By doc3824 (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, June 22, 2003 - 04:34 pm:

Just a brief mention that on Tuesday the first releases in Motown's Funk Essentials hit the streets. A 2cd set called Psychedelic Soul, by the Temptations, and a new single cd compilation, by the Undisputed Truth. I'm looking forward to these compilations, as all have been remastered, and the full length album versions have been used.The Temptations recordings with Norman Whitfield are some of Motowns most exciting recordings, and took soul music to a whole new level. When you think about it, it was quite an exciting time in black music, with James Brown, Sly And The Family Stone, and George Clinton, all creating exciting new avenues in soul music. And, of course, let's not forget the folks at Philadelphia International, who were doing a whole different thing musically.

By Greg C. (207.103.134.48) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

Picked up the Temptations Psychedelic Soul. It is excellent! Most of the Psychedelic Shack, Sky's The Limit, and Masterpiece albums are included and the remastering has made the songs crisp and sharp.

The Undisputed Truth was a letdown. This is the THIRD greatest hits compilation in the US on the group and Motown still hasn't got it right. Songs missing: Mama, Got A Brand New Thang (Don't Say No), Big John Is My Name, Life Ain't So Easy, among others.Left that one in the store.

Man, I'd love to work A&R at Motown. Let me at those vaults....

By motownboy (64.170.50.18) on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 10:45 pm:

I think the Undisputed Truth collection is well worth it just for the 10:43 version of "Ball of Confusion" which is based on the same multitrack used for the Temptations version. I also love "I'm A Fool For You", "Law of the Land", and "Poontang" (which I was not familiar with).

FYI - "Mama, Got A Brand New Thang (Don't Say No)" is available on the UK CD compilation "The Collection" see this link at Amazon...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005YT8M/qid=1056941180/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3_3/202-9434372-6562216

Also, their LP "Face To Face With The Truth" is also available on CD as UK import at Amazon.....

By Scratcher (65.238.127.177) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 07:57 pm:

Greg C., I hate to ask but did they leave one of my favorite Undisputed Truth songs' "UFO" off too? I'm amazed they didn't include "Big John..." and "Mama..."

By Greg C. (207.103.134.142) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 09:45 pm:

Scratcher:
"UFO's" is included. "Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" is on there. Why I have no idea! That was a greatest hit?

By Scratcher (65.238.172.12) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 10:42 pm:

I like "Lil Red Ridin' Hood's" heavy metal sound.

The collection seems to feature most of the stuff from the groups' first two LPs with Joe and the two ladies and cherry picks from the later more funkier and rock renditions of UDT.

Don't you love that fast robotic bassline on "UFO" and Joe Harris' spaced out vocal?

Hopefully they left their long rendition of "What's Going On" off.

By HW (68.37.216.164) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 12:22 am:

Just my two cents from over on the Motown Bulletin Boards, as producer of the two collections mentioned:

The Truth set was intended as a 'Funk' collection more than a hits set and was compiled by Rickey Vincent, author of the book 'Funk.' It doesn't weigh towards any one album but has two songs from each of the six Motown albums.

Also, I agree that songs were left off. In order to keep the price down we had to keep it to 12 tracks. Such is life in that world.

Enjoy -

By HW (68.37.216.164) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 12:23 am:

And... check out the two alternate mixes of Psychedelic Shack and Ball of Confusion on the Temps collection.

HW
http://boards.motown.com

By Uptight (24.55.6.144) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 01:38 am:

Greg C., instead of being a "hits" collection (which has probably been done already), it looks like this is a special compilation. Remember a "greatest hits" package is one thing; a "collection" is another.

Also, there's usually a difference between a "greatest hits" CD and a "best of" CD.

By RD (63.188.33.136) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 08:11 am:

If the theme is funk then to leave off "Mama I Got A Brand New Thing" and "Big John Is My Name" is inexcusable as these are two of the funkiest tracks Undisputed Truth ever recorded. Picking two tunes from each of their six Motown albums caused the glaring omissions just like picking a player from each baseball team cause glaring omits in Major League Baseball All Star Games. The real culprit, however, is the 12 track limit. UT had two many good funky tracks on their six Motown LPs for that limiting criteria to satisfy their "real" fans.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.207) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 09:23 am:

Scratch my comments about "Lil Red Ridin' Hood" being heavy metal ish, I was confusing it with their "Got To Get My Hands On Some Lovin'."

I thought the UDT compilation was a double CD for some reason. But seeing it has only 12 tracks "Lil Red Ridin' Hood" wouldn't have made it if I was the compiler and the theme was "funk" tracks.

Look for some European company like Sequel to finally do it right. It'll be a double CD and will include a thick CD booklet with pictures of all the different lineups and info you never read before. The tracks will be the cream of their Motown stuff as well as the best of their Whitfield Records tracks.

By RD (63.188.32.158) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

I just returned from the Best Buy in Parma, Ohio. I went to buy the Temptations' Pyschedellic Soul CD. It wasn't in the display under the T's so I asked a clerk to look it up since the part where customer's can look up was down. The clerk put her password on and brought it up on the computer screen. It was on order, 2 copies for that store. I looked with her and saw for the eight Best Buy stores in our area, four order two of the CDs and the rest only one. They estimated the middle of July before even that meager supply came in. I went to Coconuts--same thing; none it stock. And, none even on order. They might order one now since I was in there asking about it.

BTW, I would have bought the Undisputed Truth CD despite its shortcomings because at $10.99 the price is right. I always compiled my fav tracks on a CD anyway.

By motownboy (64.170.50.18) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 03:31 pm:

RD -

I agree about the supposed "twelve track" limit imposed by the major labels for mid-price compilations like the UMG "Millenium" series, and the new RCA/BMG "Platinum & Gold" series, the Capitol/EMI "Masters" series....Although, the Columbia/Sony single disc titles in their "Essential" series have 14 tracks.....It seems like a bit of a rip off especially when you can find dozens of mid-price releases on all these lables that have 15-16 tracks and more!!

One example is the Rhino label which has a "Love Songs" series of CDs at mid-price that each have 16 tracks, while their other mid-price "Essentials" series have only has 11-12 tracks.....

They must be making a mint on these essential 12 track or less CDs by keeping the royalties low....

Retail CD pricing in general is quite questionable.....

By Greg C. (207.103.134.214) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 09:09 pm:

To Scratcher:

You called that right. The UK or Japan will do an Undisputed Truth collection and it will be stellar. It has become so frustrating to see the limited marketing and insight that goes into marketing music in the US, especially black music. I go to London on business at least twice a year and I'm overwhelmed by the product that comes out over there that NEVER reaches these shores. I bring back many treasures!

To HW: I can commiserate and understand the need to keep prices low but a limited, constructed project like the latest Undisputed Truth is a loser on two accounts. The public passes on it and you don't sell it, therefore you don't make a profit which is what it's all about. If the packaging is eye-catching and compelling, the RIGHT tunes are there, and the marketing is correct, the public will buy. I give it about three-five years and the US Universal/Motown will put the Undisputed Truth out in a FOURTH configuration.

By Scratcher (65.238.127.209) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 09:39 pm:

Greg C. there's not a decent Billy Paul compilation CD on the market either; not one. Whoever compiles them go by the singles Philly Int'l issued on Paul. If they ever consulted the real Billy Paul fans they would learn that the stuff most people liked were on his albums and B-Sides. We want to see "War of the Gods," "I'm Just a Prisoner," "I Was Married" etc.

We don't want to see "Thanks for Saving My Life," "Bluesette" or "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright."

Will the entire War of the Gods album ever be reissued on CD?

And you're correct about Undisputed Truth, I have all their Motown albums. I'm a fan; but I'm the track listing on their new Funk CD doesn't make me want to go into my pocket. The Essential Collection issued last year is more to my liking.

Did you notice that "Zoom" isn't on Psychedellic Soul? Damn!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:17 pm:

Scratcher:
I invite you to write to Sony Music Entertainment and discuss you desire to see a decent Billy Paul reissue or the entire "War Of The Gods" CD re-released.

Leo Sacks & Joe McEwen oversee Legacy's Rhythm & Soul division and experience the same damned headaches Harry Weinger deals with regarding reissues - they have a list and know what SHOULD be made available yet have to deal with "the (sometimes clueless) powers-that-be" to get these collections to market.

So far, Legacy has made available many PIR recordings that may not have been big sellers but were significant in their own right (the first MFSB CD, the Trammps' Golden Fleece album with "Where Do We Go From Here", Billy Paul's "360 Degrees of.." and a few Manhattans CDs produced by Bobby Martin). Instead of griping, write to these folks. They do open and read their mail. I know because Leo Sacks & I are colleagues and we discuss these issues from time to time.

Greg C:

Your right about the Japanese & the UK doing probably a better job in packaging because they do not have the "bottom line" issues Harry W and others face here in the USA.

Harry consults with many people - myself included - regarding reissues and what SHOULD go on the CDs. But, like I said to Scratcher, once this hits the "powers that wanna-be" the questions of price and how many number of tracks a CD can have before the price-point goes up becomes an issue.

When I co-produced "The Greatest Hits of Jackie Wilson" for Brunswick Records (BRC 33001-2)in 1998, I faced the same problem - if I had more than 16 tracks on the disc, the price would go up from $11.98 to $16.98 (yikes!) because the label covers the publishing and mechanical payments. So, I couldn't put on the CD more of the Chicago-based JW classics. Fortunately, the gang at Ace/Kent and later West Side don't have these issues.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Scratcher (65.238.127.166) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:30 pm:

People have written and called to these companies and I'm sure the people involved read these message boards from time to time. Instead of having a hissy fit about it, I'll simply keep my money in my pocket until they put out something I want to buy. Point being Billy Paul's War of the Gods LP was very big among urban blacks in the '70s it was not a popular success, thus the snub.

And being an UDT fan and knowing all their Motown product and having it all on either vinyl or tape this new 12 track Funk compilation is definitely not something I would spend my money on, not because of the mere 12 tracks but because of the titles included. That is my right as a consumer. And maybe other people think so too since not many copies are being distributed to stores.

They (recording companies) are the ones complaining about sagging sales and are now going after downloaders. If they gave the public what they wanted they wouldn't have all these problems and wouldn't have to be laying off so many people.

Lastly, if you put a question or introduce a new product on a message forum expect responses: yea or nay and take the nay ones to heart.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:39 pm:

Hey Scratcher:
Keep the faith, my friend. With more independent reissue labels like Collectables, Spy Entertainment and Collector's Choice getting into the mix here in the USA, you will see more of the reissues we want to see and not what the idiots telling our colleagues what they should release.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Scratcher (65.238.127.166) on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 12:45 pm:

Hopefully KevGo, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. I had to purchase an album by an obscure Ohio group from a company in Japan because you can't buy it here. The liner notes are in Japanese.