Michael Bolton - Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

He’s no stranger to Motown. Although the singer born Michael Bolotin first performed in heavy metal bands, he soon gravitated to soul music with his solo career. His first album recorded under his stage name, 1983’s Michael Bolton, featured his buoyant take on the Supremes’ “Back in My Arms Again.” Since then, the Grammy-winning artist has regularly returned to the soul vault.

This 12-song collection is Bolton’s tribute to Hitsville USA, the nickname given to Motown Records. With his distinctive tenor, he lovingly covers hits by many of the label’s top stars, including Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Martha Reeves. But the real highlights are his authoritative versions of Marvin Gaye favorites like the title track, a stirring duet with Kelly Rowland, and “Ain’t Nothin’ Like the Real Thing,” in which Canada’s Melanie Fiona convincingly plays Tammi Terrell to Michael’s Marvin. When it comes to Motown, Bolton knows what’s going on.