The story of Sondra "Blinky" Williams has long been shrouded in mystery. The soulful singer came to Motown Records in 1967 following stints at Vee-Jay and Atlantic, bringing her passionate and powerful deep soul sound to Hitsville, USA. Despite recording dozens of tracks between 1968 and 1973, only a small handful saw release: a mere four 45s plus an album of duets with Edwin Starr, two live cuts, and a couple of one-off recordings, including a key moment on the best-selling soundtrack of Lady Sings the Blues. Over the years, Blinky tracks would emerge on compilation releases, prompting fans worldwide to clamor for more and even launch a "Free Blinky from the Vaults" campaign. Now, Blinky is free at last - and her full story can be told.
Second Disc Records and Real Gone Music are proud to mark Motown's 60th anniversary with a collection that has truly been decades in the making. Due on November 15, Heart Full of Soul: The Motown Anthology is the ultimate tribute to Motown's great lost superstar. Over two CDs and almost 50 songs, Blinky's Motown journey is chronicled with songs written and produced for her by the label's greatest talents including Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Frank Wilson, Hal Davis, Gil Askey, Deke Richards, Jerry Marcellino and Mel Larson, Don Hunter, Stevie Wonder, Willie Hutch, and Clay McMurray, who unexpectedly passed away last week and to whom this release is dedicated. Expect to hear one-of-a-kind takes of songs by many of those Motown greats as well as Jimmy Webb ("This Time Last Summer"), James Taylor ("Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"), John Lennon and Paul McCartney ("The Fool on the Hill"), Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ("(I Don't Get No) Satisfaction"), Graham Gouldman ("Heart Full of Soul"), and Thom Bell and Linda Creed (an epic "People Make the World Go Round").
The first disc presents Blinky's never-before-released 1970 album Sunny and Warm in complete form for the first time along with all of her released singles plus rarities and live tracks. The second disc premieres over 20 never-before-heard recordings, both in original Motown stereo mixes and brand-new mixes by Kevin Reeves, that showcase the depth and breadth of Blinky's remarkable voice.
Released with the full cooperation of the artist, Heart Full of Soul: The Motown Anthology has been produced and annotated by the team of Joe Marchese and Andrew Skurow (Bobby Darin's Go Ahead and Back Up: The Lost Motown Masters, The Supremes' The Ultimate Merry Christmas), and mastered by Kevin Reeves (The Supremes' Expanded Editions) from the original tapes. The deluxe booklet designed by John Sellards is housed in a six-panel digipak and features rare photographs, extensive liner notes drawing on a comprehensive, new interview with Blinky, and exclusive commentary from Motown legends such as Janie Bradford, Clay McMurray, Raynard Miner, Shelly Berger, and Iris Gordy.
Gospel, jazz, R&B, funk, pop, soul, and, of course, the classic Sound of Young America all come together with the distinctive voice of Motown's greatest "lost" artist, Blinky. Heart Full of Soul has to be heard to be believed. It's available on November 15, and can be ordered directly from Real Gone Music or Amazon. You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below!
Blinky, Heart Full of Soul: The Motown Anthology (Second Disc Records/Real Gone Music, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
CD 1
Sunny & Warm (unreleased LP scheduled for release as Motown 712, 1970, cancelled)
- I Wouldn't Change the Man He Is
- Rescue Me
- How You Gonna Keep It
- This Man of Mine
- It's Gonna Be Always
- How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone
- Shine On Me
- For Once in My Life
- I'll Always Love You
- Is There a Place (In His Heart for Me)
- This Time Last Summer
- Your Love Is Worth Waiting For
Bonus Tracks
- God Bless the Child (from Rock Gospel - The Key To The Kingdom, Motown M 743L, October 1971)
- The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game (first issued on Motown Sings Motown Treasures, Motown 314530960-2, 1998)
- Can I Get A Witness (first issued on A Cellarful of Motown! Vol. 3, 2007)
- T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (from Lady Sings the Blues)
- Money (That's What I Want) (Single Version) (Mowest single MW 5019F-A, 1972)
- For Your Precious Love (Single Version) (Mowest MW 5019F-B, 1972)
- T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do (Single Version) (Mowest single 5033F-A, 1973)
- What More Can I Do (Mowest single 5033F-B, 1973)
- You Get A Tangle In Your Lifeline (Motown single M1233-F-A, 1973)
Live from the Motortown Revue
- I Can't Turn You Loose (first issued on Motortown Revue Live, Motown MS 668, 1969)
- I Wouldn't Change the Man He Is (first issued on Motortown Revue Live, Motown MS 668, 1969)
- God Bless the Child (previously unreleased)
CD 2 (all tracks previously unreleased)
- Heart Full of Soul
- Don't Leave Your Baby
- I'd Feel a Lot Better
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
- Let's Stay Together
- Soul Brother
- Thank You God
- It's Been a Long Time Happenin'
- I've Gotta Get You Back
- The Fool on the Hill
- A Little Bit of Heaven (On A Little Patch Of Earth)
- How Can I Go On
- Inside
- You'll Never Cherish a Love So True ('Til You Lose It)
- I'm Just a Woman (Not Strong)
- You're the Loser Now
- You Keep Telling Me Lies
- One Half Of Love
- I'll Make It Up To You
- Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
- You're My Morning Light
- People Make the World Go Round
sm says
This is a welcome release. Now get to releasing the next volume of the complete Loma Singles, Real Gone!
RossHollowayMarie says
I have been waiting for years for this release! I can't wait to hear it all! I really enjoyed her tracks from Motown Unreleased 1968, Sweet Joy of Life is just beautiful.
delgado daniel says
I’m sooo excited for this release
John Perrone says
This is a very exciting release! However....it seems that one very rare 8 minute+ medley....."He's Gone/For your Precious Love" didn't make the release. It's truly magnificent and sad that it wasn't released.
Andy Skurow says
Hi John,
Actually, Blinky has about 4 discs worth of material, so it was a challenge deciding what the best material would be for this collection! The songs are going to blow you away!
We are still using the second part of the song, “Your Precious Love,” which was issued as a single and is far more spectacular than the first part.
Andy’s favorite: “I’ll Make It Up To You.”
Joe’s favorite: “People Make The World Go Round.”
Once it’s issued, we can’t wait to hear what your favorite is!
RossHollowayMarie says
Hey Andy were there any surprises that you all ran into while putting this together? Did you find any additional duets with Edwin Starr or Live tracks?
Andy Skurow says
Yes! We found lots of surprises! It was a treasure trove for Joe and I! From never-before-heard songs, to unseen pictures. We also included an unreleased live track. All of your questions will be answered when you open the package November 1!
RossHollowayMarie says
Hey Midnight Johnny-
Do you know if the track He's Gone/Your Precious Love is any where online? I'd love to hear it. Any plans for a radio show around this release?
Jan Wenner says
Hi Andy,
this is Jan from Germany. So I would like to know, if there is a chance to hear more of Blinky´s release, maybe on other compilations ?
Thanks for your response
Jan