Motown "series" designations of releases.

I was thinking last evening of all the different names that Motown assigned to compilations or collections of songs that were originally released mostly as singles. So I sat down and made a listing. I am certain it is incomplete so if you have anything else to add, please do so. I never realized that there were this many titles assigned to the compilations. UK releases included.

Which ones are your favorites?

Definitive Collection
Ultimate Collection
Best Of
Anthology series
Greatest Hits
Millenium Collection
The Very Best Of
Cellarful Of
Milestones
Year by Year
Masters Series
A Collection of 16 Big Hits
Greatest Hits and Rare Classics
25th Anniversary
35th Anniversary
Ultimate Motown
Essential Collection
Early Classics
Motown Chartbusters
Motown 25
Legends
Motown Superstars
Compact Command Performances

Thanks.

"Great Songs and Performances That Inspired the Motown 25th Anniversary TV Special" was another series.

The list is seemingly endless.

Some more -

Motown Winners Circle
Motown Memories
Motown Is Hot Hot Hot
Motown Disco Classics
Big Hits & Hard To Find Classics
The Complete Motown Singles
Lost & Found
Motown Elite 9000 Series
Motown 5000 Midline Series
Motown The History
Motown Lucky Sounds [[French)
Motown Blues series.
Motown Ultimate Collection [[Reader's Digest)
Las Grande Voces De La Musica Negra [[Spain)
Tamla Motown Connoisseurs
Soul Satisfaction

MOTOWN: THE HISTORY series
Motown - The History: In The Beginning [[530 701)
Motown - The History: The Dream [[530 702)
Motown - The History: Family Affair [[530 703)
Motown - The History: Movin' On Up [[530 704)
Motown - The History: Here To Stay [[530 705)
Motown - The History: The Love Songs [[530 706/7/8)
Motown - The History: The Happening [[530 709)
Motown - The History: Changing Times [[530 710)
Motown - The History: A New Direction [[530 711)
Motown - The History: Funky Psychedelia [[530 712)
Motown - The History: Silk 'n' Soul [[530 713)
Motown - The History: Musical Revolution [[530 714)
Motown - The History: Boogie Down [[530 715-2)
Motown - The History: A Quiet Storm [[530 716-2)
Motown - The History: On The Upside [[530 717-2)
Motown - The History: Cruisin' [[530 718-2)
Motown - The History: Behind The Groove [[530 719-2)
Motown - The History: Endless Love [[530 720-2)
Motown - The History: All Night Long [[530 721-2)
Motown - The History: Rhythm Of The Night [[530 722-2)
Motown - The History: One Heartbeat [[530 723-2)
Motown - The History: A New Era [[530 724-2)

Attachment 17944

Motown Hits Of Gold

Attachment 17936

Motown Memories

Attachment 17937

Motown Master Series

Attachment 17938

Greatest Hitsn & Rare Classics

Attachment 17939

Big Hits & Hard To Find Classics [[have been several versions over the years)

Attachment 17940

Another Master Series

Attachment 17941

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection ...

Attachment 17942

Motown Milestones [[as mentioned in the first post)

Attachment 17943

As I have previously expressed on here, I honestly cannot comprehend how Motown was even ABLE to record and release the volume of music that they did. I mean that literally..........how was there enough TIME to get that many people into that building and do that much recording in just the 10-12 years that they functioned in Detroit? Quite a "miracle" and a "marvel" if you will and I often "wonder" how they did it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mysterysinger

MOTOWN: THE HISTORY series
Motown - The History: In The Beginning [[530 701)
Motown - The History: The Dream [[530 702)
Motown - The History: Family Affair [[530 703)
Motown - The History: Movin' On Up [[530 704)
Motown - The History: Here To Stay [[530 705)
Motown - The History: The Love Songs [[530 706/7/8)
Motown - The History: The Happening [[530 709)
Motown - The History: Changing Times [[530 710)
Motown - The History: A New Direction [[530 711)
Motown - The History: Funky Psychedelia [[530 712)
Motown - The History: Silk 'n' Soul [[530 713)
Motown - The History: Musical Revolution [[530 714)
Motown - The History: Boogie Down [[530 715-2)
Motown - The History: A Quiet Storm [[530 716-2)
Motown - The History: On The Upside [[530 717-2)
Motown - The History: Cruisin' [[530 718-2)
Motown - The History: Behind The Groove [[530 719-2)
Motown - The History: Endless Love [[530 720-2)
Motown - The History: All Night Long [[530 721-2)
Motown - The History: Rhythm Of The Night [[530 722-2)
Motown - The History: One Heartbeat [[530 723-2)
Motown - The History: A New Era [[530 724-2)

Attachment 17944

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I bought this mail order series.
However the neglected to send me the Motown box [[ pictured above)

When I complained to them , they sent me a black case that held 12 cassette tapes!
Eventually received my Motown box.

I compiled a CDr of The first two UK Motown Memories LPs pictured above earlier today.
I'll get around to Volume 3, which was similar to the USA LP "Switched on Blues"...which I had once but not sure if I ever copied it.

Snake they are brilliant albums and where I first got to hear almost all of the tracks over the three volumes. You are correct in that Volume 3 is similar to "Switched On Blues" which I have on CD. Gino Parks "SameThing" and Shorty's "I'm Walkin' " were always the stand out tracks for me on Volume 3.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by daviddesper

As I have previously expressed on here, I honestly cannot comprehend how Motown was even ABLE to record and release the volume of music that they did. I mean that literally..........how was there enough TIME to get that many people into that building and do that much recording in just the 10-12 years that they functioned in Detroit? Quite a "miracle" and a "marvel" if you will and I often "wonder" how they did it.

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Absolutely, let alone find time to write all those songs.

Mysterysinger
Yes great LPs.
I'm not sure which I got first..vol 3 or switched on Blues.
I love the Mable John " No love" but all good.

The Motown: The History series looks fantastic! :D

How about the 50th Anniversary Complete Singles Collections? I know they only did four of them [[for the Supremes, Temptations, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas & Four Tops).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Motown Eddie

How about the 50th Anniversary Singles Collections? I know they only did three of them [[for the Supremes, Temptations & Four Tops).

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And Martha/Vandellas.

Big Wheels of Motown

There's a [[confusing) array of The Big Chill releases in various volumes culminating in the Deluxe edition.

Some great tracks and many non-Motown which is how the likes of Procol Harum, Wayne Fontana and even Bert Kaempfert got a release on Motown.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TomatoTom123

The Motown: The History series looks fantastic! :D

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It is excellent - they are well mastered and sound great to me. Also each CD comes with copious notes from Sharon Davis and Compilation Producer's Notes by Gordon Frewin highlighting unusual track choices, mixes etc.
Some samples...
Covers

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...h/10777552783/

Compilation Producer's Notes - sample page

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...gRGD3Y-gRGHtU/


Sharon Davis' notes - sample pages

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...-gL9qZq-e563Ky

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...-gL9qZq-e563Ky

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sansradio

And Martha/Vandellas.

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Yes! I had forgotten about their set when I initially made my post [[and corrected it when I realized my mistake). The 50th Anniversary set for them is a real gem since it contains a full set of songs from the vaults [[as well as the unedited version of "Dancing In The Street", the stereo mix of the single version of "Jimmy Mack" & an alternate take of "I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing") along with all of Martha & The Vandellas' A&B sides for Motown.