In one of our recent news stories we alerted you to an upcoming Motown box set that offered 7 vinyl 45s featuring 14 classic, rare (and in some cases, previously unavailable) Motown gems. Well the box has just hit the sales racks and if you want one (and I’m guessing you do) you need to act fast because the collection comes in a is a strictly limited edition of 2000 and we’re told it’s going fast. Easy to believe if you make just a cursory glance at the contents.
For starters there’s a copy of Frank Wilson’s one time rarest of the rare outings, ‘Do I Love You’… and yes, I do know that it’s reasonably accessible now but in this box it’s B side is the much rarer to find ‘Suspicion’ from the Originals. The set also includes collectables like Marvin Gaye’s ‘This Love Starved Heart (It’s Killing Me)’, The Spinners’ ‘What More Could A Boy Ask For’, The Supremes’ ‘Stormy’, Tammi Terrell’s ‘All I Do (Is Think About You)’, Barbara McNair’s ‘It Happens Everytime’, David Ruffin’s ‘I Can’t Be Hurt Anymore’ and the magnificent ‘My Love Is Your Love (Forever)’ from the Isley Brothers.
Perhaps the rarest cuts in the box come from the 4 Tops and Stevie Wonder. The Tops track is ‘Clip My Wings’ from 1968. It’s a great mid-tempo outing showcasing the mighty Levi Stubbs while Stevie’s inclusion is a mellow ‘Just Enough To Ease The Pain’. It’s a kind of more complex ‘My Cherie Amour’ and as ever we can only wonder why it’s lain dormant for so long.
The box comes compete with concise notes from Richard Searling and if you want to keep the vinyl pristine, each set comes with a unique code that will allow you to download the music to your computer. Clever stuff and a must have Christmas pressie for any Motown fan even if you need to buy it for yourself!
(BB) 5/5