SANTA MONICA, CA (Universal
Music Enterprises) - Reelin' In The Years Productions and Universal
Music Group International are proud to announce the worldwide release of "The
Temptations - Get Ready! The Definitive Performances 1965-1972" on DVD,
September 4, 2006 (except North America) from UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP INTERNATIONAL, and
September 12, 2006 (U.S.) from UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES (UMe). Also releasing that day in the U.S. is "Marvin Gaye - Live In Belgium 1981," marking the American debut of this rare concert footage in any format. (Further details below.)
"The Temptations - Get Ready! The Definitive Performances" features for the first time on DVD Motown's greatest vocal group in 16 classic full-length performances - 60 minutes of classic archival performances from television and film appearances captured during Motown's golden era, issued with the full cooperation of the original Temptations and their estates. Continuing in the tradition of the "Marvin Gaye - The Real Thing In Performance 1964-1981" - another DVD first - released earlier this year, The Temptations DVD includes a wealth of classic performances with re-mastered sound and video, plus audio-only bonus feature "The Temptations in the Motown Studios": 15 original a cappella lead and backing vocal tracks to their greatest hits. Interspersed between the performances, only surviving original member Otis Williams talks about each song and recounts special moments in the history of the group, in a new interview filmed especially for this DVD.
"The Temptations - Get Ready! The Definitive Performances 1965-1972" begins with a staggering live performance of their first big hit, "The Way You Do The Things You Do," from the 1965 TV special "Murray The K - It's What's Happening," that highlights their trademark choreography. The DVD progresses through the group's Motown career, including all the major hits sung by lead vocalists David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards. There's rare footage of vintage performances, from No 1 hits "My Girl," "I Can't Get Next To You" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" (the latter from the feature film "Save The Children," and on home video for the first time) to psychedelic soul masterpieces "Cloud Nine," "Runaway Child, Running Wild" and "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)." Further treasures include a bittersweet live performance of the No 1 1971 hit "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" on "The Ed Sullivan Show," lead vocalist Eddie Kendricks' final performance with the original group; an amazing live 1968 performance of "I Wish It Would Rain" from "Hollywood Palace"; and a rare version of "Don't Look Back" from 1965 featuring Paul Williams on lead.
Perhaps the rarest footage of all on the DVD shows The Temptations, in color, with the full Funk Brothers band and a bevy of Motown producers and arrangers, recording "Sorry Is A Sorry Word" in the original Motown "Snakepit" studio; it had been filmed for a TV network but never aired.
In addition to the television performances, the bonus section of "The Temptations - Get Ready! The Definitive Performances 1965-1972" DVD includes a host of unique bonus content, including an audio only feature of 15 original a cappella (vocal only) performances of The Temps' classic hits direct from the Motown vaults, and now available on this DVD for the first time anywhere. Fans will feel as if they're in the original Motown recording booth with the group when they hear The Temps' original vocal masters for "My Girl," "Runaway Child, Running Wild," "(I Know) I'm Losing You," "Get Ready" and eleven more.
For "The Temptations - Get Ready! The Definitive Performances 1965-1972" DVD every effort has been made to locate the best possible sound and video; each of the performances has been re-transferred and re-mastered from the best-quality, original masters (some resting in the television vaults for over 40 years). In the case of lip-sync performances the original Motown stereo master recordings have been used, replacing the original mono broadcast sound and making for a much more enjoyable viewing and listening experience.
"The Temptations - Get Ready! The Definitive Performances 1965-1972" also features a 24-page booklet with an extensive essay by GRAMMY®-award winning writer, Rob Bowman, including rare photographs and memorabilia. Included in the bonus features section are additional interview segments with The Temptations' Otis Williams, in which he talks in depth about The Temps' early years, Motown and famed Motown choreographer Cholly Atkins.
Also released in the U.S. on September 12, 2006 from UMe: "Marvin Gaye - Live In Belgium 1981," an hour-long, televised concert from his self-exile in Ostende, Belgium, originally performed July 4th, 1981. Marvin performs 10 of his biggest hits, from "Got To Give It Up" to "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," and a sweet medley of famous Tammi Terrell duets, including "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing." This specially priced collection also includes bonus footage of a candid Marvin Gaye interview along with two rare lip-sync performances of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Heavy Love Affair," from a local Belgian TV show promoting this upcoming show. Additional bonus features are the original a cappella vocal track for "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and a full-color booklet with liner notes by GRAMMY®-Award winning author Rob Bowman.
Reelin' In The Years Productions LLC is the largest music footage library in the world, housing over 10,000 hours of performances from all genres of music covering the last 50 years. Most of the footage in their library has never been seen or heard by the world at large. September of 2006 will see the release of the first nine DVDs in the "Jazz Icons" series featuring filmed concerts by the most pivotal and influential jazz artists of the 20th century filmed in Europe between 1957 and 1978. Reelin' In The Years Productions' "The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969" three volume DVD series has received critical acclaim, commercial success and numerous industry awards. Volume One was nominated for a GRAMMY® award in the category of "Best Long Form Music Video," and Volume One and Two received The Blues Foundation's prestigious 2004 Keeping The Blues Alive (KBA) Award as well as Honorable Mention in Mojo Magazine's Honors List for best DVD of 2003. Other earlier DVD releases include "Marvin Gaye - The Real Thing In Performance 1962-1981," "Muddy Waters Classic Concerts" (both released with Universal International) and the legendary concert film "Soul To Soul." In addition, Reelin' In The Years Productions has provided footage for numerous DVDs including the platinum-selling "Led Zeppelin," AC/DC - "Family Jewels" The Police - "Synchronicity Concert," and Elvis Costello - "The Right Spectacle - The Videos." For further information please visit https://www.reelinintheyears.com.
David Peck of Reelin' In The Years Productions is available for interviews.
