Meet The Supremes
Meet the Supremes | ||||
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![]() Original 1962 release | ||||
Studio album by The Supremes | ||||
Released | December 9, 1962 (1962-12-09) | |||
Recorded | October, 1960–September, 1962 | |||
Studio | Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit | |||
Genre |
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Length | 29:36 | |||
Label | Motown MT 606 | |||
Producer |
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The Supremes chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() Album cover for 1964 Stateside/EMI UK release | ||||
Singles from Meet the Supremes | ||||
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Meet the Supremes is the debut studio album by The Supremes, released in late 1962 on Motown.
The LP includes the group's singles: "I Want a Guy", "Buttered Popcorn", "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and "Let Me Go the Right Way".
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tom Hull | B+ (![]() ![]() |
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.'[5]
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.'[6] Similarly, Bonnie Stiernberg of Paste wrote 'the innuendo-laced track is not unlike buttered popcorn — salty, fluffy, and oh so good'.[7] 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'.[8]
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.[5]
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.'[4]
Track listing
All lead vocals by Diana Ross except where indicated
Side one
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me" (Smokey Robinson) - 2:39
- "Who's Lovin' You" (Smokey Robinson) - 2:49
- "Baby Don't Go" (Berry Gordy, Jr.) (lead: Mary Wilson)[9] - 2:13
- "Buttered Popcorn" (Gordy, Barney Ales) (lead: Florence Ballard)[6] - 2:35
- "I Want a Guy" (Gordy, Brian Holland, Freddie Gorman) - 2:53
Side two
- "Let Me Go the Right Way" (Gordy) (lead: Diana Ross,[10] Florence Ballard)[5] - 2:32
- "You Bring Back Memories" (Robinson) - 2:39
- "Time Changes Things" (Brian Holland, Janie Bradford, Lamont Dozier) - 2:33
- "Play a Sad Song" (Gordy) - 2:57
- "Never Again" (Gordy) - 3:01
- "(He's) Seventeen" (Raynoma Liles, Marv Johnson) - 2:47
UK version
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.[11][12] 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),[13] whilst both singles were still in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.[14] 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.[14]
Side one
- "Where Did Our Love Go" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - 2:33
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me" (Robinson) - 2:39
- "Buttered Popcorn" (Gordy, Ales) (lead: Florence Ballard) - 2:35
- "Baby Don't Go" (Gordy) (lead: Mary Wilson) - 2:13
- "(The Man With the) Rock and Roll Banjo Band" (Clarence Paul, Gordy)
- "I Want a Guy" (Gordy, Holland, Gorman) - 2:53
Side two
- "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - 3:05
- "You Bring Back Memories" (Robinson) - 2:39
- "Play a Sad Song" (Gordy) - 2:57
- "Time Changes Things" (Holland, Bradford, Dozier) - 2:33
- "Never Again" (Gordy) - 3:01
- "Standing at the Crossroads of Love" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - 2:27
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)
- "Run, Run, Run" (Live 1964) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
- "Standing At The Crossroads Of Love" (Live 1964) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
- "Anyone Who Had A Heart" (Live 1964) (Burt Bacharach, Hal David)
- "Time Changes Things" (Live 1964)
- "Make Someone Happy" (Live 1964) (Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne)
- "Let Me Go The Right Way" (Live 1964)
- "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" (Live 1964) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
Personnel
- Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Barbara Martin - lead and background vocals
- The Funk Brothers - instrumentation
- Berry Gordy - producer (some tracks); executive producer
- Smokey Robinson - producer (some tracks)
- Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier - producers on "Time Changes Things"
- Raymona Liles Gordy - musitron & ondioline instrumentation (some tracks); producer on "(He's) Seventeen"
- Barni Wright - cover design
Singles history
- "I Want a Guy" b/w "Never Again" (Tamla 54038, March 9, 1961)
- "Buttered Popcorn" b/w "Who's Lovin' You" (Tamla 54045, July 21, 1961; re-recorded version issued in August)
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me" b/w "(He's) Seventeen" (Motown 1027, May 8, 1962)
- "Let Me Go the Right Way" b/w "Time Changes Things" (Motown 1034, November 22, 1962)
Chart history
Chart (1964) | Peak position |
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UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 13 |
References
- ^ Paste Staff (November 6, 2023). "The 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time". Paste. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
...Meet the Supremes is a masterpiece of '60s R&B.
- ^ Hamilton, Andrew. Meet The Supremes at AllMusic
- ^ Colin Larkin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1994. ISBN 9780857125958. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ a b Hull, Tom (November 2013). "Recycled Goods (#114)". A Consumer Guide to the Trailing Edge. Tom Hull. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Hamilton, Andrew. "Meet The Supremes". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ a b Chick, Stevie (8 October 2014). "Diana Ross & the Supremes: 10 of the best". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ Stiernberg, Bonnie (September 13, 2010). "13 Great Songs Sung by Non-Lead Singers". Paste. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ "The Supremes - "Buttered Popcorn" - Classic Motown". classic.motown.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Don't Forget the Motor City". Dftmc.info. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ "'Fresh Air' Remembers Mary Wilson, Founding Member Of The Supremes". WHYY. npr. February 12, 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ Sexton, Paul (December 5, 2020). "'Meet The Supremes': A Belated Introduction For British Album Buyers". UDiscover Music. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ Brown, Billie Jean; Solomon, George (26 March 2010). Meet The Supremes: Expanded Edition (liner notes). The Supremes. USA: Hip-O Select, Motown. B0013788-02.
- ^ James, Scott St. (1964). Meet The Supremes (liner notes). The Supremes. England, United Kingdom: Stateside, EMI. SL 10109.
- ^ a b "SUPREMES (full Official Chart History)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "The Supremes | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
External links
- Meet The Supremes at Discogs (list of releases)
- v
- t
- e
- Florence Ballard
- Cindy Birdsong
- Susaye Greene
- Lynda Laurence
- Barbara Martin
- Betty McGlown
- Scherrie Payne
- Diana Ross
- Jean Terrell
- Mary Wilson
- Meet The Supremes (1962)
- Where Did Our Love Go (1964)
- More Hits by The Supremes (1965)
- I Hear a Symphony (1966)
- The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966)
- The Supremes Sing Holland–Dozier–Holland (1967)
- Reflections (1968)
- Love Child (1968)
- Let the Sunshine In (1969)
- Cream of the Crop (1969)
- Right On (1970)
- New Ways but Love Stays (1970)
- Touch (1971)
- Floy Joy (1972)
- The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb (1972)
- The Supremes (1975)
- High Energy (1976)
- Mary, Scherrie & Susaye (1976)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations (1968)
- Together (1969)
- The Magnificent 7 (1970)
- The Return of the Magnificent Seven (1971)
- Dynamite (1971)
- The Supremes at the Copa (1965)
- Live at London's Talk of the Town (1968)
- TCB (1968)
- On Broadway (1969)
- Farewell (1970)
- The Supremes Live! In Japan (1973)
- A Bit of Liverpool (1964)
- The Supremes Sing Country, Western and Pop (1965)
- We Remember Sam Cooke (1965)
- Merry Christmas (1965)
- The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart (1967)
- Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl" (1968)
- "Tears of Sorrow" (as The Primettes)
- "I Want a Guy"
- "Buttered Popcorn"
- "Your Heart Belongs to Me"
- "Let Me Go the Right Way"
- "My Heart Can't Take It No More"
- "A Breathtaking Guy"
- "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes"
- "Run, Run, Run"
- "Where Did Our Love Go"
- "Baby Love"
- "Come See About Me"
- "Stop! In the Name of Love"
- "Back in My Arms Again"/"Whisper You Love Me Boy"
- "Nothing but Heartaches"
- "I Hear a Symphony"
- "My World Is Empty Without You"
- "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart"
- "You Can't Hurry Love"
- "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
- "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
- "The Happening"
- "Reflections"
- "In and Out of Love"
- "Forever Came Today"
- "Some Things You Never Get Used To"
- "Love Child"
- "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
- "I'm Livin' in Shame"
- "I'll Try Something New"
- "The Composer"
- "No Matter What Sign You Are"
- "The Weight"
- "I Second That Emotion"
- "Someday We'll Be Together"
- "Why (Must We Fall in Love)"
- "Up the Ladder to the Roof"
- "Everybody's Got the Right to Love"
- "Stoned Love"
- "River Deep – Mountain High"
- "Nathan Jones"
- "You Gotta Have Love in Your Heart"
- "Touch"
- "Floy Joy"
- "Automatically Sunshine"
- "Without the One You Love"
- "Your Wonderful, Sweet Sweet Love"
- "I Guess I'll Miss the Man"
- "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
- "Bad Weather"
- "Tossin' and Turnin'"
- "He's My Man"
- "Where Do I Go from Here"
- "Early Morning Love"
- "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking"
- "High Energy"
- "You're My Driving Wheel"
- "Let Yourself Go"
- "Love, I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good"
- T.A.M.I. Show
- Greatest Hits: Live in Amsterdam
- Reflections: The Definitive Performances (1964–1969)
- Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
- Sparkle (1976 film)
- Dreamgirls (musical)
- Dreamgirls (film)
- Sparkle (2012 film)
- Discography
- 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–)
- Members
- FLOS
- Farewell concert
- Return to Love Tour
Category