In a history so rich, there’s always more to know. Nothing illustrates the point better than this compilation of rare and previously unissued Motown recordings. It summons the work of artists, familiar and unfamiliar, committed to tape at the company’s headquarters at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit between 1961 and 1968 – arguably Motown’s golden era.
Among the familiar names here are Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marv Johnson, the Temptations and Four Tops – mainstays whose unique talent, when coupled with that of the company’s in-house songwriters, musicians and producers, empowered Motown during the 20th Century, and continues to ensure its legacy in the 21st. Among the unfamiliar? Michael Thomas, for one; Johnny Earl, for another. And the truth is that some of the others here – the Hit Pack, the Serenaders, Gino Parks – are barely known outside the circle of Motown aficionados.
Of this collection’s 25 tracks, 15 have never been available before, but the music is surely as engaging and illuminating as anything already out in the world. Sadly, nobody can be quite certain who within Motown was advocating for these lesser-known artists, or why the music failed to capture sufficient votes in the company’s storied Quality Control meetings every Friday – or at least the pre-meeting approval of the QC queen, Janie Bradford.
There is, however, an advocate who can be cited here: the late Keith Hughes, who died during the making of this compilation. Keith was unswerving in his devotion to Motown, and to its many backstories. Since 2010, Keith compiled and annotated more than 20 such albums for Ace Records and its offspring, Kent, working with colleagues Mick Patrick, Tony Rounce and, at Universal Music’s Motown catalogue division, Harry Weinger.
Even Keith could not have imagined that his first Ace project – by his Motor City heroes, the Satintones – would lead to so many years of satisfying excavations. He had form, firstly writing about Motown for various publications, then creating a unique database of its recording sessions in print and, subsequently, online with Don’t Forget The Motor City. Later, Keith was recruited to work on Universal Music’s award-winning “The Complete Motown Singles” CD series – the defining chronicle of the heyday of Berry Gordy’s music machine. With his singular passion, Keith Hughes never stopped searching. In a history so rich, there’s always more to know.
