Motown Treasures

Thank you.

Years ago I bought The Isley Brothers "Soul On The Rocks" LP - mainly because I knew "Behind A Painted Smile" but also it was the only really interesting album available in the shop at the time.  I soon found out I wasn't a huge fan of it - but over the years I've grown really fond of the album and now love it to bits.  Tastes change.  The last one now may later be first and versa Vicki.  Buy em now and grow into em because they may get to be unaffordable over time.

To my mind the Oldays CDs from Japan are not official Motown product (though I would love to be proved wrong) but nevertheless I welcome their releases of albums otherwise not available on CD until such time as they do get an official release.  Those WJ albums issued on the Spanish Fresh Sound CDs look to be more genuine and are 24 bit remastered. I'd certainly buy more of these. 

I bought all the Motown albums released a few years ago by Hallmark as out of copyright releases - even though some I had already on genuine Motown CD.  Again they also made available albums not previously released on CD and the collector/completist just has to have them since they were cheap as well.  I'd certainly buy an Abbey Tavern Singers "We're Off To Dublin In The Green" CD should one materialise at a reasonable price. 

As someone who came on to the Motown scene in the early 70s, Barbara McNair is just as much a part of Motown history as anyone to me and "You're Gonna Love My Baby" is one of my all time Motown favourites (first heard on Motown Memories Volume 2).  Each to their own taste of course.  We're all pleading for new product including previously unreleased tracks but if I'm reading correctly some fans haven't even bought the Barbara McNair Motown Collection from several years ago now.  If we don't buy these CD releases, no wonder they stop releasing them.  Just my taste again, but I prefer to hear more of Barbara McNair than Blinky - I'm not a huge Blinky fan - but still bought "Heart Full Of Soul" because a) I am a completist b) I like to support all these releases (even Stoney and Meatloaf) c it's a beautiful package and d) there's some new tracks that I've not heard previously.

I don't buy everything released on CD - some are obviously total repeats - but will buy as much of the interesting stuff as funds allow. If I don't, and nobody else does either - can't complain if they stop releasing altogether.

Shame Motown didn't buy or lease the original master and re-issue the song on one of their own labels.  Or, they could have re-recorded it similar to what they did with Gladys etc - though in the process they might have lost something. That Gloria was a Motown songwriter foremost night have precluded any of that.

Stuff cobbled together by humans is often just as bad.

It's an enjoyable track but not hit material at all.

Berry reckoned that they could have sold more records if the song was called come bring me your softness as that's what folks asked for in the record shops and often didn't get what they wanted.  Nevertheless it was a huge UK hit - some obviously won't appreciate it -  though it is a beautiful song written by Carol Connors (not Conners) and David Shire.
 
Carol was born Annette Kleinbard, November 13, 1941 and was the beautiful voice fronting Phil Spector's Teddy Bears on "To Know Him Is To Love Him".  Billy Preston (William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006)) and Syreeta Wright (February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004) achieved so much over the years and this song would be their biggest success.  [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

THE TEDDY BEARS (Marshall Leib, Annette Kleinbard and Phil Spector)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrwf-sIcr0M

BILLY PRESTON & SYREETA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ33DGAPquE

Was always intrigued by the concept behind the 400 "series" - another project that stalled it seems.  If only one release was planned why start at TMG402 with Barrett Strong's "Money". 

Also what would have been TMG401?  I thought it might be Marv Johnson "Come To Me" and put together a mock up label. 

Any thoughts on the TMG400 "series" or definitive listings?

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