This tape is one in a series of compilation albums featuring some of the greatest music of all time. The line-up includes Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Edwin Starr, the Four Tops, Temptations and Smokey Robinson.
The sound of black music struck a chord with the British working classes as well as the Americans. George Marshall mentions this actual album in his book "Spirit of '69 - A Skinhead Bible". At that time, the British skinheads were not considered a race-hate group, and both white and black youths danced together united by music.
Seven years ago, my discovery of this tape sparked my interest in 8-track collecting. Before that, I assumed that all 8-tracks were garbage and only for burnt-out hippies. (Okay, some of them are, but for the first time I realized there are some good ones as well!)
EMI take the credit not only for licensing and manufacturing the early Motown records in the UK, but also for embracing the all-American 8-track. EMI's British-made cartridges seem to have been better made than some of those in the US. This tape (and I have several others like it) has survived for over 27 years and still plays well.