Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Mama's Pearl - The Jackson 5
2. Darling Dear - The Jackson 5
3. Let's All Save the Children - Joe Hinton
4. You Are Blue - Joe Hinton
5. Sweet Water - Brass Monkey
6. You Keep Me Hangin' On - Brass Monkey
7. Pet Names - Chuck Jackson
8. Is There Anything Love Can't Do - Chuck Jackson
9. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - The Temptations
10. You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth - The Temptations
11. Ain't It a Sad Thing - R. Dean Taylor
12. Back Street - R. Dean Taylor
13. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
14. God Is Love - Marvin Gaye
15. Save My Love for a Rainy Day - The Undisputed Truth
16. Since I've Lost You - The Undisputed Truth
17. Don't Pay Me No Mind - Ken Christie & The Sunday People
18. Listen to Your Soul - Ken Christie & The Sunday People
19. Each Day Is a Lifetime - David Ruffin
20. Don't Stop Lovin' Me - David Ruffin
21. Love Makes the World Go 'Round - Kiki Dee
22. Jimmy - Kiki Dee
23. Love Makes the World Go 'Round [Alternate Mix] - Kiki Dee

Disc 2:

1. We Can Work It Out - Stevie Wonder
2. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer - Stevie Wonder
3. I Don't Blame You at All - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
4. That Girl - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
5. This Used to Be the Home of Johnnie Mae - Eddie Kendricks
6. It's So Hard for Me to Say Goodbye - Eddie Kendricks
7. This Used to Be the Home of Johnnie Mae [Long Promo Version] - Eddie Kendricks
8. In My Own Lifetime - Sammy Davis, Jr.
9. I'll Begin Again - Sammy Davis, Jr.
10. In My Own Lifetime [Stereo Promo Version] - Sammy Davis, Jr.
11. Never Can Say Goodbye - The Jackson 5
12. She's Good - The Jackson 5
13. Gotta See Jane - R. Dean Taylor
14. Gotta See Jane [Stereo Promo Version] - R. Dean Taylor
15. Strung Out - Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings
16. Sounds of the Zodiac - Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings
17. Strung Out [Stereo Promo Version] - Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings
18. Strung Out [Long Promo Version] - Gordon Staples & The Motown Strings
19. Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On - Edwin Starr
20. Cloud Nine - Edwin Starr
21. When My Love Hand Comes Down - David Ruffin, , Jimmy Ruffin
22. Steppin' on a Dream - David Ruffin, , Jimmy Ruffin
23. I Won't Weep No More - Letta
24. You Touched Me - Letta
25. Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer [Stereo Promo Version] - Stevie Wonder

Disc 3:

1. Reach Out (I'll Be There) - Diana Ross
2. (They Long to Be) Close to You - Diana Ross
3. Reach Out (I'll Be There) [Long Stereo Promo Version] - Diana Ross
4. Reach Out (I'll Be There) [Short Stereo Promo Version] - Diana Ross
5. (I've Given You) The Best Years of My Life - PJ
6. It Takes a Man to Teach a Woman How to Love - PJ
7. What You See Is What You Get - Stoney & Meatloaf
8. Lady Be Mine - Stoney & Meatloaf
9. What You See Is What You Get [Stereo Promo Version] - Stoney & Meatloaf
10. Nathan Jones - The Supremes
11. Happy (Is a Bumpy Road) - The Supremes
12. Nathan Jones [Stereo Promo Version] - The Supremes
13. Melodie - Bobby Darin
14. Someday We'll Be Together - Bobby Darin
15. Never Can Say Goodbye - Impact of Brass
16. So Far, So Good - Impact of Brass
17. Never Can Say Goodbye [Stereo Promo Version] - Impact of Brass
18. Heartaches - King Floyd
19. Together We Can Do Anything - King Floyd
20. Feelin' Alright - The Jackson 5, Diana Ross
21. Love Story - Bill Cosby, Diana Ross
22. I Don't Want to Do Wrong - Gladys Knight & the Pips
23. Is There a Place (In His Heart for Me) - Gladys Knight & the Pips
24. I Don't Want to Do Wrong [Stereo Promo Version] - Gladys Knight & the Pips

Disc 4:

1. You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart - The Four Tops, , The Supremes
2. I'm Glad About It - The Four Tops, , The Supremes
3. You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart [Stereo Promo Version] - The Four Tops, , The Supremes
4. Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth
5. You Got the Love I Need - The Undisputed Truth
6. I'd Still Love You - Ivy Jo
7. I Can Feel the Pain - Ivy Jo
8. I'd Still Love You [Stereo Promo Version] - Ivy Jo
9. In These Changing Times - The Four Tops
10. Right Before My Eyes - The Four Tops
11. Reach Out (I'll Be There) [Mono Promo Version] - Diana Ross
12. Pass the Plate - Crusaders
13. Greasy Spoon - Crusaders
14. Pass the Plate [Stereo Promo Version] - Crusaders
15. Dyambo (De-Yambo) Weary Day Is Over - Hugh Masekela & The Union of South Africa
16. Shebeen - Hugh Masekela & The Union of South Africa
17. Dyambo (De-Yambo) Weary Day Is Over [Stereo Promo Version] - Hugh Masekela & The Union of South Africa
18. Uncle Tom - Arthur Adams
19. Mornin' Train - Arthur Adams
20. What Is Love - The Stylistics,
21. Where Did the Children Go - The Stylistics,
22. Crazy About the La La La - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
23. Oh Baby Baby I Love You - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
24. Crazy About the La La La [Stereo Promo Version] - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Disc 5:

1. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye
2. Sad Tomorrow - Marvin Gaye
3. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) [Stereo Promo Version] - Marvin Gaye
4. If I Could Give You the World - Hearts of Stone
5. You Gotta Sacrifice (We Gotta Sacrifice) - Hearts of Stone
6. If I Could Give You the World [Stereo Promo Version] - Hearts of Stone
7. Reverend John B. Daniels - Ken Christie & The Sunday People
8. Jesus Is the Key - Ken Christie & The Sunday People
9. Reverend John B. Daniels [Stereo Promo Version] - Ken Christie & The Sunday People
10. Candy Apple Red - R. Dean Taylor
11. Woman Alive - R. Dean Taylor
12. Candy Apple Red [Stereo Promo Version] - R. Dean Taylor
13. I Just Want to Celebrate - Rare Earth
14. Seed - Rare Earth
15. I Just Want to Celebrate [Stereo Promo Version] - Rare Earth
16. Maybe Tomorrow - The Jackson 5
17. I Will Find a Way - The Jackson 5
18. Maybe Tomorrow [Stereo Promo Version] - The Jackson 5
19. What the World Needs Now/Abraham, Martin and John - Tom Clay
20. Victors - Tom Clay
21. What the World Needs Now/Abraham, Martin and John [Short Promo Version] - Tom Clay
22. It's Summer - The Temptations
23. I'm the Exception to the Rule - The Temptations

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20913 in Music
• Released on: 2008-11-18
• Number of discs: 5
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: 1.70 pounds

Customer Reviews

Volume 11A ???????
Yep. Volume 11A. Motown had so many singles in 1971 that these 5 discs only represent January to June 1971. And there are 119 tracks !
Man , this series is unbeatable! We are now at 60 discs in the series ; 71 hours , 17 minutes and 21 seconds ; and 1517 songs !!
Fact is , there will be a 12A & B for the final Detroit era years represented in the series as well : 1972. That will bring the total to 14 boxed sets. And the whole series is scheduled to be done in 2009 for Mighty Motown's 50TH !
These things are all limited editions , and sold-out editions are commanding high prices already. If you have any inclination to purchase them , you better act quickly !

Oh? The MUSIC? I mean , what needs to be said ? Diana , The Temps , Marvin , The Jackson 5 , Smokey , Stevie , Rare Earth. I mean c'mon now! It's 1971 all over again !!!!!

WARNING ABOUT SERIES AVAILABILITY
This entire series is amazing. I believe it will be completed at the publication of the 12th volume, and each volume has 5 or 6 discs. I am up to Volume 9, and I can't really say there has yet been a single weak song. And I have now discovered so many awesome Motown songs I had never even heard before! This truly is a treasure trove. Yes, some songs are better than others, but all the music from this amazing dozen-year Motown era is great. The British Invasion may have brought over the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and many others, but our American Motown is of equal or better historic significance. This music is just so consistently CLASSY it defies words. Elegance just pours out from each disc here, it is unprecedented and will never be equaled in the future.

I've been surprised to learn that there are styles of music other than soul on the Motown label. There is some very good country music as well. These discs also have a smattering of interviews and some other holiday-type nonsense which are very fun to hear and which puts the entire era in context.

The packaging for the entire series is the best I've ever seen. It is a little hard to hold the book open so you can pull out or put in the discs, but this is a minor struggle and it is well worth it. The discs are held tightly in place and are well protected, and the historical information about any particular song is readily accessible. The 45 disc which slots into the front cover is really an innovative and clever flourish, and it gives the volume's book a really nice upgrade.

Okay, here is the bummer, and it is a major one. If you are like me, you are going to want the entire series if you buy even a single volume. You will buy the first volume and you will immediately realize that it is a worthwhile investment to obtain the entire series. And who really wants to own only part of a series of anything? The cost of even one volume here is enough that you'll probably want the entire collection. Well, as I write this, in January of 2009, volume 6 is no longer available. Gone. Completely gone, except for some guy trying to sell copies for $2000 as an Amazon-affiliated seller. As good as this music is, I'm not going to spend $2000 on a single volume.Yes, I've searched eBay relentlessly for months, with no luck at all. Yes, I've searched the virtual catacombs of international online sellers, with no luck at all.

So, I'm already over a thousand bucks into this series and yet my collection is missing one of the best volumes (it covers 1966 when a lot of the talent was at their crescendos). I've twice emailed Hip-O Select Records, the publisher, and not heard a word back. I've called their customer service, and they were clueless and indifferent. The girl who answered the phone for them did not know a thing about the series. Basically what has happened, by proclaiming this as a "Limited Edition," is that they have created an inducement for various opportunistic sellers to hoard the best volumes and then to gouge Motown fans later when the inventory held by legitimate sellers is gone. They then jack the price up into the stratosphere.

So, one can only hope that Hip-O Select does another run of these amazing Motown volumes. If you are a Motown fan, you will be astonished when you hear all the incredible treasures which this series contains.

Wrong versions of "Mama's Pearl" and "She's Good"
Although "The Complete Motown Singles" is a phenomenal series, compiling the mono singles masters for every Motown 45, there have been a few mistakes. In this volume, "Mama's Pearl" is a mono mix of the album version, not the the 45 version, which is still M.I.A. on CD in its mono mix. The difference is that, on the single version, there's a vocal scat of "dmm dmm dmm" over the intro, about ten seconds in. That's missing here. Also, at about 2:38, Michael should sing, "Let your conscience go, now, now." On the LP version included here, he shouts, "Let your conscience gooo!"

Also, "She's Good" as included here is the Jackson 5 group version from the album "Maybe Tomorrow." The original single contained a solo version by Jermaine only.

Sadly, neither of these songs has ever appeared on CD in their exact mono single versions.

Hopefully Hip-O will issue corrected discs and/or downloads, which has been done at least twice in the past with this series.