The LP includes the group's earliest singles: "I Want a Guy", "Buttered Popcorn", "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and "Let Me Go the Right Way". The earliest recordings on this album, done between fall 1960 and fall 1961, feature the Supremes as a quartet composed of teenagers Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and Barbara Martin. Martin left the group in early 1962 to start a family, and the other three girls continued as a trio. Martin is not pictured on the album because of her departure earlier in the year, although her vocals are present on the majority of the recordings on the album (as well as other recordings made during that period). She does have a spoken interlude line (as do the other group members) on the bridge of the song "(He's) Seventeen", and also sings lead on "After All", a song recorded for but not originally included on the album. Along with these songs, Ballard and Wilson are heard out front on other songs as well. Wilson sings lead on "The Tears" (another former non-album track) and "Baby Don't Go"; Ballard has leads on a handful of songs as well (see below), including "Buttered Popcorn" and the short intro line to "Let Me Go the Right Way".
None of these singles charted within the top 40 of the Billboard Pop Singles chart, leading to the group being referred to around the Motown offices as the "no-hit" Supremes. By the time of their next LP, Where Did Our Love Go, the Supremes would have two top 40 hits to their name, one of them, "Where Did Our Love Go", a number-one hit.
Meet The Supremes was originally issued only in monaural sound. A stereo remix of the album, with a new cover, was issued along with the original mono version in 1965. Additionally, a deluxe two compact disc edition was released by Hip-O Select in the spring of 2010, which included both the mono and stereo versions of the album, as well as several outtakes, non-album tracks and live performances.
The original album track order contained ten songs. Side 1: Your Heart Belongs To Me; Who's Lovin' You; Baby Don't Go; Buttered Popcorn; I Want A Guy. Side 2: The Boy That Got Away; You Bring Back Memories; Play A Sad Song; Never Again; (He's) Seventeen. This configuration was withdrawn to include the current hit, "Let Me Go The Right Way" and the B-side, "Time Changes Things". "The Boy That Got Away" was withdrawn from the line-up, giving the album 11 tracks. [Deluxe Version "Meet The Supremes" 2010].
Andrew Hamilton for Allmusic, described "Your Heart Belongs to Me" as 'romantic and sentimental', writing it 'should have been the Supremes' first hit. It's every bit as charming as his chartbusters for Mary Wells.' Hamilton praised The Supremes' vocals, writing, 'Diana Ross' sweet tender lead, assisted by Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard's warm harmonies, could melt icebergs.' Furthermore, Hamilton praised their 'enthusiastic vocals' on "Let Me Go the Right Way". Hamilton also noted 'Ross' vocals on "Who's Lovin' You" are intense and bluesy; Wilson leads the soulful "Baby Don't Go"; and Ballard leads the raucous "Buttered Popcorn," a tune more suited for the Contours.'[4]
Stevie Chick of The Guardian, listed "Buttered Popcorn" as one of the best 10 Supremes songs. Chick expressed that Ballard was 'A bold, big-voiced belter' and described the song as 'A piece of raw, ribald soul lacking the polish that gilded their [The Supremes'] later hits'. Also, 'Ballard growls salaciously on Buttered Popcorn that her boyfriend “likes it greasy, and sticky, and salty, and gooey”, a knowingly saucy performance that somehow escaped the interference of Motown's infamous Quality Control department.'[5] Similarly, Bonnie Stiernberg of Paste wrote 'the innuendo-laced track is not unlike buttered popcorn — salty, fluffy, and oh so good'.[6] Contemporary reviews of "Buttered Popcorn" include a B+ from Cashbox, whilst music columnist Wayne Harada in The Honolulu Advertiser called the song 'A novelty' which 'merits attention'.[7]
On the contrary, Hamilton expressed that on their first recording, "I Want a Guy," 'the backing voices are buried, and Ross' voice sounds whiny and high-pitched', describing "I Want a Guy" and 'the '50s-sounding "He's Seventeen," as 'the only bummers'. More positively, "Time Changes Things" is noted as 'a forerunner to later efforts by Holland-Dozier-Holland', "Play a Sad Song" is described as a 'torching' ballad 'Blues lovers will relish' and the 'straight '50s doo wop' of "Never Again" drew a comparison to the Chantels.[4]
American music critic Tom Hull noted the album is 'mostly songs by Berry Gordy Jr. or Smokey Robinson,' which 'spawned four singles that went nowhere, although "I Want a Guy" and "Let Me Go the Right Way" are catchy enough.'[3]
Track listing
All lead vocals by Diana Ross except where indicated
The 1964 UK release has a different tracklisting, featuring songs from the US album releases: Meet The Supremes and Where Did Our Love Go. It also contains the b-side "(The Man With The) Rock & Roll Banjo Band", which would later appear on The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop.[10][11] Following the success of singles "Where Did Our Love Go" and "Baby Love", which peaked at number three and number one in the UK respectively, Meet The Supremes was released in the UK on Stateside (#SL 10109),[12] whilst both singles were still in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.[13]Meet The Supremes debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart on December 5, 1964, rising to its peak of number 13, the following week. The album spent a total of 6 weeks in the top 20.[13]
Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr. & Smokey Robinson, a rare track that features all four group members - including early member Barbara Martin - taking a lead verse
"Because I Love Him" (Gordy)
a cover of Eddie Holland's "Because I Love Her"
Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., featuring Diana Ross on lead vocals
"Tears Of Sorrow" (Richard Morris, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard)
a cover of the group's Lu Pine Records single (when they were The Primettes)
Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., featuring Diana Ross on lead vocals
"The Boy That Got Away" (Gordy)
Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., featuring Diana Ross on lead vocals
The second pressing of the album with the alternate artwork incorrectly lists this song as being included on side two
"You're Gonna Come To Me" (Gordy)
There were 4 different recordings of this song - 3 recordings were done as the group was a quartet, 1 recording was done as the group was a trio
Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr. (vers. 1-3) or Brian Holland & Lamont Dozier (ver. 4), featuring Diana Ross on lead vocals
"Those DJ Shows" (Robinson)
Produced Smokey Robinson, featuring Diana Ross on lead vocals
"Too Hot" (Gordy)
Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., featuring Diana Ross on lead vocals
There were 4 different recordings of this song done during this period
Produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., featuring Diana Ross on lead vocals
All of these recordings have been released in various Supremes/Motown compilations, and (except for "You're Gonna Come To Me" & "Tears Of Sorrow") were added to the album as bonus tracks in the 2010 CD reissue.
2010 expanded CD bonus track listing
"Your Heart Belongs To Me" (Live 1962)
"I Want A Guy" (Live 1962)
"Time Changes Things" (Live 1962)
"Let Me Go The Right Way" (Live 1962)
"After All" (Stereo Mix)
"(You Can) Depend On Me" (Version 2)
"The Boy That Got Away" (Alternate Mix)
"Hey Baby" (Version 2)
"Too Hot" (Version 1)
"Buttered Popcorn" (Version 3)
"Buttered Popcorn" (Version 4)
"I Want A Guy" (Version 1)
"Who's Lovin’ You" (Stereo Mix w/Mono Vocal)
"Because I Love Him" (Version 2)
"Save Me A Star" (Stereo Mix)
"Heavenly Father" (Stereo Mix)
"Those DJ Shows" (Stereo Mix)
"The Tears" (Stereo Mix)
"Your Heart Belongs To Me" (Version 1)
"I'm Giving You Your Freedom" (Alternate Mix) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
Chronology (The band's name history: The Primettes 1959–1961 / The Supremes 1961–1967 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1967–1970 / The Supremes 1970 / Diana Ross & The Supremes 1970 / The Supremes 1970–)
Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.
2019-2025 WikiSort.org - проект по пересортировке и дополнению контента Википедии