Various Artists, “Motown: Year by Year: 1969,” Motown. * * *

Motown’s reissue department has been especially busy this year, releasing two volumes of a “Baddest Love Jams” series (Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm” to Stevie Wonder’s “All in Love Is Fair”) and two volumes of a “Funkology” series (the Commodores’ “Brick House” to Teena Marie’s “Square Biz”).

But the most ambitious venture is a series that offers Motown hits on a year-by-year basis, giving you the chance to relive Motown memories of, say, the year you graduated from high school or got married. The 12 volumes so far are understandably uneven, but together they showcase nicely the consistency and range of label founder Berry Gordy’s vision.

The 1969 package is a special treat because in addition to such hits as the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and the Temptations’ “I Can’t Get Next to You,” it contains a spicy, previously unreleased instrumental showcasing the legendary Motown rhythm section led by bassist James Jamerson.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (e x cellent).