Originally Posted by
sup_fan
Skooldem - you're definitely right that the Sups recorded many concept albums. I'd maybe argue that the Sing HDH is really more about using the HDH name in the title that a real retrospect of HDH music. frankly More Hits could be a "Sing HDH" project. A Go Go could, and stretching here a little, be a "dance concept" album. But you're other selections are definitely right.
Some people have criticized some of these lps though. Country Western is one that often gets a bad rap. Liverpool too. the critics say these are hasty efforts to get the supremes name out there, rather than true artistic efforts to capture the subject matter at hand. i think that's a bit harsh. Country Western does contain some wonderful 3-part harmonies of the original group. but it has a LOT of in-house compositions. was modeled off of Ray Charles' album but that was truly a groundbreaking project. he definitely approached it as a concept - taking c&w songs [[i.e. - whitest of white music) and doing them in a gospel and r&b styling. many of the songs were totally reimagined. that's the artistic merit of the project. the Sups C&W is nice but not really at that level.
Liverpool is fun - probably mostly for fans. the Beatles and the British artists LOVED motown and Northern Soul. the Liverpool LP is really just to cash in on the invasion. while fun, i think it's rather sloppy. there are moments in the vocals where the girls aren't really together, little slips here and there.
Sam Cooke is pretty solid. again excellent 3-part harmonies
Merry Xmas is nice but some of the tracks are a bit overwrought. Joy To the World is one! and Diana is still a bit whiny and overly nasal, IMO. i think if this had been recorded a year or so later, with more mature vocals and productions, it would be even better
Now R&H is excellent. this is worthy of a review by RS as it's stood the test of time. it's absolutely a concept and a wonderful one. again, IMO. the production quality has really improved - listen to the brass on the intro to Somewhere or Put On A Happy Face from the There's a Place sessions and hear how they're way too high in the mix. they're blaring, jarring, overpowering. strings are hit and miss too. now listen to any track from R&H and they backing tracks are glorious. Diana's vocals are wonderfully matured now too. And when they do really bring in M&F, together it's masterful. however by this time, there's less effort to go as much group sound and work. Remember Ipanema from There's and Bring It On Home To Me from Sam Cooke? those complex 3-part harmonies and considerable amount of them? there's limited extended 3-part work on R&H. just imagine if they'd recorded Sing For Your Supper - another great R&H gem. and done it in 3-part!
As for LP's like Love Child, there was an effort to initiate a concept but it's dropped part of the way through. after the first handful of tracks, it's does a 180 to light-pop. not that there wasn't enough material recorded for this. i've made my own playlist of a proposed Love Child lp [[do a search on here an you'll find my post). same with Reflections. could have done a whole concept on that.
Symphony is good but i contend that it too suffers from being "not quite there" in production values. the mixing of the backing tracks is still a bit off, like the There's A Place tracks. Funny Girl and R&H are simply lush and wonderful. just like the girls were growing as musicians, so were the producers and the productions.
Also Motown spoiled albums with overt efforts at commercialism. the Cream of the Crop lp? Let the Sunshine In? these are definitely a hodgepodge of tracks. in that thread i mentioned of Love Child playlists, i've also done versions of these lps too
basically i love the Sup albums because i'm a fan. if i had a time machine, i'd probably go back and make some adjustments
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