“[A series that is] nothing short of amazing… truly essential.” – Pitchfork Media

 

Hip-O Select presents The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 5: 1965, the newest installment in its critically acclaimed continuing series of every Motown single of the Detroit era. With 166 songs on six compact discs, the box set chronicles the arrival of “The Motown Sound” into the mainstream.

TCMS Vol. 5 features no. 1 hits from The Supremes’ “Back In My Arms Again” (their fifth chart-topper in a row) to the Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” from Jr. Walker & The All Stars’ breakthrough no. 1 hit “Shotgun” to Marvin Gaye’s “I’ll Be Doggone,” a revived Stevie Wonder’s “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” to nearly no. 1’s from The Miracles’ “Going To A Go-Go,” “Ooo Baby Baby” and many more.

There’s also the emergence of young Tammi Terrell, the uptown soul of Brenda Holloway and Kim Weston, the pop crossover experiments with Tony Martin and Barbara McNair, plus rare singles from Earl Van Dyke & The Soul Brothers, the Freeman Brothers, the Lewis Sisters, the Headliners, Chris Clark, the Downbeats and the holy grail of Motown collecting, Frank Wilson’s “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do).” As with previous volumes, also included for several tracks are alternate promotional mixes, different from the commercially available vinyl singles.

            This was the year that Berry Gordy realized one of his dreams for Motown: to break down racial barriers. The Supremes, with their many no. 1 Pop hits, were the vehicle; they headlined at New York’s prestigious Copacabana; appeared on the cover of Time magazine; were regulars on popular national television shows all year. The social atmosphere is reflected in both introductory essays, found in the box set’s 148-page booklet.

Al Abrams, who was Motown Records’ first employee and was then the company’s publicity director, spins an honest tale of his PR struggles as well as the fun in the midst of changing times. Author Herb Boyd, winner of the American Book Award, presents a socio-political view, weaving his experiences with Malcolm X, the Voting Rights Act and personal reflection with reporting on Motown’s emerging business.

            As always, each of the box set’s 166 tracks gets detailed annotations, thanks to co-producer Keith Hughes and Grammy®-nominated writer Bill Dahl. Nearly every page is stuffed with information, reminiscences from the people who were there, and cool visuals showing off the original labels as sell as classic and rare pictures from the Motown Records Archives.