By Aljaydu (68.18.98.68) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 12:41 pm:

I just remembered this album (LP) that I bought years ago. It was a collection of Motown singles but it also included the stars being interviewed about the songs themselves. I haven't the slightest idea when it was released (70 something).
Anybody got a clue the name of the album and where I can find it?
I've searched CDNow, CDUniverse, Tower Records and a few other sites, including e-bay.
H E L P...
Thanks in advanced - Aljaydu/Creole

By Common (209.2.55.171) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 12:58 pm:

Hello,

I recall there was a 5 LP set, I think called "The Motown Collection"(?) that was released in 1970-1. In between the song selections, featured various Motown artists talking about the songs that they recorded. I think the oldies station here in NY used to use this collection quite a bit everytime they did a Motown tribute.

Peace!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:32 pm:

Common:
The boxed set you're referring to is called "The Motown Story". It was in a blue box with the Motown label in the middle. The set contained 5 LPs and was released circa 1970.
The artists interviewed included Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson.
WCBS-FM does use this boxed set on occasion for their Motown specials.
I used the same set when I was in radio during the 1980s.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:32 pm:

FYI:
Unfortunately, this set is out of print.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Common (209.2.55.172) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:35 pm:

Kev:

Yes, that's the title! I had the same picture in my head of the cover that you described but couldn't get the title quite right. BTW, sometimes, it is up for bid on ebay. I've seen around two of the sets up for sale in the last couple of weeks.

Peace!

By Reese (12.15.169.254) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:39 pm:

I think you're talking about THE MOTOWN STORY, a five volume set released in 1970, covering the Motown years 1960-1970.

An updated version was released in the early 80s, covering 1960 - 1982 or thereabouts. However, since it was also a five-disc set, many of the classic 60s songs were left out to include songs from the 70s and 80s.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

Also the updated version of "The Motown Story" from the early 1980s deleted many interviews and replaced them with others (the Michael Jackson interview was replaced with Jermaine - perish the thought!).
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Kegtapper (63.208.186.125) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 10:48 pm:

ALJAYDU: Was it The Hitsville USA - Motown Singles Collection 1959 to 1971??

KEVGO:I Feel ya- Jermaine's story replacing MJ??? You think was it because of the Gordy Link, or MJ going over to EPIC?

TIDBIT: I used to stay with uncle in Gary, for the summer on 22nd & Madison. Various runs would have us watching the Jackson practicing on the grass. And seen them once Live at Pat's Kitchen/Roller Rink in Michigan City for 50cent. plus got to skate afterwards. For my 18th Bday I seen them live as polished professionals in Chicago JUL72 best $12 I ever spent...

EC Mayo

By Uptight (24.55.6.144) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:26 am:

The first pressing of this boxed LP set (1970) had an embossed box, glossy picture sleeves and a booklet inside. Later issues were much plainer--a smooth blue box without the booklet.

In the late 1980s I was fortunate to be able to purchase two of the booklets from Motown Museum! They were probably under ten bucks. You won't find any more booklets there, though.

By David Meikle (213.122.67.136) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 08:39 am:

My sister-in law phoned me last year regarding "an old Motown record" that she wanted to "throw out".

She described it as being in a blue box...so I knew right away what it was.

I went up to see her the same evening and there it was in beautiful condition. She had played one side of one disc, once!

An old boyfriend had given it to her as a Christmas present.

Although she likes Motown she was put off by the
amount of spoken material.

I was in Soul Heaven.

By Aljaydu (68.18.97.19) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 11:43 am:

Awwwww, David !!!!!! That's the one !!!
It's a great album. Wanna swap ???? A coupla Miles Davis or John Coltrane, maybe??? Huh??? Huh??? Come on...The interviews...that's what makes the album. It's a history lesson in the making.

David, let me know about that swap, ok? :o)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 11:47 am:

David:
Is your sister now kicking herself or what?
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 11:50 am:

Kegtapper:
Who knows why they replaced Michael's interviews with Jermaine. I'm just glad I transferred the first Motown Story onto tape when I did.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Scratcher (65.132.79.236) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:00 pm:

CDs with interviews and dialogue are a pain to listen to after the first time. The only ones I've found I can listen to repeatedly are David Porter's Victim of Joke and Isaac Hayes CDs.

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:17 pm:

THE THING THAT MAKES THE ALBUM UNIQUE IS THE SPOKEN NARRATION WHICH GIVES IT SORT OF AN INNOCENCE,BECAUSE IT WAS THE TIME BEFORE EVERYBODY AND HIS BROTHER STARTED WRITING TELLALL BOOKS AND FINGER POINTING.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 12:25 pm:

You got it R&B.

Just to hear our heroes speaking way back then is special.

Sorry Aljaydu!

By medusa9e (66.73.1.46) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 01:18 pm:

Aljaydu,
Sorry, I'm not familiar with the album, but have Utried some of the Music shops that still have a lot of oldies? Melody & Memories on 9 Mile & Gratiot, or Street Corner Music on 13 Mile & Southfield Rd.? That's if U live N Michigan.
Maybe If someone has it on an album, they could transfer it to a cassette and send U a copy...or something like that.
I hope U find it.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 02:33 pm:

I have the limited edition Set released in 1970 with Michael Jackson's interview. Otis Williams does the interview for the Temptations. Of course I had to pull it out and listen to it today.

As usual, questions arise:

Was the released Fingertips recorded at the Apollo? There is a story behind that song. Was that an impromptu song.?

While listening to "Fingertips" can anyone hear one of the musicians say "What key" during the last harmonica solo right after the Mary Had a Little Lamb piece?

By Aljaydu/Creole (68.18.116.232) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 09:17 pm:

David...not even a deal? Some kinda deal???
Ya know, I'm from Louisiana and I know a few politicians down and around these parts, ya know, and uh, through these good folks (Louisiana Politicians), I can make it worth your while. Want a Casino? Name it...boat, building...both???
That's biiiiig business, David.
Still no deal, huh??? RATS !!! That was my ace of spades, too (Sorry about that...Saddam is the ace of spades).

SisDetroit, somebody brought that up on another thread. I can't answer the first part of your question but the second part is "Yes". I never realized that. After reading the post, I put the cd in the old pc and guess what??? One can hear it...plain as day.

By Karyl (207.69.119.67) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:28 pm:

Sis, regarding FINGERTIPS, I found this in Dave Marsh's book THE HEART OF ROCK & SOUL:

"Recorded live at Chicago's Regal Theatre, what pass for its lyrics improvised right there, "Fingertips" probably has the truest false ending in history, so baad it even fakes out the band, or at least the stand-in bassist (who thought Stevie's show was over and was coming back out to play with the NEXT act, Mary Wells). But if somebody really didn't know "what key! what key!" everybody still plays like they've been practicing for this moment all their lives"

Dave Marsh also says of Stevie:

"In his way as precociously sexual as Michael Jackson, Stevie was perhaps able to hold on longer and with less fundamental psychic damage because even here, his knowingness is tempered by sly humor, the kind of thing that lets him whip out the melody of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" in the midst of all this Showtime at the Apollo frenzy."

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:34 pm:

Aljaydu - We're not getting away from the meaning of the thread, as I was listening to the first LP in that Set, I just happen to hear Stevie's interview followed by as it said "My first hit was Fingertips." That's when I heard "What Key?" (Stevie says in this interview that Ronnie White discovered him.)

That Set is currently up for bid on Ebay.

Karyl - Thank you, you have answered all of my quesitons. Great looking out.

By TonyRussi (68.18.50.144) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:50 pm:

I have this original copy of theMOTOWN STORY blue box set(5 LPs & booklet)with a gold embossed 45 on the front.Mine is mint as I rarely played it except for artist "interviews" mainly Katherine Anderson & Martha Reeves. I was not happy the way it eluded to the fact that Mary Wells only had "My Guy"(Smokey did the pre-song statement that he "thought" they recorded her in about '61 or '62....I mean come on they were still trying to erase her career & her importance for putting the label on the map.The only Marvelettes songs were "Postman" and "Playboy".I just wasn't happy with it being called the Motown Story and the way they were trying to rewrite history.My copy is MINT.Maybe I should sell it on ebay.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:53 pm:

TonyRussi - They tried to erase Kim Weston also.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 02:55 pm:

And Elbridge (Al) Bryant had been erased. (LOL)

By Kegtapper (64.24.81.100) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 02:42 am:

Aljaydu-
Also Look at the 'Rare Earth' Label, they introduced the label with 5 LP's showcasing the first five artists on the the label RS-505A 'An Introduction to RareEarth Artists' recorded AUG 1969


Evan C Mayo

By Dave Alan (151.196.116.224) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 03:56 am:

Theres a site with about 20 copies for sale.
Check out www.gemm.com and search for "The Motown Story"

Enjoy

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 07:43 am:

A word of caution about GEMM. It's a sales venue for retailers - GEMM host the site, but it's numerous retailers who have the goods (like a non-auction version of eBay). When looking for out-of-print items, it's advisable to check whether the seller actually has the item listed as in stock, and not as a "special order". Some GEMM sellers bolster their listings by copying out entire label catalogues, and in reality only have a fraction of what's listed available.

I know one guy who waited six months after ordering (and paying for) a listed album before finally the seller admitted it was out-of-print, and unavailable. The best advice is: "one in stock" - OK. "Special order" - probably better to look elsewhere! :o)

By sdl (63.72.98.2) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:28 pm:

This set occasionaly comes up for sale on E-bay.
I got a pristine set there a while back for less that $10.00. Happy Hunting Aljaydu.

By Funkyone D J Dollar BILL (216.221.81.96) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 02:18 pm:

The one from '70 was a 5 L.P. and was tiled "The Motown Story-The First Decade".The one from '83 was a 7 L.P. "The Motown Story-The first 25 years"And is narrated by Lionel Richie and Smokey and featured trivia on the sleeves(same questions on all 7 seven identical sleeves!LOL)I'm pretty sure this was only released as a D.J. promo.There is supposed to be at least one other variation of the box with just the full versions of the songs.

By Soul Councillor (193.113.57.165) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 02:54 pm:

This thread reminds me of another boxed set that I seen years ago in Virgin I,m sure it was TSOP-The Philadelphia story or something like that.Could have been cassettes.Anybody help?