By the time you read this review this disc will have hit the shops here in the UK - was the wait worth it? - you bet your bottom dollar it was, and whilst die hard northern soul fans/collectors will be scrutinising the tracklisting looking for some exclusive unreleased dancers they may be disappointed that there are only a few such items to be found although I guarantee you that at least five or six tracks alone will make this a worthwhile purchase. This anthology, from one of Motown's favourite ladies not only displays a side to Kim Weston not normally found on her other UK issues and in particular, disc two finds some very tasty tunes that will keep her army of fans and collectors more than happy.

Disc one opens with some of her well known favourites such as the mid tempo hand clapper 'Looking For The Right Guy' and the rousing 'I'm Still Loving You' the long version of her classic 1965 'Helpless' before taking on a mid tempo feel with the 1964 hit 'A Little More Love' (of which you can find a streaming clip of Kim performing this at the bottom of this page) and the gorgeous 'A Thrill A Moment'. To the uninitiated Kim is probably best remembered for her duet with Marvin Gaye on 'It Takes Two' from 1966 but we all know there is more to her work at Hitsville than that single and album. Together with Brenda Holloway she is probably the hottest of the female diva's to emanate out of Detroit and her records have become big business over the years.

This set treats the listener to a stereo version of 'You Hit Me Where it Hurt Me' (although I can't personally tell much difference) but did pick up on the enhanced bass line. Taking the same backing track as Martha & the Vandellas' 1963 single release 'Love Makes Me Do Foolish Things' Kim delivers a most delightful version and one can only imagine the friendly in-house battle that must have taken place at that time to see who got the single release. Kim also delivers a fabulous rendition of Martha's 'Come And Get These Memories' sounding so much smoother vocally than the original, and absolutely brilliant to dance to. Check out the audio sample of this track at the bottom of this page.

If you are wondering whether there are any killer unreleased dance tunes on this disc - there is - track 16 will take you to 'You Can Do It' a Smokey Robinson/Ivy Jo Hunter composition from December 1965 which beggars belief as to why this has remained unreleased for forty years? Click the audio link at the bottom of this page to experience classic Motown as we love it. This is one hell of a song and will sell this CD alone. Track 19 gets even better with Smokey, and Kim's then husband William 'Mickey' Stevenson, composition entitled 'Fancy Meeting You Here' (again see the audio link to this track below) and again the listener is left wondering how such a brilliant song could have ever been canned in the vaults for so long. Very reminiscent of Tammi Terrell's 'Tears At The End Of A Love Affair' in terms of arrangement, orchestration, and of course features the Funk Brothers at their very best. This must rate amongst the best song you will EVER hear Kim perform and one that will thrill the northern soul Motown fans world-wide.

Before moving off disc one you must check out the latin flavoured 'I Don't Know Whether I'm Coming Or Going' and listen the spine tingling chorus from the Andantes.

Disc 2 has twenty four unreleased tracks from Kim from the early years and on close inspection you quickly come to realise to just what a vocal dexterity she possessed, and just what a talent she was (and no doubt still is) and its just criminal that Motown didn't give her a bigger push at the time to put her amongst the other hit makers on Gordy. There are a few killer tracks on this side include her rendition of Etta James' 'Love Trouble Heartache and Misery' and boy does she makes this Stevenson/Hunter song SWING. A gentle Dusty Springfield influenced version of the Velvelette's song 'I'm The Exception To The Rule' again finds the early sound of Motown shining through and gives Kim plenty of room to exercise her vocal talent.

Track 15 just blew my socks off when I heard it and I haven't stopped playing it since. 'Joey Joey' is pure big band swing and this could sell to a much wider audience than Motown fans if only MOR radio stations would pick up on this and not only does it show Kim doing Sinatra styled songs but is again a stark reminder of what the Funk Brothers could deliver too!. The same comments apply to 'He's My Baby' (aka 'Sugar Baby') another big band swing tune that will have you tapping your feet in no time - just fabulous.

I also warmed to 'I Love You Yes I Do' a gentle MOR swayer that the likes of Lena Horne and Nancy Wilson would have been proud of and in fairness was a million miles from the Motown we all know and love but nevertheless this was talent supreme. Towards the end of this second disc the long awaited UK official release of the much bootlegged northern dancer 'Absent Minded Lover' in crisp quality which will no doubt give new meaning when heard in soul clubs across the globe. This is Motown at its very best.

Finally, hats off to a couple of people at Universal for making this possible namely Daryl Easlea (UK) and Harry Weigner (US) guys you REALLY have delivered this time - thank you so very much. Also, don't forget that whilst you are buying a Kim Weston CD here you are also buying a collection of Funk Brothers tunes we haven't yet heard.

Check out the audio below as well as the two video clips of Kim in action back in the 1960's.

Rating 11/10

Sample of unreleased gems;
1. Fancy meeting You Here
2. Come And Get These memories
3. You Can Do It
4. I Don't Know If I'm Coming Or Going
5. Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love
6. Joey Joey
7. He's My Baby
8. Absent Minded Lover

Video samples;

A Little More Love
Take Me In Your Arms (and rock me a little while)