Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Come To Me Single Version
2. Whisper Single Version
3. Merry-Go-Round Single Version
4. It Moves Me Single Version
5. Let's Rock Single Version
6. Do The Very Best You Can Single Version
7. Solid Sender Single Version
8. I'll Never Love Again Single Version
9. Snake Walk (Part 1) Single Version
10. Snake Walk (Part 2) Single Version
11. It Single Version
12. Don't Say Bye-Bye Single Version
13. Going To The Hop Single Version
14. Motor City Single Version
15. Money (That's What I Want) Single Version
16. Oh I Apologize Single Version
17. Ich-I-Bon #1 Single Version
18. Cool And Crazy Single Version
19. Bad Girl Single Version
20. I Love Your Baby Album Version
21. The Feeling Is So Fine Single Version
22. (You Can) Depend On Me Single Version
23. My Beloved Single Version Without Strings
24. Sugar Daddy Single Version
25. You Never Miss A Good Thing Single Version Without Strings
26. Hold Me Tight Single Version
27. Gotta Have Your Lovin' Single Version

Disc 2:

1. Way Over There Original Single Version (Without Strings)
2. (You Can) Depend On Me Second Version
3. Way Over There With Strings
4. My Beloved Single Version With Strings
5. You Never Miss A Good Thing Single Version With Strings
6. Yes, No, Maybe So Single Version
7. You Knows What To Do Single Version
8. Custer's Last Man Single Version
9. Shimmy Gully Single Version
10. Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That 1960 Single Version
11. You Made A Fool Out Of Me Single Version
12. Whirlwind Single Version
13. I'm Gonna Cry (If You Quit Me) Single Version
14. Bye Bye Baby Single Version
15. Please Forgive Me Single Version
16. What Makes You Love Him First Version
17. That Child Is Really Wild Single Version
18. Who's The Fool Single Version
19. Shop Around Original Detroit Version
20. Who's Lovin' You Single Version
21. True Love Single Version
22. It's You Single Version
23. Shop Around Single Version
24. Oh Lover Single Version
25. That's Why I Love You So Much Single Version
26. I've Got A Notion Single Version
27. We Really Love Each Other Single Version

Disc 3:

1. Don't Feel Sorry For Me Single Version
2. Heart Extended Single Version
3. Don't Let Him Shop Around Single Version
4. A New Girl Single Version
5. Ain't It Baby Single Version
6. The Only One I Love Single Version
7. Money And Me Single Version
8. You've Got What It Takes Single Version
9. When I Needed You Single Version
10. Continental Strut Single Version
11. Whole Lotta Woman Regional Single Version
12. Come On And Be Mine Single Version
13. I Want A Guy Extended Single Version
14. Never Again Single Version
15. He Lifted Me Single Version
16. Behold The Saints Of God Single Version
17. Poor Sam Jones Single Version
18. They Rode Through The Valley Single Version
19. Money (That's What I Want) Single Version
20. I'll Still Be Around Single Version
21. Tomorrow And Always Single Version Without Strings
22. A Love That Can Never Be Single Version
23. Tomorrow And Always Single Version With Strings
24. Whole Lotta Woman National Single Version
25. Blibberin' Blabbin' Blues Single Version
26. Don't Say Bye-Bye Single Version

Disc 4:

1. Angel Single Version
2. (I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over Single Version
3. Witchcraft Single Version
4. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide Single Version
5. Never Let You Go (Sha Lu Bop) Single Version
6. I Don't Want To Take A Chance Single Version (Mono)
7. I'm So Sorry Single Version
8. Rosa Lee (Stay Off The Bell) Single Version
9. Shoo-Doo Single Version
10. Misery Single Version
11. Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right Single Version
12. Broken Hearted Single Version
13. Mighty Good Lovin' Single Version
14. No Love Single Version Without Strings
15. Looking For A Man Single Version
16. Same Thing Single Version
17. That's No Lie Single Version
18. I Know How It Feels Single Version
19. My Kind Of Love Single Version
20. No Love Single Version With Strings
21. Buttered Popcorn First Version
22. Who's Lovin' You Single Version
23. Buttered Popcorn Second Version
24. Oh, Mother Of Mine Single Version (Mono)
25. Romance Without Finance Single Version (Mono)
26. I Am Bound Single Version
27. Precious Memories Single Version

Disc 5:

1. Please Mr. Postman Single Version
2. So Long Baby Single Version
3. The Stretch Single Version
4. Funny Single Version
5. Itsy Bity Pity Love Single Version
6. But I'm Afraid Single Version
7. They Shall Be Mine Single Version
8. Jesus Loves Single Version
9. Someone To Call My Own Single Version
10. You're My Desire Single Version
11. Love Me Single Version
12. Darling Tonight Single Version
13. Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues Single Version
14. I Can't Believe Single Version
15. Angel In Blue Single Version
16. Blue Cinderella Single Version
17. Strange Love Single Version
18. Come To Me Single Version
19. The Day Will Come Single Version
20. Just For You Single Version
21. Have I The Right Single Version
22. Real Good Lovin' Single Version
23. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart Single Version
24. Faded Letter Single Version

Disc 6:

1. Jamie Single Version
2. Take A Chance On Me Single Version
3. Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) Single Version
4. Take A Chance Single Version
5. Actions Speak Louder Than Words Single Version
6. Take Me Single Version
7. What Makes You Love Him Second Version
8. Don't Take It Away Single Version
9. Check Yourself Single Version (Mono)
10. Your Wonderful Love Single Version
11. Small Sad Sam Single Version
12. Tie Me Tight Single Version
13. Whose Heart (Are You Gonna Break Now) Single Version
14. I'll Call You Single Version
15. Xmas Twist Single Version
16. White House Twist Single Version
17. Please Mr. Kennedy Single Version
18. (They Call Me) Cupid Single Version
19. Twistin' Postman Single Version
20. I Want A Guy Single Version
21. What's So Good About Good Bye Single Version
22. I've Been Good To You Single Version
23. Congo (Part 1) Single Version
24. Congo (Part 2) Single Version

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56805 in Music
• Released on: 2006-12-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: 1.50 pounds
• Running time: 411 minutes

Album Description
The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 1: 1959-1961 is a limited-edition set. Most of the songs contained on it are unavailable anywhere else; many had never been re-released on vinyl, let alone on compact disc. When the edition is sold out, it's gone for good, so act now.

About the Artist
Say the word "Motown," and an immediate image forms in your head: maybe Smokey, or Diana, or Stevie, or the Temptations doing their famous steps. Or one of dozens of other classic Motown artists. But before the Motown sound had written itself into America's musical DNA, before there was even a Motown label, there was an idea in the head of Berry Gordy, Jr.

Gordy's empire began even before the house at 2648 W. Grand Blvd. became `Hitsville U.S.A.' The Complete Motown Singles, Part 1: 1959-1961 documents Motown's earliest days, from Marv Johnson's "Come To Me" on Tamla 101 through The Twistin' Kings' "Congo (Part 1)" on Motown 1023.

This six-CD set offers an amazing insight into the development of the Motown Sound. You can follow along, single by single, as Gordy pursues his dream, often to unexpected places. It features the A-side and B-side of every single released by Motown and its subsidiaries during the label's first three years of existence. Over the course of the set's 155 tracks, you can hear the recorded debuts of the Temptations, the Supremes, Mary Wells, and many others. You'll also hear Motown's first big hits: Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)," The Miracles' "Shop Around," and The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman."

The luxurious packaging resembles a scaled-down 78-rpm-era "album," with cardboard sleeves to hold each of the discs, and 92 pages of rare photos, detailed annotations and scholarly - as well as personal - liner notes. It also features a reproduction 45-rpm single from its era; in this case, it's Barrett Strong's "Money" b/w "Oh I Apologize." Berry Gordy, who co-wrote and co-produced nearly every track in this first set, contributes a brief, personally signed note in the booklet's opening page. It introduces an eyewitness account of the early days from singer Mable John, the first female solo act signed to Motown. Also included is a historical overview by author and scholar Craig Werner of the University of Wisconsin, and track-by-track annotations, with not just song credits but stories and context of each song, by noted authors and discographers Bill Dahl and Keith Hughes.

Customer Reviews

Starting with Marv Johnson
Although the first four tracks on this set were not officially on the Tamla label, they were the first recorded at Berry Gordy's fledgling company. Starting with Marv Johnson, Gordy was building a company that would overshadow most of the majors of the day. This first box set in a series of twelve features quite a few gems that didn't make the charts, but it is in these first six discs that prove why Motown was the greatest independent record company ever. Obscure instrumentals such as "Snake Walk", "Continental Strut" and "Congo" help to round out the diversity of this collection. Barrett Strong's "Money", the Miracles' "Shop Around" and the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" is just the tip of the iceberg. Not only is every a-side included, but all b-sides as well. Several singles that were cancelled actually had what it takes to go to the pressing plant. Alternate takes (The Supremes' "Buttered Popcorn", for example) were rushed-released only to be recalled because a better take was discovered. Gordy was meticulous about a certain mix he wanted to acheive and he didn't stop until he got it. At least four or five were withdrawn so strings could be added and in one case (Mable John's "I Guess There's No Love" was re-recrded altogether.) Two takes of Sammy Ward's "What Makes You Love Him" are included, too. If that isn't enough, The Miracles' "Shop Around" and The Contours' "Whole Lotta Woman" were both given a new lease over the originals. Eddie Holland's "Jamie" is finally heard here in its original 45 mix. The Valadiers' "Greetings" is also restored to its original length, thanks to someone who came forward with a clean copy. Okay, so you could probably count the hits on both hands, and that's if you don't remember the first two Mary Wells singles and Debbie Dean's answer to "Shop Around". (I counted 16!) Artists such as The Satintones, Eugene Remus, Gino Parks and Sammy Ward can now be heard in all their splendor. We can also track the humble beginnings of The Temptations ("Oh, Mother Of Mine" and "Check Yourself") and The Supremes ("I Want A Guy" and "Who's Lovin' You"). Who could have known back in those days those two groups would be monumental. Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye will already be familiar to most, but, as you'll see, hardly any of these artists started out with a hit. The exception would be The Marvelettes. Others weren't so lucky. The Supremes paid more than their share of dues. You will hear most of these tunes for the very first time. Some will have to grow on you, and others you may never like. That said, here are some of my favorite obscurities: Andre Williams' "Shoo Doo" is a hilarious song in the tradition of "I Never See Maggie Alone" and Robert Gordy (Bob Kayli) takes on a cover of "Small Sad Sam", the parody of Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John". Here he is aided by The Supremes and they did do quite a bit of background singing during this period. Gino Parks' "Blibberin' Blabbin' Blues" is a take on the Coasters' "Yakety Yak", only this time it's the wife that's getting on his last nerve. Chico Leverett's "I'll Never Love Again" and "Angel" by the Satintones are some of the best ballads in this collection. Richard Wiley takes Barrett Strong's "Money" to a boogie woogie frenzy that will leave you breathless. Material by Barrett Strong and Mable John have been tapped out, thanks to their recordings made available on individual discs. We also get to hear the huge evolution of the Funk Brothers honing their skills on "Continental Strut" and "Snake Walk", where they stretch themselves to the limit. Even if you have the common material from this set, don't let it slip away, as I don't think it will be around long.