Motown Chartbusters, Vol. 5

In addition to Motown Chartbusters, Vol. 3, Volume 5 is one of the most essential and popular albums in the series. The album represents a new era in Motown's history, with many of the hits focusing on the Vietnam War and political issues ("War," "Ball of Confusion," "Abraham, Martin and John," and "Forget Me Not"). However, lighter moments are still on offer from Motown stalwarts Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, and Diana Ross. Of particular note is the cover -- a montage of artists from the Motown roster. This is an example of the progress of Motown and the removal of racial barriers through popular music. Indeed, the first four Chartbusters albums came in illustrated sleeves, as it was commonly believed that this would help sell the music to white audiences. By 1970, the fame of Motown and its popularity meant that these practices could finally be abandoned. ~ Rob Flanagan