This new compilation of classic Motown songs is released to tie in with Redfern's Music Gallery Motown picture exhibition in London which is currently running for two months, as well as the 40th anniversary of the Motown Revue which visited this country featuring an array of the labels artists including the Supremes, Martha & the Vandella's, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye but to name a few. Their arrival here in the UK was met with enthusiastic acceptance from an army of fans who have remained loyal to this very day in supporting what was then to become the most successful black owned music company the world would ever see.

If ever an event was history in the making then it must have been when the tour recorded the 'Ready Steady Go' TV special in 1965 which was hosted by Dusty Springfield and showcased the labels talents to the UK. Whilst the Tamla Motown label had only just been launched here in the UK with the Supremes' classic 'Stop In The Name Of Love' (TMG 501) there were of course a number of the artist roster who had previously enjoyed UK success with recordings issued in the UK on the Stateside, Oriole, Fontana, and London labels and the launch of Tamla Motown in '65' gave the company its own identity as well as well as creating many collectable titles both on LP and singles/EP's and no matter which record store you visited there was always plenty of Motown titles to choose from.

Whilst the aforementioned RSG programme was the most popular of the TV appearance's, it was by no means their only exposure. The popular show 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' also featured some of the label's artists and you won't need reminding that ANY TV  appearances are like gold dust to collector's world-wide. During this period like so many other artists from all walks of like and musical tastes the music press and budding pop photographers made a killing by taking exclusive photo's of this new breed of hit makers the result of which can be found at Redfern's exhibition.

The twenty three tracks featured on this collection whilst being unquestionably of the highest order and quality may not whet the appetite of ardent Motown collectors who, (dare we repeat this saying) will immediately remind us of the fact that all these songs are easy to obtain, the most of which are featured on the most basic and commercial CD titles currently available on today's market.

They are of course a perfect example of what all the fuss was about during this period and close examination of the tracklisting does reveal the odd track that is not easily found on other collections. Whilst Marv Johnson doesn't pop up much these days it's great to see his 1968 hit 'I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose' included although everyone seems to be waiting for a CD issue of the flip side to this single 'You Got The Love I Love'. There are a couple of significant 'B' sides worthy of mention with the Four Tops' superb 'I'll Turn To Stone', Martha & the Vandella's with 'One Way Out' and the Supremes with 'There's No Stopping Us Now' which you don't see very often these days.

Songwriter R Dean Taylor whose unusual hit from 1968 'Gotta See Jane' is a cracking dancer and the UK only issued 'Reachin' For Something' by the lovely Marvelettes gives this set a golden edge. Nice to see tunes by Blinky & Edwin Starr with 'Oh How Happy' and Edwin's 1965 Ric Tic recording of 'Agent Double O Soul' Other than these standout tunes, the rest of the tracklisting is made up of well tried and tested standards from Smokey & the Miracles (Tears Of A Clown) Jimmy Ruffin (It's Wonderful) Marvin Gaye (Abraham, Martin and John) and not forgetting the daddy of them all from the Elgins with 'Heaven Must Have Sent You'.

Finally, the sleeve states that Jr Walker's track should be ('I'm A) Road Runner' yet my promo disc features 'Shotgun'?

Give the picture exhibition a visit if you can and enjoy what you can of this collection.

Rating 7/10

Video performance links;

Supremes - Stop In The Name Of Love
Martha & the Vandella's - Nowhere To Run
Jr Walker - Shotgun
Smokey Robinson - Tears Of A Clown