Scherrie's "Another Life From Now"

[longtimefan]

Regarding ANOTHER LIFE FROM NOW

This track appears on both SCHERRIE AND SUSAYE as well as THE 70s SUPREMES GREATEST HITS AND RARE CLASSICS. Are the two tracks identical or alternate versions with somewhat different vocals, instrumentation and/or backing?

[Ryon6]

A great recording by Scherrie. It's the same recording for both releases.

[marybrewster]

An absolutely beautiful song. It's great to have it digitally remastered on the new "Partners" release. Does anyone know: who is the male vocal at the end of the song?

A few years back, I believe George Solomon talked about the different tracks on the 70's set. Don't you all think it's a bit strange that Scherrie's solo and Jean's solo [[from A & M) were included, but not Mary's "Red Hot"? I think "Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love" also didn't make the cut, where tracks like "The Sha-La Bandit" and "Tossin' and Turnin'" did. George explained that this originally was going to be a 2-disc set and at the 11th hour, it was shaved down to a single disc. Those "rare classics" were added in an attempt to get something "new" out to the fans. Does that sound about right? Or am I getting that confused with "At Their Best?"

By the way, the 70's "GH&RC" is probably one of my all-time favorite CD's; and not just from the Supremes either. I have burnt through 2 copies, LOL.

[reese]

An absolutely beautiful song. It's great to have it digitally remastered on the new "Partners" release. Does anyone know: who is the male vocal at the end of the song?

A few years back, I believe George Solomon talked about the different tracks on the 70's set. Don't you all think it's a bit strange that Scherrie's solo and Jean's solo [[from A & M) were included, but not Mary's "Red Hot"? I think "Your Wonderful Sweet Sweet Love" also didn't make the cut, where tracks like "The Sha-La Bandit" and "Tossin' and Turnin'" did. George explained that this originally was going to be a 2-disc set and at the 11th hour, it was shaved down to a single disc. Those "rare classics" were added in an attempt to get something "new" out to the fans. Does that sound about right? Or am I getting that confused with "At Their Best?"

By the way, the 70's "GH&RC" is probably one of my all-time favorite CD's; and not just from the Supremes either. I have burnt through 2 copies, LOL.

I think what you wrote is basicially correct re GREATEST HITS AND RARE CLASSICS. Perhaps George will chime in. But I think the original lineup might have even included some unreleased material and then it was decided late in the process that that wouldn't happen. I vaguely recall George saying something about having to finagle a bit of extra time just so that he could compile what we did eventually get on that cd.

[theboyfromxtown]

and the different tracks on the cassette version....

[marybrewster]

I found George's reply from August, 2010 re: Greatest Hits and Rare Classics:

I may have posted something like this a long time ago. I can't speak for "At Their Best" but I didn't use YWSSL on Greatest Hits And Rare Classics because originally the CD had the biggest hits and the rest were all unreleased tunes. At the very last minute Motown told me they had to cancel the release because all unreleased tunes were on hold. The disc had already been mastered and they weren't willing to spend any more studio time. Someone said they would just do a straight reissue of "At Their Best" and that would be the end of it. I BEGGED for one more day and quickly replaced the unreleased songs with rare LP tracks. I avoided most tracks from the first four Jean albums because I knew we were about to reissue them on CD. I was told "no" to the Jimmy Webb album and all of the albums that followed. I love YWSSL but I had to decide [[fast) between one of the other tracks that may never be on CD and a song I knew was going to be available on CD soon. That's also why I chose the mono single mixes of the hits, and alternates of "Everybody's Got The Right To Love", "Automatically Sunshine", "Bad Weather", "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking", "You're My Driving Wheel" and maybe a few others. I tried hard to make every single track a rarity in one way or another because who knew if we'd ever get another release on the 70's Supremes? How wonderful [[and sweet, sweet) that several years later we've been able to do much more.

One more note of interest...Many have wondered why Diana Ross and The Supremes Superstar Series featured eight Supremes on the cover but the music was all from the sixties. Andy and I just found the original LP master and side two originally featured songs from the seventies era, so all of the ladies would have been represented. We have no idea why they changed it at the last minute. Another Motown mystery!

[Glenpwood]

Some more details from George about the 70's GH & Rare Masters release from the archives....




Hi Paul,

I checked in with George who is unable to respond on SDF at the moment, but asked me if I'd post an email response he had posted on one of the boards a few years ago answering some questions.

I'd like to add that it was George who first re-discovered the Diana Ross - Blue - tapes when doing Motown's first box set on Marvin Gaye. He is a good friend who still often consults on many projects. His knowledge of Motown/Ross/Supremes is incredible!

And now from George Solomon:
I pitched the idea of Greatest Hits and Rare Classics to be collections of hits, unreleased and rare tracks from artists that didn’t have a CD compilation on the market. My main interest was releasing a great compilation on the 70’s Supremes. I got approval to go ahead with each CD except The Supremes. I was told that they didn’t feel there was enough sales potential in the 70’s group and we would just do a straight reissue of the 10 song vinyl collection, “At Their Best”. After much pleading on my part I finally got a green light on the 70’s group. With each CD, I was told I could have only two photos and no liner notes. [[I was eventually allowed one paragraph per CD).
The first 3 to be mastered were Brenda Holloway, Kim Weston and The Supremes. [[All containing several songs from the vaults) As we were finishing the Supremes master, a memo was issued stating that NO UNRELEASED MATERIAL COULD BE ISSUED. I was told the finished masters had to be scrapped and we could only proceed with the remaining artists using only released material. Once again, I lost my Supremes collection. Again, I pleaded, if I could re-master the CD’s in ONE DAY replacing the unreleased tracks with other rarities could we proceed? [[I believe, I was on my knees at the time.) The results are the released CD’s. With the Supremes, I had such a hard time choosing tracks that I varied the CD and the cassette. This wasn’t a ploy to make people have to buy both. It was for the fans who would WANT to have both. The casual buyer wouldn’t care as long as they got the hits they wanted. As with every collection many fans questioned the track list. Remember, that “Right On” “Touch” and “Floy Joy” were already issued on CD and I just got approval to do “New Ways”, so I used very few tracks from those LP’s. I got a definite “no” on Jimmy Webb and all of the remaining albums [[with the exception of MAYBE “High Energy”). That is how I chose the tracks.
I really liked this collection and I’d like to thank everyone for the mostly very positive feedback. And by the way, The Supremes and Rare Earth were the biggest sellers in the whole series.

If you care, here is the original track list for the Supremes master that still sits in the Motown vaults.

Original Greatest Hits and Rare Classics
All tracks or mixes available on CD for the first time [[1991)

Up the Ladder [[mono mix)
Life Beats [[mono mix) *
Everybody’s Got The Right [[alt vocal mono mix) *
Stoned Love [[mono mix)
Nathan Jones [[mono mix)
If I Were Your Woman *
Floy Joy [[unedited) *
Automatically Sunshine [[alternate) *
Remote Control *
Make It With You *
Never Can Say Goodbye *
Tossin' & Turnin' [[edit) *
Paradise *
Love Train [[remix) *
Bad Weather [[ext fade) *
I Had To Fall In Love [[edit)-Jean *
The Shoop Shoop Song *
The Sha La Bandit [[alternate) *
Bend A Little *
I’m Gonna Let My Heart [[alternate) *
You’re My Driving Wheel [[alt edit) *
Another Life From Now-Scherrie
You Danced My Heart Around The Stars-Mary *

• unreleased track or mix

Thanks for caring – George Solomon

Hi guys,

I emailed George again, [[who is on a cruise in Hawaii, and therefore not able to respond on the site in a timely manner). Again, his response is below. Many of the cassette versions were used on other collections since, because we knew the cassette would become more of a rarity as time goes on. One of the items he didn't mention is the extended "Floy Joy," from the cassette edition which we used on the Supremes 40th Anniversary Box Set.

I would like to add one final thought, the people George worked with at Motown back then are not the same people Harry or myself work with today. http://faac.us/adf/clipart/happy.gif

and now, FROM GEORGE SOLOMON:
Here are the tracks that were different on the Greatest Hits and Rare Classics cassette.

EVERYBODY'S GOT THE RIGHT TO LOVE - The CD had an alternate mono mix with a completely different lead vocal by Jean. The cassette version had yet another mono mix with the released vocal. The cassette version can now be found on "The Supremes 70's Anthology". I feel both of these mono single mixes were superior to the one that was released. This record could have been much bigger.
There is still yet another mono single mix of this song in the vaults that combines both of Jean's vocals.

TOUCH - The cassette included an alternate mono single mix. Listen for Cindy's alternate "Oh baby" after the first verse. Also, Cindy's "Talk to me, talk to me" was eliminated from this mix and Jean's vocal was punched out at the fade. This mix is still unavailable any place else. I personally didn't like any of the mono single mixes of "Touch". This was another great record that I think failed because of an inferior single mix and edit.

AUTOMATICALLY SUNSHINE - I believe I used the released LP mix on the cassette. The CD had an alternate mono extended mix. The full stereo alternate mix can be found on "The 70's Anthology".

IT'S ALL BEEN SAID BEFORE & WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE - Both were on the cassette but not on the CD. Both were the LP mixes. The single mix of "Where Do I Go From Here" is still unavailable on CD and there is an alternate lead vocal by Scherrie on "It's All Been Said Before" still in the vaults.

HIGH ENERGY - This was a single edit of a mix that eventually came out in its entirety on "The 70's Anthology". The original lead vocal by Scherrie is still unreleased.

YOU'RE MY DRIVING WHEEL - I used the alternate promo lead vocal, which has since come out on CD on the Supremes Box and The Supremes Gold.

LET YOURSELF GO - This was an alternate [[and in my opinion) much better single edit than the released version.

FLY - Scherrie's solo single wasn't included on the CD. Instead I used "Another Life From Now".

I still stand by my decision to vary the CD and cassette and I think most of the fans were happy about it. The Motown execs were not! Even though they signed off on both versions [[I couldn't get anything released without a signature on the track list) they became upset when some retailers complained about the differences. I wasn't "fired" because I was never officially a Motown employee but in truth it did compromise my position. It was very difficult in the early 90's. [[I think Andy would agree it's still often difficult) to get things done exactly the way you know they should be.

One funny story....I produced a "Best Of The Supremes & 4 Tops" CD. When I went to approve the artwork I found a picture of Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations on the cover. [[It was the back photo of TCB) When I gently pointed out that not only was it the wrong group of Supremes but the wrong male group all together, I was told that I was being overly picky and no one would notice that but me! Ultimately, I got it changed, but these are the little "challenges" that came up constantly. So, even today when you see these little mistakes on the reissue's you better believe that it wasn't Andy, Harry or myself being negligent. Sometimes these things just slip through the cracks and we get as frustrated as you do. I'm just really very happy that there is still an audience for these wonderful recordings and there are still great releases yet to come!

[marybrewster]

Thank heavens for George.....and the archives! Thanks for posting this glenpwood!

[markdtiller]

The male vocalist at the end of Scherrie's "Another Life From Now" is Eugene McDaniels, who also produced the "Partners" album.