THE "SOUND" OF THE R&B HITS SL 10077 (-63) UK MONO

Bought yet another Motown sampler. You'd think I had enough by now, but I can't help myself. Even if I have some of the songs on each of them many times already there's always something special making me buy another...and another. Like with this one. A blend of Motown marvels first issued 1959-63, all pre-Holland-Dozier-Holland and here before the UK Tamla Motown label was launched. No less than three Mary Wells numbers from her 1961 debute album, three from Miracles second album, also 1961, one from the Supremes debute LP, a couple of early A-sides plus ones by Martha & The Vandellas and Marvelettes. And if you dig Bealtles cover of "Money" and the Dave Clark 5 "Do You Love Me", here are the original versions. Audio quite all right for the time - right on and loud without safety net. The Miracles "Broken Hearted" sounds muddy and strangely wobbly (tape error?), but the rest very good listening. So a UK only sampler issued close to the fact and offering some of the best from the label's early days as it was. Even if it eventually will take place among its siblings and probably stay unlistened for long periods in the future it is impossible for me to resist. Just to have it is enough. To my knowledge never reissued in any shape. It came on label as shown here in laminated flip/back cover with "Emitex" inner. (SÄM*) (TÖMÖ*)