Release Eddie Kendricks' original albums on CD!

To:  Harry Weinger, Motown Archives, Universal Music Group

Dear Mr. Weinger:

I am writing to you to ask a massive favor, and one that I hope that you will take into consideration. I am the creator of both the Eddie Kendrick: Prince of Romance website and the adjoining message forum, “Cornbread’s Kitchen”. However, some time ago I used to post on the Motown Bulletin Board as “Old School Diva” and I had proposed then that Eddie Kendricks’ material be made available once more to the public - but not in the form of compilation CDs because there are several of them out there right now. I am asking that Eddie’s solo LPs be released on CD once again. There are a whole new generation of fans out there who are clamoring for Eddie’s music, and really are not satisfied with the various “Greatest Hits” and “Essential Collections” CDs that Motown/Universal has issued. The last and ONLY album of Eddie’s that has been released on CD was PEOPLE…HOLD ON and that was in 1992. I think that is disgraceful.

Eddie was one of the main contributors to keeping Motown afloat in the ‘70s, one of the most sought-after acts on the Tamla label. He had a loyal following that continues today, even if he himself is no longer with us. It was not as if he were a “B” act, he was a major artist. He had four consecutive million-sellers in the period of 1973 to 1974 (“Keep On Truckin’”, “Boogie Down”, “Son of Sagittarius” and “Tell Her Love Has Felt the Need”), with two R&B Number Ones during that time, and constantly had singles in the R&B Top 10 throughout his Motown tenure. Yet I see that he has not been given the props that he truly deserves. After discussing this matter at length with a mutual friend of both mine and yours, Mr. Jimi Dougans of the Eddie Kendrick Memorial Foundation, he suggested that I approach you with this. This time, I have requested the signatures of then many fans of Eddie James Kendrick who desperately want this to come to pass to sign this petition.

As I said, there is a large market out here for Eddie’s work and they would do just about anything to get their hands on the original albums, plus any unreleased material of his that Motown may still have in their vaults. It is mutually felt that Motown is defaming the legacy and memory of Eddie Kendrick by keeping his original works from the public, whom is also being deprived of the excellent music that he recorded. We have created this petition with the hope that our wishes will finally be honored. Eddie has left a legacy that should not be kept from future generations of fans who truly enjoy good music, meaningful lyrics, and appreciate a REAL vocalist and not one created as the result of studio magic.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Release Eddie Kendricks' original albums on CD! Petition to Harry Weinger, Motown Archives, Universal Music Group was created by Eddie Kendrick: Prince of Romance/Cornbread's Kitchen and written by Anna Devonne Brannon.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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