Motown 50 wants: where is 75-85???

**whitesockedfunk** · January 14th, 2009, 05:10 AM

Motown celebrates its 50th anniversary this year an there’s no denying the legacy and influence of this legendary record label and its artists, musicians and producers. However, unfortunately through the slew of countless reissues, we only get to see maybe not even 50% of the label’s catalog. Many artists have been completely or largely ignored as far as cd releases go, which is such a shame. Especially the mid seventies until mid eighties are largely underrepresented by Universal.

In my top 3 of Motown wants are releases or at least compilations of the following artists:

1)High Inergy: they released several great albums on Motown but only one single track has ever made it on cd!
2)Billy Preston & Syreeta: whereas some of Syreeta’s early albums have made it to cd, none of her later albums did, neither did Billy Preston’s Motown albums, nor their joint efforts. And believe me there is so much more to them than “With You I’m Born Again”,!
3)Tata Vega: extremely underrated singer who released 4 albums while with Motown.

I’m sure releases by these artists would sell reasonably well, at least a couple of thousand copies, so is there a way to make this happen? Anyone have any contacts at Universal or one of the small re-issue labels (though I’d prefer original masters to be used and no “mastered from vinyl” releases).

**Shamir** · January 14th, 2009, 06:57 AM

I couldn't agree with you more . Acts like

Ozone 80-83
Koko pop 84
Stone city Band 79 -83
Dazz band
Platinum hook
Motown sounds
Switch
Three ounces of love
Bobby Nunn
Jermaine Jackson
Willie Hutch ''Keep on Jammin''
Mandre etc are all deserving of decent official reissues!!

Stone

Originally Written by whitesockedfunk

Motown celebrates its 50th anniversary this year an there’s no denying the legacy and influence of this legendary record label and its artists, musicians and producers. However, unfortunately through the slew of countless reissues, we only get to see maybe not even 50% of the label’s catalog. Many artists have been completely or largely ignored as far as cd releases go, which is such a shame. Especially the mid seventies until mid eighties are largely underrepresented by Universal.

In my top 3 of Motown wants are releases or at least compilations of the following artists:

1)High Inergy: they released several great albums on Motown but only one single track has ever made it on cd!
2)Billy Preston & Syreeta: whereas some of Syreeta’s early albums have made it to cd, none of her later albums did, neither did Billy Preston’s Motown albums, nor their joint efforts. And believe me there is so much more to them than “With You I’m Born Again”,!
3)Tata Vega: extremely underrated singer who released 4 albums while with Motown.

I’m sure releases by these artists would sell reasonably well, at least a couple of thousand copies, so is there a way to make this happen? Anyone have any contacts at Universal or one of the small re-issue labels (though I’d prefer original masters to be used and no “mastered from vinyl” releases).

**ashley_k** · January 14th, 2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Written by whitesockedfunk

Motown celebrates its 50th anniversary this year an there’s no denying the legacy and influence of this legendary record label and its artists, musicians and producers. However, unfortunately through the slew of countless reissues, we only get to see maybe not even 50% of the label’s catalog. Many artists have been completely or largely ignored as far as cd releases go, which is such a shame. Especially the mid seventies until mid eighties are largely underrepresented by Universal.

In my top 3 of Motown wants are releases or at least compilations of the following artists:

1)High Inergy: they released several great albums on Motown but only one single track has ever made it on cd!
2)Billy Preston & Syreeta: whereas some of Syreeta’s early albums have made it to cd, none of her later albums did, neither did Billy Preston’s Motown albums, nor their joint efforts. And believe me there is so much more to them than “With You I’m Born Again”,!
3)Tata Vega: extremely underrated singer who released 4 albums while with Motown.

I’m sure releases by these artists would sell reasonably well, at least a couple of thousand copies, so is there a way to make this happen? Anyone have any contacts at Universal or one of the small re-issue labels (though I’d prefer original masters to be used and no “mastered from vinyl” releases).

Now don't be silly, what we really need is more CD comps of stuff thats been issued hundreds of times before on CD... ok just kidding... anyone for a Motown 51 CD next year!

Unfortunately I think it's now even more unlikely that much of the less well know stuff will make it to CD, I think the best you could hope for is loss less downloads at some point in the future.

We've had some real nice Motown re-issues from Hip-O Select and I'd love to see some more from them, and I think we've been lucky to get things like the Willie Hutch "Try It You'll Like It" best of CD from Expansion Records, which was a CD of mostly Motown tracks put out by a smaller company. Maybe well get a few more CDs of less well know stuff from some smaller company's, but probably not many.

I'm sure if you had deep enough pockets you could make issuing this stuff on CD possible, if only we could get Bill Gates or the Sultan of Brunei interested in Motown, I'm sure we could work something out... Bill must need something to listen to while he's doing his charitable work.

"This CD has performed an illegal operation and will stop playing"

**Salsoul1975** · January 14th, 2009, 11:11 AM

I think the reason why Motown stuff from 1975-85 and beyond is overlooked is because the overall importance of the label diminished by that time. Let's face it; 1975 was the beginning of the end of Motown's golden age. The Jacksons left for Epic/CBS, disco was beginning to flex its muscle in the overall sound of soul (and it wasn't coming in abundance from Motown), their '60s successes were no longer having major crossover appeal (except for Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye). In all honesty, their '60s glory spoiled them immensely. True, Motown carried on but their best years were behind them and I think this stigma has haunted the label ever since. Plus, being sold to PolyGram/Universal was the final nail in the coffin, and the supposed infallibility of Motown was proven to be false.

Frankly, I'd like to see reissues of Vanity's output from Motown (has it ever been reissued?).

**remicks** · January 14th, 2009, 12:27 PM

Originally Written by Salsoul1975

I think the reason why Motown stuff from 1975-85 and beyond is overlooked is because the overall importance of the label diminished by that time. Let's face it; 1975 was the beginning of the end of Motown's golden age. The Jacksons left for Epic/CBS, disco was beginning to flex its muscle in the overall sound of soul (and it wasn't coming in abundance from Motown), their '60s successes were no longer having major crossover appeal (except for Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye). In all honesty, their '60s glory spoiled them immensely. True, Motown carried on but their best years were behind them and I think this stigma has haunted the label ever since.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you in part Salsoul , as I get weary of this oft repeated assertion of how awful Motown was in the seventies ...their sad decline.... I know the common consensus is that Motown was a musical force of the 60's.... period.
True, they were no longer the same Detroit era label that they were in the sixties ... but what 60's label left standing in the seventies was still the same in its sound and roster ? ... & what acts of the sixties were still riding high in the seventies regardless of label?????

The folks that want us to think Motown was terrible in the seventies are those same self-proclaimed music critic "experts" that want to inform us how much disco sucked.

But ...for us disco lovers ......the seventies was Motown's Golden Era .....starting with Norman Whitfield's innovations with The Temptations ...the ongoing evolution of The Jackson Five .... Eddie Kendricks solo career (he being perhaps disco's most under appreciated contributor imo ) .....the energy of The Supremes etc.....
And as you mention....Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder & Marvin Gaye are at their zenith now ....and, thanks mostly to disco!!

I think the following makes the point best .....from Marky's research:

TOP DISCO LABELS OF 1976:

#1) (07) RCA : 41 titles = 5,537 points
1) Cherchez La Femme/Sour & Sweet/I'll Play The Fool (#3) - Dr. Buzzard's Original "Savannah" Band (#1)
2) Turn The Beat Around (#10) - Vicki Sue Robinson (#4)
02) (10) MOTOWN : 23 titles = 3,044 points
1) Love Hangover (#4) - Diana Ross (#14)
2) Down To Love Town (#8) - The Originals (#18)
03) (29) TAMLA (Motown divison) : 24 titles = 2,467 points
1) Another Star (#38) - Stevie Wonder (#7)
2) Don't Leave Me This Way (#42) - Thelma Houston (#36)
04) (06) ATLANTIC : 10 titles = 2,225 points
1) That's Where The Happy People Go + "Where The Happy People Go" (LP) (#1) - The Trammps (#2)
2) Lipstick (#66) - Michel Polnareff (#68)
05) (12) COLUMBIA : 30 titles = 2,102 points
1) I Don't Wanna Lose You Love (#16) - The Emotions (#26)
2) Lowdown (#44) - Boz Scaggs (#55)
06) (20) SALSOUL : 9 titles = 1,978 points
1) Ten Percent (#13) - Double Exposure (#11)
2) "Nice 'N' Naasty" (LP + 12") (#17) - The Salsoul Orchestra (#17)
07) (n/r) BUDDAH : 15 titles = 1,674 points
1) More, More, More (#9) - Andrea True Connection (#6)
2) This Is It (#35) - Melba Moore (#32)
08) (n/r) MARLIN (T.K. imprint) : 6 titles = 1,653 points
1) The Best Disco In Town (#14) - The Ritchie Family (#12)
2) Calypso Breakdown (#27) - Ralph MacDonald (#23)
09) (n/r) WARNER BROTHERS : 18 titles = 1,632 points
1) Young Hearts Run Free (#28) - Candi Staton (#20)
2) Run To Me (#60) - Candi Staton (#20)
10) (24) OASIS (Casablanca imprint) : 7 titles = 1,563 points
1) "A Love Trilogy" LP (#6) - Donna Summer (#3)
2) Trouble-Maker (#63) - Roberta Kelly (#49)

In 1976 Motown/Tamla contributed 47 titles to the disco chart !!
They are right there in the throngs of the current trend ... outperforming even those labels playing the disco game the hardest:

For 1976:

TK/Marlin : 17 titles
Casablanca/ Oasis:9 titles
Salsoul : 9 titles
PI/ TSOP: 20 titles
Motown/Tamla: 47 titles

I love Motown's output from the sixties absolutely .... but as a fan of disco ... I'll assert Motown was cooking at its best in the seventies . :icon_mrgreen: :icon_cool:

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As for the subject matter here ....all this music unavailable to us , those who want to hear it but can't ....and why.....

Because faceless, bean-counting corporations/lawyers/ accountants "own" it .

Just think ....the original artists/producers/musicians/arrangers/mixers .....most of them now dead .....yet somehow these after -the-fact entities "own" and keep locked in their vaults this music ....music they themselves had nothing to do with ...:icon_evil:

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