I remember as I sat at Po’Shines for my Birthday Dinner with DJ Action Slacks that I realized that I bought a huge quantity of records from 1965-67 for Sugar Town’s Pride Party. It’s the 50th anniversary of the Golden Summer of Motown, for some reason my tingle went to that time period and the influences that preceded it and the results that followed.

This set shows the heart of the matters, including a purrfect gift in the form of the first track in this set that Action Slacks gifted me after we jointly fell in love with it.

When it comes to the “love” theme that we tried to instill in the evening, I see this set detailing my own emotional complexity around the subject. Some of the choices highlight the joy of seduction, others highlight the bruised ego of being ousted from the romantic spotlight in someone’s show; yet others play along the lines of teamwork that make love possible for all of us.

Here’s hoping you find a dollop of delight in each of these.

1) Damita Jo – “Sweet Pussycat” (1965)
2) Esther Phillips – “Somebody Else Is Taking My Place” (1966)
3) The Four Tops – “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” (1966)
4) The Monitors – “Since I’ve Lost You, Girl” (1966)
5) Tina Britt – “The Real Thing” (1965)
6) The Five Stair Steps – “A Playgirl’s Love” (1966)
7) Kim Weston – “You Can Do It” (1965)
8) The Shirelles – “Don’t Go Home (My Little Darlin’)” (1967)
9) Barbara Lewis – “I’ll Make Him Love Me” (1967)
10) Gladys Knight & The Pips – “It’s Summer” (1968)
11) The Isley Brothers – “Just Ain’t Enough Love” (1967)
12) The Dells – “When I’m In Your Arms” (1968)
13) The Sweet Inspirations – “Chained” (1969)
14) Thelma Jones – “Stronger” (1967)