Motown Magic: The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson Album Anthologies Continue

There’s Motown magic in the air! Though the year is drawing to a close, the fine folks at Hip-o Select are making sure that there are plenty of sounds from the Motor City to fill the stockings of even the most discerning music collectors. The label has just announced the continuation of two series of comprehensive archival releases. The 4-CD set Forever More: The Complete Motown Albums Vol. 2 collects the remaining output of the marvelous Marvelettes, the first girl group to make a splash at the House that Gordy Built. It will be joined by Smokey Robinson’s The Solo Albums, Volume 6, collecting Warm Thoughts (1980) and Being with You (1981); the former title is making its first-ever appearance on CD! Both releases arrive at retail on December 13, but Forever More is available at Hip-o Select itself. (We're still looking for an entry from Select for the Smokey set, but Amazon links will be found below.)

When The Marvelettes implored a certain Mr. Postman to wait, oh, yes, wait a minute, America fell in love with Gladys Horton, Wanda Young, Georgeanna Tillman, Wyanetta Cowart and Katherine Anderson. The song became Motown’s first No. 1, and the Marvelettes seemed destined for greatness. But the group that started it all soon found themselves taking a back seat to other groups like Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and of course, The Supremes. The Marvelettes’ early years were chronicled in Forever: The Complete Motown Albums Vol. 1, the 3-CD anthology which collected the group's first six albums plus singles, B-sides and rarities. The 108-track Forever More: The Complete Motown Albums Vol. 2 brings the Marvelettes’ story to a close, including the group’s final four albums: The Marvelettes, or The Pink Album (1967), Sophisticated Soul (1968), In Full Bloom (1969) and The Return of the Marvelettes (1970).

Following the format of the first set, all of the non-LP single and B-sides will be appended, as well as rarities originally issued on various compilations. The fourth CD may be the most fascinating, however. This Lost & Found disc premieres Marvelettes tracks from the Motown vaults, including never-before-heard songs written and produced by Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield, Mickey Stevenson, Johnny Bristol and more. These tracks span the group’s entire Motown career. The cherry on top on the sundae just may be the rare mono versions of the albums The Marvelettes and Sophisticated Soul; the latter was never even issued commercially. Forever More is packaged in a digipak in the same style as Volume 1, and contains a 40-page booklet with photos, original LP artwork reproductions, track annotations and an essay by Stu Hackel.

What songs can you expect to hear? Hit the jump for more on The Marvelettes, plus the scoop on Smokey Robinson’s The Solo Albums Volume 6, and full track listings with discographical annotation for both titles!

Forever More boasts the chart hits "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game," "When You're Young And In Love," "My Baby Must Be A Magician," "Here I Am Baby" and "That's How Heartaches Are Made.” Among the plentiful rarities are an unreleased, extended mix of "When You're Young And In Love," with a spoken intro; the long Anthology LP version of "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game;" a U.K.-only version of the LP track "I'm Gonna Hold On Long As I Can," with an extended intro; and various vault tracks, like "Love Is Good" and "Poor Little Rich Girl," found on U.K.-only releases in recent years.

Smokey Robinson provided the Marvelettes with a number of enduring songs (“Don’t Mess with Bill,” “You’re the One for Me, Bobby,” “My Baby Must Be a Magician”) but it’s his solo career being celebrated by Hip-o Select with its ongoing series of two-on-one CDs. Robinson’s first release of the 1980s, Warm Thoughts, was a moderate success for Robinson, spinning off the No. 4 hit "Let Me Be The Clock." Other cuts include “Heavy On Pride (Light On Love)," as well a collaboration with Stevie Wonder, "Melody Man” and a duet with his then-wife and former Miracle, Claudette Robinson, on "Wine, Women And Song.” Smokey’s next LP, though, would be one of his greatest triumphs. Being with You from 1981 is Robinson’s biggest solo album of all time. Its title track remains a staple on radio today, and found success on multiple charts. It reached pole position on the R&B survey, and hit the Top 5 for both Pop and AC. “You Are Forever" was the second single drawn from the LP. Warm Thoughts/Being with You includes a reproduction of the original art from both albums as well as unseen photographs, lyrics and new liner notes from Peter Doggett.

Again, both The Marvelettes’ Forever More and Smokey Robinson’s The Solo Albums Volume 6 are available December 13 at your favorite record stores. Pre-order links from Amazon can be found below!

Smokey Robinson, The Solo Albums Volume 6: Warm Thoughts / Being with You (Hip-o Select/Motown B0016198-02, 2011)

Let Me Be the Clock
Heavy on Pride
Into Each Rain Some Life Must Fall
Wine, Women and Song
Melody Man
What's in Your Life for Me
I Want to Be Your Love
Travellin' Thru'
Being with You
Food for Thought
If You Wanna Make Love (Come 'Round Here)
Who's Sad
Can't Fight Love
You Are Forever
As You Do
I Hear the Children Singing
Aqui Con Tigo
Aqui Con Tigo/Being with You

Tracks 1-8 released as Warm Thoughts - Tamla LP T8-367M1, 1980
Tracks 9-16 released as Being with You - Tamla LP T8-375M1, 1981
Tracks 17-18 released as Tamla single T-52435F, 1981

The Marvelettes, Forever More: The Complete Motown Albums Volume 2 (Hip-o Select/Motown B0016193-02, 2011)

Disc 1: The Marvelettes / Sophisticated Soul and bonus tracks

Barefootin'
Message to Michael
The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game
When You're Young and in Love
I Know Better
I Can't Turn Around
He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'
The Day You Take One (You Have to Take the Other)" (William Robinson)
When I Need You
Keep Off, No Trespassing
This Night Was Made for Love
I Need Someone
My Baby Must Be a Magician
Destination: Anywhere
I'm Gonna Hold On As Long As I Can
Here I Am Baby
You're the One for Me Bobby
Reachin' for Something I Can't Have
Your Love Can Save Me
You're the One
Don't Make Hurting Me a Habit
What's Easy for Two is So Hard for One
The Stranger
Someway, Somehow
The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game (Extended Anthology Version)
When You're Young and in Love (Alternate Mix with Spoken Intro)
I'm Gonna Hold on As Long As I Can (Alternate Intro Version)

Disc 2: In Full Bloom / The Return of The Marvelettes and bonus tracks

Seeing is Believing
Sunshine Days
That's How Heartaches Are Made
The Truth's Outside My Door
I Have Someone (Who Loves Me Too)
Uptown
At Last I See Love As It Really Is
Now is the Time for Love
Too Many Tears, Too Many Times
Rainy Mourning
Everybody Knows (But You)
Love Silent, Love Deep
So I Can Love You
Marionette
That's How Heartaches Are Made
A Breath Taking Guy
No More Tearstained Make Up
Uptown
Someday We'll Be Together
After All
Our Lips Just Seem to Rhyme Every Time
Fading Away
Take Me Where You Go
I'll Be in Trouble
Love is Good
Caught You Putting the Game on Love

Disc 3: The Marvelettes / Sophisticated Soul in mono and bonus tracks

Barefootin'
Message to Michael
The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game
When You're Young and in Love
I Know Better
I Can't Turn Around
He Was Really Sayin' Somethin'
The Day You Take One (You Have to Take the Other)" (William Robinson)
When I Need You
Keep Off, No Trespassing
This Night Was Made for Love
I Need Someone
My Baby Must Be a Magician
Destination: Anywhere
I'm Gonna Hold On As Long As I Can
Here I Am Baby
You're the One for Me Bobby
Reachin' for Something I Can't Have
Your Love Can Save Me
You're the One
Don't Make Hurting Me a Habit
What's Easy for Two is So Hard for One
The Stranger
Someway, Somehow
Paper Boy
Poor Little Rich Girl
I Hope You Have Better Luck Than I Did
Sugar's Never Been As Sweet As You
You Ain't Livin' 'Til You're Lovin'

Disc 4: Motown Lost & Found: Vault Gems 1961-1970

Three Months
My Baby Won't Come Back
I Can't Help It
From Now On
Don't Fence Me In
One Kiss Led to Another
You Better Behave
Queen of the Fools
Johnny Do Right
Dance a While, Cry a While
You Better Cool It
You Can Bet Your Bottom Dollar
The Train That's Bringing My Baby
Learning to Forget You
You Lost the Sweetest Boy
Just One More Kiss (Before You Leave Me)
So Glad It's Summertime
There is No Tomorrow (Only Tears and Sorrow)
Don't Make Hurting Me a Habit (Version 1)
I Can't Wait Till Summer Comes
Breakthru (I've Got My Freedom)
When My Love Was Born
Why'd You Do It
Change of Heart
That's the Way I See Him
The Boy from Crosstown (Version 1)
The Boy from Crosstown (Version 2)

Disc 1, Tracks 1-12 released as Tamla LP TS-274, 1967
Disc 1, Tracks 13-24 released as Tamla LP TS-286, 1968
Disc 1, Track 25 from Anthology - Motown M7-827R2, 1975
Disc 1, Track 27 exact origin undetermined
Disc 2, Tracks 1-12 released as Tamla LP TS-288, 1969
Disc 2, Tracks 13-24 released as Tamla LP TS-305, 1970
Disc 2, Track 25 and Disc 4, Track 27 from A Cellarful of Motown Volume 3 (Motown 530 322-8 (U.K.), 2007)
Disc 2, Track 26 and Disc 3, Track 28 from The Essential Collection (Spectrum 554 859-2 (U.K.), 1999)
Disc 3, Tracks 1-12 released as Tamla LP T-274, 1967
Disc 3, Tracks 13-24 released as Tamla LP T-286, 1968
Disc 3, Track 25 released as Tamla single A-side T-54131, 1966
Disc 3, Track 26 from A Cellarful of Motown (Motown 544 619-2 (U.K.), 2002)
Disc 3, Track 27 from A Cellarful of Motown Volume 2 (Motown 982 929-7 (U.K.), 2005)
Disc 3, Track 29 from Motown Sings Motown Treasures Volumes 1 + 2 (Hip-o Select/Motown B0003619-02, 2005)
Disc 4, Track 25 from A Cellarful of Motown Volume 4 (Motown 882 400-9 (U.K.), 2010)
Disc 4, Track 26 from Motown Year by Year: The Sound of Young America - 1966 (Motown 314 530 522-2, 1995)
All other tracks previously unreleased.