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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.
Musically Yours,
Filed under: A Breath Taking Guy, Girl Groups, Motown, Pop/R&B, R&B/Motown, Sixties, The Supremes, William "Smokey" Robinson
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I love this song. It is another great love song penned by William “Smokey” Robinson. Of course I love every song I ever heard by the Classic 5 and the HOF 6 sing, so it goes without saying. Even though David Ruffin dominated this lp, and I am a huge Eddie Kendrick (R.I.P) fan, I still love this song and this lp. Nothing can beat the sound of The Temptations harmonies! Absolutley nothing! And I have to admit that David is singing up a storm – he is at the height of his career here. Unfortunately this was to be his last album as a “Temptation”.
The IWIWR LP (Gordy 927 ), released April 29, 1968, went to #1 R&B and #13 on the Pop chart.
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I wonder if Bobby Taylor’s version of “Cindy” was intended to be the original version released? According to the liner notes of the 2007 “Cellarful of Motown Volume 3″, where this song was finally released, the track and Mr. Taylor ‘s Taylor’s vocal were put down in January 1968. It stayed in the vault until all that time, not even being included on the 2006 “Bobby Taylor Motown Anthology” pictured above. Wonder why?
Well you know I really want to hear from you on which version you prefer so please vote here.
Thanks for listening, reading and voting.
Filed under: Bobby Taylor, Cindy, Motown Covers Motown, Motown/Gordy, R&B/Motown, Sixties, The Temptations, William "Smokey" Robinson
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/846084_avmz5/Marvelettes%20-%20HunterGetsCapturedByTheGame] The Marvelettes – The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game (1967)
1967′s “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” as sung by The Marvelettes, came from their self-titled album of the same year. The cut reached #2 on the Billboard R&B chart and #13 on the Hot 100. The song is classic Smokey Robinson with some of the most inventive and clever lyrics I have ever heard. This has got to be one of my favorite Motown songs of all time!
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/927373_y9yxd/B%20McNair%20HunterGetsCapturedByTheGame.mp3] Barbara McNair – The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game (1968)
Barbara McNair’s version of THGCBTG was recorded July-August 1968 for her second and final Motwn album, “The Real Barbara McNair”, released April 1969. Pretty sultry. Eh?
[audio http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/846083_ddntn/BlinkyHunterGetCapturedByTheGame] Blinky – The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game (1968)
In 1969, Edwin Starr was blazing, just coming off the hit 25 Miles album, a good time to try to see if the company could capture the magic of some of the labels other pairings. Saundra “Blinky” Williams had grown up in Los Angeles the daughter of a pastor, and she had been active in church choirs since the age of six. She debuted on Motown with the single “I Wouldn’t Change The Man He Is” in 1968, and she was tapped as one of the label’s future stars. Unfortunately, most of her solo work, save for a few singles, remains unreleased. (Source)
This Blinky gem (pictured above with Edwin Starr on their album of duets entitled “Just We Two) was first released on the now out of print “Motown Sings Motown Treasures” in 1998. The liner notes say that this track was recorded 5/17/1968 (my 14th birthday!) as a track for Gladys Knight & The Pips. Blinky’s vocals and additional elements were added 8/29/68. Hmmm … I wonder if GK&TP ever recorded their version? If you know do drop me a line please.
Before you go I’d be interested in your opinion: which version of THGCBTG do you prefer? Please vote here.
Thanks for dropping by. I really appreciate your visits.
Filed under: Barbara McNair, Fabulous Female Vocalists, Girl Groups, Motown, Motown Covers Motown, R&B/Motown, Saundra "Blinky" Williams, Sixties, The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game, The Marvelettes, William "Smokey" Robinson
