Satisfaction Guaranteed: Motown 1961-69 / Various

I am very satisfied. The vaults of Motown run deep with hidden gems such as the ones included in this compilation. While Motown was finding and perfecting what would become its signature sound, it recorded songs pleasing to the ears. These tunes foreshadowed the excellence Mr. Gordy was aiming for and eventually achieved in producing good finger snapping, hand clapping, foot tapping music. The tracks in this set range from funk, soul, rock & roll, doo-wop,and jazz with tight harmonizing. There is not one track that I do not like, but two stand out: "The Night We Called It A Day" by the Four Tops and "My Girl Annie" by Jr. Walker & The All Stars. I hope one day soon Kent Soul or Hip-o Select will release a "Lost & Found" for Jr. Walker & The All Stars, at a price I can afford.

I now know for sure that the Motown recording studios worked 24/7 without even a day off! How can there be so much quality material still being found in the Motown vaults? I have lost track on how many CD's I've purchased over the last few years that contain "unreleased" Motown material and I have enjoyed it all. How did they ever make the big decisions on what made it to vinyl? There were so many worthy contenders. It is mind boggling. This release is sure to please. Add it to your collection.

nice music. fast shipping g

Old school soul.

FAB THANKS

johnny Bristol very good a few more ok

sucked

Good

I've revisited this collection after several years unplayed. I was underwhelmed by the contents when it first came out and after due reflection I still am. The positives are the mixing which is sympathetic to these fifty year old tracks and the presentation with compilers doing a fine job. Then there is the quality of the voices which is tops throughout. The issue is there are too many lacklustre songs . I suppose that's not surprising given that these were all rejected by Motown's rigorous Quality Control committee. In my opinion there is only one (from 24) truly outstanding cut which is Johnny Bristol's 'Tell Me How To Forget A True Love'. There are a some commendable cuts from the likes of: Marvin Johnson, Jr Walker & The All-Stars and the obscure Quails. Frank Wilson's version 0f 'Together Til The End Of Time' is well worth hearing but not of the quality of the released verson of Brenda Holloway. The Contours 'Claudia' appears here sung by a different lead singer from the relesed version in 1961. It's a good song and a decent vocal but IMO inferior to the version chosen at the time. Nothing else stands out I feel - maybe The Temptations version of 'He Who Picks The Rose' . Incidentally this sounds a lot like 'I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back)', a cut from their 'Cloud Nine' LP. I've now downloaded the cuts mentioned into my computer library. The CD has gone back on the shelf where it will no doubt stay for a few more years. I'm glad it was released but not a significant Motown release for me.

Bought this compilation purely to get an obscure unissued track by the little known group "The Hitpack". The track I wanted is "Show me you can dance" a killer vintage Motown track. Never released at the time back in the mid sixties. Versions were also cut by the Miracles (released on their 35th anniversary box set) and the Monitors on their Kent Anthology cd. I love this track, like many it failed to get through Motown quality control back in the day. Not listened to the rest of the compilation yet, but I am sure there will be other gems to discover.

Since Kent started compiling Motown's back catalogue the standard has got better, no in content but in end product. The mixing is much closer to the way Motown's Funk Brother's laid the track down and the artists sounding sharp. The only thing missing was some crackles added and it could be vinyl. Kent/Ace have always gone that extra mile regards sound and it shows. Any Motown CD that has the Kent logo on it, BUY. You won't go wrong!Personal stand out tracks:T2. Safety Zone - Marv Johnson (finished version of Sidney Barnes' masterpiece)T4. Show Me You Can Dance - The Hit Pack (great version of the previously unissued Smokey & The Miracles)T10. Just Your Love - Ivy Jo (Also left in the can by Marvin Gaye, this will have grown men in tears)T21. Say, Say, Baby - The Serenaders (S. Barnes / G.Kerr written produced and group members, with the Rare Soul legend Timothy Wilson on Lead Vocals. Uptempo pounding beat Motown late 1963 style. For years this was wrongly filed as being The Creations (who had 1 45 on the Motown Subsidiary Mel-O-Dy label). Sidney cleared things up that it was Tim on lead vocals.)

This is the Stuff we want not the same old tracks been re released. Couple of poor tracks but hey I can put up with that. Shame we can't get some put on VINYL. Yes I have asked but to costly Universal pull the strings. Well worth buying StefC Leek Soul Club

I just love all these previously un-released tracks that they keep bringing out, it's like finding missing pieces to a jig-saw. I hope they keep them coming.