from allmusicguide.com:
‘...[Universal Music Group] had its own Internet-only label, Hip-O Select, which finally provided an avenue for the release of The Complete Motown Singles, which was launched after a long, long wait in early 2005 with the six-disc set Vol. 1: 1959-1961. It was the first installment of a planned 12-volume series of box sets that would cover all Motown singles, including all variations of the singles and all of the label’s subsidiaries, from 1959 to 1972, when the label moved its home office from Detroit to Los Angeles. All the songs would be presented in their original single form (usually meaning a mono mix), transferred from vinyl if necessary (since master tapes for many of the rarities have vanished), and each box would be packaged as a deluxe hardcover book, with a reproduced 45 of an original Motown hit incorporated as part of the cover artwork, while the inside would contain rare photos and contain a wealth of information in the track-by-track notes by Bill Dahl and Keith Hughes. In short, it’s a lavish, ambitious series, and a pricey one as well...’
“transferred from vinyl if necessary (since master tapes for many of the rarities have vanished),”
I would definitely want to hear that before purchasing it.
It reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel’s original master tapes disappearing. The CDs have suffered for it.
I was a musician on the Hollywood scene during the 80s and 90s, and had a lot of well connected friends.
A buddy of mine once rented a house in Topanga Canyon that was owned by Motown producer, Malcolm Cecil. Not long after moving in, he and I were organizing things in the basement studio when I ran across something rather eye opening.
It was the original 24 track master of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition".