How I Discovered the Musical World of Ian Levine - Philles/Motown Gary

[Philles/Motown Gary]

"HOT Productions Catalog"
I'd like to share with you the way in which I discovered the wonderful world of Ian Levine's music -- both his Motorcity recordings and his non-Motown HI-NRG artists. The following catalog pages opened whole new music vistas for me while filling me with the same joy that I felt when discovering new Motown album releases pictured on the inner sleeve of the latest Motown LP's.

As always, thanks and appreciation to my buddy Kenny for uploading the following pages for me.

Philles/Motown Gary

[Philles/Motown Gary]

HOT Productions Catalog Cover

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Chaper Title Page of MOTORCITY CDs - 7700 Series

[Philles/Motown Gary]

7700 Series CDs

[Philles/Motown Gary]

7700 Series CDs

[Philles/Motown Gary]

7700 Series CDs

[Philles/Motown Gary]

7700 Series CDs

[Philles/Motown Gary]

7700 Series CDs

[Philles/Motown Gary]

7700 Series CDs

[Philles/Motown Gary]

7700 Series CDs

[Philles/Motown Gary]

And now the HIPPO Records 2000 Series chapter followed by the Awesome Records 8000 Series chapter advertising many magnificent Various Artists Ian Levine HI-NRG productions among others.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

HIPPO 2000 Series

[Philles/Motown Gary]

HIPPO 2000 Series

[Philles/Motown Gary]

AWESOME Records 8000 Series

[Philles/Motown Gary]

AWESOME Records 8000 Series

[Philles/Motown Gary]

AWESOME Records 8000 Series

[Philles/Motown Gary]

The posting of the HOT Records Catalog pages has completed. I hope you'll enjoy it!

Thanks again for your patience. Please feel free to post your comments now.

And, also, a great big thanks to Kenny for his uploading expertise!


- Philles/Motown Gary

[BayouMotownMan]

The artists making this music do not get a dime.

Also, the quality of this music is so subpar that when listening to an lp it's hard to tell one track from another in many cases.

I'll save my pennies.

[Boogiedown]

It’s this amazing secret world of music, a world all its own that one would only know by seeking it out. Rich in performers and in abundance. It’s jaw dropping .

How exciting Gary you found it and tapped into it and embraced it. I can imagine the thrill of it all, the anticipation, as it arrived bit by bit…. wanting more, wanting it all

[reese]

Thanks for posting all of this information.

[westgrandboulevard]

Indeed.....

Music is an essential and integral part of all those memories from our younger years.

It had a very strong influence on who we felt we were then, and also who we are today.

So, why not keep our favourite music always close to our heart, and that 'younger years' feeling ever part of our present.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

It’s this amazing secret world of music, a world all its own that one would only know by seeking it out. Rich in performers and in abundance. It’s jaw dropping .

How exciting Gary you found it and tapped into it and embraced it. I can imagine the thrill of it all, the anticipation, as it arrived bit by bit…. wanting more, wanting it all

Thanks, Boogie! I couldn't have said it better myself. If memory serves, a friend at the time told me about HOT Productions. [[How it happened was funny! Her place of employment warned the employees that if anyone was caught seeking sexual websites on the company's computers, they would be fired. During her break, she searched for Dance-music CD companies. As luck would have it, the first one to pop up was, of all things, "HOT" Productions! HA!) Needless to say, she hi-tailed it to the boss' office to explain that she was searching for a record company -- NOT a sleezy sex site! Anyway, she shared HOT Productions' phone number with me, I called them requesting a copy of their CD catalog, and the rest, as they say, is history!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Thanks for posting all of this information.

You're welcome, Reese. However, I provided the information. Kenny is the one to thank for the uploading process.

The HOT Productions catalog is actually much larger than what we shared here. Altogether, it's 108 pages. I only included the Ian Lavine-related pages.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Indeed.....

Music is an essential and integral part of all those memories from our younger years.

It had a very strong influence on who we felt we were then, and also who we are today.

So, why not keep our favourite music always close to our heart, and that 'younger years' feeling ever part of our present.

That's beautiful, westgrand. And so true! [[You should put that on a greeting card. Music is the universal language of the world. I can almost guarantee you your card would sell!)

[westgrandboulevard]

[You should put that on a greeting card. Music is the universal language of the world. I can almost guarantee you your card would sell!

Thank you PMG for those kind words.

Hmmm, yes.....it would be great if the card were to happen.

Especially if a Motorcity disc could be included with each one sold!

[reese]

You're welcome, Reese. However, I provided the information. Kenny is the one to thank for the uploading process.

The HOT Productions catalog is actually much larger than what we shared here. Altogether, it's 108 pages. I only included the Ian Lavine-related pages.

Thank you both.

[kenneth]

Thank you both.

Sure thing. I can do it a lot faster than Gary, because he really relies on his phone which makes it a rather cumbersome process.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

The artists making this music do not get a dime.

Also, the quality of this music is so subpar that when listening to an lp it's hard to tell one track from another in many cases.

I'll save my pennies.

Bayou, we have no control over whether or not the artists were paid. Those matters are handled at a much higher level than the fans who buy the music.

Don't worry about saving your pennies. Most of the CDs advertised in the above catalog stopped being available 25 years ago when HOT Productions distrubutors closed its doors.

If you dislike Ian Levine's music so much, why do you bother entering such a thread?

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Thank you PMG for those kind words.

Hmmm, yes.....it would be great if the card were to happen.

Especially if a Motorcity disc could be included with each one sold!

There ya go, west! I love the idea!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

It’s this amazing secret world of music, a world all its own that one would only know by seeking it out. Rich in performers and in abundance. It’s jaw dropping .

How exciting Gary you found it and tapped into it and embraced it. I can imagine the thrill of it all, the anticipation, as it arrived bit by bit…. wanting more, wanting it all

Indeed it was an exciting musical summer, Boogie. One I'll never forget! The Various Artists 2-CD sets introduced me to artists and songs I had never been exposed to but loved upon my first hearing. I would search throughout the HOT catalog for an entire CD by that artist and sure enough -- they had one available!

[WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance]

I absolutely LOVE your enthusiasm for music, Gary! I didn't think I'd enjoy Ian's productions but a fellow collector sent me a tape of Marvelettes material and i was actually surprised in a good way. I still wasn't exactly sold on the music backing, but I also knew Ian didn't have Motown Dollars to develop a studio band on the level of the Funk Brothers. So be it.

What sold me was that it was really ear-opening to hear Gladys sounding as if she had only gotten better and better. Wanda, considering all that she had been through, came off sounding good as well. [[Kim Weston is an amazing person for helping Wanda make this comeback.) Gladys had revealed a stylistic progression while at Motown that many hadn't heard or had overlooked. With the Ian Levine material, I got the feeling that if she had been with a major company, she could have recorded material similar to Dionne Warwick. I'm not saying the two sound the same, but Gladys had become so adept and interpreting and phasing, she would have done well doing Adult Contemporary material.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I absolutely LOVE your enthusiasm for music, Gary! I didn't think I'd enjoy Ian's productions but a fellow collector sent me a tape of Marvelettes material and i was actually surprised in a good way. I still wasn't exactly sold on the music backing, but I also knew Ian didn't have Motown Dollars to develop a studio band on the level of the Funk Brothers. So be it.

What sold me was that it was really ear-opening to hear Gladys sounding as if she had only gotten better and better. Wanda, considering all that she had been through, came off sounding good as well. [[Kim Weston is an amazing person for helping Wanda make this comeback.) Gladys had revealed a stylistic progression while at Motown that many hadn't heard or had overlooked. With the Ian Levine material, I got the feeling that if she had been with a major company, she could have recorded material similar to Dionne Warwick. I'm not saying the two sound the same, but Gladys had become so adept and interpreting and phasing, she would have done well doing Adult Contemporary material.

Thanks, Waiting! Music has been my life since I was a little kid. My parents had a photo of me sitting on the floor beside my record player -- listening to my "Little Golden Records" by the hour! All through the years, I was single and free with no kids. I had the financial freedom to buy whatever music I wanted. I'm grateful that I was blessed with such an intense love and passion for music, and, believe me, I've made the most of it.

I'm glad you're enjoying discovering Ian's Motorcity productions. Though not for everyone, there are some great tracks to be discovered.

I've never thought of Gladys Horton in quite the same vein as Dionne Warwick; but now that you've mentioned it, Gladys did a super-classy lead-vocal performance on "This Night Was Made For Love" from The Marvelettes' PINK album which was highly impressive! You just might have a point there about her being a potentially highly-regarded adult-contemporary singer had Motown given her that kind of training.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

ATTENTION Boogiedown [[one of our resident Disco specialists) and anyone who attended the dance clubs back in the '80s. Take a quick look at the HIPPO Records chapter above featuring "The Best Disco In Town" [[Vol. 1), a Various Artists 2-CD dance-music set. On Disc 1, notice George Kranz' "Din Daa Daa". I recently noticed that Kmart is using this track in its current TV commercial for "Style Outside The Box".

When I first got the above-mentioned CD set, I thought this was the weirdest, most bizarre song I'd ever heard. It's funny how after just a few hearings, it becomes strangely irresistible!

[Boogiedown]

ATTENTION Boogiedown [[one of our resident Disco specialists) and anyone who attended the dance clubs back in the '80s. Take a quick look at the HIPPO Records chapter above featuring "The Best Disco In Town" [[Vol. 1), a Various Artists 2-CD dance-music set. On Disc 1, notice George Kranz' "Din Daa Daa". I recently noticed that Kmart is using this track in its current TV commercial for "Style Outside The Box".

When I first got the above-mentioned CD set, I thought this was the weirdest, most bizarre song I'd ever heard. It's funny how after just a few hearings, it becomes strangely irresistible!

Hee hee ,this one ?



yes I do remember it Gary, and although I feel as though I really shouldn't like it , there's something about it that I do !






oh oh now you've got me listening to it ... its a kick!

[Boogiedown]

and now you've got me looking at that series. Quite an impressive collection.

I see some of Ian's stuff in there.....I'm sure I'm not telling you anything Gary, that this is a Levine production:



[with apologies to James Wells, I especially like the music at 4:40 and beyond...]

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Yes, Boogie! That's the one! I think "Din Daa Daa" is a classic example of what they call a "guilty pleasure"!

And, yes, "The Best Disco In Town" is excellent -- all three volumes' worth.

I hate to hurt your feelings, Boogie, but the James Wells "My Claim To Fame" is just okay to me. It's missing somethng.. if Motown had "had their way" with it, they would have applied the "Motown Magic" to it and filled in the missing gaps to make it their own.

[mysterysinger]

Thanks for the posts PMG and Kenny. Another invaluable thread. I was particularly fascinated with page 97 of the catalogue on which the top 6 photos are identical to the Pickwick CD releases in the UK - where they have excellent sleeve notes by Graham Betts. An example here of The Marvelettes release

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...57691401088473.

Did they actually come out in the USA like that or were the covers more like the other single artist "Best Of"s when released? Obviously they had a different catalogue number over here.

Such a shame that so many of the items listed didn't surface. I would have loved a Best Of The Velvelettes. But there are "Best Of" versions available on download including Barbara Randolph etc. And 50 volumes of The Best Of Motorcity? Wow, the mind boggles with that one.

Such a shame it all went pear shaped- I would have loved seeing more of these artists on live tours.

[kenneth]

I find myself to be most interested in the second tier artists who weren't as well known for their Motown tenures as they might have been at other labels, before or after. Aside from the Marvelettes "reunion" album, I really never heard or listened to any of Levine's other productions.

But I find some of the singers to be compelling to hear or hear again, such as Jake Jacas, Billy Griffin, GC Cameron and especially Joe Stubbs who sounds absolutely fantastic on his redo of "Just a Little Misunderstanding" which I am assuming he sang lead on as a member of the Contours.

Never ever heard of Jacas, of course we all know who Billy Griffin is, and GC Cameron had a few great songs outside of his time with the Spinners, but I think his only big hit while at Motown was a duet. At first I was thinking it was "With You I'm Born Again" with Syreeta but of course that was Billy Preston.

It's very fun hearing these artists sing. I of course wish the backgrounds were less "manufactured" but some of them are fine, especially when they simply serve to highlight the singer's voice, rather than dominate the proceedings!

I'm anxious to sample some of the female singers as well that I never heard before, even at the time of their association with Levine, such as Hattie Littles, Carolyn Crawford, Frances Nero and others.

Seeing as how the backing tracks were all more or less "tacked on" and were likely never live in the studio, it's intriguing to me to imagine some of the tracks "reimagined" with different backgrounds, like a simple jazz-type combo of guitar, bass, piano and drums. I'm sure it'll never happen but I'd love to hear some of these songs that way.

Still a fun, fun find with many sounds to be discovered.

[westgrandboulevard]

Seeing as how the backing tracks were all more or less "tacked on" and were likely never live in the studio, it's intriguing to me to imagine some of the tracks "reimagined" with different backgrounds, like a simple jazz-type combo of guitar, bass, piano and drums. I'm sure it'll never happen but I'd love to hear some of these songs that way.

Kenneth, I have often wondered if the Motorcity artists just heard the basic drum machine and bass sounds in their headphones....similar to what I assume they heard at Motown.

Or, because the 'instrumentation' sounds were largely computer generated, if they heard more, even if not all of the finished track....

Also...your remark about them being 'reimagined' with different backgrounds, and "I'm sure it'll never happen"...

Oh yes it has...and it is still happening.

Many from the first flush of original tracks have been reworked, and have appeared updated on various collections. One example....'Don't Wait Around' by The Elgins has several versions.

It seems there are more expected very soon...although these are to be available only by download.

One problem I find with downloads is that additional details about the track are generally not specified. Then, it is difficult to identify the track used on the link as being different from the version generally used.

If it helps, I can check for some CD titles here which I know contain tracks which vary from the originals found on the 'Best Of' series.

[kenneth]

Kenneth, I have often wondered if the Motorcity artists just heard the basic drum machine and bass sounds in their headphones....similar to what I assume they heard at Motown.

Or, because the 'instrumentation' sounds were largely computer generated, if they heard more, even if not all of the finished track....

Also...your remark about them being 'reimagined' with different backgrounds, and "I'm sure it'll never happen"...

Oh yes it has...and it is still happening.

Many from the first flush of original tracks have been reworked, and have appeared updated on various collections. One example....'Don't Wait Around' by The Elgins has several versions.

It seems there are more expected very soon...although these are to be available only by download.

One problem I find with downloads is that additional details about the track are generally not specified. Then, it is difficult to identify the track used on the link as being different from the version generally used.

If it helps, I can check for some CD titles here which I know contain tracks which vary from the originals found on the 'Best Of' series.

No kidding! Wow, I can't believe that. Sure, I would love to know which tracks you have heard with alternate backing tracks that are less "insistent," so to speak.

Thanks! Always something new to learn here on SDF.

[mysterysinger]

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".

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Thanks for the posts PMG and Kenny. Another invaluable thread. I was particularly fascinated with page 97 of the catalogue on which the top 6 photos are identical to the Pickwick CD releases in the UK - where they have excellent sleeve notes by Graham Betts. An example here of The Marvelettes release

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cookep...57691401088473.

Did they actually come out in the USA like that or were the covers more like the other single artist "Best Of"s when released? Obviously they had a different catalogue number over here.

Such a shame that so many of the items listed didn't surface. I would have loved a Best Of The Velvelettes. But there are "Best Of" versions available on download including Barbara Randolph etc. And 50 volumes of The Best Of Motorcity? Wow, the mind boggles with that one.

Such a shame it all went pear shaped- I would have loved seeing more of these artists on live tours.

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.

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.

[mysterysinger]

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.

[westgrandboulevard]

No kidding! Wow, I can't believe that. Sure, I would love to know which tracks you have heard with alternate backing tracks that are less "insistent," so to speak. Thanks! Always something new to learn here on SDF.

To start with, a list of old favourite titles which were given new backing tracks a few years after Motorcity folded.

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......

[kenneth]

@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

[westgrandboulevard]

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....

[Philles/Motown Gary]

[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.

[mistercarter2u]

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?

[westgrandboulevard]

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.....

[Philles/Motown Gary]

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?

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.