Unusual Motown Releases

[longtimefan]

I have never seen a Motown album with this design format. Were any others issued?

13733

[gman]

Never....is it a Cd or vinyl? where was it issued? there are some mighty knowledgeable people on here, so you've come to the right place.

[lockhartgary]

It's a German vinyl pressing from 1985. Info can be found here:

https://www.discogs.com/Diana-Ross-And-The-Supremes-Reflections/release/3957933

[lakedistrictlad1]

I remember buying this version in the U.K back in the 80's. I seem to remember there were quite a few titles that had this cover design. Odd that they were so readily available in the U.K though. I never realised it was from Germany.

[mysterysinger]

Yes they were common but I thought it spoiled the design - much rather have the original covers without embellishments.

Around the time that the original albums were being re-released on vinyl there were a lot of minor changes such as on "Heat Wave" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas [[not just Martha & The Vandellas) and Diana Ross & The Supremes instead of The Supremes on "We Remember Sam Cooke".

Also, original label designs were often removed for a corporate Motown logo on US re-issues. Gatefold sleeves became single album covers. All perfectly understandable and I'm sure many folks were glad to have them available again. Sometimes unrealistic prices get asked for these re-releases now.

[johnjeb]

I have the cassette tape that I bought when I was in London in 1985. I think I bought it because it was different from our US reissues.

Here is a link from discogs for the cassette tape reissue. If you click on more images under the album pic you will see the info from the cassette graphics which shows it was printed in W Germany and distributed to other countries in Europe.

https://www.discogs.com/Diana-Ross-And-The-Supremes-Reflections/release/5993168

I also noticed that some UK reissue albums, such as Sam Cooke [[which I bought) and Merry Christmas had the group name as Diana Ross and the Supremes.

Sam Cooke:

https://www.discogs.com/Diana-Ross-The-Supremes-We-Remember-Sam-Cooke/release/2168011

Merry Christmas:

https://www.discogs.com/The-Supremes-Merry-Christmas/release/7861544

My UK More Hits cassette cover has Diana's pic on top left with Title graphics on the right and Flo and Mary's pics below.

[jbpintus]

"The classic sound of Motown" with the logos around the artwork [[different colors) were common in France too.

I remermeber seeing many ones in that series, apart from the DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES' Reflections one :

MARVIN GAYE : I Heard It Through The Grapevine [[pink)

FOUR TOPS : Greatest Hits [[European art with picture) [[green)

JACKSON 5 : Greatest Hits [[blue)

STEVIE WONDER : My Cherie Amour [[totally new artwork, different from both US and previous European releases)

And I believe but not sure 100% others by the COMMODORES [[Midnight Magic?), GROVER WASHINGTON [[Inner City Blues?), GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS [[All the Great Hits?), TEMPTATIONS [[Cloud Nine?)

And I'm sure there are others.

As for the SUPREMES' Sam Cooke alternate cover, it was released on cd in Spain with that different cover [[in 2001)

[lockhartgary]

Also, original label designs were often removed for a corporate Motown logo on US re-issues. Gatefold sleeves became single album covers. All perfectly understandable and I'm sure many folks were glad to have them available again. Sometimes unrealistic prices get asked for these re-releases now.

Cost cutting measures?? I remember when I started buying some of those reissues and being disappointed that the original label designs were not used and the gatefold covers were not used either. Back then, before Ebay and the like, many of those albums could be readily found in stores such as Goodwill and other local thrift shops for $1 or less, provided you got to the newly put out items in time.

[jbpintus]

MOTOWN SOLO STARS : https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Classic-Sound-Of-Motown-Motown-Solo-Stars/release/1084554

MARVIN GAYE : Let's Get It On
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Marvin-Gaye-Lets-Get-It-On/release/2116476

THE TEMPTATIONS : All the Million Sellers
https://www.discogs.com/fr/The-Temptations-All-The-Million-Sellers/release/6115506

GROVER WASHINGTON : Skylarkin
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Grover-Washington-Jr-Skylarkin/release/8195229

MICHAEL JACKSON : Ben
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Michael-Jackson-Ben/release/2467349

COMMODORES : Zoom
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Commodores-Zoom/release/5929319

DIANA & MARVIN
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Diana-Ross-Marvin-Gaye-Diana-Marvin/release/8392696

DRATS : Reflections
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Diana-Ross-And-The-Supremes-Reflections/release/3957933

STEVIE WONDER : My Chérie Amour
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Stevie-Wonder-My-Cherie-Amour/release/10216868
[[I have the Stevie wonder lp so it also exists in that format)

JACKSON 5 : Greatest Hits
https://www.discogs.com/fr/The-Jackson-5-Greatest-Hits/release/10433108

I might be wrong concerning the TEMPTATIONS' Cloud Nine, GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS' All the Great Hits and GROVER WASHINGTON Inner City Blues. But I still believe I've seen them.

:)

[jbpintus]

JERMAINE JACKSON : Let's Get serious

...also on the series I think

[jbpintus]

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS : All the great Hits.
Here it is!
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Gladys-Knight-And-The-Pips-All-The-Greatest-Hits/release/3724326

[jbpintus]

How could I forget STEVIE WONDER Live at the Talk of the Town!
https://www.discogs.com/fr/Stevie-Wonder-Live-At-The-Talk-Of-The-Town/release/3468302