Meet The Supremes Explained

Meet the Supremes
Type:Studio
Artist:The Supremes
Cover:Meet_the_supremes_1962.jpg
Caption:Original 1962 release
Recorded:October, 1960–September, 1962
Studio:Hitsville U.S.A., Detroit
Genre:
Length:29:36
Label:Motown
Producer:
Next Title:Where Did Our Love Go
Next Year:1964

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

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.'[2]

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.'[3] Similarly, Bonnie Stiernberg of Paste wrote 'the innuendo-laced track is not unlike buttered popcorn — salty, fluffy, and oh so good'.[4] 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'.[5]

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.[2]

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.'

Track listing

All lead vocals by Diana Ross except where indicated

Side one

  1. "Your Heart Belongs to Me" (Smokey Robinson) - 2:39
  2. "Who's Lovin' You" (Smokey Robinson) - 2:49
  3. "Baby Don't Go" (Berry Gordy, Jr.) (lead: Mary Wilson)[6] - 2:13
  4. "Buttered Popcorn" (Gordy, Barney Ales) (lead: Florence Ballard)[3] - 2:35
  5. "I Want a Guy" (Gordy, Brian Holland, Freddie Gorman) - 2:53

Side two

  1. "Let Me Go the Right Way" (Gordy) (lead: Diana Ross,[7] Florence Ballard)[2] - 2:32
  2. "You Bring Back Memories" (Robinson) - 2:39
  3. "Time Changes Things" (Brian Holland, Janie Bradford, Lamont Dozier) - 2:33
  4. "Play a Sad Song" (Gordy) - 2:57
  5. "Never Again" (Gordy) - 3:01
  6. "(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.[8] [9] 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),[10] whilst both singles were still in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.[11] 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.[11]

Side one

  1. "Where Did Our Love Go" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - 2:33
  2. "Your Heart Belongs to Me" (Robinson) - 2:39
  3. "Buttered Popcorn" (Gordy, Ales) (lead: Florence Ballard) - 2:35
  4. "Baby Don't Go" (Gordy) (lead: Mary Wilson) - 2:13
  5. "(The Man With the) Rock and Roll Banjo Band" (Clarence Paul, Gordy)
  6. "I Want a Guy" (Gordy, Holland, Gorman) - 2:53

Side two

  1. "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - 3:05
  2. "You Bring Back Memories" (Robinson) - 2:39
  3. "Play a Sad Song" (Gordy) - 2:57
  4. "Time Changes Things" (Holland, Bradford, Dozier) - 2:33
  5. "Never Again" (Gordy) - 3:01
  6. "Standing at the Crossroads of Love" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - 2:27

2010 expanded CD bonus track listing

  1. "Your Heart Belongs To Me" (Live 1962)
  2. "I Want A Guy" (Live 1962)
  3. "Time Changes Things" (Live 1962)
  4. "Let Me Go The Right Way" (Live 1962)
  5. "After All" (Stereo Mix)
  6. "(You Can) Depend On Me" (Version 2)
  7. "The Boy That Got Away" (Alternate Mix)
  8. "Hey Baby" (Version 2)
  9. "Too Hot" (Version 1)
  10. "Buttered Popcorn" (Version 3)
  11. "Buttered Popcorn" (Version 4)
  12. "I Want A Guy" (Version 1)
  13. "Who's Lovin’ You" (Stereo Mix w/Mono Vocal)
  14. "Because I Love Him" (Version 2)
  15. "Save Me A Star" (Stereo Mix)
  16. "Heavenly Father" (Stereo Mix)
  17. "Those DJ Shows" (Stereo Mix)
  18. "The Tears" (Stereo Mix)
  19. "Your Heart Belongs To Me" (Version 1)
  20. "I'm Giving You Your Freedom" (Alternate Mix) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
  21. "Run, Run, Run" (Live 1964) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
  22. "Standing At The Crossroads Of Love" (Live 1964) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
  23. "Anyone Who Had A Heart" (Live 1964) (Burt Bacharach, Hal David)
  24. "Time Changes Things" (Live 1964)
  25. "Make Someone Happy" (Live 1964) (Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne)
  26. "Let Me Go The Right Way" (Live 1964)
  27. "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" (Live 1964) (Holland-Dozier-Holland)

Personnel

Singles history

References

  1. Web site: Paste Staff. The 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time. . November 6, 2023. ...Meet the Supremes is a masterpiece of ‘60s R&B.. November 10, 2023.
  2. Web site: Meet The Supremes. Hamilton. Andrew. . 7 August 2021.
  3. Web site: Diana Ross & the Supremes: 10 of the best. The Guardian. Stevie . Chick . 8 October 2014. 10 January 2021.
  4. Web site: 13 Great Songs Sung by Non-Lead Singers. Paste. Bonnie . Stiernberg . September 13, 2010 . 10 January 2021.
  5. Web site: The Supremes - "Buttered Popcorn" - Classic Motown. classic.motown.com. 11 January 2021.
  6. Web site: Don't Forget the Motor City. Dftmc.info. 5 June 2018.
  7. Web site: 'Fresh Air' Remembers Mary Wilson, Founding Member Of The Supremes. WHYY. npr. February 12, 2021. 7 August 2021.
  8. Web site: 'Meet The Supremes': A Belated Introduction For British Album Buyers. Paul . Sexton. UDiscover Music. December 5, 2020. 1 February 2021.
  9. Meet The Supremes: Expanded Edition . Meet The Supremes . . 26 March 2010 . Billie Jean . Brown . George . Solomon . liner notes . . B0013788-02 . USA.
  10. Meet The Supremes . Meet The Supremes . . 1964 . Scott St. . James . liner notes . . SL 10109 . England, United Kingdom.
  11. Web site: SUPREMES (full Official Chart History). January 1, 2016. Official Charts Company.

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