Lynda who? What is there to talk about?
Printable View
Lynda who? What is there to talk about?
Skooldem1, I never said that I don't respect Lynda. Where did that come from? In fact, I said that she's a good singer. I was merely agreeing with Kenny that she wasn't in the group long enough to make an impression on me. That, plus the fact that the only album she appeared on was not one of my favorites, contributed to the fact that she never felt like Motown family to me. Not her fault -- nor mine. That's just how it was....and still is. Right or wrong, because of exposure [[or the lack thereof), I associate Lynda more with FLOS than with the Motown-contracted Supremes. Again, not her fault nor mine.
After Jean and Cindy left the group the Supremes as we knew them simply ceased to be. Other talented ladies came and went and their contracts and billing read "Supremes", but they just ... weren't. I remember watching TV appearances at the time; as good as "Driving Wheel", "He's My Man", etc [[I loved the High Energy album!) were, there was something flailing and "over with" about the group. They may have scored better with a different name. Talent was there; another direction and identification was needed.
i'm always a bit baffled when people question "the impact" one girl had versus another. yes i understand that Lynda and Susaye were only members for about 1.5 years each. but they were both officially supremes. and in their 1.5 years, i think they made important impacts. without Lynda, we'd never have had Bad Weather. it's a great song and of course there's the big "what if" regarding the promotion of BW and the proposed album with Stevie.
if you're questioning impact, what about Barbara Martin? she didn't sing any leads. mostly recording some songs that are possibly borderline awful lol. the tunes are certainly not pillars in the Supremes Canon lol.
or what about Flo? yes a founding member and yes on all of the big hits until 67. but one could make the argument that her insubordination and personal problems nearly wrecked the group. what if the public had not accepted Cindy and the group crumbled and fizzled? we'd be missing out on all of the subsequent music and maybe there wouldn't be a DIANA ROSS today.
obviously i'm being a bit facetious here but i think you get my point
there were 9 Supremes [[and 10th that was only a Primette). they all contributed in one way or another. some were members longer, some recorded more than others. but all are part of the story
as for Lynda leaving with Jean. i don't know that they coordinated their departures in any way. yes all 3 were discussing their exit from motown and apparently mary changed her mind. i've heard that after jean left, lynda met with Mary and then Pedro to discuss the future of the group [[i think Cindy was already back in the picture) and Lynda, who was also pregnant at the time, opted to not continue with the Pedro situation. then Mary got into contact with Scherrie
at least that's the way i've heard it from some of the fans. wasn't there myself so not sure
Barbara sings on this song here. There are no studio recorded leads of Lynda Laurence by Motown:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUyuzIm6QL8
keep in mind, After All was released in the 2000s. not during the groups tenure at motown. there very well could be unreleased leads of Lynda. for instance, in their shows, Lynda would do lead on You're Nobody Until Somebody, there was her lead part in Love The One You're With and in Everybody's Got the Right. we know that the live lps often are truncated renditions of their full show. all 3 of these songs were in their act throughout 72 and 73. so for all we know, there could be tracks of these in the vaults. if you were to "count" the actual lead words she sang, it outnumbers Barbaras.
again, i'm not trying to diminish Barbara's role. just saying that ALL of the women made important contributions. and yes, some had longer tenures and therefore made more contributions.
also jean began complaining and bucking the system before Lynda joined. there was already some dissension within the group and between the group and motown. that was not caused by lynda. she entered into an existing situation. so i don't think you should imply that lynda somehow was the cause of their discussions for leaving motown. even Mary says in her book "lynda was new enough to just be excited to be there" while she was discussing jean's unhappiness
Good Lord remember that Marv. Several of us walked out bc we couldn't hear Jean. I reminder walking down the street 2 blks away and someone said listen to that screaming. When you could hear Jean, her voice was sweet and clear. Remember when she started singing "come with me....." The crowd went crazy.
another baffling aspect with the fans here is that they someone attempt to personalize their "relationship" with the Supremes. i make no claims to know any of them. nor do i consider any to be friends. frankly, other than a few people like Rick, Andy and Brad, who've either worked with or for them or do actually have personal relationships with some, i'd wager that no one here is an actual "Friend" of these women. so why let personal feelings cloud your appreciation for the group?? all of them did mean/stupid/crass things at one time or another. i find it a waste to time and rather ignorant to delve into their personal issues. i'm here for the legacy of the group and the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heAw4z71lvo
Thank you dear sup_fan.
Fondly
Roberta
Pedro was already on the scene in 73. true he wasn't the full manager of the group but he was leading things. again, all of this as i was told.
its possible that whoever told you could ve been mistaken. if that was the case then he wouldve had say on whether Cindy rejoining or Scherrie joining which im pretty sure he didnt.
Blackguy I know 100% ,Lynda didn't leave The Supremes for that reason,i'm sure that's the reason,they wanted people to think lol,some think Lynda was a temp Supreme,not true either.when Lynda join The Supremes she was on point,just watch her with The Supremes on Soul Train,she was a real pro,plus she was good on the eye's,with a lot of class,it's a shame she didn't see the bigger picture.again Lynda was really young back then,leaving The Supremes was not a smart move,with Jean and Lynda leaving The Supremes,i bet they thought The Supremes were over,Mary Wilson is no joke,she regrouped,got Cindy Birdsong back,and a new Supreme Scherrie Payne,and kept it moving,i loved Lynda with The Supremes,and still love her today.
Yes we all made a lot of mistakes,when we were young,and everybody has they're own opinion,and we all like who we like,there no right or wrong to it,it just how we feel,about what ever,mostly what i said are facts,not my opinion,but the truth.if Marv dislike Lynda ,i have no problem with that,that's how he feels,I love all The Supremes,no matter what.
[QUOTE=marv2;273519]Barbara sings on this song here. There are no studio recorded leads of Lynda Laurence by Motown:QUOTE]
I was thinking maybe a "Sha La Bandit", but that was a later song wasn't it. I know there's a few different versions of that with different leads. [[A silly song, in my opinion anyway, but I know a lot of people like it.)
Good heavens, this is getting beaten to death all over again.
Jean and Lynda both left the Supremes of their own choosing. I've spoken with both ladies at length about this.
The facts are that both ladies were recently married and expecting their first babies. It is very difficult on a woman to tour the country and have a marriage and a child dependent on mom. It was a natural instinct for both women to want to nurse their babies and give them a normal life for a while. Be there for the first step. Be there for the first word. Can you blame them? Neither lady could expect Mary and Motown to just put the group on hold for a year to do this.
Secondly, both ladies gave everything they had to the group but it was obvious to them that The Supremes were finished. Their record label only had intentions at this point to keep them on as a road act. While Scherrie and later Susaye breathed new life into the group, it's true, but their successes were quite limited because the group's time had passed. History shows this. You can live with what-ifs. Nobody hated to see each lady go more than I but you have to give them the opportunity to be normal human beings and have families.
And for the record, Lynda Laurence did NOT introduce the idea of having the group leave Motown.
The Supremes were a recording act that was heavily dependent on others for their success; writers, producers, musicians, etc. This made them an expensive act at a time when record companies were going with self-contained artists who did all these things on their own. It was the end of an era for sure. And sad that it happened. But all good things do come to an end.
Would be better if some people would concentrate on today's real problems: Terrorism, lack of jobs and lack of health care. Our country is in the toilet and some people keep bitching about which Supreme did what.
Lol atcha BayouMotownMan,but ture.
I disagree with you about Lynda leaving. I think she saw the big picture, but its not the picture we imagine. By the time Lynda left, they only had a few years left, their hits were all but dried up, and the group was entirely dysfunctional. I love all the ladies, but there were a LOT of personal issues boiling in the group at that point. Lynda could have stayed, but she really didn't miss much. I LOVE the 70's Supremes, but at the time, the group was fighting a losing battle. By that time, there had been THREE replacements within a five year period [[Cindy, Jean, and now Lynda replacing a replacement). The music scene was moving farther and farther away from the girl group era, and the girls were getting left behind in the dust. If we're being realistic, there was really almost nothing left for the Supremes anymore.
Ok Antceleb,we can agree to disagree lol
I read the reason Jean left show business was because she was tired of the business. She probably had words with A&M about how her album should be promoted or what she should include in her material. She was always a JW, I think, so I doubt her religion was a reason. Motown stated Brenda Holloway left because of religion but Brenda left because of the business. The lifestyles surrounding musicians probably didn't help matters for both either.
I wasn't aware Jean had any issues with the Supremes, but I probably shouldn't be surprised. That happens with any group who goes through changes, especially away from their original intent.
Edit: now I see that Jean and Lynda were both expecting babies too? That adds a new interesting twist on things...
All the ladies were significant and important to the continuation and legacy of the Supremes.