A stunning look at the great Mary Wells – one of Motown's first female acts of the 60s, and one of the decade's most important early soul figures as well! Mary's work on record is very well-known, but the story behind the music is completely different, and surprisingly dark at times – a tale of a talented artist often caught between larger corporate forces, and personal antagonists as well – not to mention her own personal demons. Peter Benjaminson does a great job of getting at all these details without being overly sensational – and he works in lots of wonderful personal recollections from friends and colleagues who really help illuminate the more private moments. The book is over 300 pages, hardcover, with some black and white photos. Book

A fantastic collection of work from Sondra "Blinky" Williams – a hell of a soul singer who recorded a fair bit for Motown Records at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s – but an artist whose music ended up mostly spending the next few decades in the label's vaults! Yet Blinky never let the lack of success stop her from giving her best – as she's a fantastic vocalist, and one with an expressive range that easily matches some of the Motown greats of her generation – a list that would include Martha Reeves or Gladys Knight – but who also has these deeper, more righteous currents that make her a perfect singer for a Motown move into the 70s! Blinky only saw one full album issued at the time – a duo with Edwin Starr titled Just The Two Of Us – but this package features a fully conceived, yet never-released album – plus other singles, unissued tracks, live material, and lots more – a wealth of fully-cooked, powerfully-produced singles that finally give the singer her due. The whole thing is an amazing Motown discovery – 46 tracks in all, 28 of which appear here for the first time ever – with titles that include "Don't Leave Your Baby", "Heart Full Of Soul", "How Can I Go On", "Inside", "I'll Make It Up To You", "One Half Of Love", "Shine On Me", "For Once In My Life", "I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is", "I Can't Turn You Loose", "People Make The World Go Round", "T'Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do", "I've Gotta Get You Back", "Mr Soul Brother", "You're The Loser Now", "One Half Of Love", and lots lots more. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A heavy batch of Motown soul instrumentals – headed up by Funk Brother Earl Van Dyke! The set features backings that are often very similar to the vocal versions on Motown – but are topped with sweet organ solo work from Earl – who has this lean, mean style that's mighty nice – kind of a Jimmy McGriff groove that really fits the soul of the recordings! Most of the backings are exactly the same ones used for vocal hits, but the use of Hammond really transforms them nicely – making the whole record a sweet popcorn soul version of Motown – almost a bit grittier, with a nice sort of backroom jukebox flavor. Titles include "Try It Baby", "Can You Jerk Like Me", "Money", "Can I Get A Witness", "Come See About Me", and "All For You". CD

A heavy batch of Motown soul instrumentals – headed up by Funk Brother Earl Van Dyke! The set features backings that are often very similar to the vocal versions on Motown – but are topped with sweet organ solo work from Earl – who has this lean, mean style that's mighty nice – kind of a Jimmy McGriff groove that really fits the soul of the recordings! Most of the backings are exactly the same ones used for vocal hits, but the use of Hammond really transforms them nicely – making the whole record a sweet popcorn soul version of Motown – almost a bit grittier, with a nice sort of backroom jukebox flavor. Titles include "Try It Baby", "Can You Jerk Like Me", "Money", "Can I Get A Witness", "Come See About Me", and "All For You". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

6 Motown albums from Jr Walker & The All Stars – all long overdue for reissue! First up is A Gasssss – a gas of a record from Jr Walker & The All Stars – a set that has the magical Johnny Bristol producing – giving the group this really warm, soaring sound that's totally great! Walker still serves up plenty of strong tenor solos, but there's also some vocal currents in the mix – strong leads at times, but also some nice backups too – all of which really helps to keep things soaring! Titles a nice mix of Motown covers and original material – and titles include "I Was Made To Love Her", "Do You See My Love", "And When I Die", "Honey Come Back", "Holly Holy", "Riding High On Love", "At A Saturday Matinee", and "Groove & Move". Next up is Rainbow Funk – a record that definitely has Jr Walker & The All Stars picking up a bit of funk – but in a groove that still mixes things with that warmly soulful glow the group had right from the start! The basslines are definitely up a bit from before – although not rumbling in Norman Whitfield territory – and the sax solos get a bit more space to stretch out and bite on the longer numbers, but often with a bit of backing vocals to warm things up around the edges! Jr is great all the way through – Motown's very strong answer to King Curtis – and titles include "Right On Brothers & Sisters", "Way Back Home", "Feeling Alright", "Psychedelic Shack", "Pieces Of A Man", and "Teach Them To Pray". Moody Jr is a sweet early 70s groover from Jr Walker & The All Stars – a set that reunites the group with producer Johnny Bristol, who always has a great way of helping them set fire to their sound! Walker and company may have shot from the gate with a mix of R&B tenor and Motown soul – but the sound here is much more in the latter, more matured mode of the label – with strong deep soul lyrics on a number of cuts, which are balanced out nicely by Bristol's fuller production. There's plenty of sax solos too, of course – and titles include "Way Back Home", "Bristol's Way", "Don't Blame The Children", "Me & My Family", "Still Water Medley", and "Groove Thang". Peace & Understanding is a record that has Jr Walker and the group stepping out with some of the righteous touches promised in the title – partly in the choice of songs on the set, which are all nicely tucked into that strong mix of deep soul vocals and saxophone lines that had become the Jr Walker groove! The set features work from a number of different arrangers – all the hipper side of Motown in the early 70s, as the list includes, Willie Hutch, Gene Page, and James Carmichael – and tunes include two great originals, one by Hutch, one by Leon Ware. Tracks include "It's Alright Do What You Gotta Do", "Soul Clappin'", "Gimme that Beat (parts 1 & 2)", "It's Too Late", and "Peace & Understanding Is Hard To Find". The self-titled Jr Walker & The All Stars album is maybe the rarest in the bunch – an obscure UK-only record from 1974, and one that has the group's usual approach warmed up by some more ambitious arrangements – a bit like the direction some of the vocal acts of the 70s were taking at the time! The production on most of the set is by Clarence Paul – and there's mostly a focus on the saxophone, not any vocals at all – which makes the set feel a bit like some of the Willis Jackson or Lou Donaldson work for Atlantic around the same time – or maybe even a bit like Hank Crawford on Kudu. Titles include "Boogie Down", "All In Love Is Fair", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "Break Down & Sing", and "Dancin Like They Do On Soul Train". Hot Shot is a mid-70s stormer from Jr Walker & The All Stars – a set that glides along on a fuller set of backdrops than before, with Holland-Dozier-Holland production from Brian Holland returning to Motown – but in a hip 70s style that has strings and funk dancing along in a great way beneath the strong sax solos in the lead! There's a bit of vocals on the record, but the real strength lies in the instrumentation – especially some of the weirder, fuzzier guitar lines and keyboards. Titles include "Why Can't We Be Lovers", "Hot Shot", "Probe Your Mind", "I Need You Right Now", and "You Ain't No Ordinary Woman". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

An early entry into the CD box set format – and a classic collection that features 104 tracks by 36 key artists from Motown Records! CD

An amazing package – one that comes in a tiny replica of the original home of Motown Records in Detroit! As you'd guess from the title, the 11CD set features every single Motown track that ever hit #1 on the charts – almost 200 classic songs, running from the early 60s right up through the 90s – with work by The Temptations, Four Tops, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, The Contours, Rockwell, The Originals, Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder, High Inergy, The Dazz Band, Rick James, Commodores, and lots more! The package also includes a photo book with classic images and notes – but man, what we dig most of all is that tiny house of hits packaging – a really amazing thing! Plus, this version of the set also features a bonus CD that wasn't in the original version – with 12 more tracks whose cover versions charted at #1! CD

A really joyous celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Motown Records – a long set that features a continuous mix that includes 37 tracks from the full run of the label – most taken relatively straight, but given these cool old-style radio voiceovers as some of the tracks get started! DJ Lead provides a remix at the start, and scratches a bit here and there – but most of the tunes are delivered in the familiar mode you'd know – titles that include "Money" by Barrett Strong, "Rhythm Of The Night" by Debarge, "Square Biz" by Teena Marie, "Brick House" by Commodores, "I'll Be There" by Jackson 5, "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, "Video" by India Arie, "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards, "Bag Lady" by Erykah Badu, "Running With The Night" by Lionel Richie, "Please Mr Postman" by The Marvelettes, and "I Want You Back (DJ Lead rmx)" by Jackson 5. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A great UK-only collection that features on a key Motown moment in the mid-60s – 32 tracks by artists who include The Elgins, Jimmy Ruffin, Temptations, Kim Weston, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic look at the funkier side of Motown in the 70s – and a collection that's not just straight disco, thanks to the mighty selection talents of DJ Muro and T-Groove! Muro handles all of CD1 – and mixes in some excellent soundtrack numbers with more familiar soul tracks – and also presents a few classic cuts in remixed versions too! T-Groove is on CD2 – which has cuts that are maybe a bit more iconic in the Motown club sound of the 70s, but still pretty darn great when heard together in this set. Neither CD appears to be mixed – tracks all appear discrete and standalone – and the package features 37 titles that include "You Made Your Bed" by Reuben Howell, "Books & Basketball" by David Shire & James Di Pasquale, "T Plays It Cool (unedited version)" by Marvin Gaye, "Erucu" by Jermaine Jackson, "Mirrors Of My Mind" by Jackson 5, "Date With The Rain (DJ Spinna refreak)" by Eddie Kendricks, "Ego" by Ozone, "Big Time (M+M big time 2016 mix)" by Rick James, "Treat Her Like A Lady" by The Temptations, "Brothers Gonna Work It Out (Joey Negro return of the mac mix)" by Willie Hutch, "He's A Friend" by Eddie Kendricks, "Down To Love Town" by The Originals, "Go For It" by Billy Preston & Syreeta, "Full Speed Ahead" by Tata Vega, "Let's Be Young Tonight" by Jermaine Jackson, "Heaven Must Have Sent You" by Bonnie Pointer, "Shoulda Gone Dancin" by High Energy, "Saturday Night Sunday Morning" by Thelma Houston, "Star Love" by Three Ounces Of Love, "Tailgate" by 21st Creation, "Scratchin" by Magic Disco Machine, "Standing On The Verge" by Platinum Hook, and "I Need Your Lovin (M+M lovin all night long mix)" by Teena Marie. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

A treasure trove of rare Motown from some of legendary label's most classic acts – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Four Tops, Brenda Holloway, Martha & The Vandellas, The Supremes, The Originals, Bobby Taylor, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye & The Jackson 5 – prime vintage late 60s to early 70s recordings that have barely if ever seen light of day! Motown recording artists put a lot of work into the recording side of their artistry back in the day, so there was a lot classic level material that didn't come out right away, some finding release on later compilations or on box sets, some STILL just now seeing release. Half of this dozen song collection have never come out in any form until now – including "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" by The Originals and stereo mixes of "For Once In My Life" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Pretty Little Brown Skin Girl" by The Temptations and "Touched By Love" by Bobby Taylor and more – plus the rarities "You're Walking Out With My Heart" by Brenda Holloway, "Which Way Is The Sky" by the Four Tops, "Let's Have A Party" by the J5, "The Boy From Crosstown" (Version 1) by The Marvelettes and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Rare Motown treasures – bundled up in the kind of package that will completely recast your views on some of the label's hits! The format here is really great – as the set features familiar Motown tunes, sung by artists who aren't usually associated with the songs – making for a really unusual slant on the music! As the notes remind us, Motown was a label that was built on its songs as much as its singers – and on this set, you'll get a great helping of the best of both – and sometimes, not just the better-known Motown acts of the time. 18 previously unreleased tracks, including "Forever" by Martha & The Vandellas, "Stop In The Name Of Love" by Kim Weston, "I Hear A Symphony" by Stevie Wonder, "My Girl" by Marvin Gaye, "The Way You Do The Things You Do" by The Underdogs, "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" by The Contours, "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" by Blinky, and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" by The Jackson 5. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Brilliant solo work from Gerald Alston – the first album issued under his own name, after a strong legacy of work with The Manhattans! Alston's vocals are wonderful here – beautifully crafted, with a sense of maturity and feeling that most of his younger soul contemporaries couldn't match – polished with the kind of class that kept The Manhattans strong well into the 80s – but updated nicely with some of the more adult soul modes of the latter part of the decade. Production is by Stan Sheppard and James Varner, who know to keep things laidback to keep Alston at his best – and titles include "Stay A Little While", "You Laid Your Love On Me", "I've Waited All Night", "Activated", "We've Only Just Begun", and "I Come Alive When I'm With You". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

India Arie continues her sensuous journey in sound – working here in the same earthy blend of acoustic and electric elements that made other records so great, and showing that she's still one of the strongest voices in contemporary soul! The record's got a personal, intimate quality that's head and shoulders above most of the harder-hitting divas on the charts these days – and although other indie singers have attempted India's sound on their own recent records, Arie shows that she's still one of the few who can get a sound like this right. Gentle guitar and warm vocals float together in perfect tandem throughout the record – and the whole thing has a very cohesive approach that never seems to ruin the groove, even on the few obvious attempts at a hit! Titles include "India Song", "I Am Not My Hair", "Summer", "Good Mourning", "Private Party", "There's Hope", "These Eyes", and "Wings Of Forgiveness". CD

An amazing record that's as powerful as the political message of the title – the hippest record ever cut by Amiri Baraka, and that's saying a heck of a lot! Baraka delivers a long and complex set of poetic reflections on the state of Black America, spiritual awakening, and political redemption – set to musical backings that shift from funky, to jazz, to avant, and back again. Players on the set include Gary Bartz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Idris Muhammad, and Reggie Workman – and there's a host of additional players, percussionists, and vocalists that join Amiri in the delivery of his message. Titles include "Answers In Progress", "Peace In Place", "Bad News For Your Highness", "Was Gon Happen", "All In The Street", "Pamoja Tutashinda", and "Pull The Covers Off". One to listen to when you get past your Last Poets records! LP, Vinyl record album

BJ The Chicago Kid's second full length for Motown! BJ has a way of recalling classic Chicago soul in the earnest, emotional realness of his lyricism and relatively mellow style, which is a nicely grounding anchor given the modern overall aesthetic. It's a contemporary sound with a timeless soul at the center. BJ's years as a guest vocalist himself makes him such a great host for guest singers, MCs and producers on his own records, too – and this one features Anderson.Paak, Rick Ross, Afrojack and others with production by Danja, Cool & Dre, Karriem Riggins and more. Includes "Feel The Vibe" feat Anderson.Paak, "Champagne", "Get Away" feat JID, Buddy & Kent Jamz, "Tome Today", "Can't Wait", "Playa's ball" feat Rick Ross, "Too Good", "Close", "Rather Be With You", "Worryin' Bout Me" feat Offset, "Reach" feat Afrojack and more. CD

BJ The Chicago Kid's second full length for Motown! BJ has a way of recalling classic Chicago soul in the earnest, emotional realness of his lyricism and relatively mellow style, which is a nicely grounding anchor given the modern overall aesthetic. It's a contemporary sound with a timeless soul at the center. BJ's years as a guest vocalist himself makes him such a great host for guest singers, MCs and producers on his own records, too – and this one features Anderson.Paak, Rick Ross, Afrojack and others with production by Danja, Cool & Dre, Karriem Riggins and more. Includes "Feel The Vibe" feat Anderson.Paak, "Champagne", "Get Away" feat JID, Buddy & Kent Jamz, "Tome Today", "Can't Wait", "Playa's ball" feat Rick Ross, "Too Good", "Close", "Rather Be With You", "Worryin' Bout Me" feat Offset, "Reach" feat Afrojack and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Solid hip hop soul by BJ The Chicago Kid – featuring support from a star-studded guest roster that includes Chance The Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Big Krit and more! It's fitting that BJ should get a high profile headlining effort of his own – on Motown, of all labels – after years of being a vital supporting player. In My Mind doesn't disappoint, with a soulfully resonant, slow burning mood on a lot of it – balancing relatable, accessible sounds with distinctive, personal songs. Includes "The New Cupid" with Kendrick Lamar, "A Woman's World", "Man Down" with Buddy And Constantine, "The Resume" feat Big KRIT, "Crazy", "Home", "Church" feat Chance The Rapper & Buddy, "Turnin' Me Up" and more. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... 12-inch, Vinyl record

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A great Motown album from Chris Clark – one of the few white singers ever signed to the label, and a great vocalist at that! Chris has a sound that's quite unique – halfway between Motown soul and some of the soul-inspired pop of the time – particularly that of UK singers like Dusty Springfield and some of her generation. There's a proud, bold sound here – all Motown in the backings, and often done with the kind of tightly-stepping grooves that have made some of Chris' singles big ones on the Northern Soul scene over the years. Titles include "I Want To Go Back There Again", "Day By Day Or Never", "From Head To Toe", "Sweeter As The Days Go By", "Do Right Baby Do Right", "Born To Love You Baby", "Love's Gone Bad", and "Whisper You Love Me Boy". CD also features a previously unreleased alternate stereo mix of "Do Right Baby Do Right" – and the overall package is amazing – with a 20 page full-color booklet that includes long notes on Clark's career, vintage photos, and even session details for the album! CD

Includes "Oh No", "Sail On", "Lady", "Machine Gun", "Easy", "Riding High", "Three Times A Lady", "Painted Picture", and "Brick House". CD

Lionel Richie come back! All is forgiven! We'd said bad things about you for years until we heard this funky groover – The Commodores' first album, a tasty bit of funk that almost makes us want to forgive you for all of your later crimes! The whole thing's pretty funky all the way through – with a strong southern groove, touched with a bit of a Sly Stone party funk mode. Includes the killer break classic "The Assembly Line", which feels like it was lifted right off one of Sly's late 60s albums for Epic – plus "The Bump", "Machine Gun", "The Zoo", and "Gonna Blow Your Mind". Arrangements are by James Carmichael and Gloria Jones, who also did the production – and the album's a long way from "Three Times A Lady", trust us! LP, Vinyl record album

A pivotal album for The Commodores – still very funky here, with a sound that stays true to their roots – yet also able to reach out into some of the mature mellow ballads that would make them a huge crossover act in years to come! James Carmichael arranges and produces here – really helping the group to find that key focus, and make some important use of the vocals of Lionel Richie. Mr R steps out strongly on the crossover hit "Three Times A Lady" – but the whole group more than holds their own on the funky killers "X Rated Movie", "Fire Girl", and "I Like What You Do" – as well as the great mellow groover "Say Yeah". CD

An 80s collection of the hits off of one of the earliest albums on Motown – featuring some killer hard soul numbers! The Contours have a deeper R&B sound than some of their smoother Motown contemporaries – a great bridge between earlier group soul styles of the 50s, and the Motown modes to come – produced here with some wicked piano and guitar lines that ring out strongly in the middle. Vocals are wonderfully raspy – often peaking out into the red as they reach for a lead lyric – and titles include the classic "Do You Love Me" – plus "Shake Sherrie", "Just A Little Misunderstanding", "Whole Lotta Woman", and "It's So Hard Being A Loser". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record