Quality CD releases/re-issues from the vaults of Motown are commonplace these days and 2003 was a great year for Motown fans with some of the best and rarest compilations we have ever seen - 2004 kicks in with three new releases continuing in the same vein. The ultimate Barbara McNair collection will have been eagerly awaited for so long by so many and wait has certainly been worth it as this new two CD set is set to become a massive seller if only for the unreleased tracks featured on CD two.

The stunning Ms McNair was introduced to Hitsville in 1965 by Berry Gordy in an attempt to crack the MOR market of which Barbara was already an established artist in her own right starring in her own US weekly TV show where she was a big success. What turned out to be Berry Gordy's idea of turning her into a MOR singer resulted in quite the opposite as she recorded some of the finest work ever to come out of Motown as disc two of this set will demonstrate. This set contains the complete 'Here I Am' and 'The Real Barbara McNair' Lp's in their entirety plus thirteen tracks for an unreleased album 'Sings Smokey' and then finishes off with eight unreleased tracks from the vaults.

Ironically, her first single for Motown in '65' is the very one she is most famous for especially the UK northern soul fraternity who turned 'Your Gonna Love My Baby' into one of the most sought after UK/US Motown 45's thanks to massive plays on the northern scene here in the UK. Whilst everyone is entitled to their own opinions on what constitutes a good Motown track I personally never liked this song and having carefully studied the unreleased material here I am adamant that you will find even better tunes.

'Steal Away Tonight' from her album 'Here I Am' will delight those who are new to this track especially the gorgeous backing vocals and incessant guitar riff (thanks to the Funk Brothers) and it's lazy back beat giving it instant appeal. Much of what you hear on 'Here I Am' is cabaret styled MOR late night lounge music with credible renditions of 'The Shadow Of Your Smile' and 'For Once In MY Life' 'Strangers In The Night'.

It's not until you reach track fourteen that the pulse begins to start beating with anticipation. 'You Could Never Love Him' (which I swear was issued on US Warner Bros.) is a dynamite mid tempo affair with Barbara's soaring vocal delivery perfectly accompanying a superb background vocal making this a standout track. It's then back to a jazzy rendition of the Marvelettes' 'The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game' and the appealing cover of 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' before Barbara hits an uptempo groove in 'Forget You Ever Met Me Baby' and some superb string and drum arrangements puts this at the forefront of dance floor requests. Same again as she takes on the standard 'I Hear A Symphony' in perfect dance time before taking on Brenda Holloway's classic track 'When I'm Gone' which whilst being arranged perfectly just falls behind slightly vocally. Of course owners of this set on vinyl will tell you that the highlight of the set is the much played 'It Happens Every Time' a song that's been bootlegged on a 7" white label for years now - a wonderful backing track from the Funk Brothers. The last two tracks on side one is the much in demand 'Your Gonna Love My Baby' and the flip side 'The Touch Of Time' - get ready for disc two because we've only just begun!.

Disc two looks to an unreleased album of songs by Smokey Robinson and this is where Barbara McNair begins to deliver some serious soul. 'I Second That Emotion' kicks in with a harp effect before getting down to an infectious groove that will set any dance floor alight. Be sure to turn up the volume and catch Jack Ashford's amazing tambourine accompaniment. Next up is a cover of Mary Wells' 'My Guy' and just when you though the original couldn't be beaten - listen again as this is BETTER than Wells' hit with a beat that will thrill northern soulies for years to come. Speaking of Mary Wells here's another of her hits that gets the Barbara McNair treatment making it a much better version all round with 'You Beat Me To The Punch' and dare I say it - this is probably the best track on the whole set, just listen to those background vocals presumably from the Andantes - fabulous.

'I'll Try Something New' whilst being a more gentler arrangement still delivers a song like you've never heard before with a string arrangement to die for and more northern soul is delivered with the danceable 'All That's Good'  which is why it has been included as a streaming audio clip for your attention. More northern sounding Motown with another cover in 'The One Who Really Loves You' which is on par with Mary Wells' 1963 release. What ever happens don't skip past track ten or you'll miss one of the highlights of this side in the sultry piano laden 'Love Has A Reason For Neglecting Me' a most unusual yet appealing piece of magic. There's another couple of well known Smokey Robinson cover versions to close the first half of this disc as McNair takes on the Marvelette's classic 'Don't Mess With Bill' which borders on a big band style, and then follows with a surprisingly damn good good version of 'You really Got A Hold On Me' and 'What Love Has Joined Together' a song released on the legendary Temptations.

The remainder of side two delves into vaults of Hitsville for some stunning unreleased material including her version of Tammi Terrell/Velvelettes' stunning dancer 'Lone Lonely Town' which in a nut shell is down and out sixties big beat Motown brilliance. The Funk Brothers rule supreme again with a wonderful arrangement on 'I Know Better' with a strong emphasis on piano and orchestra and even the Temptations appear to be providing background vocals - expect this particular track to become massive soon. Pick a favourite from this fabulous set and the replay button is automatically re-set to 'Into My Empty Arms' which you will find yourself falling in love with after the first play even though Barbara sounds just like a Brenda Holloway sound alike on this track. Finishing off with 'Baby A Go-Go' and an anonymous northern soul dancer from 1965 which I'm hoping the Funk Brothers will identify for me when I interview them at the end of the month.

Possibly the most important UK Motown release you could wish for so early into the year - you don't need me to tell you to buy it - listen to the streaming audio clips and then head straight down to the shops and order. Don't forget that the Funk Brothers play a major part in the brilliance of this set.

Rating 11/10
 

A selection of unreleased items from the vaults of Motown.

1.    I Second That Emotion
2.  My Guy
3.  You Beat Me To The Punch
4.  Love Has A Reason For Neglecting Me
5.  Lone Lonely Town
6.  Into My Empty Arms
7.  All That's Good
8.  The Harder You Fall
9.  The One Who Really Loves You
10. Anonymous Track from December 1965
11. I Know Better

Click here to see Barbara McNair on video from 1965