Motown 50th boxed set unveiled
http://www.freep.com/article/20081010/ENT04/810100365

by Brian McCollum
October 10, 2008

The march to Motown's 50th anniversary continues to pick up pace.

Universal Music will announce details next week for Motown's anniversary showpiece, Motown: The Complete #1s -- a 10-disc, 191-song boxed set to be released Dec. 8.

The set's masterstroke is its packaging, a replica of Motown's old Hitsville, USA, headquarters in Detroit, as seen in product images obtained Thursday by the Free Press. Included will be a photo book with an essay by Smokey Robinson.

The track list features music by 50 artists and includes every Motown song to have hit No. 1 on assorted charts in the United States and elsewhere, from the Miracles' 1961 song "Shop Around" through Erykah Badu's 2000 hit "Bag Lady."

The Complete #1s is not the first Motown boxed set, or even the most comprehensive, but it is likely to get ample attention.

Price information is not yet available, a Motown spokesperson said.



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H5HWSK/?tag=imwan-20

Also obtained by the Free Press is the logo that will accompany the celebration: a golden, 3D rendering of Motown's famous trademark.



The anniversary campaign -- a coordinated effort by Universal, label founder Berry Gordy Jr. and Detroit's Motown Historical Museum -- is set to kick off early next year.

That box is absolutely adorable!

It's going to be a December 9th release; initial selling price is $139.72 at Amazon (pre-order link added to the first post).

So what if I have every song on here, multiple times in many cases. Just look at that box!

A Motown tour will hit the UK next summer:

Commodores (sans Lionel)
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas (sans original Vandellas)
Mary Wilson
Miracles (sans Smokey)
Jr. Walker's All Stars (sans Jr. Walker)

This could be the last big Motown Revue tour.

I haven't bitten on the Complete Singles sets...but I think I'll be getting this one!

WOW, not since the special ZZ Top has a boxset look so cool.

Well, now I know what I am getting myself for Christmas! (and just week I said it was "
The Man from Uncle" set, so we will call the Uncle set a Thanksgiving present)

Rick A.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I'd much rather see them expand the complete sets through 2000.

Well, let me join that minority. These no.1's are not exactly rare on CD. And we've had two decades-spanning Motown boxes already. They should continue the singles boxes at least until Boyz II Men in the early '90s - after that they've only really had Erykah Badu.

I bought the early Motown Hitsville USA box many years ago from my fav budget retailer, BMG Club.

I need to replace it someday for sound quality, but musically the box + 2 Supremes sets, 3 Rare Earth, a Temptations best of set & a couple Stevie Wonder cd's pretty well covers me.

Really? These are generally considered the best sounding sets out there, especially the first one. Tapes were played back on restored, calibrated original tube decks and lovingly mastered. At least they're good enough for me. The tracks I've heard from the recent yearly boxes are way harsh compared to this stuff.

I haven't heard any of the newer boxes. My assumption is that the Hitsville box is so old, that with new technology the new boxes should sound better. Of course, unless the newer boxes are compressed to death.

RS, do you tend to prefer 1st gen 80's cd's? I don't. There is frequently the compression issues with newer releases, but if done right, the a/d technology since about 1998 has gotten drastically better then what came before.

I don't, in most circumstances, prefer old CDs. I almost always try out a remaster, and have often preferred them to originals...except in certain cases like the new Genesis remix/remasters which are sonic rape to me.

I read articles about the mastering of those Hitsville sets which prompted me to get them...and aside from the mid-90's Anthology sets (with the stereo versions...and incidentally, also mostly mastered by Bill Inglot as were the Hitsville sets), they are the best I've heard classic Motown tracks. YMMV.

The tracklisting's now been released...

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/art ... 1003874538


I think it's good they've included bonus tracks that didn't get to number one - my complaint is that they didn't include ENOUGH of them - they could have included a bonus disc of 60's tracks that weren't big hits but have since attained cult status (like Chris Clark's "Love's Gone Bad"; R Dean Taylor's "There's A Ghost in My House" and The Veveletts "He Was Really Sayin' Something"). And they should have added ton of bonus tracks to disc ten & spread the tracks over two discs...there's are several 90s/00s artists that are well known and/or had big hits that aren't represented - Another Bad Creation, 98 Degrees, Brian McKnight...plus at the moment, disc 10 looks kind of like a Boyz-II-Men compilation...

Plus strict adherance to only inluding songs that reached #1 means ther'es no Teena Marie but there IS Charlene . Where's the justice in that?

Here is the track list for "Motown: The Complete No. 1's":

Disc 1:

"Shop Around" The Miracles
"Please Mr. Postman" The Marvelettes
"Do You Love Me" The Contours
"Two Lovers" Mary Wells
"You've Really Got A Hold On Me" The Miracles
"Fingertips-Part 2" Little Stevie Wonder
"Heat Wave" Martha & the Vandellas
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" The Temptations
"My Guy" Mary Wells
"Where Did Our Love Go" The Supremes
"Baby Love" The Supremes
"Come See about Me" The Supremes
"My Girl" The Temptations
"Shotgun" Jr. Walker & the All-Stars
"Stop! In The Name of Love" The Supremes
"I'll Be Doggone" Marvin Gaye
"Back In My Arms Again" The Supremes
"I Can't Help Myself" Four Tops
"I Hear a Symphony" The Supremes
"Ain't That Peculiar" Marvin Gaye
"Uptight (Everything's Alright" Stevie Wonder
"Get Ready" The Temptations

Bonus Tracks:
"Dancing In the Street" Martha & the Vandellas
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" Marvin Gaye
"This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)" Isley Brothers
"Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" Marvin Gaye

Disc 2:

"Ain't Too Proud To Beg" The Temptations
"Blowin' In the Wind" Stevie Wonder
"You Can't Hurry Love" The Supremes
"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" The Temptations
"Reach Out, I'll Be There" Four Tops
"You Keep Me Hangin' On" The Supremes
"(I Know) I'm Losing You" The Temptations
"The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" The Marvelettes
"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" The Supremes
"Jimmy Mack" Martha & the Vandellas
"The Happening" The Supremes
"I Was Made To Love Her" Stevie Wonder
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" Gladys Knight & the Pips
"I Second That Emotion" Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
"I Wish It Would Rain" The Temptations
"Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" Stevie Wonder
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" The Temptations
"You're All I Need To Get By" Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
"Love Child" Diana Ross & The Supremes
"For Once In My Life" Stevie Wonder
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" Marvin Gaye
"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" Diana Ross & the Supremes & the Temptations

Bonus Tracks:
"What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" Jimmy Ruffin
"You've Made Me So Very Happy" Brenda Holloway

Disc 3:

"Runaway Child, Running Wild" The Temptations
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" Marvin Gaye
"What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" Jr. Walker & The All-Stars
"I Can't Get Next To You" The Temptations
"Baby I'm For Real" The Originals
"Someday We'll Be Together" Diana Ross & the Supremes
"I Want You Back" The Jackson 5
"Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" Stevie Wonder
"ABC" The Jackson 5
"Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)" Diana Ross
"It's All In The Game" Four Tops
"The Love You Save" The Jackson 5
"Get Ready" Rare Earth
"Ball of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" The Temptations
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" Stevie Wonder
"War" Edwin Starr
"The Tears of A Clown" Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross
"I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
"Heaven Help Us All" Stevie Wonder
"The Tears of A Clown" Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
"Stoned Love" The Supremes
"If I Were Your Woman" Gladys Knight & the Pips

Disc 4:

"Mama's Pearl" The Jackson 5
"Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" The Temptations
"What's Going On" Marvin Gaye
"Never Can Say Goodbye" The Jackson 5
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" Marvin Gaye
"I'm Still Waiting" Diana Ross
"Smiling Faces Sometimes" The Undisputed Truth
"Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" Marvin Gaye
"Got To Be There" Michael Jackson
"Rockin' Robin" Michael Jackson
"I Wanna Be Where You Are" Michael Jackson
"Ben" Michael Jackson
"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" The Temptations
"Superstition" Stevie Wonder
"Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)" Gladys Knight & the Pips
"Masterpiece" The Temptations
"You Are The Sunshine of My Life" Stevie Wonder
"Touch Me In The Morning" Diana Ross
"Let's Get It On" Marvin Gaye

Disc 5:

"Higher Ground" Stevie Wonder
"Keep On Truckin'(Part 1)" Eddie Kendricks
"Living For The City" Stevie Wonder
"Let Your Hair Down" Temptations
"Boogie Down" Eddie Kendricks
"Last Time I Saw Him" Diana Ross
"Dancing Machine" The Jackson 5
"Do It Baby" The Miracles
"You Haven't Done Nothin' " Stevie Wonder
"Boogie On Reggae Woman" Stevie Wonder
"Happy People" The Temptations
"Shoeshine Boy" Eddie Kendricks
"Shakey Ground" The Temptations
"Baby That's Backatcha" Smokey Robinson
"Slippery When Wet" The Commodores
"Forever Came Today" The Jackson 5
"Walk Away From Love" David Ruffin
"Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" Diana Ross
"Devil In The Bottle" T.G. Sheppard
"Tryin' To Beat The Morning Home" T.G. Sheppard

Disc 6:

"Love Machine (Part 1)" The Miracles
"Love Hangover" Diana Ross
"I Want You" Marvin Gaye
"Just To Be Close To You" The Commodores
"Down To Love Town" The Originals
"Don't Leave Me This Way" Thelma Houston
"I Wish" Stevie Wonder
"Got To Give It Up" Marvin Gaye
"Sir Duke" Stevie Wonder
"Easy" The Commodores
"You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)" High Inergy
"Too Hot Ta Trot" The Commodores
"You And I" Rick James
"Three Times A Lady" The Commodores
"The Boss" Diana Ross
"Sail On" The Commodores
"Still" The Commodores
"Send One Your Love" Stevie Wonder

Bonus Track:
"Pastime Paradise" Stevie Wonder

Disc 7:

"Cruisin' " Smokey Robinson
"Let's Get Serious" Jermaine Jackson
"I'm Coming Out" Diana Ross
"Upside Down" Diana Ross
"Master Blaster (Jammin')" Stevie Wonder
"Being With You" Smokey Robinson
"Give It To Me Baby" Rick James
"Super Freak" Rick James
"One Day In Your Life" Michael Jackson
"Endless Love" Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
"Lady (You Bring Me Up)" The Commodores
"That Girl" Stevie Wonder
"Let It Whip" Dazz Band
"I've Never Been To Me" Charlene
"Do I Do" Stevie Wonder

Bonus Track:
"Lately" Stevie Wonder

Disc 8:

"Truly" Lionel Richie
"You Are" Lionel Richie
"My Love" Lionel Richie
"All This Love" DeBarge
"Cold Blooded" Rick James
"All Night Long (All Night)" Lionel Richie
"Time Will Reveal" DeBarge
"Somebody's Watching Me" Rockwell
"Hello" Lionel Richie
"Stuck On You" Lionel Richie
"I Just Called To Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder
"Penny Lover" Lionel Richie
"Nightshift" The Commodores
"In My House" Mary Jane Girls
"Rhythm of The Night" DeBarge
"Glow" Rick James
"You Wear It Well" El DeBarge with DeBarge

Bonus Track:
"Don't Look Any Further" Dennis Edwards featuring Seidah Garrett

Disc 9:

"Part-Time Lover" Stevie Wonder
"Say You, Say Me" Lionel Richie
"Go Home" Stevie Wonder
"If You Should Ever Be Lonely" Val Young
"Overjoyed" Stevie Wonder
"Who's Johnny" El DeBarge
"Dancing On The Ceiling" Lionel Richie
"Love Will Conquer All" Lionel Richie
"Ballerina Girl" Lionel Richie
"Just To See Her" Smokey Robinson
"Tina Cherry" Georgio
"Skeletons" Stevie Wonder
"You Will Know" Stevie Wonder
"Dial My Heart" The Boys
"Lucky Charm" The Boys
"Girl I Got My Eyes On You" Today
"Where Do We Go From Here" Stacey Lattisaw with special guest Johnny Gill

Bonus Track:
"Dreamin' " The Guinn Family

Disc 10:

"Rub You The Right Way" Johnny Gill
"My My My" Johnny Gill
"Crazy" The Boys
"Wrap My Body Tight" Johnny Gill
"It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" Boyz II Men
"I Love Your Smile" Shanice
"Uhh Ahh" Boyz II Men
"Do It To Me" Lionel Richie
"End of The Road" Boyz II Men
"I'll Make Love To You" Boyz II Men
"On Bended Knee" Boyz II Men
"Take Me Higher" Diana Ross
"4 Seasons Of Loneliness" Boyz II Men
"A Song For Mama" Boyz II Men
"Stay" The Temptations
"Liar" Profyle
"Bag Lady" Erykah Badu

I can see that house from my house! groaner from a Detroiter.

It hasn't been stolen yet?

This is the Motor City, not Wall Street.....