This (once again) awesome set chronicles 1966, when 22 Motown A-sides reached the Top 20 and, quite remarkably, three-quarters of all Motown releases land someplace on the charts.

This is the year “The Sound of Young America” becomes an official slogan. When H-D-H and their brothers & sisters in music and spirited competition are making more sophisticated strides. The Supremes have four no. 1 hits in a row – again. The Four Tops hit no. 1 with “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” what many consider the greatest Motown record ever. When new artists from the Isley Brothers to Gladys Knight & The Pips make some mighty Motown noise – and another new act, those crazy kids called the Mynah Birds, make a helluva rock ’n’ soul record but it gets shuffled aside. (Well, until now).

The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6: 1966, the latest release in this acclaimed series, showcases the exploding success of the classic label on a 5-CD, 125-track set. It features the A-side and B-side of every single released by Motown and its subsidiary labels during the year, including several alternate pressings. This volume is highlighted by hits from the Tops, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Isleys, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy “Brokenhearted” Ruffin, Martha & The Vandellas and more. Also included are rare tracks by Tammi Terrell, the Spinners, Billy “Mr. B” Eckstine, Earl Van Dyke, Rick Robin & Him, the LaSalles and many more. Among the fascinating obscurities is “The Teen Beat Song,” Marvin Gaye’s ode to the Detroit Free Press.

As with all previous volumes, packaging for the set resembles a scaled-down 78-rpm-era “album,” with cardboard sleeves to hold each of the discs, and 112 pages of rare photos and extensive liner notes. Each box will feature an actual reproduction 45 RPM single of the Four Tops’ smash, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” b/w “Until You Love Someone.” (Yes, it plays!)

Introducing the package is a vivid, personal essay by Motown songwriter (and former artist) Edward Holland, Jr., who remembers 1966 as his busiest year ever.  “I was so strongly caught up in the moment that I didn’t fully grasp what was happening to me or around me,” he writes. “Motown was on warp speed. We were young and enjoying what we were doing so much. It was never like work in the first place.”  

Also included is a historical overview by Stu Hackel, a regular chronicler of Motown and soul music, who makes a strong case for Motown’s underappreciated political and musical influence. Track-by-track annotations have been written by noted authors and researchers Bill Dahl and Keith Hughes, with assistance by UMe VP Harry Weinger, who has overseen the series.

Only 6000 copies of this limited-edition box set will ever be manufactured.

Disc 28:
1. My Baby Loves Me - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
2. Never Leave Your Baby's Side - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
3. Together 'Til The End Of Time - Brenda Holloway
4. This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) - The Isley Brothers
5. There's No Love Left - The Isley Brothers
6. This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You) - Alternate Mix - The Isley Brothers
7. One More Heartache - Marvin Gaye
8. When I Had Your Love - Marvin Gaye
9. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) - Four Tops
10.Just As Long As You Need Me - Four Tops
11.Get Ready - The Temptations
12.Fading Away - The Temptations
13.Helpless - Kim Weston
14.A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knocking Everyday) - Kim Weston
15.Greetings (This Is Uncle Sam) - The Monitors
16.Number One In Your Heart - The Monitors
17.I Miss You Baby (How I Miss You) - Marv Johnson
18.Just The Way You Are - Various Artists
19.Slender Thread - Billy Eckstine
20.I Wish You Were Here - Billy Eckstine
21.What's Easy For Two Is Hard For One - Connie Haines
22.Walk In Silence - Connie Haines
23.Keep On Lovin' Me - Frances Nero
24.Fight Fire With Fire - Frances Nero

Disc 29:
1. (I'm A) Road Runner - Junior Walker And The All Stars
2. Shoot Your Shot - Junior Walker And The All Stars
3. Function At The Junction - Shorty Long
4. Call On Me - Shorty Long
5. Truly Yours - The Spinners
6. Where Is That Girl - The Spinners
7. Nothing's Too Good For My Baby - Stevie Wonder
8. With A Child's Heart - Stevie Wonder
9. You're The One - The Marvelettes
10.Paper Boy - The Marvelettes
11.Come On And See Me - Tammi Terrell
12.Baby Don't Cha Worry - Tammi Terrell
13.It's My Time - The Mynah Birds
14.Go On And Cry - The Mynah Birds
15.Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - Chris Clark
16.Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart - The Supremes
17.He's All I Got - The Supremes
18.Just A Little Misunderstanding - The Contours
19.Determination - The Contours
20.Take Some Time Out For Love - The Isley Brothers
21.Who Could Ever Doubt My Love - The Isley Brothers
22.Take This Heart Of Mine - Marvin Gaye
23.Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back) - Marvin Gaye
24.Take This Heart Of Mine - Alternate Mix - Marvin Gaye

Disc 30:
1. Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Temptations
2. You'll Lose A Precious Love - The Temptations
3. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever - Four Tops
4. I Like Everything About You - Four Tops
5. What Am I Going To Do Without Your Love - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
6. Go Ahead And Laugh - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
7. Whole Lot Of Shakin' In My Heart (Since I Met You) - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
8. Oh Be My Love - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
9. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
10.Baby I've Got It - Jimmy Ruffin
11.Three Choruses Of Despair - Rick, Robin & Him
12.Copper Kettle - Rick, Robin & Him
13.Cause You Know Me - Rick, Robin & Him
14.Just Walk In My Shoes - Gladys Knight & The Pips
15.Stepping Closer To Your Heart - Gladys Knight & The Pips
16.I Guess I'll Always Love You - The Isley Brothers
17.I Hear A Symphony - The Isley Brothers
18.La La La La La - The LaSalles
19.This Is True - The LaSalles
20.Blowin' In The Wind - Stevie Wonder
21.Ain't That Asking For Trouble - Stevie Wonder
22.Blowin' In The Wind - Alternate Mix - Stevie Wonder
23.How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Junior Walker And The All Stars
24.Nothing But Soul - Junior Walker And The All Stars
25.Love's Gone Bad - Chris Clark
26.Put Yourself In My Place - Chris Clark

Disc 31:
1. You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
2. Put Yourself In My Place - The Supremes
3. Little Darling (I Need You) - Marvin Gaye
4. Hey Diddle Diddle - Marvin Gaye
5. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep - The Temptations
6. You're Not An Ordinary Girl - The Temptations
7. Reach Out, I'll Be There - Four Tops
8. Until You Love Someone - Four Tops
9. These Things Will Keep Me Loving You - The Velvelettes
10.Hurt A Little Everyday - Brenda Holloway
11.Where Were You - Brenda Holloway
12.Heaven Must Have Sent You - The Elgins
13.Stay In My Lonely Arms - The Elgins
14.Play It Cool, Stay In School - Brenda Holloway
15.Everything Is Good About You - Barbara McNair
16.What A Day - Barbara McNair
17.And There You Were - Billy Eckstine
18.A Warmer World - Billy Eckstine
19.I'm Ready For Love - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
20.He Doesn't Love Her Anymore - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
21.You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes
22.Mother You, Smother You - The Supremes
23.Remove This Doubt - The Supremes
24.Loraine Alterman Interviews Marvin Gaye
25.The Teen Beat Song - Marvin Gaye

Disc 32:
1. (Come 'Round Here) I'm The One You Need - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
2. Save Me - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
3. A Place In The Sun - Stevie Wonder
4. Sylvia - Stevie Wonder
5. Money (That's What I Want) Part 2 - Junior Walker And The All Stars
6. Money (That's What I Want) Part 1 - Junior Walker And The All Stars
7. (I Know) I'm Losing You - The Temptations
8. I Couldn't Cry If I Wanted To - The Temptations
9. I've Passed This Way Before - Jimmy Ruffin
10.Tomorrow's Tears - Jimmy Ruffin
11.Since I Lost You Girl - The Monitors
12.Don't Put Off Till Tomorrow What You Can Do Today - The Monitors
13.Someday At Christmas - Stevie Wonder
14.The Miracles Of Christmas - Stevie Wonder
15.Someday At Christmas - Alternate mix - Stevie Wonder
16.Standing In The Shadows Of Love - Four Tops
17.Since You've Been Gone - Four Tops
18.It Takes Two - Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston
19.It's Got To Be A Miracle (This Thing Called Love) - Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston
20.6 By 6 - Earl Van Dyke and The Motown Brass
21.(There Is) No Greater Love - Earl Van Dyke and The Motown Brass
22.Goodnight Irene - The Originals
23.Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back) - The Originals
24.The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - The Marvelettes
25.I Think I Can Change You - The Marvelettes
26.Mother You, Smother You - The Supremes, Christine Schumacher