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| Volume Three of the Complete Motown Singles Project On October 14, Hip-O Select.com, a division of Universal Music Enterprises, will release the third volume of The Complete Motown Singles. The new installment, entitled The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 3: 1963, showcases the early history of the classic soul label on a 5-CD, 119-track set. It will feature the a-side and b-side of every single released by Motown (and its subsidiaries) during the label's fifth year of existence; this volume is highlighted by hits - and a few obscurities - from "Little" Stevie Wonder, The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandellas, the Miracles and Marvin Gaye. This collection will not be available at traditional retail; it will be sold exclusively online at www.hip-oselect.com and via Apple's iTunes site for electronic download. The release is the latest phase of a plan that extends through 2009, with Hip-O Select issuing further volumes covering all of Motown's single releases during its tenure in Detroit. The label moved to Los Angeles in 1972. "We've had a tremendous response to the first two volumes of the series from critics and fans alike, " says Bruce Resnikoff, President, UMe. "Motown encompasses a rich musical legacy, and we're giving it the care and attention it deserves." "By 1963, Motown was moving into high gear and solidifying their trademark sound, " says Pat Lawrence, Senior Vice-President, UMe. "Stevie Wonder had his first No. 1 hit, Martha & The Vandellas and The Miracles both broke into the Top 10, and The Supremes finally had their first charting single." Packaging for the set resembles a scaled-down 78-rpm-era "album, " with cardboard sleeves to hold each of the discs, and 92 pages of rare photos and notes. Each box will feature an actual reproduction 45 rpm single of the Martha & The Vandellas smash, "Love Is Like A Heat Wave." The new volume includes a historical overview by historian Craig Werner, and a personal chronicle from The Vandellas' Martha Reeves. Track-by-track annotations have been written by noted soul authors Bill Dahl and Keith Hughes, with assistance by UMe VP Harry Weinger, who has overseen the project. "Motown, with Smokey, the Marvelettes and Martha and Marvin leading the charge, was on the brink of its run as the biggest little record company in the world, " says Weinger. "Yet they were still experimenting with instrumental jazz singles and the likes of The Morrocco Music Makers and The Chuck-A-Lucks. "All of those thrilling twists and turns are here. From songs that are still on the radio today, to songs that were never heard from again, this box set is simply another must-have treasure." write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |