The DeBarge family—brothers El, Randy, Mark and James, and sister Bunny—signed to Motown and released their first album in 1981, kicking off an intense four years where they rose to the top of the charts with timeless ballads and classic dance tracks.

Time Will Reveal: The Complete Motown Albums collects the group’s four out-of-print albums on two CDs, restoring them to the marketplace for the first time in years, while adding a bonus third disc of remixes and unreleased versions.

Among the many highlights are the No. 1 hits “Rhythm Of The Night,” in its original and extended remixed version; “All This Love,” from the same-titled album as well in a newly discovered alternate version; and the set’s title song, sounding better than ever in a previously unheard, long version. DeBarge, led by El’s instantly recognizable falsetto voice, were renowned for their infectious melodies and memorable hooks in gorgeous-sounding productions.

Motown saw them as heir apparent to the Jackson 5, another family dynasty that had left the label in the mid-’70s. But unlike the Jacksons, the DeBarges were given free rein to write, produce and arrange their own material. After a debut album that showed promise but not much in sales, their second LP, All This Love, went gold. In A Special Way, which included “Time Will Reveal,” their first top 20 pop hit, and “Love Me In A Special Way,” featuring a harmonica solo by label mate Stevie Wonder, followed. The album also included “A Dream” and “Stay With Me,” which have become better known as samples in several hip-hop classics, from “One More Chance/Stay With Me” by Notorious B.I.G and Faith Evans to Mariah Carey’s “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time.” As a special bonus, this 3-CD set includes instrumental versions of the original DeBarge tracks. With Rhythm Of The Night and its title hit song, DeBarge leapt into the pop mainstream. Two other songs from the album, “You Wear It Well” and “The Heart is Not So Smart,” were dance hits; their rare “M+M” remixes are included on the bonus disc.

The accompanying booklet includes reproductions of the original album artwork, track annotations and a career overview by Gail Mitchell, Senior Editor of R&B/Hip-Hop for Billboard, who was seen on-screen as a commentator in the celebrated DeBarge episode of TVOne’s Unsung.

Disc 1

1. What's Your Name 2. Dance The Night Away 3. You're So Gentle, So Kind 4. Queen Of My Heart 5. Hesitated 6. Saving Up (All My Love) 7. Share My World 8. Strange Romance

9. I'll Never Fall In Love Again 10. Stop! Don't Tease Me 11. I Like It 12. Can't Stop 13. All This Love 14. It's Getting Stronger 15. Life Begins With You 16. I'm In Love With You

Disc 2

1. Be My Lady 2. Stay With Me 3. Time Will Reveal [long version]* 4. Need Somebody 5. Love Me In A Special Way 6. Baby, Won't Cha Come Back 7. I Give Up On You 8. A Dream

9. Prime Time 10. The Heart Is Not So Smart 11. Who's Holding Donna Now 12. Give It Up 13. Single Heart 14. You Wear It Well 15. The Walls (Came Tumbling Down) 16. Share My World 17. Rhythm Of The Night

Disc 3

1. Rhythm Of The Night Long Version 2. You Wear It Well M&M Club Mix 3. You Wear It Well M&M Dub Mix 4. The Heart Is Not So Smart M&M Club Mix 5. The Heart Is Not So Smart M&M Dub Mix 6. All This Love Alternate Version * 7. Love Me In A Special Day Instrumental * 8. Stay With Me Instrumental * 9. A Dream Instrumental * 10. Be My Lady Instrumental *

Disc 1, tracks 1-8: The DeBarges

Disc 1, tracks 9-16: All This Love

Disc 2, tracks 1-8: In A Special Way

Disc 2, tracks 9-17: Rhythm Of The Night

Disc 3, all tracks: Remixes & Rarities * Previously Unreleased

[Edited 8/22/11 9:00am]

[Edited 8/22/11 9:01am]

These should have been remastered as they where originally released. I have the first three already on cd and i dont need to crammed 2fers on 1 cd. They could have kept the 3rd disc of mixes and outtakes and put them with the original releases.

I'm kind of excited about this. Especially to have the remix of "You Wear It Well" on cd. I have worn that 12in out since I found it in the 90s.

What happened to this one?

MickyDolenz said:

What happened to this one?

Not a Motown album.

^^It was a joke.

They could have included Bunny DeBarges Solo album on cd & Chico DeBarges first 2 cd's on motown.

Could SWITCH remastered Re-Issues be coming on CD?....I SURE HOPE SO.

I'm still happy for this release though....AWESOME!

regcart said:

Could SWITCH remastered Re-Issues be coming on CD?....I SURE HOPE SO.

I hope so.I would definitely buy those!

About time!

Have all 4 already separately

Seems like a good set but to be honest,I only want their second and third albums....'All This Love' and 'Love Me In A Special Way'.

I wasn't too crazy about 'Rhythm Of The Night'.I found it to be too "pop" and lightweight...not nearly as soulful as the two previous albums.

SoulAlive said:

Seems like a good set but to be honest,I only want their second and third albums....'All This Love' and 'Love Me In A Special Way'.

I wasn't too crazy about 'Rhythm Of The Night'.I found it to be too "pop" and lightweight...not nearly as soulful as the two previous albums.

From what I've read, 'Rhythm of the Night' was a disaster for them to record. They wrote a few tracks together, but I've read that a lot of the tracks were either leftovers from their previous albums. I know that "Queen Of My Heart" was on their first album and remixed for the album.

daPrettyman said:

SoulAlive said:

Seems like a good set but to be honest,I only want their second and third albums....'All This Love' and 'Love Me In A Special Way'.

I wasn't too crazy about 'Rhythm Of The Night'.I found it to be too "pop" and lightweight...not nearly as soulful as the two previous albums.

From what I've read, 'Rhythm of the Night' was a disaster for them to record. They wrote a few tracks together, but I've read that a lot of the tracks were either leftovers from their previous albums. I know that "Queen Of My Heart" was on their first album and remixed for the album.

Queen of My Heart was on The DeBarges & In A Special Way, Share My World was also on the first release and Rhythm of the Night. Both versions where the same as the first issue.

getxxxx said:

daPrettyman said:

From what I've read, 'Rhythm of the Night' was a disaster for them to record. They wrote a few tracks together, but I've read that a lot of the tracks were either leftovers from their previous albums. I know that "Queen Of My Heart" was on their first album and remixed for the album.

Queen of My Heart was on The DeBarges & In A Special Way, Share My World was also on the first release and Rhythm of the Night. Both versions where the same as the first issue.

They sound like they were mixed differently. Possibly using a different take.

same versions its just a cleaner take and the piano at the start is more in the front on the IN A SPECIAL WAY version with 4 seconds snipped off.

[Edited 8/23/11 13:34pm]

I have the greatest hits, that should suffice for me. Nice set though. $37.00 on amazon.

daPrettyman said:

SoulAlive said:

Seems like a good set but to be honest,I only want their second and third albums....'All This Love' and 'Love Me In A Special Way'.

I wasn't too crazy about 'Rhythm Of The Night'.I found it to be too "pop" and lightweight...not nearly as soulful as the two previous albums.

From what I've read, 'Rhythm of the Night' was a disaster for them to record. They wrote a few tracks together, but I've read that a lot of the tracks were either leftovers from their previous albums. I know that "Queen Of My Heart" was on their first album and remixed for the album.

The most disappointing thing about that album is,it featured alot of outside songwriters.Diane Warren wrote the title track the album has a cold,heavily synthesized sound....like alot of 80s music from that period.It lacks the soul and passion of the two previous albums.

daPrettyman said:

I'm kind of excited about this. Especially to have the remix of "You Wear It Well" on cd. I have worn that 12in out since I found it in the 90s.

Tea! I remember wearing that 12in out to when it first came out. That song had a real funky beat to it that worked well in long version form. Would have liked to have heard more self written songs by them in that way then the ballads. Just seem like they never really had a chance to develop as writers. Especially El De Barge. I guess before the hard drugs took over.

bboy87 said:

About time!

Indeed!!! I just zoomed over to hipo to pre-order. I am too excited!!!

getxxxx said:

Why is Randy looking like Morris day and James like Vanity

sbp said:

getxxxx said:

Why is Randy looking like Morris day and James like Vanity

Who you askin"?

^^^^^^whoever knows the answer

I did get this and I love it! I like that I get to hear more of Bunny's voice. Thanks to the OP, it may have taken me ages to find that this was out, otherwise. I have since subscribed to the site.

SoulAlive said:

AlexdeParis said:

SoulAlive said:

The most disappointing thing about that album is,it featured alot of outside songwriters.Diane Warren wrote the title track the album has a cold,heavily synthesized sound....like alot of 80s music from that period.It lacks the soul and passion of the two previous albums.

"Rhythm of the Night" is one of Diane Warren's best songs by far. Love that song.

AlexdeParis said:

SoulAlive said:

The most disappointing thing about that album is,it featured alot of outside songwriters.Diane Warren wrote the title track the album has a cold,heavily synthesized sound....like alot of 80s music from that period.It lacks the soul and passion of the two previous albums.

"Rhythm of the Night" is one of Diane Warren's best songs by far. Love that song.

Rhythm of the Night does lack soul, I'll give you that, but it's precisely why I like the song. It showed another side of the group, or rather El since he does seem to own the song. It showed versatility and I do believe that it is their most popular song. When I heard this song, it made me believe that El could sing many different types of song.

I do agree that this is one of Diane Warren's best songs.

I wonder if they get any money from their past albums? I read somewhere that Berry Gordy owns everything