Customer Rating:  
Summary: For fans wanting the original mono, there are other options
Comment: As others have stated, these are not the original mono single mixes. Those are available in a different box set. This collection features stereo versions (many newly mixed expressly for this set) of many familiar (maybe overly familiar) classics. Yes, some of them can be jarring, because we're so accustomed to hearing them in that flat, "AM radio" kind of sound. Keeping in mind that those final mono mixdowns were the reason for the creation of the multitracks used to also create these stereo versions, it should be easy to appreciate that there were a lot of limitations in creating great-sounding stereo from them. But Tom Moulton did it. Are these meant to replace the original singles? No. Are these great on their own merits? Yes. I have both. I play both. I'm glad that both exist. The packaging on this is also really good. It would have gotten five stars except for the skimpy content on disc four.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Mono is the place to start (and maybe stop)
Comment: This box makes great listening on its own, but if you directly compare it to the Hitsville USA box of mono masters, the differences are quite dramatic. The stereo sound is softer, smoother and more colorful, but the mono tracks have a punch and intensity that the stereo tracks only occasionally match. I don't think anything has been botched here- the stereo mixes (where unaltered) are very similar to my LP box of stereo Motown hits- it's simply the best their equipment could do back then. Some of the remixes appear to have been done with a genuine effort to match the organic power of the mono tracks, and the results are fascinating. But I'd say the Hitsville USA has it where it matters- it swings harder, is more authentic, and costs less. Get over mono-phobia- Hitsville USA is the mandatory purchase.
Customer Rating:
Summary: questionable choices and a 34 minute rip-off
Comment: with so many hits to choose from there is bound to be debate about what should be included in this set. there are some great works here, not my 1st choices, but as a 50 year old human i find myself reliving part of my childhood with each listening. the problem is with cd #4 which clocks in at 34 minutes which blows my mind. there are literally 1000s of hours of motown available and to fill a cd to less than 1/2 of it's capacity is a total rip-off. shame on you.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Total Jams old skool- Motown Box
Comment: Have you ever listened to a song that you herd all your life.
Then you here a different version of it. You go what was that?
So when Old Skool got to playing this Motown Box his ears opened wide. I have always herd the Miracles Shop Around but it was in mono.The version in the Motown Box is in stereo, the first time in my life to here it so. The box has extended mix's,or alternate mix's, of all the old jam's you thought you remembered. So if you are a big Motown fan like T.J. Old Skool you have to put this on your list of got to have now !!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Oh No They DIDN"T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment: I was going to buy this, but I was reading the reviews and I would have been LIVID. I grew up with this music and in MY opinion, I like the MONO sound better than the stereo mixes because sometimes they can ruin the sound. Like for instance. On the Temptations "Get Ready" cd. Did you notice that "Say You" is in MONO but the rest of the stuff is in stereo. And who ever mixed "Fading Away" killed it. They brought the violins up way too high during the instrumental part. I will have to admit, the stereo of "This old heart of mines" (on the album by the Isley Bros" is a much crisper cleaner sound than the MONO version. Man, i was going to buy this but the more reviews I read, the more i did not want it. So I'll stick to Motown's Ultimate Collection. Thank you all for your realness and honesty about this
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