music of brothers Brian and Edward Holland and their colleague Lamont Dozier were and are the basis for the international success of The Motown Sound.
Between 1963 and 1968, Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote hit after hit for Berry Gordy's company and turned some of Motown's biggest stars into stars with their songs - including the Supremes and Four Tops.  From 1969 to 1973, the trio continued to write hits and classics for their own company, Invictus/Hot Wax/Music Merchant, and created new stars with Honey Cone and Freda Payne, among others.
Holland-Dozier-Holland songs were revisited again and again by all kinds of artists, and "A Different World" features two dozen different names and interpretations of their repertoire, including Motown and Invictus greats like the aforementioned Supremes and Tops (as well as Martha and the Vandellas, Kim Weston, the Miracles and others) share space on the record with The Band, Brenda Lee, The Vanilla Fudge, Laura Nyro and even The Fall - just some of the non-traditional names that reinterpret Holland-Dozier-Holland's vision of "The Sound Of Young America" in their own unique and inimitable way.
As always, the booklet for "A Different World" is packed with label photos, numerous other images and an extensive cover note detailing the featured songs. The booklet may be long overdue, but it is an indispensable tribute to an outstanding team of writers and well worth the wait!