The #1 Albums: “TCB” by the Supremes and the Temptations

[jobeterob]

The #1 Albums: “TCB” by the Supremes and the Temptations
J.A. Bartlett October 4, 2012 0 Comments and 1 Reaction

In 1968, Motown combined the star power of the Supremes and the Temptations, resulting in two smash albums and an equally popular TV special.

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Over the years, certain television programs became iconic because of their historical value—the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, Elvis Presley’s 1968 “comeback” special, Nirvana on MTV Unplugged. Others have been forgotten, even though they deserve iconic status.

On December 9, 1968—less than a week after the Elvis special—NBC carried TCB, a musical revue starring the Supremes and the Temptations. It was the first program of its kind to feature an all-black cast. Motown’s top two acts performed their own hits and songs by others, some in medley form, backed by an orchestra, bantering back and forth in showbizzy fashion. It was the sort of splashy Hollywood-meets-Vegas production Berry Gordy saw in his dreams, and it was a ratings smash.

The Supremes and Temptations had released a collaboration album only a few weeks before: Diana Ross and the Supremes Join the Temptations, which contained the hit “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me.” [[Oddly, the two groups didn’t perform that song on the TCB special, which was taped in September for the December broadcast.) When the TCB soundtrack was released, it was the bigger chart performer, going to #1 for the week of February 8, 1969, interrupting the run of the Beatles’ White Album.

If you want to pick one album to listen to all these years later, however, go for Diana Ross and the Supremes Join the Temptations. Allmusic calls TCB “unlistenable” and “watered down,” and criticizes the big-band arrangements, which removed the R&B flavor from the music. But the review also notes that TCB accomplished its purpose: “a bigger untapped audience discovered the versatility of arguably the best male and the best female group of all time.”

Here’s the opening of the show, as seen on that December night 44 years ago.

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[lakedistrictlad1]

It surely must be one of the greatest mysteries in the world of music marketing that this show has never had an official release. Rights issues aside [[and surely there can't be that insurmountable) this is a terifically entertaining show and surely would sell in sufficient quantities to warrant release. There are in the U.K, for example, a couple of DVD labels who specialise in issuing the most obscure long forgotten television programmes. If they can reach a licensing agreement and make a profit there is no excuse. I always believed the market for music DVD's was far more advanced in the U.S.
Perhaps one day Hip-O will come to an arrangement where the soundtrack is released with the DVd as a box set.

[ejluther]

"Perhaps one day Hip-O will come to an arrangement where the soundtrack is released with the DVd as a box set."

Wouldn't that be great? And maybe even combine it with GIT?

[Kamasu_Jr]

Interesting. But TCB was not the first TV special to feature an all-black cast. That distinction goes to a special on the roaring 20s that starred Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Diahann Carroll, Paula Kelly and others.

[jobeterob]

Pairing TCB with GIT for release is a great idea; that should sell.

[Glenpwood]

AllMusic has it dead wrong, TCB has plenty of soulful moments. Dennis' take on I Know I'm Losing You alone disproves that. The reviewers is probably focused on the fact they did so many white pop covers and showtunes [[A Taste Of Honey, Mrs. Robinson, Hello Young Lovers, With A Song In My Heart/Without A Song, and The Impossible Dream) rather than an hours worth of their Motown hits. Bartlett's Popdose reviews of all the number one albums in general skim the surface rather than dig for facts. It wouldn't have taken him long to Google the fact that IGMYLM hadn't even been recorded at the time he show was taped. TCB is the one Motown album besides Baby It's Me I can pull out when I have friends over who aren't Motown diehards and everyone loves it.

[REDHOT]

I would love to see the number that Motown cut out of The T.C.B Special, that includes The Supremes Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong with The Temptations,now that would be something LOL,
Please stay positive

[Glenpwood]

George Solomon chipped in on the Mary Cindy Temps Mas Que Nada number before and said essentially its a 90 second segment and not the complex dance number its come to be in myth thanks to a few of the tell all books....

[luke]

Yes redhot that would be great regardless of how long it is.

[BayouMotownMan]

I agree that the TV special was right on for 1968 and Miss Ross was in her element as the star of that special. The GIT show was quite dismal in response

[jobeterob]

GIT was Berry and Motown overdoing it once they had a monster hit! Just like I'm Living In Shame after Love Child.

[REDHOT]

I have to agree with you Jobeterob LOL,
Please stay positive

[Hulswood]

YouTube only has bits and parts, also in VHS-quality.
Anybody any word about the entire show on DVD???
Seems like the whole world is waiting....
Last night I found the DVD [[several sellers!) on "ioffer.com".....they all look home-brew....
Keep my fingers crossed for some official version......

[nathanj06]

Andrew and George want this to happen. You know if they have it their way, it will. This is way overdue and a TCB/GIT combination dvd and soundtrack would be the ultimate. AllMusic is just someone's opinion and hardly matters. The high ratings and a #1 soundtrack speaks for itself. It was a spectacular show. I think GIT failed due to people expecting to hear the hits rather than grasp the concept of what the show was about. It was about Diana and her talent. The Leading Lady medley was amazing! One standout from TCB was her solo on Eleanor Rigby but the whole show was a standout. Hopefully we'll get to have it soon.

[lakedistrictlad1]

After the spectacular that was T.C.B, I thought G.I.T was really lame. The only bright moment was the leading lady medley but even then the costumes came off as far more exciting than Diana, who comes across rather stiff. It is the one album in my collection I've played once and never again. To be fair though the concept of the show was only following the tried and tested format that was popular on television at the time. Some of it just hasn't stood the test of time.

T.C.B however has been watched hundreds of times in my household on a dodgy dvd-r. It's fabulous from start to finish.

[jobeterob]

YouTube Treasure: Diana Ross's Legendary African Dance NumberBy Michael Musto Tue., Oct. 30 2012 at 9:10 AM Write CommentCategories: Diana Ross



Motown legend Diana Ross delved into her roots in the 1968 TV special called TCB in which, after a few haunting bars of "Reflections," she emerged in boldly patterned prints, with bushy hair and hoop earrings, looking skinner than someone from a Sally Struthers commercial.

And she proceeded to dance her African American ass off, writhing and shimmying and getting down with her fab self in unexpected ways.

Amazing stuff, preceded by a few strains of "Reflections of the way life used to be..."

The best costume is at the 2:02 mark.

[jobeterob]

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/dailymusto/2012/10/youtube_treasur_32.php

The dance segment.

[skooldem1]

I seem to recall within this last year, in this forum, me referring to this dance sequence as legendary and someone trying to tell me why it wasn't. Yet that is exactly how it is referred to in that article.

[jobeterob]

Generally that should be interpreted as backlash over her success; Whitney Houston, Madonna and Beyonce had it too. It will come from the same bonehead[[s) that will try and tell you that Mary and Cindy and Flo sold as many records, should get the same awards, attract the same crowds and should have been nominated for an Academy Award - all balderdash.

[Bokiluis]

"T.C.B." was not just a ratings smash, it was the #1 variety special in the Nielsen Ratings that week. I have never understood why VH1, PBS, BET, Centric and/or TVONE, have not re-aired this special....especially during Black Music or History month. It was a monumental achievement that the 1st all-star, prime time variety special featuring a black cast does not warrant a stronger presence in entertainment history. I distinctly remembered that the next day in school, it was as talked about as "Motown 25" would be years later. The soundtrack sped to #1! Despite what AllMusic says, that was what mainstream entertainment was like during the Ed Sullivan era. As the music industry grew into the rock 'n roll era, it was not unusual for acts to do material from the Great American Songbook mixed in with their contemporary hits. So it may seem a little corny to AllMusic, but, does AllMusic know for instance that Michael Jackson's "Motown 25" performance was partially lip synced....another trademark of pre-MTV music television?
"T.C.B." was a huge cultural achievement for the black community. It proved that music was indeed made for all.
LI have heard that because there were so many producers/investors on the early Motown specials, they have not been able to come to royalty agreements. Hence, no DVD releases or possible re-airings, where the Striesand specials are given that treatment as are The Beatles Ed Sullivan appearances.
"T.C.B." deserves a lot higher profile for its contribution to the American arts, than it has gotten.

[franjoy56]

I am a Mary, Flo and Cindy fan, but i have to tell you that Diana Ross was fabulous on that Afro Dance Number from TCB which i have a copy of, and credit should be given where credit is due, she was ready for her solo closeup, and that album should have launched her solo career along with the Love Child single and album doing well by the end of 1968 and with TCB hitting the top in early 1969 along with another top ten single.