Elemental Music’s Motown Sound Collection vinyl reissue series will be expanding with three more titles from the Detroit label’s archives set for release on January 17, 2025: Diana Ross & The Supremes Reflections, Gladys Knight & The Pips Nitty Gritty and Smokey Robinson Pure Smokey.
With 22 titles released since May 2024, the Motown titles ranged from The Temptations’ Wish It Would Rain, to The Supremes’ I Hear a Symphony and Marvin Gaye’s When I’m Alone I Cry.
More about Diana Ross & The Supremes’ Reflections:
Released in 1968, Reflections was the 14th album from The Supremes, their second as ‘Diana Ross & The Supremes.’ It was the first album to include liner notes by Diana Ross and their first with new member Cindy Birdsong. It was the Supremes’ last album with new production from the creative team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, and included production from Deke Richards, Frank Wilson and Smokey Robinson. Chock full of memorable songs, Reflections also included covers of Martha and the Vandellas’ “Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things),” The 5th Dimension’s “Up, Up and Away,” and their studio recordings of “Bah-Bah-Bah” (co-written by Motown singer Brenda Holloway with her sister Patrice), an original Smokey Robinson composition titled “Then,” and the iconic “What the World Needs Now Is Love” by the hitmaking team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The title song was a No. 2 Pop smash while the album peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Top 200. This 140-gram edition includes the original cover and back cover artwork.
More about Gladys Knight & The Pips’ Nitty Gritty:
Called “a sturdy collection of fine soul and R&B tracks” by All Music Guide, Nitty Gritty was the sixth studio album by Gladys Knight & the Pips which was released in 1969. Thanks to the influence of producer Norman Whitfield, it placed emphasis on the raw funk and soul sounds of the band, resulting in an unforgettable set. Three of the singles included became hits: “Didn’t You Know (You’d Have to Cry Sometime)” (#63 on the Pop chart and #11 on the R&B chart), “The Nitty Gritty” (#19 Pop/#2 R&B), and “Friendship Train” (#17 pop/#2 R&B). The album peaked at #81 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Dusty Groove called Nitty Gritty “one of our favorite albums by Gladys Knight – a set that seems to have a lot more edge than some of her later work, thanks to some rumbling production from the legendary Norman Whitfield!” This 140-gram edition of Nitty Gritty includes the original cover and back cover artwork.
More about Smokey Robinson’s Pure Smokey:
Pure Smokey was William “Smokey” Robinson’s second solo album after leaving The Miracles. It was issued on Motown’s Tamla label in 1974 and presents mostly songs composed by Robinson himself along with Marv Tarplin, another ex-Miracle, who after leaving the group joined Robinson in California. Marv didn’t only ‘assist.’ He wrote, played guitar, toured, etc., and we don’t know as to why he actually moved. Hits from the album include “I Am I Am” which hit #6 R&B, “Virgin Man” (#12), and “It’s Her Turn To Live,” a tribute to mothers co-written by Tarplin that was a Top 30 R&B hit. All Music Guide wrote Pure Smokey “creates a seamless blend of smoothed-out disco and gorgeous soft soul.” This limited edition 140-gram virgin vinyl edition includes the original cover and back cover artwork.
Founded in 2012, Elemental Music specializes in releasing newly discovered and out-of-print recordings, primarily Jazz, Blues, and Soul. These recordings are curated and reissued with love.
