Motown Year By Year CDs

[TimChipping]

Hello.
Does anyone have a complete list of the Motown 'Year By Year' CDs?

I picked up 1966 and 1976 after some of you here praised the mastering - and you were right, but they seem to be hard to come by in the UK.

Was the set complete, or did they skip some years? And are any of the previously unreleased tracks still exclusive to those CDs?

Thanks in advance.

[reese]

I have the 1970 cd, which has the previously unreleased JUST LIKE YOU NEVER LOVED ME by Gladys Knight and the Pips.

It also has [[to my ears, at least) a mix of IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN that I don't recall hearing before. It is the same vocal but it is much clearer.

[daviddesper]

I think I have the 1968 and "maybe" the 1966 but I don't recall having seen too many others.

[Motown Eddie]

Discogs.com has a list of all of the Motown Year By Year CDs that were released.

Motown Year By Year Label | Releases | Discogs

[TimChipping]

Thanks, I'd seen that but Discogs isn't always complete so was wondering if they really did skip that many years in the series? Seems odd not to literally go year by year. Was hoping one of the vast brains here would have more info.

[WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance]

Thanks, I'd seen that but Discogs isn't always complete so was wondering if they really did skip that many years in the series? Seems odd not to literally go year by year. Was hoping one of the vast brains here would have more info.

You're not imagining things. I bought a couple of these CDs, mainly because the collections weren't the same 5 Supremes/Tops/Tempts songs repacked yet again. There were also a couple of very surprising alternative mixes/versions thrown into the mix [[one was the Monitors "Step By Step" with I believe an extra verse not on the single or album.) I kept expecting more to be released, but they seemingly skipped years and then the series just stopped.

If you really want to make sure that Discogs list is complete, I'd check with mysterysinger. He has probably THE most complete database of Motown CDs I've ever seen on his Flickr page.

[mysterysinger]

These are the ones I have - I don't think there are any more but I could be wrong. These are all in the 31453-XXXX-2 series [[the XXXX are in the second column). All a bit random.

1964 0504 The Contours – Can You Do It
1964 0504 Martha & The Vandellas – Dancing In The Street
1964 0504 The Temptations – The Way You Do The Things You Do
1964 0504 Four Tops – Baby I Need Your Loving
1964 0504 Marvin Gaye – Baby Don't You Do It
1964 0504 The Velvelettes – Needle In A Haystack
1964 0504 Mary Wells – My Guy
1964 0504 The Supremes – Baby Love
1964 0504 The Spinners – Sweet Thing
1964 0504 Eddie Holland – Leaving Here
1964 0504 Martha & The Vandellas – Wild One
1964 0504 Four Tops – Without The One You Love [[Life's Not Worth While)
1964 0504 Marvin Gaye – You're A Wonderful One
1964 0504 The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go
1964 0504 Liz Lands – Midnight Johnny
1964 0504 The Serenaders – If Your Heart Says Yes

1966 0522 Stevie Wonder - Uptight [[Everything's Alright)
1966 0522 The Temptations - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
1966 0522 The Supremes - Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart
1966 0522 Marvin Gaye - One More Heartache
1966 0522 The Elgins - Heaven Must Have Sent You
1966 0522 Jimmy Ruffin - I've Passed This Way Before
1966 0522 The Miracles - Going To A Go-Go
1966 0522 Jr. Walker & The All Stars - [[I'm A) Road Runner
1966 0522 Four Tops - Shake Me, Wake Me [[When It's Over)
1966 0522 Kim Weston - Helpless
1966 0522 Martha & The Vandellas - I'm Ready For Love
1966 0522 The Temptations - Get Ready
1966 0522 Stevie Wonder - Blowin' In The Wind
1966 0522 The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On
1966 0522 Frank Wilson - Do I Love You [[Indeed I Do) [[Previously Unreleased)
1966 0522 The Marvelettes The Boy From Crosstown [[Previously Unreleased)

1968 0507 Diana Ross & The Supremes – Love Child
1968 0507 Stevie Wonder – For Once In My Life
1968 0507 The Temptations – I Wish It Would Rain
1968 0507 Gladys Knight And The Pips – The End Of Our Road
1968 0507 Marvin Gaye – Unchained
1968 0507 The Temptations – Cloud Nine
1968 0507 Four Tops – Yesterday's Dreams
1968 0507 Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through The Grapevine
1968 0507 Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers – Does Your Mama Know About Me
1968 0507 The Marvelettes – Here I Am Baby
1968 0507 Diana Ross & The Supremes* And The Temptations – I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
1968 0507 Junior Walker & The All Stars – Hip City - Pt. II
1968 0507 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Yester Love
1968 0507 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – You're All I Need To Get By
1968 0507 Blinky Williams – I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is
1968 0507 The Monitors – Step By Step [[Hand In Hand)

1969 0525 The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
1969 0525 Jr. Walker & The All Stars – What Does It Take [[To Win Your Love)
1969 0525 The Temptations – I Can't Get Next To You
1969 0525 The Originals – Baby, I'm For Real
1969 0525 Marvin Gaye – Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
1969 0525 Chuck Jackson – Are You Lonely For Me Baby
1969 0525 Gladys Knight & The Pips – Friendship Train
1969 0525 Stevie Wonder – My Cherie Amour
1969 0525 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – Baby, Baby Don't Cry
1969 0525 David Ruffin – My Whole World Ended [[The Moment You Left Me)
1969 0525 Edwin Starr – Twenty-Five Miles
1969 0525 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – What You Gave Me
1969 0525 The Temptations – Runaway Child, Running Wild
1969 0525 Diana Ross & The Supremes – Someday We'll Be Together
1969 0525 The Lollipops – Look What You Done Boy
1969 0525 James Jamerson – Fever In The Funk House

1970 0528 The Temptations - Ball Of Confusion [[That's What The World Is Today)
1970 0528 The Spinners - It's A Shame
1970 0528 Jr. Walker & The All Stars - Gotta Hold On To This Feeling
1970 0528 Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
1970 0528 Diana Ross – Ain't No Mountain High Enough
1970 0528 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Who's Gonna Take The Blame
1970 0528 Marvin Gaye - How Can I Forget
1970 0528 Gladys Knight And The Pips – You Need Love Like I Do [[Don't You?)
1970 0528 Rare Earth – Get Ready
1970 0528 The Jackson 5 – ABC
1970 0528 Edwin Starr – War
1970 0528 The Supremes – Stoned Love
1970 0528 Four Tops – Still Water [[Love)
1970 0528 Gladys Knight And The Pips – If I Were Your Woman
1970 0528 Kiki Dee – The Day Will Come Between Sunday And Monday
1970 0528 Gladys Knight And The Pips – Just Like You Never Loved Me

1973 0510 Stevie Wonder – You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
1973 0510 Gladys Knight And The Pips – Daddy Could Swear, I Declare
1973 0510 Eddie Kendricks – Keep On Truckin'
1973 0510 Marvin Gaye – Let's Get It On
1973 0510 Diana Ross – Touch Me In The Morning
1973 0510 Willie Hutch – Brother's Gonna Work It Out
1973 0510 The Jackson 5 – Get It Together
1973 0510 Edwin Starr – There You Go
1973 0510 Smokey Robinson – Baby Come Close
1973 0510 The Temptations – Masterpiece
1973 0510 Stevie Wonder – Living For The City
1973 0510 Gladys Knight And The Pips – Neither One Of Us [[Wants To Be The First)
1973 0510 Eddie Kendricks – Boogie Down
1973 0510 Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye – You're A Special Part Of Me
1973 0510 C.P. Spencer – Still Holding [[Previously Unreleased)
1973 0510 Paul Williams – Feel Like Givin' Up [[Previously Unreleased)

1975 0531 Commodores – Slippery When Wet
1975 0531 Willie Hutch – Love Power
1975 0531 Smokey Robinson – Baby That"s Backatcha
1975 0531 Eddie Kendricks – Get The Cream Off The Top
1975 0531 Dynamic Superiors – Deception
1975 0531 The Temptations – Shakey Ground
1975 0531 G.C. Cameron – It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday
1975 0531 Michael Jackson – Just A Little Bit Of You
1975 0531 The Miracles – Love Machine, Pt. 1
1975 0531 Commodores – Sweet Love
1975 0531 Eddie Kendricks – Happy
1975 0531 The Jackson 5 – I Am Love, Pt. 2
1975 0531 Smokey Robinson – Quiet Storm
1975 0531 David Ruffin – Walk Away From Love
1975 0531 Stephanie Mills – This Empty Place
1975 0531 The Miracles – Love Machine [[Extended 12" Promotional Single Version)

1976 0513 Marvin Gaye – I Want You
1976 0513 Stevie Wonder – I Wish
1976 0513 Diana Ross – Love Hangover
1976 0513 Eddie Kendricks – Goin' Up In Smoke
1976 0513 The Commodores – Just To Be Close To You
1976 0513 Thelma Houston – Don't Leave Me This Way
1976 0513 The Temptations – Keep Holding On
1976 0513 Willie Hutch – Party Down
1976 0513 Smokey Robinson – Open
1976 0513 The Originals – Down To Love Town
1976 0513 David Ruffin – Heavy Love
1976 0513 Eddie Kendricks – He's A Friend
1976 0513 Stevie Wonder – Isn't She Lovely
1976 0513 Marvin Gaye – After The Dance
1976 0513 Leon Ware – Come Live With Me Angel
1976 0513 Diana Ross – Love Hangover [[12" Mix)

1980 0516 Diana Ross – I'm Coming Out
1980 0516 Stevie Wonder – I Ain't Gonna Stand For It
1980 0516 Commodores – Old-Fashion Love
1980 0516 Smokey Robinson – Let Me Be The Clock
1980 0516 Teena Marie – I Need Your Lovin'
1980 0516 Switch – Love Over And Over Again
1980 0516 Billy Preston & Syreeta – With You I'm Born Again
1980 0516 Jermaine Jackson – Let's Get Serious
1980 0516 Rick James – Big Time
1980 0516 Stevie Wonder – Master Blaster [[Jammin')
1980 0516 Diana Ross – Upside Down
1980 0516 The Temptations – Power
1980 0516 Diana Ross – It's My Turn
1980 0516 Mary Wilson – Pick Up The Pieces
1980 0516 Diana Ross – I'm Coming Out

1982 0534 Dazz Band – Let It Whip
1982 0534 Stevie Wonder – Do I Do
1982 0534 DeBarge – I Like It
1982 0534 The Temptations [[ft Rick James) – Standing On The Top - Pt. 1
1982 0534 High Inergy – First Impressions
1982 0534 Billy Preston – I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye
1982 0534 Jermaine Jackson – Let Me Tickle Your Fancy
1982 0534 Bettye Lavette – Right In The Middle [[Of Falling In Love)
1982 0534 Rick James – Dance Wit Me - Pt. 1
1982 0534 Smokey Robinson – Tell Me Tomorrow - Pt. 1
1982 0534 Stevie Wonder – Ribbon In The Sky
1982 0534 Bobby Nunn – She's Just A Groupie
1982 0534 Lionel Richie – Truly
1982 0534 Stevie Wonder – That Girl
1982 0534 José Feliciano – I Second That Emotion
1982 0534 Jean Carn – If You Don't Know Me By Now

1985 0519 DeBarge – Rhythm Of The Night
1985 0519 Stevie Wonder – Go Home
1985 0519 Lionel Richie – Say You, Say Me
1985 0519 Dazz Band – Hot Spot
1985 0519 Val Young – Seduction
1985 0519 El DeBarge With DeBarge – You Wear It Well
1985 0519 Stevie Wonder – Part-Time Lover
1985 0519 Dennis Edwards – Coolin' Out
1985 0519 Mary Jane Girls – Wild And Crazy
1985 0519 The Commodores – Nightshift
1985 0519 Rick James – Glow
1985 0519 The Temptations – My Love Is True [[Truly For You)
1985 0519 DeBarge – Who's Holding Donna Now
1985 0519 Mary Jane Girls – In My House
1985 0519 Thomas McClary – Man In The Middle
1985 0519 Four Tops – Sexy Ways

1987 0557 Smokey Robinson – Just To See Her
1987 0557 Stevie Wonder – Skeletons
1987 0557 Stacy Lattisaw – Jump Into My Life
1987 0557 General Kane – Girl Pulled The Dog
1987 0557 Garry Glenn – Feels Good To Feel Good
1987 0557 The Temptations – I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now
1987 0557 Bruce Willis – Respect Yourself
1987 0557 Wilson Pickett – Don't Turn Away
1987 0557 Chico DeBarge – Rainy Night
1987 0557 Carrie McDowell – When A Woman Loves A Man
1987 0557 Giorgio – Tina Cherry
1987 0557 Bunny DeBarge – Save The Best For Me [[Best Of Your Lovin')
1987 0557 Smokey Robinson – One Heartbeat
1987 0557 Lionel Richie – Se La
1987 0557 The Temptations – Papa Was A Rollin' Stone [[Previously Unreleased Remix)
1987 0557 Lionel Richie – Se La [[Extended 12" Promotional Single Version)

[mysterysinger]

The 1968 Marvin Gaye track should be "Chained".

[BayouMotownMan]

I think a guy named Al Quagliari did these, I had befriended him on AOL back in the 90s. A good series with good sound quality. Alternate version of I Wish It Would Rain, maybe a couple other alternates. He had planned more but Motown at the time said no as sales were not good.

[mjdestiny]

On the 1970 cd : a longer version of ABC [[ 3'12")
On the 1973 cd : an alternate version of Get It Together [[ this alternate version is taken from the 1976 J5 Anthology )
On the 1975 cd : I Am Love part. II , previously unreleased on cd .

[bradburger]

Good thread!

And nice to see and confirm the different mixes/versions that were used.

On the 1966 CD, Kim Weston's 'Helpless' is an unedited stereo mix with the extra verse that starts with "When night falls" which supposedly was first issued on a German L.P. from the late 70s.

'Heaven Must Have Sent You' is a longer stereo mix [possibly newly mixed for this CD?].

Cheers

Paul

[MIKEW-UK]

1973 CP SPENCER. Only Motown could produce such a track....

[motown01]

Does anyone happen to have a copy of Motown Year By Year 1970? I'm curious to hear this alternate mix of If I Were Your Woman, and the CD seems pretty difficult to find...

[danman869]

Does anyone happen to have a copy of Motown Year By Year 1970? I'm curious to hear this alternate mix of If I Were Your Woman, and the CD seems pretty difficult to find...

Hi motown01, I have a physical copy of the MYBY1970 CD. Other than really good mastering [good separation and sounds crisp], I'm not really hearing anything different on the version on this CD. I know the timing is longer than the LP version I have [on CD], but... it fades at 3:13 and there's just silence for 5 more seconds to the MYBY1970 timing of 3:18. Is there something I'm missing about the supposed alternate mix on this disc?

[woodward]

In a review of the MYBY series from Yesterday-Today-Forever, Issue #20, November 1995
this is what was described about the series.

"Sadly this series of year by year compilations isn't being allowed to develop into what could conceivably be an excellent series. These are let down by a number of factors, beginning with poorly thought out artwork that looks a mess and would instantly turn off all but the most dedicated fan. Coupled to this is Motown's seemingly short sighted policy of continually repackaging the repackages with one or two little extras, and it's not surprising that the general feeling of the reviews in other music publications have been so negative irrespective of there being a couple of either rare or unreleased tracks thrown in by Motown, the fact that once again the label has used tracks that are all too easily available on any number of greatest hits compilation doesn't necessarily mean that collectors will automatically purchase these poorly conceived titles. Teaspooning collectors with the odd obscure or unreleased track, the majority of which seem poorly remastered simply isn't on!"

[TimChipping]

Thank you all so much, superb replies. I shall begin tracking them all down.

[noel181]

Paul: Just to let you know Kim Weston's helpless is on her 2CD Anthology also and it starts with As night falls.

Danman869: I have listened to Gladys Knight's If I Were Your Woman several times and it sounds exactly like the album version and is the same running time.

I found all the other tracks noted as well on other CDs that I have, but most people might not have these so the set are well worth getting.

The thing that I love is that after 72 the tracks are the singles versions which are not available elsewhere as Motown stopped with 1972.

[danman869]

Danman869: I have listened to Gladys Knight's If I Were Your Woman several times and it sounds exactly like the album version and is the same running time.

Thanks, Noel. When I posted this morning, I suspected that IIWYW on MYBY1970 was simply the album version.

[144man]

I was one of the poor suckers who bought the years with the odd previously-unreleased track.

[BayouMotownMan]

Well, we still don't have the hit single mix of Just To Be Close To You by the Commodores. It was supposedly destroyed in a fire. The edited version that has turned up on other compilations does not capture the song like the hit single did.

[woodward]

I just realized that there was in addition to those already mentioned, a SAMPLER release in a different series designation.

According to my previously mentioned posting in #15 above, there was a sampler known as Various Artists - "Motown YBY/TSOYA released as Motown Master Series 37463-1345-2. The songs included are as follows:

Dancing In the Street - MR&V
Sweet Thing - Spinners
Here I Am Baby - Marvelettes
Love Child - DR&S
Masterpiece - Temptations
Brother's Gonna Work It Out - Willie Hutch
Come Live With Me Angel - Leon Ware
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
I'm Coming Out [[12" mix) - Diana Ross
Let's Get Serious - Jermaine Jackson
Go Home - Stevie Wonder
Nightshift - Commodores

Although I am unable to insert a picture of the actual jewel case cover for this release, the cover shows 6 different covers from the series: 1964, 1968, 1973, 1976, 1980, and 1985.