Dec 14

The Supremes

Highly Appreciated

THE SUPREMES
 
 
The Supremes  were an American female singing group and the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960’s, primarily with Diana Ross as lead singer.  Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes are, to date, America’s most successful vocal group with 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.  At their peak in the mid-1960s, the Supremes rivaled the Beatles in worldwide popularity, and their success made it possible for future African American R&B and soul musicians to find mainstream success.  In 1967, Motown president Berry Gordy renamed the group Diana Ross & the Supremes.  Ross left to pursue a solo career in 1970 and was replaced by Jean Terrell, at which point the group’s name reverted to the Supremes.  The Supremes disbanded in 1977 after an 18-year run.   (More from Wikipedia)
 
 
Many other artists in the 1960s also took a whack at psychedelia.  Kenny Rogers’ first band the First Edition had an early hit song with “Just Dropped in (to See What Condition My Condition was In)”; though the lyrics kind of miss the boat, they are still charmingly corny.  “Hurdy Gurdy Man” is one of many great psychedelic songs Donovan came up with.  The Beatles had Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and the Rolling Stones had Their Satanic Majesties’ Request.  Even Motown got into the act:  The Supremes hit with “Reflections”, while the Temptations had several psychedelic songs – “Psychedelic Shack”, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)”, “Runaway Child, Runnin’ Wild”, and others.  Many were on their 1970 album Psychedelic Shack; one of the biggest hits by the B-52’s, “Love Shack” was in part an homage to this record. 
 
*       *       *

There are two covers on the Index album:  “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (more the Vanilla Fudge version than the Supremes version) and the Byrds’ “Eight Miles High” (speaking of great psychedelic songs).  If there was ever a song that cried out for a really extended treatment, it was “Eight Miles High”; and I still remember well the first time I heard a long version of “Eight Miles High” at a party while I was in college.  The artist turned out to be Golden Earring, a Dutch band that has been around about as long as the Rolling Stones; they went on to have two giant hits – both of which I still love – “Radar Love” and “Twilight Zone”. 
 
(March 2011)
 
*       *       *
 

A torrent of girl groups followed, among them Martha and the Vandellas, the Supremes, the Marvelettes, the Shirelles, the Ronettes, and the Orlons.  Bette Midler’s revival of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in 1973 reminded rock audiences of the Andrews Sisters, who had had the original hit with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” during World War II.  More recently, the Spice Girls, TLC and Destiny’s Child (whence came Beyoncé) continued the tradition. 

 

(October 2013)

 

*       *       *

 

In addition to Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson of Heart, there are a host of Wilsons who have made popular music over the years.  The Beach Boys – “America’s band” according to no less than President Ronald Reagan (whose middle name is Wilson, come to think of it) – was founded in 1961 by Brian Wilson, his brothers Dennis Wilson and Carl Wilson, and their cousin Mike Love; Al Jardine was the one original bandmember not in the family.  Another Nancy Wilson is a top-notch jazz vocalist who started in the 1960’s and frequently crossed over to the R&B and rock charts.  Mary Wilson was one of the founding members of the Supremes; the story of the other bandmembers being eclipsed by lead singer Diana Ross formed the main storyline for the Broadway musical Dreamgirls that later made Jennifer Hudson a star in the film version, Dreamgirls.  Then there are R&B singers Jackie Wilson and Wilson Pickett, country star Gretchen Wilson, comedian and chef Justin Wilson, and many others. 

 

(November 2013)

 

*       *       *

 

Vanilla Fudge had a well developed formula of covering a variety of hit songs in a slowed down, psychedelicized manner; their debut album, Vanilla Fudge (1967) was filled with them:  the Supremes hit “You Keep Me Hanging On” (which is what got them signed in the first place to the Atlantic Records affiliate, Atco Records); two Beatles songs, “Ticket to Ride” and “Eleanor Rigby”; an Impressions classic “People Get Ready”; the Zombies song “She’s Not There”; and Sonny and Cher’s “Bang Bang”.  
 
(April 2014)
 
Last edited: March 22, 2021