It's the one we have all been waiting for and I can tell you that you will NOT be disappointed. Forty two unreleased masters from the vaults at Hitsville which are getting legitimate exposure for the first time ever. There are actually two bonus tracks not listed on the CD inlay card which I will tell you about later - in the meantime prepare to be blown away with a double CD collection of goodies that beggar belief - this is going to be the most popular Motown release this year.

Carefully chosen from an obvious vast array of material in the vaults this collection will leave the listener wondering just how some of these songs never made commercial release and whilst some are clearly cover versions of already known songs, the alternate artist takes are an absolute essential addition to any Motown purists collections. Whilst the most obvious omission on this set was any product from Marvin Gaye, the other songs from the likes of Hattie Littles, Patrice Holloway, Blinky, The Vows, and Creations will more than make up for nothing by Marvin.

Opening side one is one blockbuster instrumental from Earl Van Dyke entitled 'All Day All Night' and is a furious uptempo affair featuring the same kind of organ style that 'All For You' became famous for. Songwriter Eddie Holland delivers his own version of the Kim Weston/Isley Brothers song 'Take Me In Your Arms' which uses Kim Weston's backing track and is pure Motown delight. Eddie Holland we all know was a great artist in his own right and delivered some stunning recordings during the early days at Motown before settling into his role as songwriter and producer up until 1967.

Gladys Knight & the Pips recorded more class material at Motown than we often given her credit for and northern soul devotees will thrill at her uptempo dancer 'Everyday I'll Love You More Than Yesterday' a memorable song that will be around the northern soul scene for many years to come. We have waited a very long time for some material from JJ Barnes and at long last we have two songs from what is known to be a small amount of material in the vaults. 'Every Time I See You I Go Wild' is given JJ's unique vocal brand and the song will be well familiar via Stevie Wonder's flip side version from 1967. JJ sounds so much like Marvin Gaye it's uncanny. The other track from Barnes 'Everybody Needs Somebody' might just have the edge - the more you hear it the more you keep playing it. The first track is included here as an audio stream - see what you think?

Speaking of Stevie Wonder, he was an artist who never failed to deliver class product and the inclusion of the Smokey Robinson song 'I Gave Up Quality For Quantity' recorded in 1965 will please his many fans world-wide. A snappy uptempo affair with a backing similar to the Supremes' 'Where Did Our Love Go'. The legendary Detroit Spinners get a mention here with their rendition of the Chuck Jackson track from 1968 'What Am I Gonna Do Without You' (written by Stevie Wonder/Ivy Jo Hunter and using the original backing track) this really cooks, and you can choose which version you like, be it Chuck Jackson/Temptations or this one, with each having it's own unique stamp.

My own particular favourite on disc one has to be Tommy Good's 'I've Got Get Away' which has a fabulous arrangement and feel to it and clearly represents what the real Motown Sound was all about during its glory years. Written and produced by the Miracles just watch this one hit with the northern guys.

Turning to side two which opens with The Supremes and their original mix of the 'Love Child' album track 'Honey Bee' which is completely different and finds Diana and the girls on top form with the most ferocious dance track on the whole set and the Funk Brothers must have been on fire when they played on this superb track. I was somewhat saddened to learn that the featured goodie from the Isley Brothers 'I Can't Go On Sharing Your Love' is only one of a handful of tracks remaining in the vaults and again finds the guys on top form. The Isley Brothers have never really made a bad song during their stay at Hitsville and its a real shame they didn't enjoy more success than they did as they were clearly major players as far a the collectors are concerned. I never warmed to 'You Need Me' by the Lewis Sisters but they have one hell of dancer included here in the form of 'Breakaway' written by the girls themselves and produced by Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier. This rates as good as anything ever released on the label.

It is ironic, and sad, that just four days after the announcement of the death of 'Obie' Benson of the Four Tops this CD pays tribute to the group with the inclusion of just one song in the form of 'I'ts A Lonely World Without Your Love' a classy uptempo affair finding Levi Stubbs in fine form but every Motown fan will agree that the three other group members always played just as important a role on their overall sound as is the case here - god bless you 'Obie'

Fans world wide will be well familiar with the Liz Lands song 'Midnight Johnny' from the early sixties and I urge you check out Connie Haine's version which I personally like better. Dennis Edwards was always a formidable voice for the legendary Contours and a fabulous song entitled 'Take Him Back If It Makes You Happy' a song co-written by Dean/Wetherspoon in 1967 has some neat piano work and a nagging bass line driving the back beat and is one of those tracks that fill any dancefloor to capacity. No sooner did we have the Motown anthology from Chris Clark then they unearth a monster dance track 'Sweet Lovin' from 1966 written by Robert Gordy. Whilst its not one of my favourite tracks from this set it definitely has that unique vocal delivery of Ms Clark and will make a useful addition to those who own the aforementioned CD.

One big standout track on this CD is Terry Johnson's 1969 recording 'Springtime' which was recorded in part at Golden World and is a perfect example of the changing sound of Motown at the end of the sixties. No compilation would be complete without a song or two from Martha & the Vandellas and she delivers their rendition of 'Lone Lonely Town' which we have already heard from the Velvelettes and Barbara McNair. This uses the same backing track as the aforementioned and is unquestionably another brilliant version of this song.

Remember 'You Gotta Pay The Price' by Al Kent on Ric-Tic?. Well listen to the version by The Supremes after Diana Ross left them in 1969. Again, it uses the same backing track - fabulous, and is much better than Gloria Taylor's other vocal version on Soul Fox records. Blinky Williams is perhaps best known for her album 'Just We Two' with the late Edwin Starr, well Motown have found a version of Fontella Bass' 'Rescue Me' which is definitely different and has that Motown Sound stamped all over it. I've had this CD on all day today and if there was one track I kept going back to it had to be 'My Heart' by the late Tammi Terrell with its joyful mandolin sound throughout and of course, her great soulful and delightful vocal delivery that made her the standout singer she was.

Disc 2 closes with the legendary Brenda Holloway and her 'Crying Time' a track that has already established itself as a northern soul favourite via white label pressings of questionable quality - but this time the quality is top notch. I mentioned that there were two bonus cuts on this disc not mentioned on the CD sleeve, well, the secrets out as Universal Music have included at the end of each disc the Tamla Motown Appreciation Society single in its entirety as a tribute to the late Dave Godin who did so much to promote the Motown Sound in 1965 - a fitting tribute.

Congratulations and many thanks to everyone involved in making this the most important Motown release of all time especially Daryl Easlea and Harry Weigner.

One final point here is that whilst no-one can question the quality of these performances by the artists lets give a big mention to the Funk Brothers whose sound behind these songs was a major contributor to their class a well as all the other commercially released CD's/Records/LP's etc. etc. Let's never forget  - 'It Was What They Left In The Groove That Counts'
 

Streaming audio clips;

JJ Barnes - Every Time I See You I Go Wild
The Supremes - You Got To Pay The Price
The Supremes - Honey Bee (keep on stinging me)
Tammi Terrell - My Heart
Earl Van Dyke - All Day All Night

Rating 11/10