Tcb dvd?

[ejluther]

So with the bonus track from TCB [["I'm The Greatest Star") being recently released on the excellent "Funny Girl" reissue, the question must once again be asked - when will we get an official TCB DVD release with deleted scenes and other wonderful extras? Package that sucker with GIT and you've got a winning package sure to sell! Come on, Motown/Universal/whoever...get it together and take care of business!

Here are the TCB photos from the LP gatefold of what I understand is the "I'm The Greatest Star" sequence we did not get to see on TV:

[captainjames]

Maybe there is just too many approvals from different resources that it is just not worth the headache.

[vgalindo]

Maybe there is just too many approvals from different resources that it is just not worth the headache.

I just don't understand why it is always so difficult to get old specials with Diana Ross released. I know a few years ago her Royal Albert Hall was scheduled to be released and then it was stopped due to approvals. Barbra Streisand doesn't seem to have this problem at all..

[bradsupremes]

I think the problem lies with West Grand Media. They have no problem using footage from the TV specials and Motown home video footage in their own produced specials like Motown 25 and Motown 40, but you don't see any of these clips from the specials being used on those Motown artists DVDs from a few years back. Either someone at West Grand Media is preventing these ideas for release from getting to Berry Gordy or Berry Gordy himself won't approve. I actually think Berry Gordy would approve, but someone is standing in the way to get to him...

[Glenpwood]

Dont forget they have to go to the music publisher of the songs performed and get clearances/ pay licensing fees. I'm sure Eleanor Rigby costs a pretty penny to get alone. Thats why a lot of the Carol Burnett Show episodes are unavailable or have musical pieces cut from them. Had they done two specials filled with nothing but Motown songs instead of proving their versatility they probably wouldve been released by now.

[Jimi LaLumia]

well,Streisand sings songs that have to be paid for as well, and there is no shortage of Streisand DVDs of her tv specials.. who is West Grand Media?

[mowsville]

exactly...ive never understood this either...you can get a video compilation dvd of nearly everyone except Diana and other Motown artists...they are really missing the boat here.

[vgalindo]

well,Streisand sings songs that have to be paid for as well, and there is no shortage of Streisand DVDs of her tv specials.. who is West Grand Media?

Yes Jimi. I was just about to say the same thing. Most of Streisand's songs are standards that would have to be paid for too. I really don't get it.

[Bokiluis]

Maybe there is just too many approvals from different resources that it is just not worth the headache.

Captain James, you've nailed it from all that I heard. "T.C.B." and "G.I.T." had multiple investors that could not agree on a hefty advance.
If they started out with special airings on PBS say during Black Music Month [[June), it would set the stage to build interest. It is not the type of release that will sell tonnage, the first few weeks. However, I am confident that it would do well in the long run. [[Also, some of Streisand's material are now in the public domain and cost little or nothing to license. But even more importantly, it seems like the same team of investors for most of Streisand's are more stream-lined. It probably was a lot easier to convince investors on a Streisand television special, whereas, it appears Motown had to keep proving themselves in those early years. The fact that this was an Emmy winning television special that was the first all black cast to rule the ratings).

[kegtapper]

Frankly myself as an older Motown enthusiast, all the history is being tied up in paperwork that is worse than the govt. Soon Motown may be relegated to one of those 'legacy' type companies where the glory years are gone and the fans no longer can wait around. I stopped collecting because of the gaps and missing things that just is not available.
I hope they wise up soon.

[thanxal]

TCB is currently on YouTube in six parts. I'd watch it now since these things have a way of being taken down quickly.

Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSehC9NR4Sk
Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpH_5uaDsr8
Part Three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfVqx45sD-Q
Part Four: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_xsZRm533s
Part Five: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3crXQx_wyN4
Part Six: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHo55qs7OxU

[dvus7]

well,Streisand sings songs that have to be paid for as well, and there is no shortage of Streisand DVDs of her tv specials.. who is West Grand Media?

West Grand Media is F/K/A Motown Productions!

[jillfoster]

Alot of this is just hooey. They could release it if they wanted to do the work. Somebody at West Grand is just lazy as hell. After all, this got released!

[jillfoster]

And this:

[jillfoster]

And this:

[jillfoster]

And this:

[jillfoster]

And this:

[MIKEW-UK]

re WEST GRAND MEDIA, click on link to see the background I posted in 2011.....
http://soulfuldetroit.com/archive/index.php/t-3328.html

[marv2]

Alot of this is just hooey. They could release it if they wanted to do the work. Somebody at West Grand is just lazy as hell. After all, this got released!

This is closest to the real reason why those old television specials have not been released. If you recall, they released "Motown 25" on VHS in 1986 while the memory of that special was still fresh in the public's mind. With these older shows [["TCB" & "GIT"), they do not believe that there is interest out there to do the work to release them on DVD.

Remember what happened when Berry sold Motown?

[Jimi LaLumia]

then someone should make them aware of the on going success of MOTOWN :THE MUSICAL since March 2013, and now nationally, with productions in key cities, and a UK version on the horizon..

[marv2]

then someone should make them aware of the on going success of MOTOWN :THE MUSICAL since March 2013, and now nationally, with productions in key cities, and a UK version on the horizon..

I believe Mr. Gordy is already aware of that fact since he was centrally involved in that play.