Various Artists ICON - MOTOWN CLASSI

This 11-track compilation from Universal barely scratches the surface, as it provides a small sampling of the Motown label's biggest hits from the mid-'60s through the early '70s. Each one of these selections -- "Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," "I Want You Back," "Tears of a Clown," "My Guy," and "Heatwave" among them -- is an undeniable classic, making the disc a nice introduction for younger newcomers to popular soul music. A two-disc version (dubbed Icon 2) doubles the amount of content and, unsurprisingly, does not come close to providing a thorough anthology of Motown's smashes. ~ Andy Kellman

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop