As has become commonplace over the past several years due to the copyright laws in the U.K. and Europe, a couple of "copyright extension" releases came out at the end of 2016 to come in right at the deadline for 1966 recordings.  While sometimes these collections have taken physical form like the two large Bob Dylan box sets that have been released over the past couple of years, they are more often than not digital-only releases.  And in keeping with the traditions of the past several years, that is the format for two new sets from UMe (Universal Music Enterprises) featuring The Beach Boys and the classic artists of Motown, respectively.

1966 was of course a landmark year for The Beach Boys with the release of Pet Sounds and the single "Good Vibrations."  It was also the year when recording began for SMiLE which would of course take decades to see an official release.  Both albums have received multi-disc sets devoted to their recording sessions and, while there may be more related material in the vaults, this is perhaps why there were no more studio outtakes released digitally in 2016.  Instead, a pair of live shows from October 22 have been released as Graduation Day 1966: Live At the University of Michigan.

This period was one of transition for the Beach Boys in regards to their concert performances.  Brian Wilson was stepping back from going on the road and devoting his time to working in the studio.  (In fact, he only appears on one track here: a cover of "Johnny B. Goode," the last song of the second show.)  Both of these sets feature the same line-up of 14 songs (with the exception of the aforementioned "Johnny") and have some material from the recent Pet Sounds such as "Sloop John B," "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows."  The Beatles' "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" also gets performed, as originally covered in 1965 by the band on The Beach Boys' Party! album.  But what makes these two shows historically significant is that they mark the first live performances of "Good Vibrations," which had been released on a single less than two weeks before on October 10.  The band sounds a bit tentative on the song and the arrangement is a bit more primitive than it would later become in concert.  This release is rounded out by a radio spot and live performance of "Row Row Row Your Boat" from an unlisted source.  Please note that the Pet Sounds: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition box set from earlier in 2016 featured three songs from these shows.

Given the speed and frequency with which Motown made recordings with their artists during their heyday, the Motown vaults are known to be vast, with large amounts of unreleased material having been added to compilations and reissues over the years.  The label has been releasing these copyright-extension compilations for the past several years, but Motown Unreleased: 1966 is the largest single package yet, featuring 80 tracks and nearly four hours of music.

The artists found on this compilation are a veritable who's-who of Motown, including The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Miracles, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Marvelettes and The Supremes.  It also features some of Motown's lesser-known acts like The Underdogs, Debbie Dean and Little Lisa.  In addition, Motown Unreleased: 1966 has some major artists who were on Motown but found greater success elsewhere like The Isley Brothers and The Spinners.  One short-lived band whose members would go on to have great were The Mynah Birds, whose line-up in 1966 included Rick James, Bruce Palmer and Neil Young.  Due to various complications, the group only recorded a handful of songs for the label which remained unreleased for years.  A couple of have seen the light of day and now two more are being unveiled officially: "I've Got You (In My Soul)" and "I'll Wait Forever."

The range of material covered on this set is wide, from (of course) Motown hits, standards, Broadway, rock and gospel.  There are several alternate and early versions of familiar songs such as The Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and several takes of The Four Tops' cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Wives and Lovers," each with a different lead vocalist.  Other cover versions of non-Motown pop and rock songs include The Supremes covering The Beatles' "Michelle."  There are new duets to discover as well such as between Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston, and Gladys Knight and The Spinners.  The set has enough material from Brenda Holloway to form a complete unreleased album.  The set is ordered chronologically by recording and/or completion date with all of the gospel songs grouped at the end.

If you would like to hear any of these new tracks unveiled from the vaults, we've got the full track listing and ordering links below for both titles from UMe!

The Beach Boys, Graduation Day 1966: Live At The University of Michigan (Capitol Records/UMe, 2016) (Amazon U.S.)

Show 1

1. Help Me Rhonda
2. I Get Around
3. Medley: Fun, Fun Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce Coupe/Surfin' USA
4. Surfer Girl
5. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
6. You're So Good To Me
7. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
8. California Girls
9. Sloop John B
10. Wouldn't It Be Nice
11. God Only Knows
12. Good Vibrations
13. Graduation Day
14. Barbara Ann

Show 2

15. Help Me Rhonda
16. I Get Around
17. Medley: Fun, Fun Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce Coupe/Surfin' USA
18. Surfer Girl
19. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
20. You're So Good To Me
21. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
22. California Girls
23. Sloop John B
24. Wouldn't It Be Nice
25. God Only Knows
26. Good Vibrations
27. Graduation Day
28. Barbara Ann
29. Johnny B. Goode

Bonus Tracks

30. KOMA Radio Spot
31. Row Row Row Your Boat

Various Artists, Motown Unreleased: 1966 (Motown Records/UMe, 2016) (Amazon U.S.)

Disc 1

1. The Soulful Shack (Alternate Version) - The Miracles
2. Ain't Too Proud To Beg (Alternate Version) - The Temptations
3. Suddenly I Was Alone - Marvin Gaye
4. The Shadow Of Your Smile - Billy Eckstine
5. I Got You (In My Soul) - The Mynah Birds
6. I'll Wait Forever - The Mynah Birds
7. Road Burner (Son Of Road Runner) - Junior Walker & The All-Stars
8. For Once In My Life - Billy Eckstine
9. That'll Be The Day - Marvin Gaye , Kim Weston
10. Don't Mess With Bill  - Earl Van Dyke
11. Flower Girl (Alternate Version) - The Miracles
12. Can't You Hear Me Knocking  - Brenda Holloway
13. Whenever You Need Me  - Brenda Holloway
14. Just Too Much To Hope For  - Marvin Gaye , Kim Weston
15. Stand By Me (Live At The 20 Grand, Detroit/1966)  - Earl Van Dyke
16. A Taste Of Honey  - The Four Tops
17. Wives And Lovers (Lead Vocal By Obie Benson / Take 1) - The Four Tops
18. Wives And Lovers (Lead Vocal By Levi Stubbs / Take 3) - The Four Tops
19. Wives And Lovers (Lead Vocal By Lawrence Payton / Take 4) - The Four Tops

Disc 2

1. The Lonely Heart And Lonely Eyes Of Lonely Me - Brenda Holloway
2. Give A Little Love - Marvin Gaye , Kim Weston
3. What Good Am I Without You - Brenda Holloway
4. Pucker Up Buttercup (Alternate Version) - Junior Walker & The All-Stars
5. Monkey Talk - Earl Van Dyke
6. A World Without You - Barbara McNair
7. I Still Get Butterflies - Brenda Holloway
8. In My Heart I Know It's Right - Gladys Knight & The Pips
9. I'm Losing You - Gladys Knight & The Pip
10. All These Things - Gladys Knight, The Spinners
11. Hello, Young Lovers - The Four Tops
12. I Wish You Love - The Four Tops
13. Put On A Happy Face - Barbara McNair
14. The Second Time Around - Barbara McNair
15. Smile - Barbara McNair
16. Day In - Day Out - Barbara McNair
17. Nothing But A Fool - Gladys Knight and The Pips
18. You're Gone (But Always In My Heart) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
19. Never Stop Loving Me - Chris Clark
20. Don't Compare Me With Her - Gladys Knight & The Pips
21. You've Got Possibilities - Barbara McNair
22. Never Trust A Man - Chris Clark

Disc 3

1. Sweet Talkin' Guy - The Marvelettes
2. I Feel Your Love Growin' On Me - Brenda Holloway
3. Without Love You Lose A Good Feelin' - Brenda Holloway
4. You Got A Little Of Everything - Brenda Holloway
5. Baby I've Got It - Brenda Holloway
6. Keep Me - Brenda Holloway
7. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (Alternate Version) - The Miracles
8. I Can't Let You Go - The Spinners
9. Keep Away - Little Lisa
10. Tea House In China Town (Alternate Version) - The Spinners
11. I Found Something (Alternate Version) - Marvin Gaye
12. Save Me From This Misery (Alternate Version) - The Isley Brothers
13. I Still Love You - Chris Clark
14. Got To Have You Back (Alternate Version)  - The Isley Brothers
15. I Can't Take You Back - Gladys Knight & The Pips
16. Then - The Temptations
17. I'm Giving Up - Brenda Holloway
18. Spellbound - Brenda Holloway
19. For All We Know (Alternate Version) - The Spinners

Disc 4

1. Can't Hold The Feeling Back - Brenda Holloway
2. The Impossible Dream - Billy Eckstine
3. Dear Miss Lonely Hearts - Marvin Gaye
4. Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back) - The Underdogs
5. One Of These Days - The Underdogs
6. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever) - The Four Tops
7. More (Theme From "Mondo Cane") - The Supreme
8. Somewhere - The Supremes
9. Michelle - The Supremes
10. I'm So Helpless (When I'm With You) - Debbie Dean
11. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - Marvin Gaye
12. Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Kim Weston
13. Never Grow Old - Kim Weston
14. How Great Thou Art - Kim Weston
15. Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Gladys Knight & The Pips
16. Where You There - The Supremes
17. What Do You Choose - The Supremes
18. Steal Away - Marvin Gaye
19. Near The Cross - The Miracles
20. Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Martha & The Vandellas