Albums by the Supremes, Kiki Dee and Nolen & Crossley are among the best-selling classic Motown titles in Japan this year, where Universal Music has reissued 60 catalogue items on compact disc as part of its Motown 60 celebrations.
The Supremes Produced And Arranged by Jimmy Webb, the top seller to date, was first released in 1972, including material written by the legendary songwriter (who was previously signed to Motown’s music publishing arm, Jobete), as well as by Joni Mitchell, Harry Nilsson and others.
Kiki Dee’s Great Expectations was first issued in 1970, and was the British singer’s only album for Motown. It included then-new material, such as “The Day Will Come Between Sunday And Monday,” and her versions of earlier Motown hits, including “I Second That Emotion” and “For Once In My Life.”
Nolen & Crossley’s Ambience originally appeared in 1982, written, performed and produced by Curtis Anthony Nolen and Raymond Crossley, and it was their second album for Motown Records. Nolen was also an A&R executive at the company, and worked with Rockwell, DeBarge and General Kane. He produced Rockwell’s major 1984 hit, “Somebody’s Watching Me.”
These are jewel-boxed CD reissues which came out March 20 this year in Japan, as did a special 3CD Motown 60 compilation. Universal Music there will continue to mark the anniversary throughout 2019 with further digital and physical releases, and special events.
The March CD reissues included classic albums by Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Jackson 5, the Commodores, Lionel Richie, Rick James and more, as well as titles favoured by collectors, including those by Earl Van Dyke, Brenda Holloway, the Spinners, Yvonne Fair and Mandre.
Further information is available at www.motown60.jp
