Love Child/Supremes A Go Go [Remastered] - Supremes (The)

...Motown classic You Can't Hurry Love became their SEVENTH chart-topping single. You Can't Hurry Love is one of The Supremes definitive classics. Lead singer Diana Ross whips along the verses with conviction, surfboarding along the upbeat musical arrangements. You Can't Hurry Love bounced to No.3 on the U.K charts though Phil Collins managed to take his (inferior) version to the top of the British charts seventeen years later in 1983. You Can't Hurry ...
...the rip-roaring, sassy and evocative Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart. Those jamming musical arrangements courtesy of Motowns in house band known as The Funk Brothers, great lyrics from Holland-Dozier-Holland, a soulful, sexually-charged tour de force vocal performance from Diana Ross to some strong and highly effective backing vocals from Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson make this yet another perfect Supremes classic and was scores ahead of the ... more

Diana Ross and the Supremes continued their classic run of mega hits into 1966 where that nifty Motown classic You Can't Hurry Love became their SEVENTH chart-topping single. You Can't Hurry Love is one of The Supremes definitive classics. Lead singer Diana Ross whips along the verses with conviction, surfboarding along the upbeat musical arrangements. You Can't Hurry Love bounced to No.3 on the U.K charts though Phil Collins managed to take his (inferior) version to the top of the British charts seventeen years later in 1983. You Can't Hurry Love was the only chart-topping single originally by The Supremes to be found on the accompanying album, The Supremes A Go Go (1966).

Even more exciting was the rip-roaring, sassy and evocative Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart. Those jamming musical arrangements courtesy of Motowns in house band known as The Funk Brothers, great lyrics from Holland-Dozier-Holland, a soulful, sexually-charged tour de force vocal performance from Diana Ross to some strong and highly effective backing vocals from Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson make this yet another perfect Supremes classic and was scores ahead of the light Pop/R&B ballads of their earlier phenomenon. All the more surprisingly Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart only got as far as No.9 on the U.S billboard charts and didn't even chart in the U.K though it certainly had all the momentum and fire to have cracked the top spot.

(Incidentally Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart went on to become a big Northern Soul hit in the 1970's)

The remainder of The Supremes A Go Go (1966) were crammed with impressive, dynamic cover versions of familiar hits of the day all of which were mostly songs by other Motown artists such as The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Isley Brothers, The Elgins and Martha Reeves And The Vandellas.

Diana Ross puts in a fine, easy-going performance on their cover version of The Isley Brothers, This Old Heart Of Mine (Is weak For You) though it does admitedly lack the punch of the original.

There are a total of three cover versions of The Four Tops classic hits. Ross' sweet, sensual voice may have not have that bite and edge of Levi Stubbs rocketing vocal style but she remarkably manages to make any song she sing completely her own. Though quite lightweight their take on The Four Tops classic 1965 chart-topper I Can't Help Myself is contagious from its fantastically arranged orchestrations and comes complete with a super fine performance from Ross. This could have easily been a hit for The Supremes had it not already been for The Four Tops.

The sweeping arrangements on their dynamic take on Baby I Need Your Loving are sensational and Ross packs in another cracking vocal performance gliding along with ease and style.

What does manage to even better the original is their far more effective version of Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over). If anything these cover versions proved a great experiment for the developing Diana Ross sound even if it did subsequently leave Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson lurking bitterly in the shadows.

I must admit I was quite cynical on seeing that on the track list there was a cover version of Nancy Sinatras' chart-topper These Boots Are Made For Walking but soon ate humble pie on just one listen to Ross' cool, sassy delivery.

Ross does a stellar job on their version of The Temptations Get Ready which she performs with verve and style (even if it doesn't place no great threat to the original). They actually improve The Elgins, Put Yourself In My Place. Ross delivers a nice, intricate performance whilst there are soothing backing vocals from Ballard and Wilson.

Motowns pioneering hit was Barrett Strongs superb Money (That's What I Want), a song that echoed the perils of the restrictions of the ghetto (to which they were no strangers to). It's quite clear that Diana and the girls were forced to do some of these numbers in just a few takes, especially on this track, but they do manage to do an adequate job even if it does pale next to the original.

Mary Wilson, the only surviving memeber of The Supremes to remain right to the groups bitter end in 1977 when they quietly disbanded years after their peak, heads up front on a moderate cover version of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas classic Come And Get These Memories. Though Wilson has a nice, breathy soprano, it clearly lacks the depth and range of Ross' more distinct and unique style.

Completing the track line up is their fabulous and unique version of Hang On Sloopy where Ross' performance is strong, assertive and passionate sounding magnificent as do the great backing harmonies of Wilson and Ballard.

Motowns obvious marketing ploy was that in getting The Supremes to do a series of famous cover versions of hits from around that era, this would instantly sell the album in big proportions as well as also showing how adept and versatile a vocalist Ross had become (her solo career was under discussion now even though she wouldn't fly from the group until early 1970). Well, Motowns strategy worked as The Supremes A Go Go (1966) raced to the top of the album charts elbowing off The Beatles, Revolver from the top spot. Though highly commercial and formulaic, The Supremes A Go Go proves compelling and indeed a classic album.

Love Child became Diana Ross and the Supremes eleventh chart-topper in late 1968. This song was actually something of a comeback for Ross and the Supremes as their previous singles Somethings You Never Get Used To and Forever Came Today didn't even manage to break into the Top 20 charts.

It's true that a lot of Motown acts suffered from the loss of the genius songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland. Holland-Dozier-Holland take credit for creating and defining that magical phenomenon that became commonly known as "The Motown sound - the sound of young America". Holland-Dozier-Holland had left Motown in early 1968 following a bitter dispute with head boss Berry Gordy over royalty payments (many other Motown acts also sued the company over back royalty payments as most felt they were exploited).

Anxious to keep the "motown sound" alive and thriving, Berry Gordy appointed some remarkably talented new in-house songwriters and producers with the cream of the crop including the likes of Ashford and Simpson, Norman Whitfield, Deke Richards, Frank Wilson to name but a few.

Love Child had been penned by Frank Wilson, Deke Richards and R.Dean Taylor (one of Motowns few white acts that scored hits with the classic There's A Ghost In My House and Gotta See Jane). This was Diana Ross and the Supremes first real contemporary musical offering that made any form of political statement and to explore relevant social issues of that of a baby born out of wedlock. Love Child was deemed controversial at the time though is tame by todays standards.

Love Child was perharps Ross and the Supremes most compelling and powerful recording. Ross puts in a power-house performance sounding untypically raw and earthy across the dramatic orchestrations thats given a sharp, soulful edge. Whilst hitting No.1 in the States it also enjoyed success in the U.K (renewing their popularity there where they had also struggled with their last two singles) where it became a Top 20 hit gliding in at No.15.

The Love Child album steers away from their earlier sound and if anything you could argue this does sound more like a showcase for Ross' talents (which was the case pretty much from their first hit and as neither Mary Wilson or Cindy Birdsong hardly appear on any of these tracks as backing duties were provided by The Andantes). This does lack the group-oriented sound of their earlier phenomenon but still its a credible album and showed The Supremes comfortably changing with the ever-changing musical tastes of the 1960s.

Motown had by now fully recognised the potential in albums being used as pieces of musical art and not just a mere dumping ground for routine "filler" (as mostly the case with studio albums by any Motown artist in the 60's with all acts covering each others hits).

Ashford and Simpsons Keep An Eye has a slow, mellow arrangement thats ignited by Ross' strikingly husky delivery. Keep An Eye tells the tale of betrayal, bitterness and paranoya and really has that urban feel which was the intentional tone of the album (one look at the front cover with Ross, Wilson and Birdsong sporting afro hairstyles, dressed in cut off jeans and sweatshirts standing somewhere down some isolated back alley in the heart of Detroit really conveys that this album was going to be pure street).

How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone continues the mellow mood where Ross lets go and puts in a strong, assertive performance which compliments the complex musical arrangements consisting of that pounding percussion and glorious saxophone interludes courtesy of Motowns legendary in-house band known as The Funk Brothers.

More reminiscent of their showbiz persona was their commendable take on Does Your Mama Know About Me where Ross' voice shines too full effect revealing the real depth and essence in her soft, unique voice whilst moe familiar but ultimately an unexpected highlight of the album is the totally infectious Honey Bee Keep On Stinging Me. This track really was more reminiscent of their earlier sound with a contemporary twist. Ross sings in an engaging lower throat register which proves quite effective for her unusual, unique sound.

Somethings You Never Get Used To was Ross and the Supremes first single since 1963 not to have been written and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland. They were immediately teamed with the multi-talented duo Ashford and Simpson that brought to Motown their own brand of chic, New York kind of sound that was fresh and exciting. The rolling Somethings You Never Get Used To was a concious effort by Ashford and Simpson to keep up the momentum of Holland-Dozier-Holland and it partially succeeds in its mission even though this became their first single since 1963 not to hit the Top 20.

He's My Sunny Boy is utterly fabulous from its fantastically assembled musical arrangements to the gorgeous, yearning sounds of Ross' slightly angelic vocals where as that showbizzy sound they delved into at their live concerts, creeps in on You've Been So Wonderful To Me though is still a catchy affair at that with Ross putting in a warm, exuberant vocal performance.

Even better was the upbeat, feel-good Chains Of Love where Ross' stirring performance is impressive whilst they make their version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrells' You Ain't Livin Till Your Lovin' compelling with Ross putting in a commendable intepretation.

Ross' delicate voice enhances to great effect on the soulful I'll Set You Free whilst they move into funkier terriotry on the fun, bouncy I Can't Shake Loose where Ross' soulful performance ignites the stirring arrangements.

Love Child (1969) remains one of Diana Ross and the Supremes most popular studio albums. It was a big seller jumping into the Top 10 album charts on both sides of the Atlantic as well as winning many favourable reviews from critics that had previously predicted that Ross and the Supremes would sink following the departure of Holand Dozier Holland.

Love Child (1969) captures Diana Ross and the Supremes - the worlds biggest girl group of all time - at their swinging prime. For any lover of Motown or indeed Ross this album is pure gold!

Ian Phillips

July 2006 

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