(Above: Richard “Popcorn” Wylie’s version of “Money (That’s What I Want)” is one of music writer Bill Dahl’s favorite early Motown songs.)
By Joel Francis
Chances are good that Chicago-based music writer Bill Dahl has penned the liner notes to at least one of your favorite reissues or compilations. Since 1985, Dahl [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Supremes’
Talking Motown with Bill Dahl
Posted in Motown, Music history, tagged Arthur Adams, B. Bumble and the Stingers, Berry Gordy, Bill Dahl, Brenda Holloway, Complete Motown Singles, Diana Ross, Four Tops, Gino Parks, Gladys Knight, Gloria Jones, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, indie labels, Jackson 5, James Jamerson, Jimmy Ruffin, Jr. Walker, Kim Weston, liner notes, Luther Allison, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Mickey Stevenson, music writing, Norman Whitfield, Ray Charles, Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, Shorty Long, Singin' Sammy Ward, Supremes, Tammi Terrell, the Velvelettes, Valerie Simpson, Wilson Pickett, Yvone Fair on November 13, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The Elgins – “Heaven Must Have Sent You”
Posted in Motown, tagged Diana Ross, Elgins, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Pointer Sisters, Saundra Edwards, Supremes, Vandellas on May 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The Elgins – “Heaven Must Have Sent You,” Pop #50 , R&B #9
By Joel Francis
I suspect that if you took this single and replaced the word “Elgins” with “Supremes” and gave it to DJs with no other changes, it would have been a far bigger hit.
Not that Saundra Edwards’ voice sounds like Diana Ross’ – [...]
Temptations – “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Bruce Springsteen, David Ruffin, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, James Jamerson, Jimmy Ruffin, Mary Wilson, Norman Whitfield, Paul Riser, Pistol Allen, Smokey Robinson, Supremes, Temptations, The Miracles on May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Temptations – “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep,” Pop #3, R&B #1
By Joel Francis
After teaming to give the Tempts a No. 1 R&B hit with “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland paired again to deliver “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep,” which fared even better. The song was the Temptations’ third hit of [...]
Jr. Walker and the All Stars – “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Junior Walker, Marvin Gaye, soul music, Supremes on April 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Jr. Walker and the All Stars – “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” Pop #18, R&B #3
By Joel Francis
Because he owned both the label and its publishing, it’s no surprise that Berry Gordy frequently had other label artists cut versions of earlier Motown hits. While there are several notable exceptions, for the [...]
Jimmy Ruffin – “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”
Posted in Motown, tagged Bee Gees, Colin Blunstone, Dave Stewart, David Ruffin, Diana Ross, Hitsville U.S.A., Jimmy Ruffin, Supremes, The Temptations, Zombies on March 30, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Jimmy Ruffin – “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” Pop #7, R&B #6
By Joel Francis
Jimmy Ruffin isn’t as well-known as his brother, the late Temptations singer David Ruffin, but Jimmy didn’t land at Motown through nepotism. Raised in Mississippi, Jimmy sang with David in the family gospel group. When he was drafted, Jimmy entertained the troops [...]
The Marvelettes – “Don’t Mess With Bill”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Hitsville U.S.A., Martha and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson, Supremes on January 21, 2009 | 2 Comments »
The Marvelettes – “Don’t Mess With Bill,” Pop #7, R&B #3
The three years between this hit and the Marvelettes’ previous chart entry, “Beechwood 4-5789,” saw them slide from Barry Gordy’s go-to girl group to third fiddle behind Martha and the Vandellas and the Supremes. After passing on “Where Did Our Love Go,” which became a [...]
Four Tops – “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Byrds, Four Tops, Funk Brothers, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Joel Francis, Rolling Stones, soul music, Supremes on November 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Four Tops – “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” Pop #1, R&B #1
By Joel Francis
The piano riff that kicks off this tune is instantly and universally recognizable – and with good reason. Depsite the apologetic lyrics, Levi Stubbs’ magnificent vocals are a ray of sunshine. He might be singing that he’s “weaker than [...]
The Supremes – “Baby Love,” “Come See About Me”
Posted in Motown, tagged Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Hitsville U.S.A., Holland-Dozier-Holland, Jr. Walker, Smokey Robinson, soul music, Supremes on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Supremes – “Baby Love,” Pop #1, R&B #1
The Supremes – “Come See About Me,” Pop #1, R&B #3
By Joel Francis
(Note: Since the producers of the “Hitsville U.S.A.” box set programmed these tracks back-to-back, we’ll tackle them in one entry.)
For most people, the Supremes are Motown. Label founder Berry Gordy certainly didn’t hesitate to promote [...]
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