Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Throughout 2021, the world has been celebrating the life and legacy of R&B pioneer Marvin Gaye to honor the 50th anniversary of the release of his groundbreaking record What’s Going On . After half a century, the wisdom behind R&B’s first seamless concept album, What’s Going On , continues to ring true: a poignant plea that we might organize to address often-overlooked issues of inequality and ecological distress. Closing out the year, Motown and UMe are continuing the celebration with the release of What’s Going On: 50th Anniversary 2LP Edition on December 3, 2021 . This premium vinyl release features direct-to-analog mastering from the original primary album tape reels by acclaimed engineer Kevin Gray , one of the first times this has been done since 1971, offering an undeniably authentic listening experience. What’s Going On: 50th Anniversary 2LP Edition bonus LP opens up the album’s writing and production palette. Featured are four rare cuts making their vinyl ...

In keeping with a promise made to the legendary artist/author and original and founding member of the Supremes, Mary Wilson, Motown/UMe announce the release of Mary Wilson: Expanded Edition , available for pre-order today, HERE . In time for what would have been Mary Wilson’s 77 th Birthday, March 6, we celebrate her birthday and honor her history and legacy with the first of her album projects.  Ms. Wilson, who retained ownership of her solo recordings, wanted to make the album – and much more - available to her many fans around the world. Mary Wilson: Expanded Edition is a newly compiled version of her solo album, originally released by Motown in 1979, that will now be available on all digital platforms for the first time. Added to the album are eight incredible bonus tracks, four of them unreleased, including the legendary tracks recorded as a follow-up to the album produced by Gus Dudgeon (Elton John, Joan Armatrading, Chris Rea, et al ). Featured as the lead single...

ERYKAH BADU ANNOUNCES NEW RELEASE DATE FOR NEW AMERYKAH, PART II: RETURN OF THE ANKH - IN STORES MARCH 29, 2010 Universal Motown Records multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-actress ERYKAH BADU announced via Twitter that she will release her fifth studio album, New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh, on March 30, 2010. The new album is the singer’s hotly anticipated follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2008 disc, New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War. In contrast to New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War, which was digitally produced and political in tone, New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh features lush live instrumentation and taps into Badu’s emotional side by thematically focusing on romance and relationships. “With Part I, I was standing at an apex, looking at what was going on around me politically, socially, and economically,” Badu explained. “With Part II, I’m hovering over me, looking at what’s going on inside of me.” New Amerykah Part II: Return of ...