G.C. Cameron has a most amazing voice but has missed out on having a higher profile as a solo artist. True he hit it big with the Spinners. I love his 1975 hit "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" which reached 38 on Billboard R&B singles - it was from the film "Cooley High".
Thanks, Mystery! I'm glad you're enjoying it! I need to ask you to double-check that page # you're referring to, as I didn't reproduce Page 97 from the catalogue. If I'm understanding your question correctly, any CD's that you saw here in the "Best Of Motorcity" "Jukebox" or shown above in the catalog were purchased by me from the HOT Productions catalog back in the mid-to-late '90s. The copies shown in your photos look like deluxe versions which, to my knowledge, were never released here.Quote:
Originally Posted by mysterysinger
Bingo! It is indeed a shame that the upcoming Motorcity titles shown in the catalog never saw the light of day -- at least not here in the U.S. From the way you're talking, they remained unreleased in the U.K. as well. "Best Of" collections by Saundra Edwards, The Originals, Barbara Randolph, The Velvelettes, and Sisters Love would have filled in huge gaps in completists' collections.. And, Various Artists collections paying tribute to Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder would have also been fun.
One thing is for sure -- you collectors in the U.K. got a heck of a lot more Motorcity product than we did here in the U.S. Fifty [[50) volumes of the "Best Of Motorcity" available is indeed mind-boggling.... and thrilling! Are they on Amazon? I'll have to check them out.
PMG you are correct - I should have said page 79 and it's the Very Best Marv Johnson up to The Marvelettes [[7709 to 7714). In the UK the ones having these covers got released by Pickwick and the covers were predominantly light blue with an almost metallic type pattern. I'm not convined they got released in the USA with these covers but had solid coloured outlines although the photo would have been the same.
I'm pretty sure the UK never got any of the Best Of Motorcity various artists series featured in the catalogue above. We certainly didn't get 50 volumes of them but your catalogue shows up to 50 volumes on page 77. I think the 7700 series was USA only.
To start with, a list of old favourite titles which were given new backing tracks a few years after Motorcity folded.Quote:
Originally Posted by kenneth
Mary Wells: My Guy
The Contours - This Old Heart Of Mine
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Heatwave
The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack
The Monitors - Tears Of A Clown
Barbara McNair - For Once In My Life
Joe Stubbs - Just A Little Misunderstanding
Jean, Scherrie & Lynda of The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love
Syreeta - Reflections
Kim Weston - Dancing In The Street
Edwin Starr - 25 Miles
The Marvelettes - Don't Miss With Bill
Earl Van Dyke - Six By Six
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers - Reach Out I'll Be There
Hattie Littles - Nowhere To Run
Barbara Randolph - You Can't Hurry Love
Frankie Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Three Ounces Of Love - Where Did Our Love Go
Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts
Jean, Scherrie & Lynda of The Supremes - Baby Love
Rose Banks - You Keep Me Hanging On
Joe Stubbs - My Girl
Frankie Gaye & Kim Weston - It Takes Two
Marv Johnson - I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose
Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
Frankie Gaye - What's Going On
The Miracles - Love Machine
Undisputed Truth - Law of The Land
G. C. Cameron - Just My Imagination
Fifth Dimension - Love Hangover
Vermettya Royster - Young Hearts Run Free
Linda Griner - Distant Lover
G. C. Cameron - It's A Shame
Hattie Littles - You're The First, My Last, My Everything
The above titles all follow the same arrangements as the first released Motorcity versions, but the backing tracks have been reworked.
On some, I tend to prefer the first released version, but it's all just a matter of personal preference.
All feature on 'Soul Giants' 4 CD Box Set......
@WestGrandBoulevard,
Thank you so much! I am going to look for those. Am anxious to hear the different versions. Amazing track list. Thanks again!
K
You are very welcome, Kenny.
It is when taking the first released versions of the original Motorcity tracks [i.e. new songs, as opposed to Motown remakes], and then comparing them with those which were subsequently remixed or reworked, that it all becomes even more interesting....
[QUOTE=mysterysinger;747454]PMG you are correct - I should have said page 79 and it's the Very Best Marv Johnson up to The Marvelettes [[7709 to 7714). In the UK the ones having these covers got released by Pickwick and the covers were predominantly light blue with an almost metallic type pattern. I'm not convined they got released in the USA with these covers but had solid coloured outlines although the photo would have been the same.
I'm pretty sure the UK never got any of the Best Of Motorcity various artists series featured in the catalogue above. We certainly didn't get 50 volumes of them but your catalogue shows up to 50 volumes on page 77. I think the 7700 series was USA only.[/pQUOTE]
GARY: Okay, Mystery - page 79. Now we're cookin' with gas! Of the 6 CDs in question, my copies are on Motorcity proper except Marv Johnson's "The Very Best" which says "Essential Gold Motorcity on the CD label, and has the same front-cover background as your copy of The Marvelettes "The Very Best" [[light blue background with what reminds me of wire spiral binding on a high-school notebook serving as the frame around the cover photo. [[Funny, I had never noticed that before.) In other words, to answer your question, of the 6 CD covers shown in the HOT catalog, only my copy of Marv Johnson's "Very Best Of" matches the versions shown. My remaining 5 have a solid-colored frame around them. All 6 of my front-cover artist photos match the covers in the catalog, but the framing around mine are different from the catalog, except for Marv Johnson's. I hope I explained that okay.
Our next Motorcity installment will be the individual-artist CDs of which I have 22 [[not 24, as I had originally thought). You'll get to see the covers up close in full color for yourself.
Am I right to assume that many of these Hot releases never actually came out?
I'd personally love to have Motorcity 7754, "The Best of Martha Reeves and The Vandellas," but I have never seen the CD anywhere, and I cannot find it when I search the web.
Was it even released?
Yes, you are right.....many of the scheduled titles were never released...
And no, there was never a Motorcity album by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, either in UK, or US.....
Mistercarter, much to the dismay of U.S. & U.K. fans, the HOT catalog ads which say "Coming Soon" were "Soon Deleted" from Motorcity's release schedule.Quote:
Originally Posted by mistercarter2u
Mystery, I'm still wondering... Did I answer your question satisfactorily regarding the 6 CDs at the top.of page 79?
Yes PMJ I'm clear that the pictures of those 6 albums were of the UK versions [[and in that case your Marv Johnson one probably has the same catalogue number as the one I have and the excellent liner notes by Graham Betts whereas the other 5 won't).
This is the Marv Johnson one I have https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...57708789784141
It also seems that nowhere were there 50 volumes of "The Best Of Motorcity" released [[but presumablyy all the tracks have been released in one form or another - although bearing in mind 50 x16 = 800 tracks that's a big ask).
Motorcity tracks have appeared on a plethora of different labels over the years - Ian Levine must have recouped his money from these although I don't know what the artists would have recieved from all the re-issues and mp3s etc.
Yes, Mystery, my copy of Marv Johnson's "The Very Best" is identical to yours including the Graham Betts booklet notes. The catalog # of mine is 30359 90032.Quote:
Originally Posted by mysterysinger
Another update for Kenny.....
Track list: 'The Essential Jimmy Ruffin'
[re-recordings from 2000; playing right now, here at WestGrand Heights.....:)]
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted 3.14
Farewell Is A Lonely Sound 3.06
As Long As There Is L-O-V-E, Love 3.06
Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby 3.16
Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got 2.52
Hold On To My Love 4.10
I'll Say Forever My Love 3.22
I've Passed This Way Before 3.07
On The Rebound [new arrangement; almost completely a solo version] 3.39
Wake Me Up When It's Over [new arrangement) 3.37
Tell Me What You Want 3.10
There Will Never Be Another You 4.46
It's Wonderful To Be Loved By You 2.58
Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby 2.54
Also recorded, but not included on this album was 'One In A Million', 3.59......
@WestGrandBoulevard,
Thanks! I’m going to seek out those tracks.
Gary will be posting all his Motor City individual artist CDs, which I am anxious to see as well to see what he has. I’m sure he has nearly everything that was available at the time. I am anxious to see from the catalog all the individual artists. I’ve been enjoying the tracks by Jake Jacas and Joe Stubbs which are all new discoveries for me. The backgrounds seem to be less intrusive on these artists than some others and I’ve really enjoyed some of the tracks I’ve heard. Maybe some of their tracks were also re-recorded or remixed with sparser backgrounds, as you indicate many of them were.
Of course I love Jimmy Ruffin, so I’ll be anxious to hear how he sounds. I’m sure he stayed in great voice, he had a fantastic voice, and I always liked him a lot especially his late Motown album “The Groove Governor.”
Thanks again.
Jake Jacas was younger that the 'golden age' Motown artists, and had a release on Motown only a few years before the Motorcity project.
Yes, his Motorcity releases tended not to have the typical Motorcity sound. They were produced by Billy Griffin and/or Ian Levine.
And they also featured light background harmonies between him and Billy Griffin.....
Jimmy Ruffin's CD is interesting. Generally very nicely done.....and the female background voices on some tracks do sound decidedly familiar.....
WGB - are these actually Ian Levine Motorcity recordings? I'd convinced myself that they were separately re-recorded by Jimmy Ruffin in 2000. They are very good recordings of his own hits and whilst there are even 2 Ian Levine compositions on this set, nothing sounds at all to me like Motorcity. Also, there's no indication on the CD of Ian's involvement in these re-recordings. Brenda doesn't appear on "On The Rebound". Mind you I had no knowledge of the re-recording of "One In A Million" either. Happy to be convinced otherwise. The set is certainly a good listen.Quote:
Originally Posted by westgrandboulevard
Here's the artwork ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...77720306350856
Mystery,
Yes, these are indeed Ian Levine recordings.....and the title of this thread is actually '....The Musical World Of Ian Levine'.....so they do seem to fit.
I'm looking at a listing which I believe originated many years ago from Ian Levine [something like 85 pages..!.] which does include all the Motorcity tracks, these Jimmy Ruffin tracks, and all Ian's other work.
Yes, of course, the Jimmy Ruffin tracks were re-recorded in 2000, so not absolutely strictly part of the original Motorcity project 1989-1992, as could not have been first released within that timescale. Or, therefore, listed as such.
But since Motorcity tracks are subject to being updated, and many of them after these Jimmy Ruffin tracks were recorded, these tracks seem to fit in well with Ian Levine's portfolio. It's been thirty years since the first Motorcity tracks were released. It often interests me how many of his non-Motorcity tracks, particularly updated versions, actually sound virtually indistinguishable from those which were released under the label 'Motorcity'.
Two tracks here ['On The Rebound' and 'Wake Me Up'] were originally Nightmare label recordings. [I have read that Ian Levine renamed Nightmare label to 'Motorcity', but am not entirely sure if that is strictly correct].
You'll know about the Nightmare titles, I think..and also know that they, and a number of other Nightmare label recordings were subsequently re-released on the Motorcity label. So I think it is realistic to regard those tracks as 'Motorcity' titles.
I believe there are elements of the original Nightmare tracks on both 'On The Rebound' and 'Wake Me Up'. Some of the 'instrumentation', and background voices..possibly at least some of Jimmy's vocals. I would need to listen again.
On my list, both 'On The Rebound' 'and 'Wake Me Up' bear a note 'new mix'. I amended that to 'new arrangement' in my post above, because I felt that was more accurate...and that those two specific tracks were not simply a remix of the first versions....but there actually does seem to be an element of 'remix'.
I believe Brenda Holloway's voice is actually heard on 'On The Rebound'......but, in reality, no more than a 'sample'. For example, the line "But you made me feel like never before, never before, never before...." and also her voice is there, but mixed well down in other parts of the song. Her voice sounds as though an effect has been used on it...and also on Jimmy's voice, in places.
Also, are you not hearing Ian Levine's signature sampled 'drum roll', as particularly used in his reworked versions? It is definitely there...if only on certain tracks.
As you say, it's a good listen....so all in all, well worth being considered 'with' the Motorcity recordings, even if not fully 'of'..... :)
Well that's great, you learn something everyday. These are really good recordings and, in truth, always thought they were too good to be from Ian Levine. I do recommend this CD as it shows what really could be achieved. I must listen in full again.
Funnily enough that signature drum roll can also be heard on Petula Clark's video "Downtown 99" [[a la Motorcity).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsCs_TXPbds
Mystery....
I have to say I was also pleasantly surprised and impressed.
When you do listen in full, see if you think you too can hear The Andantes on some of the tracks.
I feel I can identify those backing vocals recorded by UK session singers.
And there may also be some extra voices added to those.....
But if it isn't The Andantes on certain tracks [be that with or without Pat Lewis, and I don't think I hear her singing multi-tracked as 'The Andantes') then the voices are remarkably similar to Louvain, Marlene and Jackie....for one thing, the voices on some of the re-recorded tracks sound very similar to the original recordings...and that is not always the case with re-recordings.
But if it is indeed The Andantes....I then find myself wondering how they came to be on there...and were they actually still working in 2000.
Or were the tracks perhaps partially or completely recorded about 10 years previously, and maybe finished later......
It seems a little odd that Jimmy Ruffin didn't record more for Nightmare/Motorcity at the time....and then records about a dozen songs for the same producer ten years later....but no doubt there was probably a good reason for that.....
Hi Kenny & Ian Levine followers! Good news! I'm working on the Motorcity individual-artist CD's. Nearly finished with the album-cover photos. Will be starting the tracklist and audio-links soon. All is going much faster than anticipated! Should have my part completed and ready by or before the weekend. The uploading will, of course, depend on Kenny's schedule.Quote:
Originally Posted by kenneth
Can someone post a list of all of the Martha Reeves [[solo, duets, & with the Vandellas) tracks released through Motorcity? I know there was also a track or two by Lois Reeves, as well as some Vandellas tracks without Martha. I would love to have a list of these tracks and where [[on which albums / CD's) they are available. Can anyone help, please?
Did you check Gary’s other thread on this topic where he included the contents and links of the best of series, which was 20 volumes? There were a number of Vandellas and also at least one Lois Reeves track.Quote:
Originally Posted by mistercarter2u
https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...ity-Vols-1-20)
Hope this helps......Quote:
Originally Posted by mistercarter2u
References shown relate to the Hot Productions 'Best Of Motorcity' series.
The volume numbers quoted [I hope they are correct] are the original allocations, but unfortunately many volumes were never released.
Those tracks shown with an asterisk would have been released on other collections.
If you need more help, just say....
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Heat Wave - Vol 24*
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Step Into My Shoes - Vol 3
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Angel In Disguise - Vol 7
Martha Reeves - Number One - Vol 9
Martha Reeves & G. C. Cameron - You're All I Need To Get By - Vol 20
The Vandellas [Rosalind & Annette] - Not Gonna Be Ready - Vol 19
The Vandellas [Rosalind & Annette] - Running And Hiding - Vol 36*
Betty Kelly - Giving Me The Runaround - Vol 8
Betty Kelly - I Need To Be Independent - Vol 18
Lois Reeves - Patience Is A Virtue - Vol 4
Lois Reeves - Sweet Temptation - Vol 41*
As reported last week, I've been working day and night on the Motorcity Individual-Artist CDs. I had hoped to have this project completed and in Kenny's hands for uploads by this weekend. Unfortunately, however, it's taking much longer than expected. To further complicate matters, I'm expecting an out-of-town guest this coming Monday-Friday. I love this project, and I hope you'll love it, too -- just as much as you enjoyed the "Best Of Motorcity [[Vols. 1-20)" CD's. I'll continue working on this as much as I possibly can while shooting for next weekend as a goal. Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding.Quote:
Originally Posted by Philles/Motown Gary
Just while I am on my own 'Motorcity Review', and 'tracking back' through the recent threads and posts ......[accompanied by a 'backing track' - of course :)]....Quote:
Originally Posted by mysterysinger
....I should confirm that the tracks on the Jimmy Ruffin 'Essential' album, as discussed above, do appear to match those on the later released 'Hold On To My Love' album.
And which can be found, with links, on 'The Motorcity Jukebox of Individual Artist CDs' thread...
With the exception of.....
* 'Farewell Is A Lonely Sound' [apparently first recorded for Ian Levine in June 1990, but am unsure if the version on 'Essential' is the same one]
* 'On The Rebound'
- and -
* 'It's Wonderful [To Be Loved By You]' :)
June 22nd:
Happy Birthday to Ian Levine [Ian Geoffrey Levine]; songwriter, record producer and DJ; Northern Soul; Hi-NRG; Record Shack Records; Nightmare Records; Nightmare Gold; Motorcity; Centre City....:)
Happy Belated Birthday, Ian! Hope your special day was a wonderful one!