Appreciating all that makes America special

Singers: The Supremes

They were originally called the no-hit Supremes around Motown because their songs couldn't make the charts. Then came Where Did Our Love Go, and that was that. Uploaded by zoilus.com.

Okay, this fact shocked me: The Supremes are America’s most successful vocal group. Not the Beach Boys. Not the Temptations. This “girl group” that was  initially called the “no-hit Supremes” around Motown, because none of their first eight singles cracked the Top 40.

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Seeing his group struggling, Berry Gordy made an executive decision. No more sharing the lead vocals, Diana Ross would now be the primary singer. Shortly after that, “Where Did Our Love Go” became the first of twelve Supremes’ songs to make it to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Here’s a list of all their songs to make the Top 10, with their chart peak:

“Where Did Our Love Go” (1) · “Baby Love” (1) · “Come See About Me” (1) · “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1) · “Back in My Arms Again” (1) · “I Hear a Symphony” (1) · “My World is Empty Without You” (5) · “Love is Like an Itching in My Heart” (9) · “You Can’t Hurry Love” (1) · “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (1) · “Love is Here and Now You’re Gone” (1) · “The Happening” (1) · “Reflections” (2) · “In and Out of Love” (9) · “Love Child” (1) · “I’m Livin’ in Shame” (10) · “Someday We’ll Be Together” (1) · “Up the Ladder to the Roof” (10) · “Stoned Love” (7)

The history of the Supremes is filled with drama. (See Dreamgirls, loosely based on the group.) There are romances, and alcohol abuse, and rampant ego stroking. Diana Ross eventually left the group to go solo, but that didn’t really affect the group as much as when the songwriting/producing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in a contract dispute.

Still, the Supremes’ legacy is a lasting one of great pop/soul music. They’re in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and three of their songs have been added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UkIkwy5ZM]

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4 Comments

  1. oh come On …… are you real…. dreamgirls based loosely on the supremes … its bases on the mindless rantings on a second rate back up singer called mary wilson who as lived off the back of diana ross for years and by the way still is collecting royaltis for songs she didnt even sing on….i dont know how the woman sleeps at night

  2. Glenn, I don’t know why YOU and other so called “fans” let the past go concerning Mary and Diana. THEY HAVE! Do you remember when Diana received her award at BET? At the end of her speech she said, “And Mary Wilson…I really want to thank her…” Mary has, countless times, said that the past is over and they are fine – they just choose now to keep their relationship personal. You claim to be a Diana Ross fan, but you and others aren’t listening to her talk about love and forgiveness. She is not holding a grudge. Mary is not hold a grudge. They both realize that everyone sees things differently. Diana has even said that it must have been hard for the girls to sing only background when they wanted to sing lead, too. So, let it go already. Life is too damn short to hear this crap over and over when none of us where there BUT THEM. And Mary Wilson is sleeping well at night because she is doing quite well in her career as is Diana. I could go on, but it just hit me that I’m wasting my time. You’re one of those people who just like dealing in mess. GET A LIFE and find some LOVE in the world!

  3. Thank you Billie for your comment. Let enjoy these two women for all the GREAT music they have given the world. And put all the mess to the side of the road amd move on ,And yes Ms Wilson is doing good today due to
    singing all these years, and it has paid off because this woman can sing

  4. I grew up in Detroit in the sixties (60’s) on Plum St. Loved Midtown and all the musicians “MC5” that we’re around back then…
    Easttown theater..
    20Grand club…