The vaults at Hitsville U.S.A. continue to surrender their secrets. Motown Unreleased 1967 is a new digital offering from Universal Music, with 89 tracks by many of the record company’s major stars, including the Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Temptations, Jr. Walker & the All Stars and Martha Reeves & the Vandellas. In addition, the package has previously-unavailable tracks by less-renowned acts who are, nonetheless, revered by Motown fans everywhere, such as Brenda Holloway, Chris Clark, the Marvelettes and the Velvelettes. You can download a copy here.
Marvin Gaye is also strongly represented on Motown Unreleased 1967, which is available now on digital services worldwide. The 11 tracks by the late superstar include “The Shadow Of Your Smile” and “More,” 20th century standards which reflect his lifelong love of jazz-oriented ballads.
Among the 10 tracks by Chris Clark is “All I Could Do Was Cry,” a song co-written by Berry Gordy, which she sang live for the Motown founder at her original audition for the company. Another highlight is a 1967 recording attributed to the Mynah Birds, “It’s My Time.” The group – whose members included Rick James (then known as Ricky Matthews) and Neil Young – first cut the song in 1966. The version on Motown Unreleased 1967 features a different, less pop-oriented performance by James, with other members of the original group said to be absent.
In related news, the previous set in this Motown Unreleased series, covering the year 1966, is being made available as a limited-edition physical package (it was issued digitally in 2016). The new, four-CD set, out January 19, features recordings by major stars such as the Supremes (5 tracks), the Four Tops (7) and the Miracles (4), as well as Brenda Holloway (12), Kim Weston (4, including a duet with Marvin Gaye) and more. Only 1,000 copies of Motown Unreleased 1966 have been produced for worldwide release; it includes a booklet detailing the contents. You can order your copy now from the Classic Motown Store here.