Jasmine records new cds : must-haves for Stevie and Marvin

[jbpintus]

Jasmine records have just released three physical cds on Motown acts.

Although MARY WELLS is a great one, we've had this all before from a tape source. So I'd avoid this one.

BUT...

LITTLE STEVIE WONDER's gives us THE JAZZ SOUL OF LITTLE STEVIE in stereo for the first time since its French 1978 lp release. The stereo mix of that lp is much better than the mono mix - at least we have the harmonica upfront on "Some other time" instead of having it buried in the mix. We also have TRIBUTE TO UNCLE RAY and all of Stevie's 1962 A and B sides to round of this cd.

Marvin Gaye gives us every track he was featured before joining Motown. That includes track by the Moonglows or Chuck Berry.
Sound is great too. Another essential release.

Add to this the fact the art is as good as it can be

Another company has released Stevie's TRIBUTE TO UNCLE RAY but I suspect it is the stereo lp folded into mono while the cd was mastered. Plus it is very noisy. Funnily enough this is the one cd which shows a stereo logo on it! It is not! Stay away from it at the moment. There's no decent cd of the mono UNCLE RAY as of yet as far as I know.

JB

[mr_postman]

Thank you very much JB! We're so fortunate to have you and your impressive knowledge of Motown discography available here on the forum. Being somewhat of a discographical nerd myself, I appreciate it so much every time!

Appreciations and compliments aside, I think I'll have to buy the Stevie Wonder set, and perhaps the Marvin Gaye too to get a clean copy of "Baby You're My Only Love" by Billy Stewart. Love that song.

[justanothermotownfan]

Is Stevie's Tribute to Uncle Ray in stereo?

[Starguard4]

MARVIN GAYE >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stubborn-Kind-Fellow-Beginning-1957-1962/dp/B00CDL65JY/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1369594450&sr=8-21&keywords=jasmine+records
STEVIE WONDER >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazz-Little-Stevie-Tribute-Uncle/dp/B00CDL65J4/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1369594527&sr=1-6&keywords=jasmine+records
MARY WELLS >>> http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bye-Baby-The-Early-Collection/dp/B00CDL65N0/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1369594286&sr=8-13&keywords=jasmine+records

[Motown4Ever518]

Thank you JB I am interested in the MPG selection.

[Starguard4]

Some more info... http://www.jasmine-records.co.uk/

[jbpintus]

An update to my first post...

I've checked the Soul Jam cd and TRIBUTE TO UNCLE RAY is the genuine mono mix, and not the stereo album folded to mono as I thought.
The mono version can easily be identified as it contains some alternate vocal takes. Both takes used for stereo and mono mixes are nearly identical but there are a few differences here and there.

The Soul Jam cd is a bit noisy but is the genuine mono mix, and the first time it appears on cd - the French 1995 cd on the Motown Lucky Sounds label is the stereo mix, as is its US knock-off on Motown Masters Series and ditto for the Japanese SHM vinyl replica released a couple of years ago.
The 2013 Jasmine cd is a clean transfer from vinyl but once again, dubbed from a stereo lp.

The Soul Jam cd can be found here :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Stevie-Tribute-Uncle-bonus/dp/B00CECKK2U/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1369616062&sr=1-3&keywords=stevie+wonder

There's just one 2013 cd for the early Stevie Wonder that I haven't had the chance to listen to... yet!
I'll post an update in case there's anything worth with it when I actually will have heard it myself.

In a nutshell, as of today the best cd sources for Stevie's 1962 released material are :

THE JAZZ SOUL OF LITTLE STEVIE [[mono) : Japanese SHM vinyl replica, which is imo punchier than the late 80's [[MOTD / 374635xxx2 cds)
THE JAZZ SOUL OF LITTLE STEVIE [[stereo) : Jasmine 2013 [[clean transfer from stereo lp)
TRIBUTE TO UNCLE RAY [[mono) : Soul Jam 2013 cd [[albeit only an average transfer but finding a mint 1962 copy is nearly impossible)
TRIBUTE TO UNCLE RAY [[stereo) : French or US 1995 cd [[which I like better than the japanese SHM cd for whetever reason)

As for the singles, THE COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES Vol.2 [[1962) is the set to get.

For the completists, I beleive A COLLECTION OF 16 BIG HITS Vol.1 [[MOTD cd) contains slightly alternate mixes for both "Contract on Love" and "Sunset".
A different stereo mix of "Contract on Love" is on the 1998 remastered UPTIGHT cd.
An alternate extended take of "I Call It Pretty Music" [[slow version) is on SWITCHED ON BLUES [[MOTD cd)

JB

[booty]

I just checked Amazon.co.uk for the Jasmine label title and came across another one from Universe, but this says that this is a CD-R and is manufactured to order by Amazon!!!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tribute-Uncle-Jazz-Little-Stevie/dp/B00BIQO06K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_m_h__8