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The Supremes – Originally titled “A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night” (1963) #75 Pop
This single is from The Supremes” “Where Did Our Love Go” classic album release of 1964 which was the first significant set that brought the group national attention. Their first LP, 1962’s “Meet The Supremes,” was unknown to me and my friends when this second LP was released . Most purchased it as an after thought to complete our collections many many years later.
“WDOLG,” who’s “Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition” was recently released, was basically everyone’s first taste of the hit making Supremes and we loved them as a group with no stand outs! This entire LP was a smash in my neighborhood and all of we tweens and teenagers knew every song, every lyric, every vocal inflection and we all had our favorite Supreme. Some preferred the earthy Flo; some loved the sexy Mary; and others stood by the nasal voice Diane who always had on a wig covering one eye whenever she appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. I recall how this drove my grandmother nuts! (LOL)
I guess you knew I couldn’t close the month out of Motown Female Vocal Groups without an original Supremes song — so I went to my favorite, WDOLG, and took two days to finally decide on “A Breath Taking Guy,” composed by Smokey Robinson. Ironically, I was torn between the two Smokey Robinson songs (which were the only two on the LP). WDOLG also had one Norman Whitfield cut and the rest were all Holland-Dozier-Holland, who as we all know, would take the girls into the hit making stratosphere!
TRIVIA: H-D-H may have taken the girls to the top of the charts, but Mrs. Smokey Robinson had a lot to do with Mr. Robinson not writing very much more than these two tunes and producing more for The Supremes. She was protecting her husband, and rightly so, from the clutches of the “other woman”. This tidbit comes from more than one of the many Motown autobiographies and biographies that I have read over the years. See my “Recommended Reading List” in the sidebar.
Apparently Smokey wrote and arranged for the girls as a real “girl group” and all three ladies were singing into microphones that were turned on and the blend of the three voices was superb. All three ladies participated as a group and there were no divas on board: that is why I love this song and the album as a whole. These were the times of innocence and the innocent beginning of what was to become DRATS.
Hope you have enjoyed this month’s presentations. There are some earlier posts here on OSML about Motown Girl Groups as well. Just use the search function and you will find additional Supremes, Marvelettes and Vandellas music.
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The Supremes – Everybody’s Got The Right To Love (1970) #11 R&B, #21 Pop
Before the worldwide phenom called Diana Ross & The Supremes there was an awesome Motown trio called simply The Supremes. Florence Ballard, Diane Ross and Mary Wilson, three young girls from the Detroit Brewster projects, made beautiful music at Motown by blending their voices in sweet harmonies.
After Diana Ross left DRATS — once again there was an awesome Motown trio called The Supremes. Diane was not replaced but supplanted by Jean Terrell. Terrell’s voice had more maturity and soul than Diane’s. Under the guidance of producer Frank Wilson, The Supremes first album release in 1970, “Right On,” was not only the best Supremes LP since WDOLG , but the best of the decade IMHO!
I vividly recall singing the songs from this LP in high school while in the lunch room, in Home Econ class and in gym class. We all loved this LP. In the student lounge we listened to it while playing Spades. Every single song had all three girls paraticipating and their voices could be heard! The Supremes were back to being an awesome girl group again and they proved it by charting 4 hits in 1970 to Miss Ross’ 2 solo hits that year!
All in all, with an impressive 8 hit singles, these Supremes don’t get much recognition in the Motown history books where it always appears that the group ended when Ross left. But that is oh so not true! These ladies were dynamite.
“EGTRTL,” composed by Lou Stallman, was the second single released from the “Right On” LP after the hit “Up The Ladder To The Roof.”
Get with it Oldies radio -and play these 70s Supremes! There were other personnel changes in the future of the group — but Jean,Mary & Cindy were the best lineup after DRATS!
Please give them a listen and make “Right On” a part of you music collection if it isn’t already. The LP rocks! It went #4 R&B and #25 Pop.
Here are The Supremes are singing their 1965 #1 USA & #7 UK hit single.
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The Supremes -- Stop In The Name of Love (Alternate) (1965) And here is an alternate version of the song from my cherished, now oop, Import Supremes Limited Edition Box Set of 200o.
According to Wiki: “Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin of The Temptations taught the girls the routine backstage in London, before the Supremes’ performance on the BBC television special The Sound of Motown, hosted by Dusty Springfield. “
The song was recorded in January 1965, the single released in Feb 1965 and included on the group’s sixth LP released in July 1965 “More Hits By The Supremes.” The LP went #2 R&B and #6 Pop.
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Kim Weston -- Stop In The Name of Love (1965)
The beautiful, sometime duet partner of Marvin Gaye, Kim Weston recorded “SITNOL” as a sultry ballad that was totally opposite of The Supremes bubble gum original, in the fall of 1965. It never saw the light of day until the 1998 “Ultimate Rarities” Collection of previously unreleased “vault” songs.
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The Isley Brothers -- Stop In The Name of Love (1965)
Released in November 1965, The Isleys “This Old Heart of Mine” lp contained lots of Motown covers including this one.
Trivia: Co-writer and producer of ‘SITNOL” Lamont Dozier, sang his own cover version of the song on his 2004 non-Motown release “Reflections Of.”
Before you vote on you favorite rendition of “Stop In The Name of Love” do check out this video that proves Motown and the Supremes are an integral part of the fabric of America! And see how Paul and Melvin’s choreography has become legend.
[audio http://boxstr.com/files/4609532_5zogw/Supremes%20-%20%20I%20Hear%20a%20Symphony.mp3] The Supremes – I Hear A Symphony (1965)
Released as a single in October 1965, “I Hear A Symphony” became The Supremes sixth #1 on the Billboard Top 100. Capitalizing on it’s hit status the song was also included on the LP, of the same name released in February 1966, that zoomed to #1 on the R&B Charts and #8 Pop. I can even recall the day I crossed the street and walked around the corner to pick of my brand new copy of the LP! You see – getting an new Supremes album was always an event to me as a tween. The Supremes were my “Miley Cyrus” as it were (LOL).
Looking back on this LP and it’s change from all cutesy tunes to the more romantic strings got me to thinking if “Symphony” was HDH’s answer to The Toys hit “Lover’s Concerto,” which coincidentally is covered on this album! I have never seen this in print anywhere, but it was just a feeling I always had and would love to ask the trio if I ever had a chance to.
[audio http://boxstr.com/files/4609533_k77aq/The%20Isley%20Brothers%20-%20I%20Hear%20A%20Symphony.mp3] The Isley Brothers – I Hear A Symphony (1966)
The Isley Brothers had been singing since the Fifties. While at Motown, the group were assigned mostly cover tunes. Like Gladys Knight and The Pips (who were also assigned mostly cover tunes), the Isleys left the label and went on to create their own label, their own music and much success!
This is one of the many cover tunes assigned to the group during their Motown tenure. It appeared on their LP “This Old Heart of Mine” without their photo, to appeal to a crossover audience. Oh those sixties!
BTW you just gotta love Ron Isley’s lead on this track: his tenor voice is smooth like butta! I think he is one of the best male vocalists of our generation.
[audio http://boxstr.com/files/4609588_yv6u1/Stevie%20Wonder%20-%20I%20Hear%20A%20Symphony.mp3] Stevie Wonder – I Hear A Symphony (1966)
Recorded in the summer of 1966, Wonder’s cover did not appear on either of his 1966 releases. Instead the world first heard it in the “Motown Sings Motown Treasures” compilation of 1998.
[audio http://boxstr.com/files/4609530_gadxa/Barbara%20McNair%20-%20%20I%20Hear%20A%20Symphony.mp3] Barbara McNair – I Hear A Symphony (1969)
McNair’s cover was made for her second Motown LP. It really is unfortunate that McNair was relegated to cover versions of other folk’s hits while a Motown. They rarely gave her her material (or the promotion) suited just for her unique style and talent. If you look at the track lists on her first two Motown releases you will see what I mean. An the third and final Motown release is all Smokey songs originally made hits by The Miracles other Motown artists. Harumph.
[audio http://boxstr.com/files/4609531_ifjc9/Michael%20Jackson%20-%20I%20Hear%20A%20Symphony.mp3] Michael Jackson – I Hear A Symphony
Released in an now out of print compilation of previously unreleased tunes form the Motown Vault — Mike’s cover of “I Hear A Symphony” finally saw the light of day in 1986. It was probably recorded when they started to launch his solo career away from his brothers at Motown.
Wonder if the camera man was told to focus on you know who (who messed up a lyric or two in this live TV version – LOL)
Trivia tidbit: Co-writer and co-producer of the original “I Hear A Symphony” actually recorded his own cover version of the song on another label in 2002. Lamont Dozier’s cover appears on his release “An American Original.” You see Dozier was a singer before he became a songwriter/producer for Motown.
So you know the drill. Please share your thoughts on your favorite version and any comments you have on all of the above!
My sincere thanks for your visit and participation. I am honored to have you here.
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/812879_fxs5u/20.Contours-DoYouLoveMe.mp3] The Contours – Do You Love Me (1962)
The Contours had a number #1 R&B Hit (#3US) in 1962 with this Berry Gordy, Jr. penned song that was meant for the Temptations. As the story goes, when Berry finished creating the hit for the Temptations, who had not had much luck on the charts yet, he could not locate them to get them in the recording studio. It turns out that the fellas were at the Fox Theater attending a Gospel show to both praise the Lord and hone their harmony skills listening to The Dixie Hummingbirds” and The Harmonizing Four. (These are my two favorite gospel quartets). So Gordy tasked the singing of his song to The Contours and the rest is history. The Temptations were sorry they missed out on a hit song, but things happen for a reason and we all know what bigger and better things were in store for fabulous The Temptations!
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/818552_cg5sg/TheSupremes-DoYouLoveMe.mp3] The Supremes - Do You Love Me (1964)
“Do You Love Me” next appeared on The Supremes album “A Little Bit of Liverpool” released in 1964. Now obviously, the song has nothing to do with the theme of the album, so I can only suggest it was filler for Gordy royalties – yes I said it. (LOL)
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/812878_6rdft/01.TheTempations-DoYouLoveMe.mp3] The Temptations – Do You Love Me (1995)
Now speaking of Mr. Gordy, it is on the 1995 release entitled “Memories, Music, Magic of Motown: Tribute to Berry Gordy” on which you can finally hear the Temptations do their version of “Do You Love Me”. In this outing the Motown artists of 1990’s sing the classic songs that Mr. Gordy wrote and co-wrote. In the liner notes Gordy says that getting this song concept was “easy. I remembered the days when I could never get the girls I really liked because I couldn’t dance…”
So you know the drill. Please let me know which of the three versions you like the best by voting here.
Well as always thanks for reading about and listening to the music.
