Hit and Run! More Motown Guys.
Label: Kent Soul.
Format: CD.
Just like many other record labels, the vaults at Motown contain hundreds of unreleased tracks. These tracks are part of the label's rich and illustrious history.
Many were recorded at the company's headquarters at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit between 1961 and 1968. This is regarded by connoisseurs of soul as the label's golden era. During this period, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Marv Johnson, The Temptations and the Four Tops were all signed to Motown, and made it arguably the most successful soul labels of the sixties.
That's still the case over fifty years later. Albums released on Motown are regularly released, as are careful curated compilations. The latest is 'Hit and Run! More Motown Guys,' which was recently released by Kent Soul. It features twenty-five rare and previously unissued recordings.
These recordings would've been released by many soul labels between 1961 and 1968. However, not Motown. The tracks failed to capture enough votes during the company's Quality Control meetings each and every Friday. Some of the tracks failed to get pre-meeting approval of the Quality Control queen, Billie Jean Brown. As a result, some have lay unreleased for over sixty years. That's until now, and the recent release of 'Hit and Run! More Motown Guys.'
'Without You Babe' was Skip Cunningham's first recording for Motown. He added his vocal to this crossover style track on the 19th May 1966. However, this Ivy Jo Hunter production failed to garner enough support in the Quality Control meeting, and has lain unrelated for fifty-nine years. It makes it debut on Hit and Run! More Motown Guys.
Ivy Jo Hunter features twice on the compilation. His first contribution is 'Lucky Lucky Me,' a track which he cowrote with Hank Cosby, Sylvia May and William Stevenston. He delivers a heartfelt vocal full of vocal where he gives thanks for the love he's found. Then on 'To See The Sun Again' which he cowrote with Jack Goga, Hunter delivers an impassioned and powerful vocal that's a mixture of hurt, sadness and regret. It's one of the hidden gems on the compilation.
'Show Me The Way' by J.J. Barnes was recorded in 1967, and made its debut on 'Rare and Unreleased Vinyl, Volume 3' in 2016. However, this is the first time this stomper has featured on CD. In 2016, it quickly became a favourite of UK soul fans, and has stood the test of time.
'Since I Don't Have You' by The Temptations was recorded in 1967, and features David Ruffin on lead vocal. He was a member of the group during their Classic Five period and sang lead on 'My Girl' and 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg.' Despite this, he was replaced by Dennis Edwards later in 1968. Ruffin unleashes an emotive and soul-baring vocal on this previously unreleased track which is, without doubt, one of the highlights of the compilation.
Marv Johnson's 'Come To Me' was the first single released on Tamla in 1959. It reached number thirty on the US Billboard 100. Three years later, in 1962, he recorded the poppy and soulful 'Sing A Little Song About You.' Then in 1964 he recorded 'Sad Souvenirs' a dramatic, intense and emotional ballad. Both of these tracks are among the fifteen previously unreleased tracks.
'I Feel Like I'm Falling In Love Again was recorded by Jimmy Ruffin in 1967. It's a joyous and uplifting paean, where strings and harmonies providing the perfect accompaniment to a soulful, sincere and passionate vocal.
In 1965, the Four Tops recorded the ballad 'Just Your Love.' It was penned and produced by Ivy Jo Hunter and William Stevenston. However, the song failed to make the cut at the Friday Quality Control meeting. As a result, it's lain unreleased for sixty years. For Four Tops' fan and Motown completists its inclusion on the compilation will be a welcome one.
'Goodbye Eilene' is a beautiful hurt-filled ballad by Shorty Long that's bristling with emotion and full of regret at the love he's lost. The track was recorded in 1965, but has never been released on CD until now. It's one of the standout tracks on 'Hit and Run! More Motown Guys.'
'It's Love Baby (24 Hours Of The Day)' was recorded by Joe Stubbs in 1967, and is another track that has never been released on CD. The former lead singer with The Contours unleashes a stomping take on the track that gave Ruth Brown a hit in 1965.
Closing 'Hit and Run! More Motown Guys' is 'We Call It Fun' by The Hit Pack. Their version of this poppy track was recorded in 1965, but was never released. Instead, The Headliners' version was released as a single. However, it failed to trouble the charts. The "other" version makes its debut and closes this compilation of rarities and unreleased tracks.
Compilers Keith Hughes and Mick Patrick have dug deep to into the Motown vaults to unearth the twenty-five tracks on 'Hit and Run! More Motown Guys.' Fifteen have never been released before, while some have only been released digitally. They're joined by a number of rarities that will be of interest to fans of Motown.
Throughout the compilation there's contributions from familiar faces. However, there's what will be new names to all but the most devoted Motown aficionados. They're responsible for hidden gems aplenty on a compilation that's long on quality, and will be of interest to fans of Motown, or anyone with an interest in soul music.
Hit and Run! More Motown Guys.
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