Motown Going Digital

Motown Records yesterday released the first 45 singles ever issued by Motown as well as 45 hard-to-find albums from the Motown archive on the iTunes Music Store to celebrate Motowns 45th Anniversary. Premiering on the Apple iTunes Music Store is an exclusive iTunes store marking the 45th anniversary of Motown Records. The promotion comes on the heels of the release of MOTOWN No1s, which has been a popular download on iTunes since its release lastr month. The 45 Motown 45s campaign, which runs through May 25th, precedes the forthcoming launch of MotownSelect.com and the May 17th airing of the "Motown 45" TV special on ABC. The first 45 Motown 45s range from April 1959s "Lets Rock" from Barrett Strong to August 1961s "I Am Bound" from The Golden Harmoneers. The digital store also has the labels first Top 10 hits: Strongs "Money (Thats What I Want)" (#2 R&B/#23 pop) The Miracles "Shop Around" (Pop #2/R&B #1) Mary Wells "Bye Bye Baby" (Pop #45/R&B #8) and "I Dont Want To Take A Chance" (Pop #33/R&B #9). Motown have alsossupplied iTunes with the debut Motown singles from artists including The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Jimmy Ruffin. Among the rarers performers are The Swinging Tigers, Nick&The Jaguars, Popcorn&The Mohawks, Singin Sammy Ward, The Satintones, Eugene Remus, and Gino Parks. The other artists headlining the available albums are Eddie Holland, Brenda Holloway, the Isley Brothers, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Martha and The Vandellas, the Marvelettes, The Originals, Jimmy Ruffin, David Ruffin, The Spinners, Edwin Starr, The Temptations, The Undisputed Truth, Jr. Walker&The All Stars, and Mary Wells. Notable albums include Gayes "Moods of Marvin Gaye" and his duet release "Take Two" with Kim Weston, the Supremes "I Hear a Symphony," Robinson&the Miracles "Greatest Hits From the Beginning" and Stevie Wonders "Uptight." The download collection is rounded out by seven rare hits compilations: "Motown Special #1," "Tamla Special #1" and the five-volume "Collection of 16 Big Hits" series. Related links:- Apple iTunes www.motown.com www.motownselect.com