Let's dispense with the "Get Ready" puns: after a four-year wait, Hip-O Select's Complete Motown Singles series inches closer toward the finish line with Volume 12A: 1972.
This five-disc set includes every single side released by Motown during the first half of 1972, a time of transition for the company. Berry Gordy had already moved his Detroit-based media empire westward to Los Angeles, leaving some of his flagship groups in a transitional period. The Jackson 5 still had their hits, but not with the blinding intensity of their earliest years (though Michael still enjoyed hits off of his solo debut Got to Be There). Marvin Gaye released a one-off single, "You're the Man," in between two masterpieces (1971's What's Going On and 1973's Let's Get It On), while Stevie Wonder began his journey as a fully in-control adult artist with "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" from Music of My Mind. Both Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and Martha & The Vandellas released their farewell singles in this era, while a new up-and-coming band named The Commodores released their first.
It was certainly a unique time there, and now, it's coming home, The Complete Motown Singles-style. That means gorgeous book packaging with a bonus 45 (devoted MoWest's The Blackberries, whose single "Somebody Up There" actually was never issued as a 45), multiple essays (including by Motown engineers Russ and Ralph Terrana, Susan Whitall of The Detroit News), and track-by-track notes by Bill Dahl and producers Keith Hughes and Harry Weinger.
The box ships from Select on May 31 and from all retailers June 11. Hit the jump for a full track list and Amazon pre-order link!
The Complete Motown Singles Volume 12A: 1972 (Hip-O Select/Motown B0012935, 2013)
Disc 1
- A Simple Game - Four Tops
- L.A. (My Town) - Four Tops
- Our Favorite Melody - Jimmy Ruffin
- You Gave Me Love - Jimmy Ruffin
- A Breath Taking Guy - The Marvelettes
- You're the One for Me Bobby - The Marvelettes
- I'm Someone Who Cares - The Originals
- Once I Have You (I Will Never Let Go) - The Originals
- I'm Someone Who Cares (Promo Stereo Version) - The Originals
- Out in the Night - Blue Scepter
- Gypsy Eyes - Blue Scepter
- Out in the Night (Promo Stereo Version) - Blue Scepter
- What It Is? - The Undisputed Truth
- California Soul - The Undisputed Truth
- Feel Like Givin' Up - Posse
- Take Somebody Like You - Posse
- Take a Look Around - The Temptations
- Smooth Sailing (From Now On) - The Temptations
- Take a Look Around (Promo Stereo Version) - The Temptations
- I Want to Be Humble - The Devastating Affair
- My Place - The Devastating Affair
- I Want to Be Humble (Promo Stereo Version) - The Devastating Affair
- Rockin' Robin - Michael Jackson
- Love is Here and Now You're Gone - Michael Jackson
Disc 2
- Can You Give Me Love with a Guarantee - Gladys Knight & The Pips
- If You Gonna Leave (Just Leave) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
- Can You Give Me Love with a Guarantee (Promo Stereo Version) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
- Love Isn't Here (Like It Used to Be) - Frankie Valli
- Poor Fool - Frankie Valli
- Love Isn't Here (Like It Used to Be) (Second Pressing) - Frankie Valli
- Poor Fool (Second Pressing) - Frankie Valli
- Walk in the Night - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
- I Don't Want to Do Wrong - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
- Take Me Clear from Here - Edwin Starr
- Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today) - Edwin Starr
- I'm Gonna Get You (Part II) - G.C. Cameron
- I'm Gonna Get You (Part I) - G.C. Cameron
- Help Me Make It Through the Night - Gladys Knight & The Pips
- Mr. Fix-It Man - The Sisters Love
- You've Got to Make the Choice - The Sisters Love
- Taos New Mexico - R. Dean Taylor
- Shadow - R. Dean Taylor
- The Zoo (The Human Zoo) - The Commodores
- I'm Looking for Love - The Commodores
Disc 3
- What'd I Say - Rare Earth
- Nice to Be with You - Rare Earth
- What'd I Say (Promo Stereo Version) - Rare Earth
- Let Me Run Into Your Lonely Heart - Eddie Kendricks
- Eddie's Love - Eddie Kendricks
- Eddie's Love (Promo Version) - Eddie Kendricks
- Me and Bobby McGee - Thelma Houston
- No One's Gonna Be a Fool Forever - Thelma Houston
- What It Is, What It Is - G.C. Cameron
- You Are That Special One - G.C. Cameron
- Little Bitty Pretty One - The Jackson 5
- If I Have to Move a Mountain - The Jackson 5
- Automatically Sunshine - The Supremes
- Precious Little Things - The Supremes
- It's the Same Old Love - The Courtship
- Last Row, First Balcony - The Courtship
- It's the Same Old Love (Promo Stereo Version) - The Courtship
- Nihaa Shil Hozho (I Am Happy About You) - Xit
- End? - Xit
- Nihaa Shil Hozho (I Am Happy About You) (Promo Stereo Version) - Xit
- I Can't Quit Your Love - Four Tops
- Happy (is a Bumpy Road) - Four Tops
- I Can Make It Alone - Vincent DiMirco
- Come Clean - Vincent DiMirco
Disc 4
- Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) - Stevie Wonder
- I Love Every Little Thing About You - Stevie Wonder
- It's Too Much for Man to Take Too Long - Eric & The Vikings
- Time Don't Wait - Eric & The Vikings
- It's Too Much for Man to Take Too Long (Promo Stereo Version) - Eric & The Vikings
- Long Way from Home - Howl the Good
- Why Do You Cry - Howl the Good
- Long Way from Home (Promo Stereo Version) - Howl the Good
- You're the Man (Part 1) - Marvin Gaye
- You're the Man (Part 2) - Marvin Gaye
- I Wanna Be Where You Are - Michael Jackson
- We've Got a Good Thing Going - Michael Jackson
- We've Come Too Far to End It Now - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Undisputed Truth
- Friendship Train - The Undisputed Truth
- Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (Promo Stereo Version) - The Undisputed Truth
- Get Me Some Help - Chris Holland & T-Bone
- If Time Could Stand Still - Chris Holland & T-Bone
- Get Me Some Help (Promo Stereo Version) - Chris Holland & T-Bone
- Tear It On Down - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
- I Want You Back - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
- Label Me Love - Different Shades of Brown
- Life's a Ball (While It Lasts) - Different Shades of Brown
Disc 5
- Mother Nature - The Temptations
- Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On - The Temptations
- Mother Nature (Promo Stereo Version) - The Temptations
- Sail Away - Bobby Darin
- Hard Headed Woman - Bobby Darin
- I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You - Suzee Ikeda
- Mind, Body and Soul - Suzee Ikeda
- A Little More Trust - David Ruffin
- A Day in the Life, of a Working Man - David Ruffin
- A Little More Trust (Promo Stereo Version) - David Ruffin
- Money (That's What I Want) - Blinky
- For Your Precious Love - Blinky
- Groove Than - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
- Me and My Family - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
- Lookin' Through the Windows - The Jackson 5
- Love Song - The Jackson 5
- Somebody Up There - The Blackberries
- But I Love You More - The Blackberries
- To Know You is to Love You - Syreeta
- Happiness - Syreeta
- Somebody Oughta' Turn Your Head Around - Crystal Mansion
- Earth People - Crystal Mansion
Kudzu says
Holy Mackerel! This made my day! I will admit I gasped when I saw this on your page! Enough exclamation marks, I'm going now to pre-order!
Kudzu says
For those of you interested Amazon Canada is cheaper than US ($72.85 CDN vs $98.31 US) as of this post.
Richard says
Thanks kudzu. Price is always important.
Richard says
Just clicked link to Hip-0, $75.98, plus shipping.
Robert Lett says
Ordered mine last night, really exciting to finally see this.
Steve Hansen says
Now all we need is 12B!!! Come on Hip-O Select...finish this!