Complete Motown CDs

[grapevine]

Over the next few days ...and weeks ...I hope to post every notable Motown CD release ...released since the 1980's ...not knowingly including any bootlegs ...but including some Motown artists' post-Motown releases …and Motown related CD releases ...and VHS & DVD releases...enjoy

...starting with 1990 and the 1980s ...Part 1

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:)

[grapevine]

...1990 and the 1980s ...Part 2

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...which ones are you missing...??

...1991 ...to follow soon...!

:)

[mysterysinger]

Feel free to mine some covers from my Flickr site which run to several pages - mostly, but not exclusively, Motown. Still adding them [[and still collecting them lol).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookephotography/albums/72157619209619636

[Roger Polhill]

Great stuff grapevine. And the total outlay is ...?:cool:

[daviddesper]

Incredible!!! I don't think I have ever seen more than half of these!

[Bluebrock]

...1990 and the 1980s ...Part 2

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...which ones are you missing...??

...1991 ...to follow soon...!

:)
Thank you so much for that! There are several on there that i never knew existed!

[paul_nixon]

Thank you so much for that! There are several on there that i never knew existed!

Same here - was the Ruby Turner out on Motown in the US here in the UK I think it was a Jive album?

[Ngroove]

Still got, and cherish my 1986 Marvin Gaye, the Miracles, and Diana Ross Anthologies, as their definitive 2CD Anthologies, my opinion.

My golden memories, how I largely got exposed to Motown, buying and listening to their colorful-shaded Ultimate Collections.

[mowsville]

I so wish i could find me a copy of the Dr Martin luther king cd...been looking for years.

[grapevine]

Same here - was the Ruby Turner out on Motown in the US here in the UK I think it was a Jive album? ...as stated in my opening thread...I'll also be including some notable 'Motown related' CDs in this 'complete series ...1991 CD releases up next ...and soon! :)

[grapevine]

...1991 CDs

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:)

[jobeterob]

Very nice; thanks

[grapevine]

...1992 CDs

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:)

[simon.millar]

I thought that Stevie wonder “in square circle” and “characters” were released on CD in the 80s?

[mysterysinger]

You will also find this article of interest regarding the first Motown CDs.
https://picknmixed.blogspot.com/p/first-motown-on-cd.html

[simon.millar]

Thinking back there were others. I was an early adopter of CD [[as also brought many many tape cassettes) and recall Rick James “the flag” being one of the first I brought - and being absolutely gutted that Dennis edwards “coolin out” didn’t get a CD release... never did understand the logic in Motown at the time of what did or did not get released on cd!

[robb_k]

15488
Did Al Green, Little Richard, and Duane Eddy actually record for Motown, or did motown just require old masters of their recordings?

[grapevine]

I thought that Stevie wonder “in square circle” and “characters” were released on CD in the 80s?

...in the main I have avoided listing CDs of vinyl LPs issued at the same time ...but not in every case ...as you shall see as the series progresses...! :)

[grapevine]

...1993 CDs

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:)

[reese]

15488
Did Al Green, Little Richard, and Duane Eddy actually record for Motown, or did motown just require old masters of their recordings?

Motown just acquired the old masters for a time.

[grapevine]

...1994 CDs

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:)

[luke]

Go grape. I got Right On I think in the 80s.

[snakepit]

Fabulous stuff from Grapevine

[Ngroove]

...in the main I have avoided listing CDs of vinyl LPs issued at the same time ...but not in every case ...as you shall see as the series progresses...! :)

Yeah...I'd kinda say that you've missed some Lionel Richie, aside from his kinda-greatest hits / final Motown album, and, every once in a while, despite hearing it's a stinker, contemplating time & again if 1990's the Pointer Sisters' "Right Rhythm" is worth picking up whenever I see it in the used CD bin, it's still Pointers, right?

But, I'd kinda suggest, whatever nineties covers you got, post em' - aside from only a small handful of acts, most of them produced by Michael Bivins, Motown in the nineties is not as known, general Motown-wise, as Motown in the eighties and before.

[grapevine]

...maybe not quite 100% the 'Complete Motown CDs' ...but I've included [[I hope) every Motown CD release ...so far ...that did not mirror the same tracks / artwork of the original Motown LP release ...if bonus tracks were added to the CD release then I've included that release ...or if the original LP has been included in a 2-CD, 3-CD, 4-CD etc package I've included it here too ...I'll also be including CDs of some Motown LPs you've either never seen or heard of or never thought you'd ever see be released on CD ...I hope you're enjoying the years posted in recent days ...many more to follow...! :)

[grapevine]

...1995 CDs ...part 1

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...part 2 to follow

:)

[grapevine]

...1995 CDs ...part 2

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:)

[Ngroove]

Ahhh, once Had Year By Year[[s) 1964, 1966, 1968, and 1976, before as usual with many of my previous before-present library collection CDs, given them away to friends in the name of sharing with them examples of "The Sound of Young America".

[gordy_hunk]

Grape - that's really impressive - some of those images I've never seen before, or even realised that they have been issued on CD.

Your collection of CD [[and vinyl) must be absolutely amazing - very similar to our dear Eric Charge's [[one of the most kind, thoughtful and sincere men I've been lucky to meet).

[grapevine]

...that's very kind of you gordy hunk ...alas ...I do not own a fraction of these releases ...which must run into thousands since the advent of CDs in the mid-80s ...I've just kept an eye on what has been released and thought it was high time they were shared here on SDF...!

:)

[grapevine]

...1996 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...1997 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...1998 CDs

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:)

[Ngroove]

Okay, on one of those records displayed above, obviously from one of those Complete Motown-history spanning anthology collections I have yet to afford or find, third to last, with DeBarge, Rick James, and another group I could not identify due to picture being too small to identify anyways; Sam Harris?

Awesome! Always awesome to know Motown could appreciate ALL the hit makers on at least one of their collections, not just only the couple handfuls the company rather only display for their image.

Really, There could have been more than seventeen, which yes, I did spent my youth finding and collecting all seventeen, Ultimate Collections, and I'm not talkin' about the obvious omissions of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye!

Now, the question, what is that collection, and how to find it?

[grapevine]

There was a very good thread about the Britannia Motown Collection some years ago Ngroove...
https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?5644-Britannia-and-Ultimate-Motown-Collection-box-sets
:)

[mysterysinger]

NGroove if you're referring to the Motown The History set, you can see them all here https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookephotography/albums/72157634220097120

The complete boxed set turns up from time to time on Ebay and Amazon plus Discogs. Typically expect to pay around £69 to £99 for the set these days. However, individual volumes regularly turn up on the various sites mentioned above and on Music Magpie [[similar to DClutter in the US). Individual volumes only cost a couple of quid [[£2) ish and that's how I collected them all - the hardest to find was 0715 Boogie Down [[530-715).
Each CD comes with copious notes from Sharon Davis and also Gordon Frewin and some rarer versions are included. Sound quality too is great.

On the Ultimate Series, the sound quality is also excellent and in mono where the singles were mono. That's a great series also.

[grapevine]

...1999 CDs

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:)

[Ngroove]

Okay, those 20th Century Masters above, British versions? Why hasn't USA been given such beautiful covers on the Supremes / Diana Ross ones? The Commodores international version, with live jam cover, looks more dynamic too.

The Millennium Collection series, good for either on a budget, as a starter before bigger courses [[Ultimate Collections, Anthologies, Boxed Sets), as something to tide with while hunting down harder to find Ultimate Collections [[as Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Marvelettes, and Mary Wells was), or as a neat little showcase on acts who only had a handful of hits [[Switch, Dazz Band, Mary Jane Girls).

[mysterysinger]

20th Century Masters are US covers and generally the sound quality is superb.

[144man]

Brilliant. Thanks for that.

I do believe that the two "Motortown Uncovered" CDs in Post 13 were of dubious legality.

[grapevine]

...I expect one or two here are...!! ...I deliberately haven't included the Marginal CDs ...but can't guarantee that all that I've posted aren't boots ...especially maybe the odd foreign one...but I've tried my hardest to weed them out ...onwards and upwards...!!

:)

[grapevine]

...2000 CDs...part 1

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:)

[grapevine]

...2000 CDs ...part 2

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:)

[grapevine]

...2001 CDs

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:)

[jack020]

From 1980: Skylarkin - Grover Washington 15644

[woodward]

BEWARE: In post #43, the picture of The Miracles Greatest Hits [on top of Stuart Little in the CD display] is totally bogus. I happen to have it, I bought it not too long ago and it was in it's original shrink wrap. It is only a local group - no idea who is in the group - singing Miracles tracks. There are no Motown Miracles in the collection and every song is what I call a cheap imitation of the originals by SR & the Miracles. It was issued on the Masters label by International Record and Cassette in Hauppauge, LI, NY.

[grapevine]

...thanks for the warning Woodward ...good job I didn't include the plethora of Motorcity CD releases then...!! ;)

:)

[Boogiedown]

fascinating . mind boggling.
this listing ought to be given it's own page here.:cool:

No wonder there's no Motown 60 being issued ....of what?? This cow has been milked dry!!!

[grapevine]

...2002 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...2003 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...2004 CDs ...part 1

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:)

[grapevine]

...2004 CDs ...part 2

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:)

[grapevine]

...2005 CDs ...part 1

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:)

[grapevine]

...2005 CDs ...part 2

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:)

[grapevine]

...2006 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...2007 CDs ...part 1

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:)

[grapevine]

...2007 CDs ...part 2

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:)

[Ngroove]

Question; what is the physical media store's policy on 20th Century Masters Motowns? I knew the Contours, Brenda Holloway, and Kim Weston ones existed, but never seen in any physical form, other than that one time I visited the Motown Museum's gift store. Does the stores only wants to put on shelves more only on the names that had all eleven tracks per collection a Pop or/and R&B top ten hit?

I believe you should ixnay the Harvey Records Collection, assuming it was without Motown's permission / copyright due to somehow music 1962 and before was public domain to Britain CD.

[grapevine]

Never physically saw or bought any of the 20th Century sets. I was surprised by the lack of CD product available at the Motown Museum shop when we visited for my 50th birthday in 2006...the Motown shop at Detroit Airport had a fuller and far better range of Motown CDs for sale. Maybe things have improved since then...?

The Harvey Records CD is issued by budget company Hallmark who have been legally selling vinyl and CDs for decades.

:)

[grapevine]

...2008 CDs ...part 1

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:)

[grapevine]

...2008 CDs ...part 2

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:)

[TomatoTom123]

That I'm In a Different World set looks interesting!

[grapevine]

...it was a strange one-off out-of-the-blue Motown release with some very unusual choices that seem to play together rather well ...it also launched 'Motown 50' ...I'm glad I have a copy...! :)

http://tiny.cc/chg86y [[https://www.discogs.com/Various-Im-In-A-Different-World-A-Journey-Through-Motowns-Uncharted-Territories/release/3559709)

:)

[snakepit]

just got to say what a fantastic job Grapevine has done here. I'd no idea about most of these CDs and this is a fantastic project for all Motown collectors.
I'm sure Ralph is delighted that SDF is still providing great Motown history via threads such as Grapevine's Motown CD history.
can't wait for further entries....essential reading.

[mysterysinger]

Absolutely - a great job by Grapevine. There aren't that many obvious omissions but certainly many surprises can be seen. Shame it's not searchable but that's a small point. Well done Grape.

[ralpht]

Grape, you need to stand up and take a well deserved bow for this effort. Excellent work dude.

[grapevine]

Thanks for the appreciation Guys ...as always it's a labour of love ...in compiling these yearly releases it amazes me how well we have been catered for ...I'd hazard a guess that more 'new' Motown of previously unreleased tracks have been released since the CD age ...than regular Motown releases had been issued on vinyl since 1959...?? ...hope to continue the series soon...!

:)

[grapevine]

...2009 CDs ...part 1

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:)

[grapevine]

...2009 CDs ...part 2

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:)

[snakepit]

Great to see the latest instalment of these Motown CDs.
Motown [[ licencees)really knew how to milk that back.catalogue...surely no other label comes close [[perhaps Atlantic) but they covered so many labels and artists. Motown were unique.

[Ngroove]

That Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell, what appears to be a "United" CD boxed set, for I am intrigued.

I have bought both Sixties Marvin Gaye albums CD boxed sets of recent, Volume One holding his 1961 to 1965, and Volume Two holding his 1966 to 1970, so in other words, all the Marvin / Tammi albums were in Volume Two, but that "United" box kinda tells me that would look gorgeous on my collection as well, if it is still in print, meaning I could order it on Amazon for an affordable enough price.

[mowsville]

Did those Motown re-issue singles ever get released...i know the Tamla ones did but ive never seen any of the Motown label ones.

[grapevine]

...2010 CDs

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:)

[mowsville]

How is the Katie Melua cd connected to Motown?

[grapevine]

...both the Katie Melua [[https://www.vagalume.com.br/katie-melua/discografia/the-house.html) and Michael Bolton [[https://www.amazon.com/One-World-Love-Michael-Bolton/dp/B003ATUFPS) 2010 CDs were released by Universal Motown ...stranger people than these have been released by Motown...!! :)

[mowsville]

Thanks Grapevine...I would never have known that that.

[TomatoTom123]

What's the black and white cover with a man's face close to a microphone for? :)

[mysterysinger]

That Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell, what appears to be a "United" CD boxed set, for I am intrigued.

I have bought both Sixties Marvin Gaye albums CD boxed sets of recent, Volume One holding his 1961 to 1965, and Volume Two holding his 1966 to 1970, so in other words, all the Marvin / Tammi albums were in Volume Two, but that "United" box kinda tells me that would look gorgeous on my collection as well, if it is still in print, meaning I could order it on Amazon for an affordable enough price.

The United box is for the Japanese mini LP CDs - they turn up on eBay from time to time and are usually empty but sell for £25 plus. I have some of these for my mini LP CD collection and they are gorgeous.

[grapevine]

What's the black and white cover with a man's face close to a microphone for? :)

Tom ...it was the Motown Smooth Jazz Sax Instrumentals [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motown-Smooth-Jazz-Sax-Instrumentals/dp/B01MQCVQJS/ref=sr_1_29?keywords=Motown+Jazz+Smooth+Jazz+Sax+I nstrumentals&qid=1559299095&s=gateway&sr=8-29) CD ...!

:)

[grapevine]

...2011 CDs

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:)

[mysterysinger]

Many CDs are just re-mashed hits collections - in some cases they just change the artwork and issue again under the same catalogue number. What is the single most released track amongst all these CDs - DRATS "Baby Love" must be a real contender.

[TomatoTom123]

Tom ...it was the Motown Smooth Jazz Sax Instrumentals [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motown-Smooth-Jazz-Sax-Instrumentals/dp/B01MQCVQJS/ref=sr_1_29?keywords=Motown+Jazz+Smooth+Jazz+Sax+I nstrumentals&qid=1559299095&s=gateway&sr=8-29) CD ...!

:)

Thanks grape, I thought it might be something along those lines :)

[grapevine]

...2012 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...2013 CDs

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:)

[Ngroove]

I feel sad, all the great latter-years releases [[Hip-O Select, Big Break Records, Funkytown Grooves), were all limited print runs, thus if I look for them today, their prices would be jacked up five-ten times their original listed price.

[grapevine]

...2014 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...2015 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...2016 CDs

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:)

[grapevine]

...2017 CDs

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:)

[jack020]

Are you sure Diana Ross sings songs from the Wiz 2015 is a cd? I thought it was a digital download only!

[grapevine]

...if you notice jack ...I've included all notable and significant releases of Motown and related CDs ...digital releases ...DVDs ...and vinyl ...in the CD-age ...in this series...! ...all the 'Motown Unreleased' compilations ...apart from MU1966 ...have been digital only releases ...it would have been a shame not to include them...! :)

[grapevine]

Here's the last in this current series of 'Complete Motown CDs' ...for the moment! I hope I haven't overlooked any significant releases. A BIG THANK YOU to Ralph and Lowell for letting this happen...

...2018 CDs

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...and still we wait to ... * * * F R E E * * B L I N K Y * * *

:)

[Ngroove]

Johnny Gill has had a "Icon" compilation not so long ago - sure, it was a budget, Walmart only release - but to me, it kind of helps signalling Johnny Gill, truly a man with a big voice, represent legendary status as a Motown Great.

[grapevine]

...2019 CDs ...and BLINKY is FREED AT LAST...!!!

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:)

[jack020]

Lionel Richie Hello from Las Vegas is on Capitol records! :)

[woodward]

...2019 CDs ...and BLINKY is FREED AT LAST...!!!

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:)

Just wondering, the third one up on the left from the end Motown Rare and Unreleased. Could you tell me exactly who what when where, etc. on the release. Have not heard anything about it. Any previously unreleased songs in the CD? Thanks.

[lockhartgary]

I'm not the OP, but I did find this track listing. And it appears to be a vinyl only release?

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Motown-Rare-Unreleased-Gems-From-The-Legendary-Vault/release/14443605

[woodward]

I'm not the OP, but I did find this track listing. And it appears to be a vinyl only release?

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Motown-Rare-Unreleased-Gems-From-The-Legendary-Vault/release/14443605

Figures. Thanks for researching this. I would love to have this but I am not going backwards to vinyl. Why in the world don't they released this on a CD?

[Glenpwood]

Figures. Thanks for researching this. I would love to have this but I am not going backwards to vinyl. Why in the world don't they released this on a CD?

That release was done for Black Friday Record Store Day in Nov. For anyone interested in vinyl, it was superbly mastered and pressed.

[McMotown]

Oh Wow great seeing all those CD covers and it reminded me it was 'Big Motown Hits and Hard To Find Classics Vol 1' that really got me into Motown I played that CD to death back then.

[Ngroove]

Question: Of the last five years worth of CDs represented on the post, which one, how many of them are actual Motown Company, as in Motown USA, CDs proper?

[kenneth]

I guess no matter what age I am, I'll always love browsing all the different Motown album covers. Nice work Grapevine posting all this. I wonder how you were able to post them all so easily; when I tried to post philles/motown_Gary's Phil Spector collection of album cover art, the "insert image" kept failing and Lowell didn't know what was wrong.

Great effort, though, and fun to look at. When I was a kid, I was forever staring at the Motown album inner sleeves and crossing off the ones I had and circling the ones I wanted to buy! I wonder how many hours I spent like that!

[Motown4Ever518]

A Massive Undertaking, Masterfully Done Grapevine!
As I contemplate this much appreciated labor of love, a few thoughts come to mind. How much I enjoy/enjoyed looking at the album covers over the years as some of you had stated previously. To see visually how there are some series that ended too abruptly for my liking, the Remastered Smokey Robinson Solo 2 fors, the series of 2 for SR and the Miracles that ended with Time Out For/Four In Blue if we are just talking Smokey Robinson. The appreciation of this Forum, for notifying us of the latter releases. Where else would we have known about a lot of these titles being available. The fact that at first glance it may appear that it is the same material being being rehashed and repackaged, to those not on this forum. But for those of us in the know, take the Temptations, on Emperors of Soul, on the Anthology released before it, there were so many unreleased tracks which you would not have gotten on the previous Anthology/Greatest Hits packages. And lastly, how my life has been enhanced by my investing so much in the music that is indeed, the soundtrack to my life, and has paid untold dividends.