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Motown releases 60 unheard songs in the vault from Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, more Motown releases 60 unheard songs in the vault from Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, moreBrian McCollum, Detroit Free PressPublished 9:14 a.m. ET Sept. 20, 2019
Well, happy 60th anniversary, Motown fans. Unearthed tracks by Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5 and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles are among 60 Motown songs being released Friday after decades in the vaults. The treasure trove of music, issued as part of the label’s ongoing 60th anniversary festivities, hit streaming and download services. All of it is from 1969 – a pivotal period in the Detroit company’s history, as Motown artists, songwriters and producers began moving into ambitious new territory.  Stevie Wonder in 1967 (Photo: Universal Music Group) “Motown Unreleased 1969” also features songs by Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, the Spinners, Edwin Starr, Ivy Jo Hunter, Rare Earth and the Funk Brothers. The tracks have been newly mastered from the original tapes housed in Universal Music Group’s vault. The 50-year-old recordings were withheld at the time for a variety of reasons, said Harry Weinger, vice president of A&R with Universal Music Enterprises, which oversees Motown’s catalog. ADVERTISEMENT
“There (was) an opening for writers and producers to experiment with the Motown sound but, for certain topics, or musical ideas, or even artists, the company (wasn’t) ready,” Weinger said in a statement. “Or, it’s a simple case of having only so many slots for releases. So, until now, those songs went unreleased.” Some of the tracks are covers of existing compositions – like the Jackson 5’s take on the Miracles’ “What’s So Good About Goodbye.” Others are songs being issued today for the first time by anyone, such as the Stevie Wonder original “Mister Moon” and the Temptations’ “Pretty Little Brown Skin Girl.”  The Temptations and the Supremes. The Supremes, left to right: Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Cindy Birdsong. The Temptations, left to right: Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams and Dennis Edwards. The Motown handout photo is dated Feb. 8, 1969 (Photo: Motown photo) The Supremes’ recording of “For Once in My Life,” which leads the collection, was the last studio session together by Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong. The set of 60 previously unreleased tracks comes as part of Motown’s year-long 60th anniversary celebration, which included a CBS tribute show in the spring and a Showtime documentary in August. The festivities will culminate this weekend in Detroit with a Saturday gospel concert and a Sunday “Hitsville Honors” program with guests including Berry Gordy, the Four Tops, Temptations, Martha Reeves, Big Sean, Kem and Ne-Yo. 'Motown Unreleased 1969' artist and track list1. Diana Ross & the Supremes, “For Once In My Life” 2. Stevie Wonder, “Can’t Do Without Your Love” 3. Ivy Jo, “It’s Love I Need” 4. Chris Clark, “My World Is Empty Without You” 5. The Temptations, “Pretty Little Brown Skin Girl” 6. The Volumes, “Forever I’ll Love You” 7. Jr. Walker & the All Stars, “(Baby) I Need You” 8. Frank Wilson, “Look Out Your Window” 9. Edwin Starr, “I’ll Always Love You” 10. Earl Van Dyke, “Stone Soul Booster” 11. Gladys Knight & the Pips, “You Took Me This Far (Take Me All The Way)” 12. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, “Won’t You Come and Fly With Me” 13. Edwin Starr, “Born Just To Be That Way” 14. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, “What About Me” 15. Jonah Jones, “Too Many Fish In The Sea” 16. Edwin Starr, “Fan The Flame” 17. Chris Clark, “The Last Thing On My Mind” 18. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, “Backfire (version 1)” 19. Gladys Knight & the Pips, “I Had A Dream (Opus I)” 20. The Temptations, “Why (Must We Fall In Love)” 21. The Fantastic Four, “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” 22. Ivy Jo, “Ask The Lonely” 23. Ivy Jo, “Yesterday’s Dreams” 24. Ivy Jo, “I Got To Get To California” 25. The Originals, “Blame It On War” 26. The Stylists, “The Jackpot” 27. The Spinners, “Don’t Think It’s Me” 28. Michael Denton, “MacArthur Park/Didn’t We” 29. Michael Denton, “Someone For My Own” 30. The Volumes, “One Lucky Day I Found You” 31. The Rustix, “Generation” 32. Jr. Walker & the All Stars, “Country Girl” 33. Jr. Walker & the All Stars, “Something You Got (studio version)” 34. Bobby Taylor, “At Last (I Found A Love)” 35. Bobby Taylor, “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” 36. Jackson 5, “What’s So Good About Goodbye” 37. Bobby Taylor, “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me - feat. the Jackson 5” 38. Earl Van Dyke, “The Stranger” 39. Earl Van Dyke, “I Wish It Would Rain” 40. Stevie Wonder, “Start Out A New Day” 41. Gordon Staples & the Motown Strings, “All the Many Shades In Between” 42. Valerie Simpson, “You Ain’t Livin’ Till You’re Lovin’” 43. Edwin Starr, “Pain From My Loneliness” 44. Yvonne Fair, “All I Could Do Was Cry” 45. The Temptations, “Home Is Where The Heart Is” 46. Stevie Wonder, “Mister Moon” 47. Rare Earth, “Your Heartaches I Can Surely Heal” 48. Ivy Jo, “Dancing In The Street” 49. Marvin Gaye, “I’ll Take Care Of Business” 50. Ivy Jo, “Pride, Foolish Pride” 51. Earl Van Dyke, “Moratorium” 52. Kiki Dee, “While They Watch” 53. Terry Johnson, “This Is The Beginning” 54. Terry Johnson, “I Blew My Mind” 55. Earl Van Dyke, “Chicken Little 69” 56. Kiki Dee, “You’re My World” 57. Bobby Taylor, “Touched By Love” 58. Hearts of Stone, “When Push Comes To Shove” 59. Jimmy Ruffin, “I Gotta Cover A Whole Lotta Ground” 60. Terry Johnson, “Tomorrow’s Child” "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
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I love stuff like this....when they open those vaults and set those songs free! It's a great thing. | |
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You wish | |
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Yes, I love it too, but I'd rather have them on CD 
Hello to everyone! My very first post for add some info to this great released https://www.google.it/amp...AGvoprEKIk Lots of goodies here! https://m.youtube.com/wat...tMQ8unf9zY | |
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I'm happy for you guys that are happy about this, but it just doesn't excite me. Even though Prince is my favorite entertainer, I feel the same way about his vault and the unheard, never released music that they say is there. Are there others that feel this way, or is it just me? | |
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You feel it's not proper decorum, or are you simply unexcited? [Edited 9/25/19 15:21pm] |
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looby said: I'm happy for you guys that are happy about this, but it just doesn't excite me. Even though Prince is my favorite entertainer, I feel the same way about his vault and the unheard, never released music that they say is there. Are there others that feel this way, or is it just me? Well, how do you feel about it? Time keeps on slipping into the future...
This moment is all there is... |
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Great news! Thanks for sharing. I listen to 1968 unreleased often, there are a few Gladys Knight tracks that are tight and fun to groove to. As we are debating the significance of these kinds of compilations, I have an extensive Motown playlist already, these offerings add more spice to the mix. Also have an instrumental playlist for work, the more Jr Walker the better, this one with Stevie on it is a jam. I doubt the surviving musicians get much for these offerings but I am sure it’s better than the nothing they would get remaining unreleased. [Edited 9/25/19 16:19pm] if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2 | |
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I'd read about this when looking for Stevie Wonder news.
It's basically a catalogue protection release that hinges mostly on copyright law and the fact that these held recordings need to be released within 50 years of their creation or the copyright period is moot on em. Pink Floyd did one -Bob Dylan did one so did* Neil young did one as well (*but gave them away). THE DOWNSIDE TO THIS IS: these were never intended for release, EVEN NOW. They won't care to market and sell physical editions of this because it'll only sell like 1,000 units. That's another reason why Floyd released some of their stuff on record store day on a 7". I suppose some may test the waters, but it's about copyright protection for things that haven't leaked [Edited 9/25/19 20:12pm] ♫"Trollin, Trolling! We could have fun just trollin'!"♫ | |
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I'd be excited if the songs were from the 70s-80s era. Can you imagine the "Songs In The Key Of Life" material that didn't make the cut? Rick James, Willie Hutch, Marvin, even DeBarge? Katie Kinisky: "So What Are The Latest Dances, Nell?"
Nell Carter: "Anything The Black Folks did Last Year" | |
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I'd be excited if the songs were from the 70s-80s era. Can you imagine the "Songs In The Key Of Life" material that didn't make the cut? Rick James, Willie Hutch, Marvin, even DeBarge? Katie Kinisky: "So What Are The Latest Dances, Nell?"
Nell Carter: "Anything The Black Folks did Last Year" | |
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Awesome, and interesting | |
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I listened to all the songs.This is some great stuff here! | |
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if they would put these songs on CD,I would buy it in an instant.Man, Bobby Taylor where were you all my life? Passed on in 2017. So much soul there wow. I’m also reading that he was really the one that introduced the J5 to Gordy. And that Tommy Chong played guitar in his band? And wrote a tender love song about interracial relationships? I’d say being introduced to such a voice is a huge benefit of these compilations to casual listeners. I gotta dig into this guys catalog now. if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2 | |
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MotorBootyAffair said: I'd be excited if the songs were from the 70s-80s era. Can you imagine the "Songs In The Key Of Life" material that didn't make the cut? Rick James, Willie Hutch, Marvin, even DeBarge? . Yes I hope this series keeps going, even the late 60s is an interesting place sonically and historically. if it was just a dream, call me a dreamer 2 | |
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While there are some gems here, some of these songs are a bass worksop by the amazing James Jamerson. That's the main standout for me. | |
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