More than 50 classic Motown albums are reissued March 20 on compact disc in Japan as part of the Motown 60 celebrations, and a series of new playlists are being unveiled through the course of the year. A 60-track 3CD compilation to mark the anniversary is also newly available.
Most major artists of classic Motown are represented in this reissue program, including Diana Ross & the Supremes, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, the Commodores, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Rick James, Lionel Richie, and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Among the other acts with re-releases are the Fantastic Four, Scherrie & Susaye, the Spinners, DeBarge, Boyz II Men, Mandre and Nolen & Crossley.
Also in the CD release schedule are a number of albums which have been unavailable in that format for years, or were not issued on compact disc in their original form. Among these are Shorty Long’s Here Comes The Judge, Kiki Dee’s Great Expectations, Brenda Holloway’s Every Little Bit Hurts, Edwin Starr’s War & Peace, and Yvonne Fair’s The Bitch Is Black. The full list is available here.
The Motown 60 3CD compilation includes many of the storied record company’s most famous hits, beginning with Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want).”
Universal Music Japan’s plans for new Classic Motown playlists, as well as other physical releases and specific events to mark the anniversary, will be announced later in 2019.
