By 1962, Motown wasn’t yet the hit factory it would later become but  had regular chart success and were reaching across the ocean to influence the emerging British Invasion. The year marked the debut of four new imprints in the Motown empire: Divinity, Workshop, Mel-o-dy, and Gordy.  This four-CD set offers a miraculous peek behind the curtains of what was rapidly becoming “The Sound Of Young America.” It features the A-side and B-side of every single released by Motown and its subsidiaries during the label’s fourth year of existence. Over the course of the set’s 112 tracks, you can hear The Temptations masquerading as The Pirates, the vocal version of the “Theme From Exodus,” and the phone number that was on the lips of America: “Beechwood 4-5789,” courtesy of the Marvelettes.
 
The opulent packaging resembles a scaled-down 78-rpm-era “album,” with cardboard sleeves to hold each of the discs, and 88 pages of rare photos, detailed annotations and scholarly - as well as personal - liner notes. It also features a reproduction 45-rpm single from its era; in this case, it’s Mary Wells’ “You Beat Me To The Punch” b/w “Old Love (Let’s Try It Again).” Claudette Robinson, a member of The Miracles and Smokey’s ex-wife, contributed a personal essay to the set detailing the artist’s-eye-view of life in the label’s early years. Also included is an historical overview by author and scholar Gerald Early of Washington University in St. Louis, and track-by-track annotations, with not just song credits but stories behind each song, by noted authors and discographers Bill Dahl and Keith Hughes.

The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 2: 1962 is a limited-edition set. Most of the songs contained on it are unavailable anywhere else; many had never been re-released on vinyl, let alone on compact disc. When the edition is sold out, it’s gone for good.  

Tracks:  
DISC 7:
1. Mr. Sandman - Marvin Gaye
2. I'm Yours, You're Mine - Marvin Gaye
3. What Is A Man (Without A Woman) - Henry Lumpkin
4. Don't Leave Me - Henry Lumpkin
5. The One Who Really Loves You - Mary Wells
6. I'm Gonna Stay - Mary Wells
7. Your Baby's Back - The Downbeats
8. Request Of A Fool [a.k.a. I Wanna Know Why] - The Downbeats
9. Big Joe Moe - Singin' Sammy Ward
10. Everybody Knew It But Me - Singin' Sammy Ward
11. Everybody's Talking About My Baby - Debbie Dean
12. I Cried All Night - Debbie Dean
13. I Out-Duked The Duke - Little Otis
14. Baby I Need You - Little Otis
15. (You're My) Dream Come True - The Temptations
16. Isn't She Pretty - The Temptations
17. You Deserve What You Got - Eddie Holland
18. Last Night I Had A Vision - Eddie Holland
19. I'll Try Something New - The Miracles
20. You Never Miss A Good Thing - The Miracles
21. Playboy - The Marvelettes
22. All The Love I've Got - The Marvelettes
23. Come Into My Palace - Lee & The Leopards
24. Trying To Make It - Lee & The Leopards
25. (If) Cleopatra Took A Chance - Eddie Holland
26. What About Me - Eddie Holland
27. Soldier's Plea - Marvin Gaye
28. Taking My Time - Marvin Gaye  

DISC 8:
1. Your Heart Belongs To Me - The Supremes
2. (He's) Seventeen - The Supremes
3. Your Heart Belongs To Me - The Supremes [second version, w/echo]
4. Exodus - Hank & Carol Diamond
5. I Remember You - Hank & Carol Diamond
6. Opus No. 3 - Earl Washington All Stars
7. March Lightly - Earl Washington All Stars
8. Because I Love Her - The Valadiers
9. While I'm Away - The Valadiers
10. I Call It Pretty Music But The Old People Call It The Blues (Part 1) - Little Stevie Wonder
11. I Call It Pretty Music But The Old People Call It The Blues (Part 2) - Little Stevie Wonder
12. Sleep (Little One) - Herman Griffin
13. Uptight - Herman Griffin & Band
14. Dearest One - Lamont Dozier
15. Fortune Teller (Tell Me) - Lamont Dozier
16. Same Old Story - Mickey McCullers
17. I'll Cry A Million Tears - Mickey McCullers
18. Do You Love Me - The Contours
19. Move Mr. Man - The Contours
20. Back In My Arms - Hattie Little
21. Is It True (What They Say About You) - Hattie Littles
22. Fire - Gino Parks
23. For This I Thank You - Gino Parks
24. I Found Myself A Brand New Baby - Mike & The Modifiers
25. It's Too Bad - Mike & The Modifiers
26. Mojo Hannah - Henry Lumpkin
27. Break Down And Sing - Henry Lumpkin
28. Beechwood 4-5789 - The Marvelettes
29. Someday, Someway - The Marvelettes

DISC 9:
1. You Beat Me To The Punch - Mary Wells
2. Old Love (Let's Try It Again) - Mary Wells [first version]
3. Old Love (Let's Try It Again) - Mary Wells [second version]
4. This Is Our Night - The Creations
5. You're My Inspiration - The Creations
6. Camel Walk - Saundra Mallet & The Vandellas
7. It's Gonna Be Hard Times - Saundra Mallet & The Vandellas
8. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - Marvin Gaye
9. It Hurt Me Too - Marvin Gaye
10. That's What He Is To Me - Wright Specials
11. Pilgrim Of Sorrow - Wright Specials
12. If It's Love (It's Alright) - Eddie Holland
13. It's Not Too Late - Eddie Holland
14. If Your Mother Only Knew - The Miracles [first version]
15. If Your Mother Only Knew - The Miracles [second version]
16. Someday Pretty Baby - Singin' Sammy Ward
17. Part Time Love - Singin' Sammy Ward
18. Your Love Is Wonderful - Hattie Littles [first version]
19. Here You Come - Hattie Littles
20. Trouble Lover - The Charters
21. Show Me Some Sign - The Charters
22. I'll Have To Let Him Go - Martha & The Vandellas
23. My Baby Won't Come Back - Martha & The Vandellas
24. Mind Over Matter (I'm Gonna Make You Mine) - The Pirates
25. I'll Love You Till I Die - The Pirates
26. Little Water Boy - Little Stevie Wonder & Clarence Paul [promo version]
27. La La La La La - Little Stevie Wonder
28. Little Water Boy - Little Stevie Wonder & Clarence Paul [commercial version]


DISC 10: 1. Strange I Know - The Marvelettes
2. Too Strong To Be Strung Along - The Marvelettes [first version]
3. Too Strong To Be Strung Along - The Marvelettes [second version]
4. There He Is (At My Door) - The Vells
5. You'll Never Cherish A Love So True ('Til You Lose It) - The Vells
6. Paradise - The Temptations
7. Slow Down Heart - The Temptations
8. Your Love Is Wonderful - Hattie Littles [second version]
9. Two Lovers - Mary Wells
10. Operator - Mary Wells
11. Let Me Go The Right Way - The Supremes
12. Time Changes Things - The Supremes
13. Hold On Pearl - Bob Kayli
14. Toodle Loo - Bob Kayli
15. Happy Landing - The Miracles
16. You've Really Got A Hold On Me - The Miracles
17. Shake Sherrie - The Contours [commercial version]
18. You Better Get In Line - The Contours
19. Shake Sherrie - The Contours [radio promo version]
20. Camel Walk - LaBrenda Ben & The Beljeans
21. The Chaperone - LaBrenda Ben & The Beljeans
22. Darling, I Hum Our Song - Eddie Holland
23. Just A Few More Days - Eddie Holland
24. Hitch Hike - Marvin Gaye
25. Hello There Angel - Marvin Gaye
26. Contract On Love - Little Stevie Wonder
27. Sunset - Little Stevie Wonder