Originally Posted by
reachoutuk
My copy arrived yesterday and I have now had a chance to listen to it. As usual, it is up to the high standard that Ace always provides, both in terms of sound and presentation, although this time it comes as a digipak. The booklet is very informative and includes a schedule of releases on all the different labels which were issued in the UK in those early years including many photos of the records.
When I originally saw it listed, I wasn't that interested as I already had all the tracks either on the Complete Motown Singles box sets, or from album reissues.
However, I had a rethink, and decided to get it, to provide continued demand for Ace products, but also I thought it would be nice to have this compilation as it represented a time capsule of what Motown music was available in the UK in that period [[1959-1964).
I somehow doubt that any of these tracks were played on the BBC back then, and as they also pre-date pirate radio stations, Radio Luxembourg was perhaps the only place you could hear them. The irony is that I almost certainly never heard any of them at the time as I didn't have a transistor radio I could listen to under the bedclothes!
The only question I have is regarding "Broken Hearted" by the Miracles. According to DFTMC, the version used on the original UK LP was unique to the UK. I haven't had an opportunity yet to compare this with the other two US versions I have, but to stay true, I would assume that Ace have stuck to the UK version. I might drop them a line and see if I can find out.
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